Fort Collins to Penrose is 166.3 miles and takes about 3h 14m via North Valley Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and South Nevada Avenue, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, moving from northern Colorado to areas further south. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape than a pure interstate experience. It's a straightforward, one-day option for traversing a significant portion of Colorado.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83.2 miles from Fort Collins, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Valley Highway
79.5 mi
1h 29m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
41.4 mi
41m
South Nevada Avenue
32 mi
42m
Monument Valley Freeway
7.8 mi
9m
East Mulberry Street
3.9 mi
7m
West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Grant Street
0.2 mi
<1m
South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 79.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,705 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~340 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins, CO and Penrose, CO.
1
Start on South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Sherwood Street
2
Continue on West Magnolia Street
476 ft·20 sec·West Magnolia Street
3
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
499 ft·29 sec·South Meldrum Street
4
Turn left onto West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·West Mulberry Street
5
Continue on East Mulberry Street
3.9 mi·7 min·East Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 25 South: DenverUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 25
41 mi·41 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi·36 sec·North Valley Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi·10 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
70 mi·1 hr 18 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 25
7.8 mi·9 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 140Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CO 115
32 mi·42 min·South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
0.2 mi·38 sec·4th Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Grant Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Grant Street
16
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 14m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Leaving Fort Collins in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Penrose. The longest stretch is 79.5 miles on North Valley Highway, so plan for a break before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, it's wise to fill up before departing Fort Collins to ensure you have sufficient gas for the entire route, especially on the surface road portions. The single stop indicated might be best utilized for a meal or a stretch break in a town along South Nevada Avenue.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83.2 miles from Fort Collins, CO, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 37 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.2 miles or 1h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Penrose, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Collins, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Collins, CO
This is one driving day of about 166.3 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Fort Collins, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on North Valley Highway for about 79.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 166 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.5 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 25 South: Denver
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South: Denver
6
46.8 mi into trip|~51m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
55.6 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenu...
6
166 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|4th Avenue
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.48 one way
$56.96 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$30.05
$60.10
premium
$4.93
$32.28
$64.57
diesel
$5.35
$35.03
$70.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.9
0
$17.46
$7.98
Efficient EV
41.6
0
$14.55
$6.65
EV Truck/SUV
66.5
0
$23.28
$10.64
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of May 26, 2026
Origin
Fort Collins, CO
Afternoon
in Fort Collins on Wednesday
Local time
1:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 21 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 26 at 11:51AM MDT until May 27 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued May 26 at 11:51AM MDT until May 28 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Destination
Penrose, CO
Afternoon
in Penrose on Wednesday
Local time
1:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph49% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 26 at 11:51AM MDT until May 27 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued May 26 at 11:51AM MDT until May 28 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$10
near mile 131.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only about 5% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter a long stretch of 79.5 miles on North Valley Highway, indicating extended periods of cruising without frequent exits. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely feel gradual, with fewer exits and more local traffic as you progress. Expect to navigate through towns and more developed areas on the surface road sections.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.5 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 166.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Fort Collins is a city of about 170,000 in north central region of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of Larimer County, the city lies 59 miles (95 km) north of Denver on the Cache La Poudre River at the eastern edge of the Front Range foothills. Fort Collins is the home of Colorado State University and is a major research center.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 166.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.5 miles on North Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Penrose, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Penrose, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
