Spanning 322.3 miles across the Colorado Mountain West, this journey from Fort Collins to Rangely requires approximately 7 hours and 8 minutes of drive time. Because the route relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, it functions best as a full-day commitment. You should budget roughly $49 for fuel to cover the distance. While the trip is technically feasible in a single day, be prepared for a steady pace given the turn-heavy nature of the drive. It is a practical trek for those looking to traverse the interior of the state, but ensure you are ready for a long day behind the wheel before departing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
161.1 miles from Fort Collins, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 40
145.6 mi
2h 57m
State Highway 230
39.6 mi
48m
North Highway 287
35.8 mi
42m
CO 14
32.8 mi
53m
US Highway 287
23 mi
24m
CO 125
14.6 mi
20m
County Road 134
10.9 mi
26m
CO 127
9.1 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
US 40
— 145.6 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins, CO and Rangely, CO.
1
Start on South Sherwood Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·South Sherwood Street
2
Turn left onto West Mountain Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·West Mountain Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Shields Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Shields Street
4
Enter roundabout onto North Shields Street
82 ft·1 sec·North Shields Street
5
Continue on North Shields Street
2.0 mi·4 min·North Shields Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto US 287; CO 14
0.4 mi·44 sec·North Highway 287
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287; CO 14
35 mi·41 min·North Highway 287
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 287
23 mi·24 min·US Highway 287
9
Continue on US 287
1.4 mi·2 min·South 3rd Street
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
11
Merge onto I 80
1.1 mi·1 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward WY 130, WY 230: Snowy Range Road
13
Turn left onto WY 130; WY 230
0.8 mi·2 min·Snowy Range Road
14
Continue on WY 230
0.3 mi·30 sec·Jackson Street
15
Continue on WY 230
40 mi·48 min·State Highway 230
16
Continue on CO 127
9.1 mi·14 min·CO 127
17
Continue on CO 125
13 mi·18 min·CO 125
18
Turn slight right onto CO 125; CO 14
1.2 mi·1 min·CO 125; CO 14
19
Turn right onto CO 14
33 mi·53 min·CO 14
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 40
20 mi·27 min·US 40
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on US 40
125 mi·2 hr 29 min·US 40
22
Turn left onto CR 134
11 mi·26 min·County Road 134
23
At end of road, turn left onto CO 64
2.8 mi·4 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
24
Continue on CO 64
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
CO 64
Trip Plan
To manage the 7-hour and 8-minute duration effectively, plan for at least 2 strategic stops to stretch your legs and refuel. Since this is a local road-focused trip, leave early in the morning to ensure you reach Rangely well before sunset. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $49 estimate may fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and the availability of stations along these local stretches. Because the route is turn-heavy, prioritize comfort and keep your navigation tools handy for the frequent transitions between local streets and highways. Having flexibility in your schedule is a major advantage for this trip, allowing you to pace yourself through the more technical sections of the drive.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161.1 miles from Fort Collins, CO, or about 3h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.6 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 71 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.1 miles or 3h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rangely, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Collins, CO
This is one driving day of about 322.3 miles and 7h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Fort Collins, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 40 for about 145.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 162.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|North Shields Street
Turn right onto North Shields Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|North Shields Street
Enter roundabout onto North Shields Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
3.8 mi into trip|~8m in|US 287; CO 14 / North Highway 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287; CO 14 / North Highway 287
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
65.2 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward WY 130, WY 230: Snowy Range Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WY 130, WY 230: Snowy Range Road
6
162.9 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|US 40
At end of road, turn right onto US 40
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.20 one way
$110.39 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$58.24
$116.48
premium
$4.93
$62.57
$125.14
diesel
$5.35
$67.89
$135.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.7
1
$33.84
$15.47
Efficient EV
80.6
0
$28.20
$12.89
EV Truck/SUV
128.9
1
$45.12
$20.63
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Fort Collins, CO
Afternoon
in Fort Collins on Wednesday
Local time
1:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 5 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rangely, CO
Afternoon
in Rangely on Wednesday
Local time
1:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Granby, CO
161 mi in
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
9 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
7h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Dinosaur National Monument
National Monument
150 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed here. Their fossils are still embedded in the rocks. Today, mountains, desert, and rivers flowing in canyons support a variety of life. Petroglyphs reveal the l...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
$25
near mile 311.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this route consists entirely of local roads like West Mountain Avenue, North Shields Street, and Highway 287. With a 0% highway share, you will encounter a turn-heavy profile that demands your full attention throughout the 322.3-mile distance. The road requires constant navigation rather than long, monotonous stretches of high-speed travel. Your behind-the-wheel experience will be characterized by frequent adjustments and a slower, more technical pace. This path is ideal if you prefer local infrastructure over the repetitive nature of major highway systems.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.6 mi on US 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 40 and State Highway 230. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near North Shields Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (North Shields Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (North Shields Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.8 miles (US 287; CO 14 / North Highway 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
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.
The longest stretch is about 145.6 miles on US 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rangely, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (North Shields Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (North Shields Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.8 miles (US 287; CO 14 / North Highway 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Dinosaur National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rangely, CO before the return drive.
