Fort Collins to Strasburg is 93.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. Expect a route with frequent turns, indicating a more local feel rather than a straight shot on major highways. It's a straightforward, single-day trip ideal for those looking for a relatively quick transit between these two Colorado locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.8 miles from Fort Collins, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
61.2 mi
1h 1m
E-470
24.6 mi
24m
East Mulberry Street
3.9 mi
7m
West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Wagner Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Gun Club Road
0.2 mi
<1m
East Colfax Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 61.2 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins, CO and Strasburg, 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·40 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 228Toward NW, E 470 Toll: Limon, BroomfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 228Toward E 470 Toll: LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·16 sec·this road
Exit 228Toward E 470 Toll: Limon
11
Continue on E470
25 mi·24 min·E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 20Toward I 70: Aurora, Denver, LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on North Gun Club Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Gun Club Road
14
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 70 East: LimonUse the left lane.
15
Merge onto I 70
20 mi·20 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 310Toward Strasburg
17
Turn left onto I 70 Business; CR 157
235 ft·4 sec·Arrowhead Street
18
Continue on I 70 Business; CR 157
0.3 mi·33 sec·Wagner Street
19
Turn right onto CO 36
0.2 mi·20 sec·East Colfax Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
CO 36
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 41 minute duration, this is a comfortable same-day trip. You can leave anytime, but consider an early start to avoid any potential local traffic. With 0 stops recommended and a fuel cost around $14, there's no pressure to plan specific refueling or meal breaks. The 'turn-heavy' nature means staying alert to your navigation is key; rely on GPS to guide you through the many intersections on East Mulberry Street and E-470.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.8 miles from Fort Collins, CO, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.2 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.8 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Strasburg, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Collins, CO
This is one driving day of about 93.5 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Fort Collins, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 61.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 72.2 — 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
8
45.7 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward NW, E 470 Toll: Limon, Broomfield
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 228
Toward NW, E 470 Toll: Limon, Broomfield
8
45.9 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward E 470 Toll: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward E 470 Toll: Limon
8
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Aurora, Denver, Limon
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 20
Toward I 70: Aurora, Denver, Limon
7
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Turn left toward I 70 East: Limon
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 East: Limon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.09 one way
$28.18 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$14.92
$29.83
premium
$4.39
$16.17
$32.35
diesel
$5.61
$20.64
$41.29
Estimated Tolls: $2.95
E-470
(24.6 mi)$2.95
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.1
0
$9.82
$4.49
Efficient EV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
EV Truck/SUV
37.4
0
$13.09
$5.98
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fort Collins, CO
Night
in Fort Collins on Saturday
Local time
10:42 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Strasburg, CO
Night
in Strasburg on Saturday
Local time
10:42 PM
MDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter numerous directional changes as you navigate. While the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway accounts for the longest stretch at 61.2 miles, the overall journey involves more than just continuous highway travel. The 0% highway share suggests a significant portion of the drive will be on local roads, requiring your attention to navigation and speed adjustments.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 45.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Collins, CO and Strasburg, CO, road signs point toward E 470 Toll: Limon, Broomfield, Denver and Limon.
E 470 Toll: Limon
45.7 mi in|~50m
Broomfield
45.7 mi in|~50m
Denver
71.3 mi in|~1h 17m
Limon
71.3 mi in|~1h 17m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 93.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.95 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Strasburg, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Strasburg, CO before heading back.
