Origin
Superior, CO
Night in Superior on Saturday
Local time
10:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Superior, CO to Fort Collins, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
58.5 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Superior, CO
Gustavo Galeano Maz
Fort Collins, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 58.5-mile drive from Superior to Fort Collins, Colorado, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just about 1 hour and 8 minutes. The route primarily follows the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with portions on the Northwest Parkway and East Mulberry Street. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $9, it’s an economical choice for a short excursion within the Mountain West region. This drive is characterized by its turn-heavy local feel, suggesting a need for attention to navigation rather than a focus on long, scenic stretches. Since there are no recommended stops, you can complete this journey with minimal interruption.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 41.2 mi | 41m |
| Northwest Parkway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| East Mulberry Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 2 mi | 2m |
| West Mulberry Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Sherwood Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Interlocken Loop | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 41.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Superior, CO and Fort Collins, CO.
1
Start on this road
142 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
2nd Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto CO 170
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Marshall Road
4
Turn left onto CO 170
368 ft
·
23 sec
·
McCaslin Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 36 East: Denver
6
Merge onto US 36
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
7 sec
Toward Northwest Parkway, RTD Park-n-Ride, Louisville
10
Turn left onto Interlocken Loop
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Interlocken Loop
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on NW
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Northwest Parkway
Use the left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 47
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Denver
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 47
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 25
41 mi
·
41 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 269B
Toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins
16
Merge onto CO 14
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
499 ft
·
29 sec
·
South Meldrum Street
19
Turn left onto West Magnolia Street
476 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Magnolia Street
20
Continue on South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Sherwood Street
21
Arrive at destination
South Sherwood Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.3 miles from Superior, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 11.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CO 170 / Marshall Road
At end of road, turn right onto CO 170 / Marshall Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
7
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Northwest Parkway, RTD Park-n-Ride, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Northwest Parkway, RTD Park-n-Ride, Loui...
8
11.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 25: Fort Collins, Denver
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 47
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Denver
8
11.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 47
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.81 one way
$17.63 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $9.33 | $18.66 |
| premium | $4.39 | $10.12 | $20.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.92 | $25.83 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.14
Northwest Parkway
(8.4 mi)
$1.00
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(2 mi)
$0.14
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.14 | $2.81 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.19 | $3.74 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Fort Collins, CO
Night in Fort Collins on Saturday
Local time
10:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Frederick, CO
29 mi in
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
3 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
1h 8m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than a straightforward highway cruise. While 18% of the journey is on highways, much of the drive involves navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 41.2 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a period of consistent travel before transitions. The road's personality shifts between highway speeds and more intricate local road segments, requiring you to adjust your driving style and awareness as you progress toward Fort Collins.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.2 miles in near CO 170 / Marshall Road.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.2 miles (CO 170 / Marshall Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,497 ft
4,844 ft
Total Climb
374 ft
Total Descent
866 ft
Highest Point
5,497 ft
Elevation Range
653 ft
Notable High Points
5,223 ft at ~12.5 miles
+19 ft prominence
5,047 ft at ~37.6 miles
+81 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Superior, CO and Fort Collins, CO, road signs point toward Rtd Park-N-Ride, Louisville and Denver.
Rtd Park-N-Ride
3 mi in
|
~5m
Louisville
3 mi in
|
~5m
Denver
11.5 mi in
|
~14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 58.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.14 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Parkway. 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 Fort Collins, 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 0.2 miles (CO 170 / Marshall Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Collins, CO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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