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Trip from The Pinery, 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 47m

Distance

95.7 mi

154 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown The Pinery, CO, CO

The Pinery, CO

Alexander Hamilton

city and county seat of Larimer County, Colorado, United States

Fort Collins, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 95.7-mile drive from The Pinery to Fort Collins, Colorado, will take you about 1 hour and 47 minutes. You'll primarily be on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, E-470, and South Parker Road, experiencing a route with frequent turns. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day adventure, requiring no overnight stops. The journey stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward connection between two Colorado locations. Plan for a day trip that prioritizes navigation over extended sightseeing.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

47.8 miles from The Pinery, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 41.2 mi 41m
E-470 40.1 mi 40m
South Parker Road 6.6 mi 10m
East Mulberry Street 4 mi 7m
Lakeview Drive 1.3 mi 3m
West Mulberry Street 0.3 mi <1m
North Pinery Parkway 0.2 mi <1m
South Sherwood Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 41.2 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between The Pinery, CO and Fort Collins, CO.

1

Start on this road

61 ft · 6 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Mountain View Drive

412 ft · 20 sec · Mountain View Drive
3

Turn right onto Lakeview Drive

1.3 mi · 3 min · Lakeview Drive
4

Turn left onto North Pinery Parkway

0.2 mi · 31 sec · North Pinery Parkway
5

Turn right onto CO 83

6.6 mi · 10 min · South Parker Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 33 sec
Toward E470 Toll, I 70: Limon, Denver International Airport
7

Merge onto E470

40 mi · 40 min · E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Exit 47 Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Exit 47 Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
10

Merge onto I 25

41 mi · 41 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 269B Toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins
12

Merge onto CO 14

4.0 mi · 7 min · East Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on West Mulberry Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · West Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Turn right onto South Meldrum Street

499 ft · 29 sec · South Meldrum Street
15

Turn left onto West Magnolia Street

476 ft · 18 sec · West Magnolia Street
16

Continue on South Sherwood Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · South Sherwood Street
17

Arrive at destination

South Sherwood Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave The Pinery in the morning to make the most of your day in Fort Collins. With no official stops recommended and a manageable fuel cost of $14, you can easily complete this trip in one go. Pay close attention to your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent changes in direction. Keep an eye out for signs indicating E-470 and South Parker Road to ensure you stay on track for Fort Collins.

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 47.8 miles from The Pinery, CO, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.2 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 47.8 miles or 53m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Collins, CO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving The Pinery, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from The Pinery, CO

This is one driving day of about 95.7 miles and 1h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from The Pinery, 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 41.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Aurora, CO, CO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aurora, CO

48 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

Parker, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Todd Creek, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.8 miles from The Pinery, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: 7:30 am–4 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 27.3

Aurora, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13033403463

Visit website

Old Town Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+19704846500

Visit website

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19702216738

Visit website

Lee Martinez Community Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 95.7

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+19702216660

Visit website

Railbender Skate & Tennis Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 6.8

Parker, Colorado

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+13038414500

Visit website

Little Monkey Bizness - Westminster

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 47.8

Westminster, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–1 pm

+13032529999

Visit website

Green Valley Ranch East Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 27.3

Denver, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+17209131311

Visit website

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 88.8

Fort Collins, Colorado

+19706823374

Visit website

Cobblestone Ranch Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Castle Rock, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+17207332260

Visit website

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 1.5 and 49.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.5 mi into trip | ~4m in | CO 83 / South Parker Road

Turn right onto CO 83 / South Parker Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
8.1 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward E470 Toll, I 70: Limon, Denver International Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward E470 Toll, I 70: Limon, Denver Internati...
5
8.7 mi into trip | ~14m in | E470 / E-470

Merge onto E470 / E-470

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
48.8 mi into trip | ~54m in

Take the exit toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins

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: Denver, Fort Collins
6
49.1 mi into trip | ~55m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 25 North: Fort Collins

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 47 Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.42 one way

$28.84 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $15.27 $30.53
premium $4.39 $16.56 $33.11
diesel $5.61 $21.13 $42.26

Estimated Tolls: $4.82

E-470 (40.1 mi) $4.82

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

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.5 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 28.7 0 $10.05 $4.59
Efficient EV 23.9 0 $8.37 $3.83
EV Truck/SUV 38.3 0 $13.40 $6.12

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 16, 2026

Origin

The Pinery, CO

Late night in The Pinery on Sunday

Local time

2:06 AM

MDT

Current temp

73°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 10 to 20 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 2:53AM MDT until April 16 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued April 16 at 2:37AM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Denver CO

Destination

Fort Collins, CO

Late night in Fort Collins on Sunday

Local time

2:06 AM

MDT

Current temp

44°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

29 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 47m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 95.7-mile route, with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 41.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads and potentially some faster arterial routes, rather than sustained highway cruising. The character of the drive will likely involve more frequent adjustments in speed and direction as you transition between different road segments. Be prepared for a more engaged driving experience focused on following directions.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?

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 1.5 miles in near CO 83 / South Parker Road.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95.7 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 1.5 miles (CO 83 / South Parker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles (E470 / E-470): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 The Pinery, CO and Fort Collins, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll and Denver International Airport.

E470 Toll

8.1 mi in | ~14m

Denver International Airport

8.1 mi in | ~14m

About the Cities

Arriving in Fort Collins, CO

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 95.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

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 $4.82 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 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 1.5 miles (CO 83 / South Parker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles (E470 / E-470): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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