Denver to Fort Collins drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Denver to Fort Collins drive are St Vrain State Park, Fort Vazquez and Loveland CO. The distance from Denver to Fort Collins is 66 miles, with a 1h8m driving time.

Finding the best things to do on between Denver and Fort Collins

The Denver to Fort Collins drive takes you from the Colorado capital to one of the state’s northernmost cities.

Top Denver experiences include Rocky Mountain National Park day tours, downtown Denver food tours and chilling guided ghost walks around the Cheeseman Park cemetery.

Also worth considering are whiskey and history tours, guided mountain hikes and craft beer tours.

Memorable Denver accommodation options include the charming Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast and the strikingly stylish Ramble.

The charm of Fort Collins lies in the historic centre, where buildings date back to the 1800s. For specific attractions, the Museum of Discovery does interactive science, and the CSU Annual Flower Trial Gardens brings beds of experimental plants.

For nature, head to Spring Canyon Park or the Horsetooth Reservoir in the west of the city.

Good Fort Collins experiences include food tours in the Old Town, guided ghost walks and wine tasting.

Distinctive Fort Collins hotels include the Armstrong and Edwards House.

Denver to Fort Collins distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Denver to Fort Collins is 66 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and eight minutes. The quickest route is largely up the I-25.

The best stops to add to a Denver to Fort Collins road trip itinerary are St Vrain State Park, Fort Vazquez and Loveland CO.

Denver to Fort Collins drive: St Vrain State Park

St Vrain State Park covers a series of ponds and reservoirs, making it a good spot for fishing and birdwatching. There’s a sizable bald eagle population.

There are also six easy-going, largely flat biking trails, plus seven miles of hiking trails. Swimming is allowed in all of the ponds, and there are campsites if you wish to stay the night.

Denver to Fort Collins road trip attractions: Fort Vazquez

A short detour off the I-25, Fort Vazquez is a former fur trading post that has been turned into a museum. What stands today is a smaller reconstruction of the original fort, albeit in the same location. It serves as an interesting insight of how mountain men and Native American people came together to trade.

Best stops between Denver and Fort Collins: Loveland CO

Loveland CO has a strong enthusiasm for sculpture. The Benson Sculpture Garden is a ten acre park hosting nearly 200 individual artworks, while the Chapungu Sculpture Park concentrates on Zimbabwean stone sculptures.

The Loveland Museum, meanwhile, covers regional history and rotating art exhibitions with panache. Outdoorsy types are best off hiking in the Devil’s Backbone Open Space.