How far is Fort Collins, CO from Montrose, CO?
The driving distance from Fort Collins, CO to Montrose, CO is about 356.3 miles (573.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 51m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 208.1 miles (334.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 06h 51m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Human settlement in Eagle County, Colorado, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Collins and Montrose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins and Montrose.
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1
Start on South Sherwood Street
841 ft · 37 sec · South Sherwood Street
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2
Continue on West Magnolia Street
145 m · 18 sec · West Magnolia Street
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3
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
152 m · 29 sec · South Meldrum Street
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4
Turn left onto West Mulberry Street
1494 ft · 44 sec · West Mulberry Street
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5
Continue on East Mulberry Street
3.9 mi · 7 min · East Mulberry Street
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 25 South: Denver
1355 ft · 33 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
41.4 mi · 41 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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8
Continue on North Valley Highway
3187 ft · 36 sec · North Valley Highway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
8.8 mi · 11 min · North Valley Highway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
1.5 mi · 2 min · North Valley Highway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
1.5 km · 2 min
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12
Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Heartland Expressway
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13
Merge slight left
232.9 mi · 4 hr 17 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
1.8 mi · 5 min
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15
Turn left onto 32 Road
5.4 mi · 9 min · 32 Road
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16
At the end of the road, turn left onto United States Highway 50
11.7 mi · 14 min · United States Highway 50
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17
Continue straight
14.8 mi · 17 min
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18
Turn right onto G50 Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · G50 Road
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19
Continue on G Road
1.1 km · 1 min · G Road
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20
Continue on G Road
1.6 mi · 3 min · G Road
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21
Continue on West 5th Street
1068 ft · 30 sec · West 5th Street
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22
Turn right onto Confluence Drive
1.3 km · 1 min · Confluence Drive
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23
Take the exit slight right
767 ft · 15 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Main Street
20.8 mi · 27 min · Main Street
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25
Continue on South Townsend Avenue
760 ft · 27 sec · South Townsend Avenue
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26
Continue on South Townsend Avenue
109 m · 16 sec · South Townsend Avenue
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27
Turn right onto South 1st Street
70 m · 10 sec · South 1st Street
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Collins and Montrose.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Heartland Expressway
Merge slight left
233 mi · 04h 17m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Fort Collins and Sunny near Montrose.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Collins to Montrose?
The road trip is about 356.3 miles (573.4 km) and usually takes 06h 51m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Eagle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 178 miles from Fort Collins and 178.3 miles from Montrose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 208.1 miles (334.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 148.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.48 one way or $92.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Fort Collins and Sunny near Montrose.
Stop Ideas Near Eagle
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Eagle.
Vail, Colorado
Glenwood Springs
Frisco, Colorado
Fairplay, CO
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Collins and Montrose. Straight-line distance: 208.12 mi (334.94 km).
#1 Fort Collins
The fifth most populous city in Colorado.
| Population | 168,234 |
| Coordinates | 40.5852600, -105.0844200 |
| Altitude | 1525 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Montrose
Coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland
| Population | 19,902 |
| Coordinates | 38.4783200, -107.8761700 |
| Altitude | 1770 |
| Country | United States |
End: Montrose (-107.87617, 38.47832)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 573 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $46.48 | $92.97 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $51.34 | $102.67 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $55.19 | $110.39 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $59.54 | $119.09 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Colorado · May 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.