How far is Fort Collins, CO from Paonia, CO?
The driving distance from Fort Collins, CO to Paonia, CO is about 288.2 miles (463.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 178.4 miles (287.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 16m 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 08m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in Summit County, Colorado, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Collins and Paonia.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins and Paonia.
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1
Start on South Sherwood Street
841 ft · 41 sec · South Sherwood Street
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2
Continue on West Magnolia Street
145 m · 20 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 · 42 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
153.2 mi · 2 hr 55 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
747 ft · 21 sec
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15
Continue on Laurel Street
119 m · 15 sec · Laurel Street
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16
Continue on Grand Avenue
1204 ft · 45 sec · Grand Avenue
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17
Turn right onto 8th Street
2084 ft · 49 sec · 8th Street
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18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Midland Avenue
1.6 mi · 3 min · Midland Avenue
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19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street
54 m · 3 sec · 27th Street
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20
Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street
636 ft · 13 sec · 27th Street
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21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street
26 m · 2 sec · 27th Street
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22
Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street
692 ft · 19 sec · 27th Street
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23
Turn right onto Glen Avenue
9.8 mi · 16 min · Glen Avenue
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24
Turn right
1.1 mi · 2 min
-
25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
33 m · 2 sec
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26
Exit the roundabout
1.3 mi · 3 min
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27
Continue straight
55.8 mi · 1 hr 31 min
-
28
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
1.3 km · 2 min · Grand Avenue
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29
Turn left onto 3rd Street
1674 ft · 48 sec · 3rd Street
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30
Turn right onto Orchard Avenue
16 m · 2 sec · Orchard Avenue
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Orchard Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Collins and Paonia.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Heartland Expressway
Merge slight left
153 mi · 02h 55m
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.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers leaving Fort Collins and Sunny near Paonia.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Collins to Paonia?
The road trip is about 288.2 miles (463.8 km) and usually takes 06h 08m 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?
Frisco is a useful midpoint, sitting about 144 miles from Fort Collins and 144.2 miles from Paonia.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 178.4 miles (287.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 109.8 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 $37.61 one way or $75.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers around Fort Collins and Sunny near Paonia.
Stop Ideas Near Frisco
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 Frisco.
Frisco, Colorado
Vail, Colorado
Fairplay, CO
Fraser – Winter Park
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Collins and Paonia. Straight-line distance: 178.39 mi (287.09 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 Paonia
City in Delta County, Colorado, United States of America
| Population | 1,474 |
| Coordinates | 38.8683200, -107.5920000 |
| Altitude | 1732 |
| Country | United States |
End: Paonia (-107.592, 38.86832)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 464 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 36m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 12m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 45m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 48m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 07m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 35m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $37.61 | $75.22 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $41.53 | $83.07 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $44.66 | $89.31 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $48.18 | $96.35 |
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 · Apr 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.