5 Ways to Get from Denver Airport to Fort Collins

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downtown fort collins

Looking for the best ways to get from Denver Airport to Fort Collins? This guide will go over all of the available options and what you need to know.

Located only 40 miles from the Wyoming border, and 60 miles north of Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado is known for its small-town charm, scenic beauty and abundant outdoor activities. Disney fans will even be pleased to know that Disneyland’s Main Street USA was inspired by the city’s Old Town!

It’s also home to 20 local breweries and Colorado State University.

It’s hard to believe that such a charming destination is only a short drive north from the hustle and bustle of Denver Airport, but it is!

Distance from Denver Airport to Fort Collins

Fort Collins, Colorado is approximately 70 miles north of Denver International Airport. Depending on traffic and the exact start and end points of your trip, the driving distance between the two typically takes around 1 to 1.5 hours.

Driving Routes

The route from Denver International Airport to Fort Collins is pretty straightforward once you get to I-25 N. The only variance is going to be at the beginning of your route, which is where you choose to use the toll road or not.

Route 1 – Toll Road + I-25

E-470 to I-25 N is the quickest route to take from Denver Airport to Fort Collins. At the bare minimum, taking the toll road will save you 15 minutes of driving, but it’s likely you’ll save even more time by taking this route.

Route 2 – I-70 + I-25 (no tolls)

If you prefer to avoid toll roads, you can do so by simply taking I-70 W to I-25 N.

In the slowest of traffic hours, this is only going to cost you an extra 15 minutes of driving time. Bear in mind, though, that rush hour traffic can up this commute time significantly.

DEN or FNL?

Before getting into the different ways of getting to Fort Collins from Denver Airport, it’s important to address the fact that there is an airport closer than DEN to Fort Collins.  

Technically, Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL) in Loveland, CO is the closest option to Fort Collins, but at this time, you cannot book a commercial flight in or out of FNL. Obviously, it’s a different story if you’re flying via private jet, though.  

United does have a “wingless” connection service to and from FNL, which we will go over shortly in more detail.

Denver to Fort Collins Transportation Options

So, how do you get to Fort Collins from Denver International Airport? Here’s an overview of your different options.  

Rent a Car

How to Book: rentalcars.com

If you’re looking to base yourself in Fort Collins while exploring nearby destinations (i.e. Estes Park), or if you’re just looking to make Fort Collins a stop on a tour around Colorado, you’ll probably want to rent a car, as this will give you the most flexibility to explore at your leisure.

There are plenty of onsite rental car companies to choose from at Denver International Airport, so you won’t have any shortage of options.

Alternatively, check out our guide to saving money on a rental car at DEN.

Take an Uber or Lyft

How to Book: Uber or Lyft App

Arguably one of the easier and more hassle-free options, you can book an Uber/Lyft from Denver Airport to Fort Collins.

You’ll simply follow the signs at DEN to the Uber/Lyft pickup area.

Since Fort Collins isn’t right up the road, it’s not guaranteed that all drivers will accept your trip, which means that you might just have to wait a little longer than normal.

Fly United and Book Fort Collins as Your Destination

How to book: United website

In order to better serve those flying in and out of the Fort Collins area, United Airlines offers a “wingless” connecting flight option from Fort Collins to Denver and vice-versa.

By wingless flying, they mean taking a shuttle between DEN and FNL instead of a plane.

The whole process works similar to connecting flights, minus the flying part. Once you land at DEN, you’ll board a shuttle bus at a specified gate location, and that bus will take you to the FNL airport in Loveland.

Take a Bus

How to book: Bustang App

Taking a bus is by far the cheapest way to get from Denver International Airport to Fort Collins. Or more specifically, taking a train and then a bus.

There are no direct buses from DEN to Fort Collins, so you’ll first have to make your way to downtown Denver’s Union Station via the Denver Airport train.

At Union Station, you’ll take a bus from Denver to Fort Collins via the Bustang.

The Bustang North Line runs daily between downtown Denver’s Union Station and the Ft. Collins Downtown Transit Center (with 2 stops in between).

The bus ride takes approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes door to door.

A single ride fare costs $10 from Union Station to Fort Collins, and there are discounted rates available for seniors and kids.

There are way more bus options Monday – Friday than on weekends and holidays. Check the Bustang schedule to see if it even makes sense for you.

Take a Shuttle

How to book: Groometransportation.com

Taking a shuttle from Denver Airport to Fort Collins involves taking a shared van/car with others.

For $40 one-way, you can book a Groome Transportation to Fort Collins from DEN (stopping first in Loveland). These shuttles run hourly starting at 4:50am and ending at 1:10am.

It’s a pretty economical way of traveling and relatively hassle-free. The only downsides are that you might have to wait a bit at the airport before the scheduled shuttle departure.

Final Thoughts

While there are many different ways to get from Denver Airport to Fort Collins, the right choice for you ultimately boils down to budget, time and what you’ll be doing while there.

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