Fort Collins

Introduction

Fort Collins is a home rule city in Larimer County, Colorado, and serves as the county seat and largest municipality in the county. It sits within the Fort Collins metropolitan area in the northern part of the state.

Before you go

Fort Collins centres on Old Town, the downtown area at the crossing of College Avenue and Mountain Avenue, where the town began and where you'll find a wide range of older buildings and historical monuments. If early 20th-century architecture is what draws you, this is the part of the city to base yourself in.

Colorado State University sits right in the middle of the city, its main campus running from Prospect Road in the south to Laurel Street in the north, and from Shields Street in the west to College Avenue in the east, with several smaller campuses elsewhere in town. Look west of town for the big white "A" on the mountain, a relic of the days when CSU was the Colorado Agricultural College.

Getting there

Denver International Airport is the closest international airport to Fort Collins, and several shuttle services run between them, including Landline and Groome. If you're flying during daylight hours, the cheapest option is to combine Bustang with RTD's A Line train. Northern Colorado Regional Airport sits between Fort Collins and Loveland, adjacent to I-25 and US Hwy 34; the Groome and Landline shuttles also stop there.

By bus, Bustang is a state-wide service operated by the Colorado Department of Transportation, with new, clean and punctual buses, affordable fares, and bike racks on board at no extra charge; its North Line provides a direct connection to Denver. Flex, run by Transfort, connects to Loveland, Berthoud, Longmont and Boulder, and also carries bike racks. The Poudre Express, operated by Greeley Evans Transit, links Fort Collins to Greeley and Windsor with modern vehicles, free wifi and bike racks, though buses run infrequently and often face delays, especially at rush hour. Greyhound Lines connects to Denver and toward Salt Lake City via Cheyenne, with no direct service to Laramie. By rail, the nearest train station is Denver Union Station, reachable on Amtrak's California Zephyr; Amtrak also runs a throughway bus from Denver through Fort Collins, but it only operates biweekly, and the Bustang North Line, which stops at Union Station, is likely more affordable and less strict on luggage sizes.

Getting around

Fort Collins is a compact, bike-friendly city, and much of the historic Old Town area — which sits next to the site of the original fort and is home to the Downtown Transit Center — is easy to cover on foot. For longer hops, rent a bike or pick up a Spin ride-share e-bike or scooter. Biking is exceptionally well supported here by US standards, with paved trails and designated bike routes throughout, including on the busier arterial roads; it can often be faster than driving at rush hour, though trails sometimes take less direct routes and aren't typically given priority at street crossings. Recycled Cycles rents bikes by the day, guests at the Armstrong Hotel get free bikes for their stay, and shops such as The Gearage may also rent. For parts and repairs, the volunteer-run Fort Collins Bike Coop is likely the most affordable option, with experienced mechanics and a large selection of used parts.

Local buses are run by Transfort and are free to ride for the foreseeable future. Routes generally run Monday through Saturday, with the most popular running more frequently and the MAX bus rapid transit line more often still; MAX service also extends later into the evening than regular routes. Buses do not operate at all on Sundays, so plan weekend travel accordingly. Transfort is organized around four hubs: the Downtown Transit Center in Old Town, the CSU Transit Center on the Colorado State University campus (a short walk from a MAX stop), the South Transit Center at the southern end of the MAX line, and the Harmony Transfer Center, reached from the South Transit Center via Route 16. The MAX links downtown and the South Transit Center along Mason Street. For trips beyond the city, FLEX connects to Loveland, Berthoud, Longmont and Boulder, the Poudre Express runs to Greeley and Windsor from the CSU and Harmony hubs, and Bustang's North Line reaches Denver, stopping at the Downtown and Harmony centers. Greyhound also serves Denver and points toward Salt Lake City via Cheyenne, and airport shuttles including Landline and Groome connect Denver International Airport and Northern Colorado Regional Airport. The city's free on-demand taxi service covers suspended routes but is best treated as a backup, as taxis are often very late.

Where to stay

Downtown puts you in the middle of things: the Armstrong Hotel on South College Avenue is a boutique property with a small, eclectic set of rooms. Just west of downtown, the Hilton sits near student housing and the railroad. If you'd rather base yourself away from the centre, the Cambria Suites is out on East Harmony Road, and the Courtyard on Oakridge Drive has an indoor pool and runs a free weekday shuttle to nearby businesses.

• Comfort Inn Fort Collins North, off the I-25 and Highway 14/Mulberry exit, with free wifi, a hot buffet breakfast, and a heated pool and hot tub.
• Fort Collins Marriott on East Horsetooth Road, a large property with extensive meeting space and high-speed internet.
• Quality Inn & Suites on South Mason Street, an all-suite option that allows pets.

Food & drink

What to see and do

Start in Historic Old Town, where shops, restaurants and an outdoor mall sit among historic buildings just east of College Avenue between Mountain Avenue and Walnut Street. Street parking is difficult, so use one of the city parking structures, the secure bike parking in the Mason Street garage, or the MAX transit line. In Old Town Square you can try a locally brewed beer or lager, and catch local music at The Aggie. For a deeper look at the area, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery covers the city and Larimer County's history and ecology with interactive exhibits, live animals and a planetarium, while The Farm at Lee Martinez Park is a small agricultural zoo aimed at children. The Center for Fine Art Photography is another downtown stop, and in warmer months the Fort Collins Municipal Railway Trolley Depot runs its historic trolley down Mountain Avenue between City Park and other stops.

Fort Collins is a brewery town: local award-winning breweries include New Belgium, Odell, Fort Collins Brewery, CooperSmith's Pub and Brewery and Big Horn Brewing, plus an Anheuser Busch outpost, and New Belgium offers guided and self-guided tours with tastings for visitors of age. Outdoors, Horsetooth Reservoir draws climbers, boaters, hikers, boulderers and mountain bikers, and the Cache La Poudre River offers fly fishing for wild rainbow and brown trout, plus tubing and swimming that demand real caution because of the current. The Poudre Canyon, reached north out of town, has whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking trails such as Greyrock Trail, wildlife, camping and the riverside Mishawaka Amphitheatre. An extensive paved trail network crosses the city, including the Poudre, Spring Creek, Fossil Creek, Power and Mason trails, with a bike park at Spring Canyon Park. For organized adventure, Rocky Mountain Adventures runs whitewater rafting, kayaking lessons and fly-fishing clinics in summer and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. Indoors, the Edora Pool Ice Center has a public pool and ice rink, and the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland hosts national acts and semi-professional teams. Colorado State University's campus hosts Rams sports, with football at Canvas Stadium and basketball and volleyball at Moby Arena.

When to go

Fort Collins has a cold semi-arid climate, with warm to hot summers and long, moderately cold winters that bring most of the year's snow. Summer is the hottest stretch of the year and the peak season for spending time outdoors in the city and the nearby foothills; it is also your most reliable window for rain-free days. If warm weather and dry skies matter most to your plans, aim for this season.

Winters are long and moderately cold, with December the coldest month. Snow falls and can accumulate, so plan for winter driving conditions and pack cold-weather gear. Frequent downslope winds bring warm spells that break up the cold, though occasional intervals of severe cold do occur. Snow is possible from early September through the end of May, which makes spring and fall the least predictable part of the year: days can be mild, but snow can arrive on either end of the season.

Three days in Fort Collins

Day one: Start in Old Town, the historic heart of Fort Collins, where College Avenue and Mountain Avenue frame a walkable grid of shops and cafes. Colorado State University sits just south along College Avenue, and the surrounding blocks between Prospect Road and Laurel Street make an easy introduction to the city on foot. If you arrive by air, Denver International Airport is the usual gateway, with Landline, Groome and Bustang offering onward connections; Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Loveland is closer still. Look for the old Colorado Agricultural College ties as you pass the CSU campus.

Day two: Head west along Mountain Avenue toward Shields Street, then loop back through the residential streets that give Old Town its character. The Poudre Express and Transfort routes make it simple to move between Old Town, the campus and the edges of Larimer County without a car. By evening, return to Old Town for dinner and a wander past the storefronts along College Avenue.

Day three: Use Fort Collins as a base for the wider region. Transfort's Flex line runs to Berthoud, Longmont and Boulder, while Greeley Evans Transit and The Poudre Express connect Greeley and Windsor. Greyhound Lines serves longer journeys toward Salt Lake City, and the Colorado Department of Transportation's North Line project points to future rail links to Denver. If your time is short, a final morning in Old Town before heading back to Denver International Airport rounds out the visit.