Fort Collins

Craft Beer, Trails and Mountain Views

Fort Collins sits in northern Colorado, surrounded by mountains and farmland. The city has a population around 170,000 people. It is home to Colorado State University, which brings students from across the country each year. Known for craft beer, local breweries line streets like College Avenue. Trails run through parks such as Horsetooth Reservoir, offering hiking and biking paths. Seasonal weather includes cold winters with occasional snowfall and warm summers ideal for outdoor activities. Cultural events include farmers markets and music festivals throughout the year.

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City in United States

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.8

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	7

Read details

5/5

English is universally spoken, and all services, signage, and guides are in English. Spanish is also common, especially in restaurants and hotels, but you’ll have no trouble communicating in English anywhere.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Fort Collins Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
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Known for craft beer and outdoor lifestyle. Tour breweries, cycle scenic trails, explore parks and enjoy a lively college-town atmosphere.

Place score

7.0

Best at:

Spotless

Beer

Hiking

Large cities

Cosy towns

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Fort Collins, United States

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Mar

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park usually open late May to mid October

Whitewater rafting on the Poudre River peaks late May to early July during snowmelt

Wildfire smoke and closures possible in late summer, mainly July to September

Don't miss

🥾 Hike the trails at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
🍺 Tour local craft breweries and savor unique flavors
🏛️ Explore the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery exhibits
🦋 Stroll through the Gardens on Spring Creek butterfly pavilion
🏠 Visit historic Avery House Victorian mansion
🌊 Raft or relax at Poudre River Whitewater Park

You've been here?

Why travel to Fort Collins?

If you love the outdoors, Fort Collins is a dream: there are miles of scenic trails for hiking and biking, the Cache la Poudre River for kayaking or whitewater fun and nearby Horsetooth Reservoir for swimming or boating. The city is also famous for its craft beer scene – there are more breweries here per capita than almost anywhere else in the U.S. and many offer tours, tastings and live music. The downtown is full of historic charm, with colorful buildings, street art and a buzzing food scene. It’s also a great place for families, with parks, museums and Colorado State University’s beautiful campus. On the flip side, Fort Collins can get crowded during university events and summer weekends and accommodation prices may spike. Weather is generally sunny but can be unpredictable – spring brings sudden snow and summer thunderstorms are common. Public transportation is good, but if you want to explore the mountains or reservoirs, you’ll need a car or a bike. Still, the city’s friendly vibe and endless things to do make it a place you’ll want to come back to.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Colorado State University
2 Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
3 Avery House
4 Old Town Square
5 West Horsetooth Road
6 City Park

🎡Places for activities

1 Horsetooth Reservoir
2 Poudre River Whitewater Park
3 Old Town North
4 Lory State Park
5 Coyote Ridge Natural Area
6 Sheldon Lake

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Cache La Poudre River
2 Gardens on Spring Creek
3 Poudre Canyon Highway
4 Horsetooth Mountain

🛍️Shopping

1 Foothills Mall

🎈Events

Tour de Fat
FoCoMX (Fort Collins Music eXperiment)
NewWestFest
Colorado Brewers’ Festival
CSU Homecoming
Holiday Lights in Old Town
Fort Collins Peach Festival
Taste of Fort Collins
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Summer Concert Series

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Knowledge before you go

Explore Old Town's historic square.
Book brewery tours early; craft beer scene thrives with New Belgium leading tours.
Pack layers for sudden mountain weather changes and high-altitude sunshine.
Hike Horsetooth Reservoir trails for panoramic Rocky Mountain views and reservoir access.

How to travel to Fort Collins

The nearest major airport is Denver International (DIA), about an hour’s drive south – shuttles and rental cars are available. There’s also a regional airport in Loveland. Buses connect Fort Collins with Denver and Boulder and Amtrak stops in nearby Denver.

Access summary

From Denver Airport (DEN): Shuttle or bus services, usually about 1.5–2 h.
From Denver city: Intercity bus or car via I‑25, roughly 1–1.5 h.
From Boulder: Drive or regional bus connections via Longmont/I‑25, around 1–1.5 h.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Fort Collins

You’ll find everything from boutique hotels and historic inns in Old Town to modern chains, family-friendly motels and vacation rentals. Book early for university events, festivals or summer weekends, as rooms fill quickly. Camping is available near Horsetooth Reservoir.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Fort Collins

8.6

Super 8 By Wyndham Fort Collins

8.0

Americas Best Value Inn & Suites Ft. Collins E at I-25

7.1

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Fort Collins

8.6

Quality Inn & Suites University Fort Collins

8.9

Clarion Inn

6.7

Embassy Suites by Hilton Loveland Conference Center

9.5

Quality Inn & Suites Fort Collins East

7.4

Days Inn by Wyndham Fort Collins

8.0

Fort Collins Marriott

8.8

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Fort Collins

The city is very bike-friendly, with extensive trails and a free bike library. Downtown and Old Town are walkable. The Transfort bus system is free as of 2022 and covers most of the city, though service can be limited late at night. Taxis, rideshares and rental cars are available for trips farther out or to Horsetooth Reservoir.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+2 %

Daily expenses in Fort Collins are around 2% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£109	£199	£441
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£74	£117	£194
🍝 Food per day	£31	£76	£221
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£6	£26

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£30
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£15
🍟 Fast food combo	£9
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£4.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.15
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£16
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£125
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£16

Safety information overview

General safety

Fort Collins is considered very safe, with low crime rates and a welcoming atmosphere. Standard precautions apply — lock your bike and car and avoid isolated areas late at night, especially around the river.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent, with several hospitals and clinics in town. Pharmacies are easy to find. Bring any prescription meds and sun protection — altitude and sun can be intense. Tap water is safe and high quality.

Accessibility

Most attractions, hotels and public spaces are accessible, with ramps and elevators. Some older buildings and outdoor trails may have limited accessibility — check ahead if you have specific needs.

Tap water

Tap water is clean, safe and tastes great — no need for bottled water. Public fountains are common in parks and downtown. Stay hydrated, especially at altitude and during outdoor activities.