Colorado is an incredible state to visit, and there is plenty to see and do. One area, in particular, that’s worth a trip is the town of Fort Collins. Based in northern Colorado, this historic town offers visitors the opportunity to experience an abundance of natural beauty in its surrounding areas, as well as a thriving center full of unique shops, museums, and top-quality restaurants. As Fort Collins is a historic town, you can also explore the beautiful buildings that were built in the 1800s in the Old Town district, as well as enjoying a ride on a vintage trolley.
Of course, there are plenty of hotels and accommodation options to choose from in the area, but for a unique experience, why not travel around Fort Collins road trip style? With the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest in such proximity, this is the ultimate way to get the best of a city-style getaway and a nature retreat all in one! If this sounds appealing to you, here are a few things you need to keep in mind when planning your Fort Collins road trip.
Plan Route
It’s an obvious point, but carefully planning your route for your trip is essential. If you’re traveling from another area of Colorado, this might be a bit more straight forward for you, but if you’re coming from out of state, you will need to take time to determine the best route. You will need to think about the time it will take you to travel, find suitable break stops and try to identify some key points where you can refuel. You might also want to think about finding motels or other accommodation options to break up your journey if you’re traveling long-distance. You should also consider alternative routes in case there are any unforeseen problems on the road, such as a traffic accident or roadworks, that will delay your travel time.
Transport & Accommodation
Once your route has been finalized, you will then need to determine what mode of transport will suit your needs best. If you have a large family car, you might be comfortable taking a long road trip in it. As long as there is room for all of your luggage and tents if you’re planning to stop at campsites along the way.
If you have decided to fly into Fort Collins and then rent a vehicle to explore the area when you arrive, an RV would be an ideal mode of transport for the road trip, especially if you’re planning to stop at campsites along the way. RVs come in various sizes, which means finding one suitable for your party should be fairly easy. I would recommend to use this Fort Collins RV rental service to find the perfect motorhome for your group and hit the road in no time
Things to Do in Fort Collins
Once you have organized how you are getting to Fort Collins and your transportation for your road trip, you can start to decide what you’d like to do while you’re there. Here are a few of the highlights in the area that you might want to visit, and where you can park up your RV or pitch a tent.
For beer lovers, a visit to the New Belgium Brewing Company will be a treat. They offer free tours (book ahead), and guests can sample a wide range of their beers as well as enjoy tasty treats from a food truck vendor that changes regularly. You can also visit the Odell Brewing Company and compare the two! If that doesn’t sound like your thing, not to worry. For an educational experience, head over to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, which offers plenty of information on the history and development of science and culture. This is a particularly good spot to take the kids for the day. There are also pretty gardens and parks in the town, as well as a range of tours that visitors can book to explore the town more thoroughly.
Once you have had enough of the buzz in central Fort Collins, it’s time to jump in the RV and head out into the countryside. Horsetooth Mountain offers wide, sweeping views of gorgeous landscapes, and there are plenty of hiking trails to roam. There’s also a campsite here which makes it perfect for stopping off and spending the night during your visit. Other areas of natural beauty include the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest, as mentioned earlier, the Pawnee National Grassland and Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Again, there are many campsites near these spots that you can stay during your explorations.
Budget
Finally, you need to crunch some numbers and factor in all of the costs of your trip. Naturally, the amount of time you want to spend on this trip will determine how much you can spend and will affect things like your accommodation options, etc. It is essential you have enough money for gas and food and always have an emergency stash to dip into if you find yourself in a difficult situation. You will also save a lot of money by getting an RV instead of renting a car and staying in the hotels. Fort Collins isn’t as expensive as some bigger cities in the states, which is why it makes an excellent destination for those who aren’t wanting to spend too much on their vacation. There are also free things you can do in town, such as exploring the farmer’s market or take the kids to watch free cartoons at the Lyric Cinema Café from 10 am until noon.
Fort Collins and its surrounding area truly have a lot to offer visitors. A perfect balance of a vibrant town and serene nature, there is something for everyone to see and enjoy. If you’re looking for something a bit different on your next vacation, take to the road and travel around this beautiful town and the wider region. You could even extend your trip and travel across the state of Colorado and explore the Rockies and other great towns and national parks.
