Getting There

By Car -- Coming from south or north, take I-25 to exit 269 (Mulberry St., for downtown Fort Collins), exit 268 (Prospect Rd., for Colorado State University), or exit 265 (Harmony Rd., for south Fort Collins). From Rocky Mountain National Park's Estes Park entrances, follow U.S. 34 to Loveland, then turn north on U.S. 287. The drive takes about 1 1/4 hours from Denver or Estes Park and about 40 minutes from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

By Plane -- Many visitors to Fort Collins fly into Denver International Airport. The Fort Collins/Loveland Airport (tel. 970/962-2852), off I-25 exit 259, 7 miles northeast of downtown Loveland, offers regularly scheduled commercial service with Allegiant Air (tel. 702/505-8888); call for the current schedule.

Shamrock Airport Express (tel. 866/482-0505 or 970/482-0505) provides daily shuttle services between Denver and Fort Collins (one-way rates: $26 adults, $8 children 11 and younger, free for children who sit on a parent's lap). Car rentals in Fort Collins are provided by Advantage (tel. 800/574-6000 or 970/224-2211) and Enterprise (tel. 800/736-8222 or 970/224-2592).

Visitor Information

The Fort Collins Convention and Visitors Bureau operates a visitor information center at 19 Old Town Sq., Suite 137, Fort Collins, CO 80524 (tel. 800/274-3678). The state operates a Colorado Welcome Center, just east of I-25 at Prospect Road (exit 268); the angular, two-story building's unique architecture makes it hard to miss. Both are open daily from 8am to 6pm Memorial Day to Labor Day, and from 8am to 5pm the rest of the year.

Getting Around

Fort Collins is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 4 miles west of I-25. College Avenue (U.S. 287) is the main north-south artery and the city's primary commercial strip; Mulberry Street (Colo. 14) is the main east-west thoroughfare. Downtown Fort Collins extends north of Mulberry Street on College Avenue to Jefferson Street; Old Town is a triangle east of and bounded by College Avenue, 4 blocks north of Mulberry. The main Colorado State University campus covers a square mile on the west side of College Avenue 2 blocks south of Mulberry.

The city bus system, known as Transfort (tel. 970/221-6620), operates more than a dozen routes throughout Fort Collins Monday through Saturday, except major holidays. Most routes run from 6:30am to 6:30pm, and additional runs are made when CSU is in session. All buses have bike racks. Fares are $1.25 for adults, 60¢ for seniors 60 and older and those with disabilities; youths 17 and under ride free. Exact change is required. A 10-ride ticket costs $9.

Taxi service is provided 24 hours a day by Shamrock Yellow Cab (tel. 970/224-2222).

Bicycling is a popular and viable means of transportation in Fort Collins. Just about the only place you can't ride is College Avenue.

Fast Facts

The Poudre Valley Hospital is at 1024 S. Lemay Ave. (tel. 800/252-5784 or 970/495-7000), between Prospect Road and Riverside Avenue just east of downtown. The main post office is located at 301 E. Boardwalk Dr. Contact the U.S. Postal Service (tel. 800/275-8777) for hours and other post office locations.

Special Events

Gem & Mineral Show, late March; Cinco de Mayo in Old Town, first weekend in May; Colorado Brewers' Festival in Old Town Square, last full weekend in June; Fabric of Legacies Quilt Show, mid-June; New WestFest in Old Town and Library Park, mid-August; Museum of Contemporary Art Studio Tour; and Oktoberfest in Old Town, late September.