For those traveling from outside of Colorado, there are a few options for traveling to Fort Collins, which is not serviced by a major airport. We have listed a few options here to help streamline the process as much as possible. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we feel as though these options are the best balance of convenience and affordability. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please let either of us know (our contact information is on the Q + A page)

Loveland (20-30 minutes south of Fort Collins) is serviced by Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL). United Airlines has partnered with Landline Bus Service to offer a “wingless” connection from Denver International Airport (DEN) to FNL. The process is quite simple, and you can read more about it here. Briefly, through United Airlines you can book a flight with final destination FNL. When you arrive at DEN, any checked luggage you have will be transferred to a Landline shuttle, and you will proceed to gate B93 to depart. The shuttle ride is ~45 minutes long, and when you arrive at FNL your checked luggage will be ready for you. Similarly, when you depart Fort Collins, you can check your bags directly at FNL. After arriving at DEN, you can head straight to security for your flight.

Once you’ve arrived at FNL and you have secured all of your baggage, you can travel to Fort Collins by rental car, taxi service or rideshare. There are Enterprise, Avis and Budget offices on site at FNL, as well as others in the Loveland and Fort Collins area.

If you wish to rent a car directly at DEN, this is a good option too, especially if you are considering exploring the Denver or Boulder areas while you are in Colorado. There are more rental car companies operating out of DEN than at FNL, so there is likely a lot more flexibility over selection and pricing. Fort Collins is only a ~60 minute drive from DEN, and you will enjoy beautiful views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains as you drive north on I-25. Information about rental cars at DEN can be found here.

A third option would be to take a private shuttle from DEN directly to downtown Fort Collins. This is a great option for those who wish to avoid as much personal driving as possible. The most popular company offering shuttles from DEN to Fort Collins (and back) is Groome Transportation. Shuttles are reasonably priced at $40 each way for adults, and operate on an expansive 5 am-1 am schedule when traveling from DEN to Fort Collins, and 2 am-11 pm from Fort Collins to DEN. Groome Transportation drops off at the Harmony Transport Center, which is only 10-15 minutes from downtown Fort Collins. Hotel drop-offs are also available for an additional charge. More information about Groome Transportation Shuttles can be found here.

DEN is one of the largest, and therefore busiest, airports in the country, and consequently can have extremely long security lines, particularly on heavy travel days like Sunday and Monday. Therefore, to ensure no one misses their return flight, we recommend you allow for up to 2 hours before your flight to get through security. While this may seem like overkill, there have been reports of people missing flights due to extended waits. DEN offers an online tool to estimate wait times, but there have been reports of this tool underestimating real wait times.

However you arrive to Fort Collins, getting around the city should be fairly straightforward. The Old Town area (South College Street) has a lot of great restaurants, bars, microbreweries and boutique shopping. There is ample public parking in this area if you choose to rent a car. If you get to Fort Collins without a car but decide you want one once you arrive, there are Enterprise, Budget/Avis and Hertz options in the area. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft), taxi services and public buses are all available also, and more information can be found here. Lastly, cycling is a big component of Colorado culture, and many suggest that the best way to experience Fort Collins/Colorado is to bike. There are many rental options, and you can learn more about them here.