24 Best Things to Do in Fort Collins

I’m a Colorado local, and I always love finding new things to do in Fort Collins. The area is full of scenic beauty, but the same Rocky Mountains look different in Fort Collins than they do in any other part of the state.

From quaint streets to historic buildings to the Cache la Poudre River, there is a lot to do in Fort Collins! While you’re here, check out my picks for the 25 best hikes near Fort Collins.

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24 Best Things to Do in Fort Collins

Wander Old Town Fort Collins

See the inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street, USA.

📍 Google Maps | Website

Old Town Fort Collins is a quaint, historic place to spend an afternoon. Browse the shops, stop for coffee or ice cream, and people-watch.

The man who designed Disneyland’s Main Street USA grew up here and used the buildings of downtown Fort Collins as part of his inspiration. Downtown Fort Collins is easily walkable, but there are also historic streetcars and modern-day buses that can get you around as well.

🛎️ Need a Hotel? The Armstrong Hotel is in Old Town Fort Collins and opened in the 1920s. It’s within walking distance of breweries and restaurants and keeps the old-town feel of the area.

Holiday Twin Drive-In Theater

See a movie under the stars.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 221-1244 | Website | Hours: Movie times vary; open April – October | Entrance: $9 ages 10+, $6 ages 6-9, under 6 free

Go old-school and head to one of the few drive-in movie theaters left in Colorado. The Holiday Drive-In shows current releases on two screens. They also feature a snack bar, and they grill food for purchase on weekends. 

Horsetooth Reservoir

Spend a day on the water, or exploring around it.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 498-5610 | Website | Entrance: $10 per vehicle, $20 for vehicle & boat trailer 

Horsetooth Reservoir is a popular place in Fort Collins for a day of outdoor recreation. The reservoir has it all, from hiking trails to mountain biking trails, fishing spots, and places to swim. There are campgrounds there as well, so you can spend a few days at the reservoir. 

📚 Related Reading: 8 Best Train Rides in Colorado (By a Local)

Go Hiking

Spend a day admiring Fort Collins’ beautiful scenery.

Website | Hours: Sunup – Sundown daily

From Horsetooth Mountain Open Space to the beautiful trails along the Poudre River Canyon, there are lots of great hiking trails around Fort Collins and Northern Colorado. The Roosevelt National Forest has plenty of trails as well. Your biggest problem is going to be picking just one!

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Rafting Cache la Poudre

Try whitewater rafting on the Colorado river.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 419-0917 | Website | Hours: Tour times vary; open mid-May to Labor Day | Cost: from $90

Whitewater rafting is a quintessential Colorado activity, and you can try it at the Cache la Poudre River in Fort Collins. The Cache la Poudre River is a little less popular for rafting than other Colorado rivers, which means you’ll have fewer crowds to contend with. Check out Mountain Whitewater, a local guide company, for various tours.

Fort Collins Craft Brewery Tour

Explore one of Fort Collins’ most famous industries.

📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator

Fort Collins is known for its craft beer, so spend an afternoon (or longer…we won’t judge) touring some of the many craft breweries in the area.

The New Belgium Brewing Company is a popular choice, while the Odell Brewing Company has been going strong in Fort Collins since 1989.

📚 Related Reading: Where to Stay in Fort Collins (Best Places & Areas)

Horseback Riding at Beaver Meadows Stables

Explore the area around Fort Collins on horseback.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 232-8326 | Website | Hours: Tour times vary; open March/April | Cost: from $75

Horseback riding through the Roosevelt National Forest is something you and your family, or your sweetie, will remember for a very long time. Beaver Meadows Stables offers rides starting at one hour, and pony rides for kids beginning at half an hour each. It’s an exciting way to spend an afternoon in the mountains outside Fort Collins.

👉 Pro Tip: Make a reservation ahead of time to ensure there’s plenty of room for your horseback riding party.

CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden

Experience a gorgeous university teaching tool.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 491-2506 | Website | Hours: Sunup – Sundown daily | Entrance: free 

Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University, and the school maintains an Annual Flower Garden where students and researchers can do horticultural research. And – lucky you! – you can view their results for free. The beautiful gardens are open to the public, so you can stroll the area and learn about the unique challenges of gardening in the Rocky Mountain region.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Learn about Northern Colorado’s discoveries and contributions.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 221-6738 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tuesday – Sunday, Closed Mondays | Entrance: $15 adults, $12.50 under 19

At the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, you’ll learn about the locals’ history, as well as their contributions to the fields of science, music, astronomy, and more. A Music & Sound Lab teaches about the science of sound, and you can play a variety of instruments. The Schatz Family Exploration Zone teaches kids about light, color, motion, and more in a kid-friendly way. 

📚 Related Reading: 41 Best Places to Visit in Colorado (By a Local!)

The Farm at Lee Martinez Park

Take the kids for a fun day at the farm.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 221-6665 | Website | Hours: Winter & Spring 10 am – 4 pm Wed – Sat, 12 pm – 4 pm Sun; Summer & Fall 10 am – 5 pm Wed – Sat, Sun 12 pm – 5 pm | Entrance: $5, 2 years and up; pony rides $7 

Bring the kids to see farm animals and learn about farm life in Northern Colorado. There are pony rides and hands-on experiences where they can learn what it takes to care for these animals on a daily basis. The park, along the Poudre River, is also a pretty place to picnic and relax for a while.

For more kid-friendly activities, check out my full list of activities for kids in Fort Collins.

Cache la Poudre Scenic Byway

Take a gorgeous canyon drive.

📍 Google Maps | Website

This gorgeous drive starts in Fort Collins, runs through Cache la Poudre Canyon and goes over to Walden. The drive is about 2 hours and 15 minutes if you drive straight through, but I recommend you budget three hours so you have time for stops.

City Park

Spend an afternoon by the lake.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 221-6660 | Website | Hours: 5 am – 11 pm daily

City Park has an outdoor pool, complete with a lazy river, drop slide, and water features, and is perfect for cooling off on hot summer days. There are also fishing and paddle boats available on Sheldon Lake. Visit the replica of the Statue of Liberty in the park, or take the self-guided tour of the arboretum.

The Gardens on Spring Creek

Stroll beautiful community gardens.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 416-2486 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $11 adults, $8 under 18

The Gardens on Spring Creek are community botanic gardens that include a visitor center, gift shop, butterfly house, pavilion, and a wide lawn area. There are a variety of themed gardens, including a Children’s Garden, a Rose Garden, and a Garden of Eatin’, along with a miniature train, a Dr. Seuss playhouse, and a sandpit kids will love. 

The Avery House

Tour the home of a Fort Collins founder.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 221-0533 | Website | Tours: 11 am – 2 pm Sat, 1 pm – 4 pm Sun | Entrance: $6 adults, $4 children

Franklin Avery was an important early resident of Fort Collins. He surveyed the town in the late 1800s, founded First National Bank, and helped with agricultural projects. Tour the home he built for his family, which was constructed with sandstone from local quarries. 

You’ll get a feel for how early wealthy residents lived in Northern Colorado in the 1800s and beyond.

📚 Related Reading: 17 Best Museums in Denver, by a Local

Fort Collins Trolley

Ride a historic streetcar.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 224-5372 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Sat, Sun & National Holidays; open May 4 – September 29, 2024 | Tickets: $2 adults, $1 children, free under 3

Ride a historic streetcar from City Park to Old Town during the summer season. These old-school electric vehicles are restored and maintained by Fort Collins Municipal Railway Society, a local nonprofit.

Museum of Art Fort Collins

Take in art from local and farther-flung artists.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 482-2787 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wed, Thurs, & Sat, 10 am – 7 pm Fri, 12 pm – 5 pm Sun, closed Mon & Tues | Entrance: $10 adults, free under 18

See sculptures, paintings, and art in a variety of other mediums at the Museum of Art Fort Collins. The museum has a variety of exhibitions, so each time you go, you may find something new. The building itself is even a work of art – the Old Post Office building is a Fort Collins local landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising

See historic clothing & textiles.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 491-1983 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Tues – Fri, 10 am – 4 pm Sat, closed Sun & Mon | Entrance: free

The Avenir Museum is part of Colorado State University and houses its historic clothing and textile collection. It began in the 1950s as part of the Department of Home Economics and now features three galleries, a classroom and seminar area, a library, and more. 

You’ll find 19th and 20th-century clothing and accessories, designer dresses from Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, and others, and non-Western garments. This is a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and times through the lens of clothing.

Center for Fine Art Photography

Locations and hours vary; see website for details | Phone: (970) 224-1010 | Website | Entrance: free

The Center for Fine Art Photography hosts workshops, events, and exhibits throughout Fort Collins. Various works of photographers are currently visible at Art Lab and Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, located at Colorado State University. If you’re interested in photography, then these are great stops for an hour to wander through and admire the talents of these artists.

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The Exchange

Experience a variety of food, drinks, and shops.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 267-0954 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 11 pm Sun – Thurs, 7 am – 12 am Fri & Sat

The Exchange is an outdoor plaza in Old Town Fort Collins that is enclosed by restaurants, bars, and shops that operate out of shipping container cars. Buy your food or drinks and relax on the lawn chairs or at a community picnic table while you eat and enjoy the outdoors. 

Washington’s Live Music Venue

Check out the Fort Collins live music scene.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 232-9525 | Website

Washington’s is a music hall in historic downtown Fort Collins that hosts contemporary bands. The building was built in the early 1900s and has hosted many businesses for over 100+ years. Take in a concert, and grab a drink at one of the two bars outside the main room.

New Belgium Brewing Tour

See one of the country’s biggest craft breweries.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 221-0524 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 8 pm daily | Entrance: $0-10 depending on tour

The founders of the New Belgium Brewery and the famous Fat Tire Ale were pioneers in the craft beer business. See where the magic began in Fort Collins at the New Belgium Brewing Company, where you can take a free brewery tour, or pay a little to get a more in-depth look at the brewery’s operations. 

There are also guided tastings for a small fee, where you can learn about the history of each beer and read a tasting booklet with more info from New Belgium Brewing on each one.

📚 Related Reading: 29 Fun Things to Do in Boulder Colorado

Fort Fun Entertainment Center

Spend a day playing.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 472-8000 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 8 pm Tues-Thurs, 12 pm – 10 pm Fri, 10 am – 10 pm Sat, 10 am – 8 pm Sun

Fort Fun is a Fort Collins entertainment center that includes mini-golf, go-karts, laser tag, escape rooms, paddle boats, and other attractions. Each activity has its own cost, so you can go for one or spend the day trying everything. 

There’s also an on-site restaurant where you can refuel with meals or snacks. 

⛰️ Read Next: Best Day Trips from Fort Collins

Totally 80s Pizza & Museum

Check out this gnarly museum, dude.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 867-5309 | Website | Hours: 4 pm – 8 pm Mon, 11 am – 9 pm Tues – Thurs, 11 am – 9:30 pm Fri & Sat, 11 am – 8 pm Sun

Grab a slice and indulge your 80s nostalgia at this pizza place. The dough is made on-site, and you can also grab salads, wings, and appetizers. 

Then be sure to check out the collection of 80s pop culture memorabilia, including arcade games, cereal boxes, computers, and even handwritten lyrics to some rad 80s songs. Ernest Cline, who wrote the 80s tribute novel “Ready Player One,” and Corey Feldman have both stopped in.

👉 Read Next: 61 Best Things to Do in Denver

Union Bar Soda Fountain

Indulge at a traditional soda fountain, but make it boozy.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 825-5558 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 10 pm daily

This bar and soda fountain features comfort food and alcoholic drinks inspired by old-fashioned soda fountains. Try traditional soda fountain drinks like egg creams, phosphate sodas, and milkshakes but with a nice, hefty dose of booze to improve matters. Combine your drink with classic diner food like a sandwich, fries, or a delicious brisket.

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Whether you’re looking for fun in the sun or snowy weather activities, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Fort Collins! If you’re looking for more fun things to do across the state, be sure to check out our ultimate travel guide to Colorado for lots of ideas.