Map, Directions, and Parking

CIRA is part of the Fort Collins CSU Foothills Campus. Located at the base of Horsetooth reservoir

Campus Map

Google Map

Parking on campus requires a permit. You can purchase hourly or daily parking. https://pts.colostate.edu/

Phone: (970)491-8448

Physical Location:
Atmospheric Science Campus
Colorado State University,
3925A West Laporte Ave.
Fort Collins, Colorado 80521

Mailing Address:
Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
Colorado State University
1375 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1375

Parking Information

Parking on CIRA Foothills Campus

Parking at CIRA on the CSU Foothills Campus:

Hourly parking costs $1.50/hour and can be purchased in the parking lot using the hourly pay machines. The machine for the Foothills Campus is located down off Laport by the Colorado National Guard building. You can also access these pay stations through the Park Mobile application on your mobile phone zone 2017. Have your license plate number ready.

Daily parking permits can be purchased online or at the Parking and Transportation Services located in the Lake Street Garage for $8/day for a Foothills Only Pass

Driving Directions

From the CSU Main Campus LSC

From the Lory Student Center:

Parking on campus requires a permit. You can purchase hourly or daily parking. https://pts.colostate.edu/visitors/parking/

  • Take Laurel west to Shields
  • Turn left onto Shields and then right onto Elizabeth
  • Take Elizabeth west to Overland Trail
  • Turn right onto Overland Trail
  • Turn Left onto Laporte Ave
  • Travel west on Laporte until you see a sign for Atmospheric Science Center (this is past the Colorado State Forestry Service sign)
  • Turn left into the Atmospheric Science Center driveway.
  • At the fork in the driveway, you will bend left with the road and head up a small hill
Coming from Denver International Airport (DIA – Toll)
  • Take Pena Blvd from DIA to northbound Tower Road.
  • Continue on Tower Road to 104th Avenue and turn left (West, towards the mountains).
  • Take 104th Avenue to I-25 Northbound towards Fort Collins.
  • Continue on I-25 north for about 65 miles.
  • Take exit number 269 (Mulberry Street and CO-14) and head west.
  • After passing through downtown Fort Collins, Mulberry Street will dead end at Overland Trail.
  • Make a right turn on Overland Trail and head north for about a 1/2 mile until you arrive at Laporte Avenue.
  • Make a left on Laporte Avenue and head west for about a 3/4 mile. You should see the main building appear on the left side of the road.
  • While the Forest Service entrance looks tempting, keep going past it until you see the sign for Atmospheric Science.
  • Parking on campus requires a permit. You can purchase hourly or daily parking. https://pts.colostate.edu/visitors/parking/
  • From the parking lot, follow the path down to the building that says CIRA. The main entrance is on the Northside of the building.
Coming from Denver International Airport (DIA – Toll)
  • Take Pena Blvd from DIA to northbound E470 (toll charges apply).
  • Take E470 to northbound I-25 toward Fort Collins.
  • Take I-25 north for about 60 miles.
  • Take exit number 269 (Mulberry Street and CO-14) and head west.
  • After passing through downtown Fort Collins, Mulberry Street will dead end at Overland Trail.
  • Make a right turn on Overland Trail and head north for about a 1/2 mile until you arrive at Laporte Avenue.
  • Make a left on Laporte Avenue and head west for about a 3/4 mile. You should see the main building appear on the left side of the road.
  • While the Forest Service entrance looks tempting, keep going past it until you see the sign for Atmospheric Science.
  • Parking on campus requires a permit. You can purchase hourly or daily parking. https://pts.colostate.edu/visitors/parking/
  • From the parking lot, follow the path down to the building that says CIRA. The main entrance is on the Northside of the building.
Coming from the south (Colorado Springs, Denver, etc.)
  • Take I-25 north to exit number 269 (Mulberry Street and CO-14) and head west.
  • After passing through downtown Fort Collins, Mulberry Street will dead end at Overland Trail.
  • Make a right turn on Overland Trail and head north for about a 1/2 mile until you arrive at Laporte Avenue.
  • Make a left on Laporte Avenue and head west for about a 3/4 mile. You should see the main building appear on the left side of the road.
  • While the Forest Service entrance looks tempting, keep going past it until you see the sign for Atmospheric Science.
  • Parking on campus requires a permit. You can purchase hourly or daily parking. https://pts.colostate.edu/visitors/parking/
  • From the parking lot, follow the path down to the building that says CIRA. The main entrance is on the Northside of the building.
Coming from the north (Wyoming)
  • Take I-25 south to exit number 269B (Mulberry Street and CO-14) and head west.
  • After passing through downtown Fort Collins, Mulberry Street will dead end at Overland Trail.
  • Make a right turn on Overland Trail and head north for about a 1/2 mile until you arrive at Laporte Avenue.
  • Make a left on Laporte Avenue and head west for about a 3/4 mile. You should see the main building appear on the left side of the road.
  • While the Forest Service entrance looks tempting, keep going past it until you see the sign for Atmospheric Science.
  • Parking on campus requires a permit. You can purchase hourly or daily parking. https://pts.colostate.edu/visitors/parking/
  • From the parking lot, follow the path down to the building that says CIRA. The main entrance is on the Northside of the building.

CIRA Locations

Fort Collins, CO

Boulder, CO

Kansas City, MO

Silver Spring, MD

College Park, MD

Miami, FL