PLanning ahead,and was wondering what is the best time of the year (spring or fall,APRIL-October)also best route I70 or I80.To cross the Rocky's.Will be leaving Benson AZ heading to Yankton SD , pulling a 34' 5ver.
Of those 2 months it's a guess, either could have snow that lasts for days on the ground or gone the next day. Why not I40 to I25 then north to I80 if the weather is bad.
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Either month can have weather related issues but my personal preference is I-80 because it is not as high up in altitude and is more flat. I-80 over Wyoming is not nearly as pretty though, so if you want a scenic drive, go I-70 and prepare for lots of mountains. I would also watch the forecasts in advance and go whichever way is more available.
Would seem to me like you'd avoid it all by going from Benson on I-10 to Las Cruces, then I-25 to Denver, I-76 to merge with I-80 to Omaha, I-25 to Vermillion, then west back to Yankton. Unless the idea IS to go over the mountains
Either way, have a safe journey.
-Joe Williams I can only go as fast as I am towed.
I don't understand the question. You do not cross the Rockies between benson and Yankton, unless you do a MAJOR detour! Is there more to your question than shows?
Colorado Cruiser
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palomas wrote: I-10 to Las Cruces, I-25 N to Cheyenne, East on I-80 to York, Ne then North on US81 to Yankton.
Exactly the way I would go. I hate I 76 from Denver to I 80.
Lou
I 76 saves 60 miles and an hour of driving. And I hate the traffic on I-25 north of Denver (at 75 mph, I'm holding up traffic, unless it's ground to a halt because of an accident). When I visit family in Loveland, I'll often get off I-25 and go up US 287. Slower, but saner.
I have lived in Colorado 29 years and crossed the Continential Divide more times than I can count on business and pleasure and in at least a dozen different vehicles including towing two fivers and now a MH. We primarily use I-70.
October and April are our shoulder seasons weather wise. You can hit big wet snows in either of those months as well as the other 10 while crossing the Rockies. The earlier in October and later in April you can travel will give you the best weather.
Just watch the weather several days out and plan accordingly. Also look at the CDOT webcams that show all the critical areas of I-70 and I-25. That time of year most of the storms will pass in 24 hours. CDOT does a super job getting I-70 clear.
I've driven I-40 to I-25 also done I-80. I-80 is certainly an easier crossing but it is not scenic in the least. I-40 has so much truck traffic. I-25 driving through C Springs and Denver can be a royal pain in an RV.
In closing I would say it depends on your most direct route from point A to B. But I-70 in late September and early October is spectacular with the changing leaves. Just don't panic and drive way out of your way trying to skirt a storm. Sometimes the back side of the storms will have high winds that shut you down for a day or two.
2007 HR Endeavor 40'PDQ
HMS Indebtedness + 2001 Wrangler
Benson is about 50 miles east of Tucson on the I10. I agree with my friend, cruiserjs, you don't cross the Rockies unless you are going the wrong direction or have an intermediate stop in mind.
The I25 from CO Springs to Ft. Collins can be soooooooooo bad! (And I so look forward to doing it again this year!)
I have driven all those roads but not the I76 in recent years - have not driven in since the late 90's.
But, if it were me, I would go the I10, I25, I76 (agree with 4runnerguy) and I80 route. Or bail out and go thru OK City and up - but I know absolutely nothing of that route.
In any case you will not be at real high elevations but not to say you could not get a storm either time of year. I would opt for Oct if given a choice.
Be safe. Enjoy each day.
Lauren - -
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