25' 5th Wheel) We're planning a trip from Las Vegas to Denver Co and were curious about the road conditions. Is it quite mountainous, many steep hills or ?? We'll be stopping in Salina UT area overnight and also Moab UT for a couple of days before heading to Denver. From there we're heading North West through Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and Washington .. north to our home in Kelowna, BC. Any info on Highways and scenic stops would be great.
Also, as this is our first long distance camping vacation, we would like to purchase a "fillable map" of the U.S. Not sure what to call it, but have seen many on various RV's. It's the ones that you color in after visiting each state. Anyone have an idea where we could purchase one?
When are you going? If soon, you may run into snow in the mountains. Between Las Vegas & Denver you'll encounter anywhere from a few to a lot of mountainous country, depending which way you go. (Stay across southern Colorado & head north on I-25 and there's not so much; take I-70 and you'll find yourselves in high country, gorgeous but could be dicey this time of year.)
Ditto for cold, snow & wind across Wyoming, etc. back toward home.
If you're going next summer, no worries. Take I-70; it's worth it for the scenery!
Thnx kknowlton.
We're going in early to mid March and will be heading from Denver to home the 3rd week of March. Our planned route is I-5 to S. Cal, across to Tucson and then head north to Moab UT, Denver and west to Wyoming and then home.
In mid-March I'd want to stick with the main roads for the best driving conditions. From Denver I'd suggest I-25 to Cheyenne then I-80 across to Salt Lake City and then north on I-84 thru Idaho and Oregon and I-82 up into Washington. I've driven all this from Cheyenne to Ellensburg, WA. One thing you'll need to check out ahead of time is what RV parks are open. Some close for the winter or do not have full services available.
I-80 across Wyoming is fairly high,over 6000', with the summit between Cheyenne and Laramie at 8460. Laeving Utah on I-84 it's a long climb up and over into the Snake River in Idaho. In Oregon you'll have the two bad sections, Ladd Canyon out of LaGrande and Cabbage Hill before Pendleton. During or after a big snow either or both can be closed.
Also, as this is our first long distance camping vacation, we would like to purchase a "fillable map" of the U.S. Not sure what to call it, but have seen many on various RV's. It's the ones that you color in after visiting each state. Anyone have an idea where we could purchase one?
The ONES I've seen lately can usually be purchased at Camping World --and sometimes at other RV stores. However, I believe that there was recently a discussion on Open Roads that the ones with SOLID colors were the older ones and can't be found anymore?! The different states are stick ons ...
There will almost surely be plenty of snow. March is Denver's heaviest snow month. In fact, all the states you mention will likely have wintery conditions in March. Southern Idaho can get a lot of snow in early spring.
Be prepared to hole up somewhere. As someone else has pointed out, that means finding places that will be open. We encountered snow going from UT to CO in early May and stayed at the KOA in Cortez, but they don't open until April.
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mockturtle is almost correct - some years (50%?0 April can be the heaviest snow month in the CO mountains. Open cgs will be scarce on your route so be prepared. From Vegas to Moab and on to Denver - take I 15 to the intersection with I 70 in Utah (I15 exit 132) then east on I 70 to 191 (exit 180) and south to Moab. Moab itself can be very spring-like in late march/early April. Then back to I 70 and west to Denver BUT watch the weather forecasts for that stretch. You have several passes to cross before you get to Denver - Vail Pass, Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnel (continental divide), and Floyd Hill are the major pulls. On any of these CO may declare a chain law requirement - that does apply to vehicles towing trailers! Just pay attention to the conditions ahead of you! And please be careful.
John
Colorado Cruiser
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wonderful lifetime traveling companion/spouse
March is a bad month to try and travel in Mtn Sts., I was caught in spring (March)storm 2-3 years ago in Holbrook Ariz. I 40 was closed both directions, had 8-12" of snow, just sat an extra day in RV park, storm covered most of Mtn Sts., it can be done but just plan on an extra day here and there if it storms.
On our trip back from Moab to the Front Range in March this year, we drove through a snowstorm in the mountains on I-70. White knuckle driving over Vail Pass. Being flexible helps - if you can go a day early or a day later, the roads may very well be clear and just fine. We had a schedule to keep and couldn't avoid the storm.
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