One of the legs of our trip this summer will take us from Estes Park, CO to Glenwood Springs, CO. Looking at Google maps, there are 3 routes that are each estimated between 4 & 4.5 hours:
Option 1: Go East out of Estes Park, back the way we came in, and go through Boulder & Golden on our way back to I-70, and then directly to Glenwood Springs.
Option 2: Take Trail Ridge Road through RMNP and head Southwest on US-34 to Granby. The take US-40 South (and a little East) toward I-70 near Georgetown, and I-70 all the way to Glenwood Springs.
Option 3: Take Trail Ridge Road through RMNP and head Southwest on US-34 to Granby. The take US-40 West through Kremmling, and all the way to I-70 near Eagle, CO.
If we take Option 1 (mostly I-70), we'd take our time and stop at some of the towns along the way such as Georgetown, Vail, etc... and make a day of it.
My guess is that Options 2 & 3 would be a bit slower going, but probably more scenic. Is there anything in particular along those routes that we should be checking out?
I'm on the fence, and looking for any suggestions that might push me one way or the other.
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Wow! This sounds like a personal choice you'll have to make. If you want to explore some things along I-70 then that's for you and do Option 1.
We, ourselves, have done both options 2&3 instead of driving the congestion of the interstates and Boulder, etc. traffic.
Some folks will advise you not to take Trail Ridge Road. From reading about you past travels, you seem to be o.k. with mountain driving. As you will be visiting Estes Park you will probably already have explored Trail Ridge in your Jeep while you're there. So upon leaving, we would suggest you leave early morning and don't plan any stops along the way - just drive on through. We've done it that way and it's the best way. Have a great trip!
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ok, as a native, option 1 BLOWS. take that off your list
trail ridge road isn't any big deal. it's way up there and down on both sides, but the road itself is straight forward. so many tourists you won't be going fast.
Take 34 to Granby, then 40 to Kremmling then north on 40 to 134 to Topanas.
Nobody is on this road, it's geourgeous country, beautiful road
then 131 south to Wolcott, pick up I-70 there, run the glenwood Canyon and there you are in Glenwood.
LoneCowboy wrote: ok, as a native, option 1 BLOWS. take that off your list
trail ridge road isn't any big deal. it's way up there and down on both sides, but the road itself is straight forward. so many tourists you won't be going fast.
Take 34 to Granby, then 40 to Kremmling then north on 40 to 134 to Topanas.
Nobody is on this road, it's geourgeous country, beautiful road
then 131 south to Wolcott, pick up I-70 there, run the glenwood Canyon and there you are in Glenwood.
I'd do above, or Option 3.
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It sounds like the consensus is leaning toward Trail Ridge Road to Granby, then through Kremmling. Yep - mountain driving doesn't bother us at all - we rather enjoyed US-550 between Ouray and Durango. And we'll be doing this leg of the trip mid-week, so I'm less concerned about traffic through RMNP. But we will get an early start to avoid more of the crowd.
Can anyone suggest things to see along the way? Any cute towns to stop at for lunch or a good candy store for the kids? Any sights we should plan to see along the way?
paulj wrote: Not too long ago there was a thread about driving to Estes Park from the Idaho Springs area on I70, taking roads like 119, 72 and 7.
Do you have a link to it, or know which sub-forum it was in?
119, 72 & 7 is the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway, and we're planning to do in the Jeep while we're there. But I've been told it's a really slow drive in the RV. Can anyone comment from experience?
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And we'll be doing this leg of the trip mid-week, so I'm less concerned about traffic through RMNP. But we will get an early start to avoid more of the crowd.
