Thanks Cowboy for the info on Greely. I do prefer to keep moving instead of playing with lights.
Being as you live there I have another question. We are staying outside of Estes at Riverview RV Park on 34. When we leave there we are going to Grand Junction. Would you just take 25 south to 470 west to 70 west to GJ??? This is what I was planning. My 5th wheel is 38' overall and wieghs about 14500.
It would be I25 to I76 to I70 and that is the route I'd take since you are staying at Riverview, which is about 7 miles from I25. No need to use 470 unless you have plans to be in the area.
nivrig wrote: Thanks Cowboy for the info on Greely. I do prefer to keep moving instead of playing with lights.
Being as you live there I have another question. We are staying outside of Estes at Riverview RV Park on 34. When we leave there we are going to Grand Junction. Would you just take 25 south to 470 west to 70 west to GJ??? This is what I was planning. My 5th wheel is 38' overall and wieghs about 14500.
I've been to Riverview, it's really nice. You'll enjoy it I think. Right at the mouth of the canyon. don't turn too early. There's another RV park right before it that has RV Park, turn here and you turn too soon. just FYI. I live about 30 minutes from Riverview.
there is no good way to get from Estes/Longmont/Loveland to I-70 westbound. If you leave after 8am during the week or on a Sunday traffic is pretty calm (no guarantees, it's only on I-25 southbound that it backs up) then I-25 southbound to I-76 westbound to I-70 west (470 doesn't make a complete loop around the city, the NW corner is missing, don't ask) I-70 from Denver to Dillon gets really packed on the weekends (esp Saturday westbound) during the summer. I would try to stay off of it during the weekend.
I-70 has some beasts of climbs. First, right out of Denver, you go up Mt Vernon. I mean straight up, for like 10 miles to about 9000 feet. Then straight back down (to a hard 45mph left at the bottom) then you slowly climb and you reach Georgetown then it's STRAIGHT UP to the Eisenhower tunnels (12,000feet) and then STRAIGHT DOWN to Dillon, then you climb again to get up to Vail Pass (10,000 feet) and then STRAIGHT down into Vail. it's a tough slow run in a rig. it's pretty, but there's no sightseeing for the driver.
Take a look at this thread: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26029346.cfm the thread is Estes to Glenwood (GJ is just down I-70 from Glenwood) and there are some better suggestions, but you have to be willing (and able) to go over Trail Ridge road. If you go during the week it's not so bad.
If you are under 12'6" tall you can save the Mt Vernon hill climb on I-70 and go up US6, but there are some tunnels that are only rated at 13'. and there's no turnaround. once you commit you're going up US6 and those tunnels really are only 13' high. But it's a much easier climb.
* This post was
edited 05/09/12 02:44pm by LoneCowboy *
There is a lot of road construction/closures right now on US6 but I am not sure of the timetable for completion. Could be finished by the time the OP is coming thru. But the route is heavily traveled by gamblers going/returning from the casinos in Blackhawk and Central City. I would avoid the route, especially pulling a trailer.
paulj wrote: A slight advantage to taking I80 is that you can skip Denver, and climb to Estes from Loveland (e.g. *I80, I76, US34)
The OP can take I70 and avoid Denver also by picking up US34 east of Denver.
Worse choice IMO (and I live here)
if you go this way, now you're stuck going thru Greeley which isn't all that interesting and has a million stupidly timed lights.
I'd just take I-70 to E-470 (yes, toll road, yes, they rob you, but it's all license plate/EZ pass so you don't stop) and you skip all of Denver
You'll be put out on the north side of Denver at I-25 where the traffic jams stop and then just fly up I-25 to Hwy 66 (goes from 3 lanes to 2 lanes right north of Hwy 66, traffic gets much worse) and go to Estes thru 66/36 (same road, changes names) and Lyons. Fewer lights, less traffic, fewer grades, still pretty country.
This route gets my vote. I used it a year ago. The toll road is pricy but the traffic flies around the North side of Denver. If you don't have EZ Pass they mail a bill. Most of the other routes thru Denver aren't that bad at midday. Plenty of 4 lane choices but lots of traffic lights. All the big cities should be avoided during am and pm rush hours. The ride out to Estes is kinda slow no matter which road you take. Two lane, small villages, low speed limits, but pretty.
Order is illusion. Chaos is reality. But right or wrong I'm still the captain.
Personally, the traffic light situation on US 34 isn't nearly as bad in Greeley as it is going through Loveland. That's why if you stay on I-70 to Denver and head north on I-25, CO 66 up the North St. Vrain is a better option than US 34 through Loveland to Estes Park. BTW, unless you're in Denver at rush hour, I wouldn't bother with the toll road (almost $18 for 20 miles!). Just take I-76 up to I-25. Even taking I-70 to I-25 isn't that bad. Denver had pretty decent traffic flow for a large city (as long as it isn't rush hour).
nivrig wrote: Thanks evryone for your recommendations. I'm going to take 70 out and pick up 34 just as we enter CO, then on to Loveland/Estes. The 74-72-36 Rt looked interesting, but with a larger rig, and concerned about fuel stops, I'm going to stick to 70.
thanks, sam
Fuel ever 60 miles or so and drove my rig at 64 the whole way out -- but I-70 is not bad just a little more boring and an hour longer.
Either way Colorado is well worth the drive.
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