O.T. CO & UT travel recs??

[Mn Mtn Man]

Off topic, couldn't find a more appropriate area.

My wife, her girlfriend, and myself are driving to AZ soon.
I thought the only reasonable route was thru KS/OK/TX/NM.
Now I see it's about the same time thru Denver, Grand Jct,
Utah.
With 3 drivers I wanted to drive straight thru but was voted down.
They want to take 3 days, 2 nights to drive the 1700 miles /
25 hours of driving.

Any ideas recommendations of things to see/ do on this CO route?

I'm guessing it's also wise to watch the weather and if the CO mtns
look like snow, go the other boring way.
We're wanting to arrive in Phoenix about Feb 1.
Thanks,

Mn Mtn Man

 

[m8braaaap]

You can stop and buy some weed along the way.lol

 

[Poo727]

Off topic, couldn't find a more appropriate area.

My wife, her girlfriend, and myself are driving to AZ soon.
I thought the only reasonable route was thru KS/OK/TX/NM.
Now I see it's about the same time thru Denver, Grand Jct,
Utah.
With 3 drivers I wanted to drive straight thru but was voted down.
They want to take 3 days, 2 nights to drive the 1700 miles /
25 hours of driving.

Any ideas recommendations of things to see/ do on this CO route?

I'm guessing it's also wise to watch the weather and if the CO mtns
look like snow, go the other boring way.
We're wanting to arrive in Phoenix about Feb 1.
Thanks,

Mn Mtn Man

Watch the weather. Plenty to do. Can also drop south to springs then over to pagosa, Durango, then over to Grand Canyon. Just did this route on way back from Prescott az over Christmas. Fun drive. And in my opinion more scenic then the other you described.

Colo road crews are great so even if you have bad weather it's usually just a slight delay but be careful buddy

 

[OuraySledder]

I think the I70 route is beautiful, Eisenhower tunnel, Vail Pass, Glenwood canyon, the bluffs outside Grand Junction and lots of 75 mph speed limits. Glenwood Springs has a nice hotspring pool, right off the highway, might feel good about halfway through.

 

[FCR112]

Another one that's really pretty cool is I-70 to Utah, Hwy 128 in the Colorado River canyon to Moab (great lodging and amenities), Hwy 191 to Hwy 163 which takes you to Monument Valley even driving past it is AWESOME, catch Hwy 160 in Kayenta, takes you to Hwy 89 which you can detour off of to the South rim of the Grand Canyon or just continue south to Flagstaff, then I-17 to PHX.

This path takes you through the heart of Navajo country which is very beautiful, but I wouldn't plan on spending the night in Kayenta or Tuba City, those seem kinda rough.

I've done it a couple times and hope to do it again, the approach to Monument Valley from North to South is something I always look for an excuse to see. Have a great road trip!

 

[Mn Mtn Man]

FCR112 thanks. Cpl nice options

FCR112 thanks.
That route looks good. We could do MN to Denver in day 1. Denver to Moab day 2. Moad to Phoenix day 3.
Denver to Moab on Maps is 5 1/2 hours but your route with Hwy 128 looks longer (time wise) and looks like a million curves along the CO river

Are Hwy 128 and Hwy 163 decent pavement/ decent for winter driving unless
fresh new snow??

From M8braaap:
"You can stop and buy some weed along the way.lol"

I am getting over a strained/sprained lower back that put me on crutches for 5 days. My chiropractor did say medical weed is the perfect natural med for that as it relieves pain and relaxes the muscles which get so tight they hurt. MN has no med MJ, let alone recreational....

Thanks for the suggestions. CO/UT seems like the way to go UNLESS a winter storm is due the end of the week
That southern CO option also looks sweet

 

[FCR112]

It's worth every turn, you will wear out your camera. Unless there is a major winter storm you will be through serious snow country in the 3 hours between Denver and Rifle. Now that can turn into a day if the hammer falls, but very unlikely. Actually I think crossing Nebraska on 80 in a storm can be worse. I have done it from WI years ago exactly the same as you laid out. The Denver to Moab will be the short day if the wx is good. If you plan it right there is time to hike up to Delicate Arch and back before sunset if you are motivated. It's a workout coming from flatland, only a few miles but take water. Eddie McStiffs is good for pizza/beer downtown. The final segment is pretty amazing too. Doing the South Rim makes it a really long day to PHX, you won't want to leave there.

 

[OuraySledder]

Well, we are eagerly awaiting the next storm and if the weather predictions are correct, which they often are not, next Fri,Sat,Sun is when it is supposed to come through.

I second the canyon drive to Moab as epic scenery. You are in the high desert once you close in on Junction and chances of 128 being dangerous due to snow are pretty slim. Most of the accumulations will be at higher altitudes.

If the weather is good I think 6-7 hours from Denver to Moab is more realistic, especially going into Moab the back way. I second Eddie McStiffs, good food , good brews.

 

[Mn Mtn Man]

snow forecast

HI,
forecast looks good for you guys but bad for getting thru CO Friday on I-70.
Did Silverthorne forecast:

Wed 60% chance of snow
Wed nt 100%chance of snow
Thurs 100%
Fri 70%

We'll be in Honda Accord. My plan was I-70, Hwy 128, Moab.
We are leaving St. Paul, MN Thurs at 6 AM.
Planning on Denver Thurs night.
Moab Fri nt.
Phoenix Saturday.

Any recs for moderately priced (cheap) motel in Denver?
Is the " No Tell Motel" still in business? J/K
Thanks
Wish my wife and her girlfriend were into a 1/2 day sled rental
along the way, but no way.

 

[FCR112]

DOH! You are going to have to keep an eye on this... May want to consider that southern route if it materializes, especially with no 4x4. Do you have snow tires on that? all seasons don't count.

Winter Storm Warning
COZ033-034-290645-
/O.UPG.KBOU.WS.A.0003.140129T1800Z-140131T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.WS.W.0003.140130T0100Z-140131T1200Z/
SOUTH AND EAST JACKSON/LARIMER/NORTH AND NORTHEAST GRAND/
NORTHWEST BOULDER COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET-
SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST GRAND/WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST BOULDER/
GILPIN/CLEAR CREEK/SUMMIT/NORTH AND WEST PARK COUNTIES ABOVE
9000 FEET-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CAMERON PASS...
LARAMIE AND MEDICINE BOW MOUNTAINS...RABBIT EARS RANGE...
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK...WILLOW CREEK PASS...
BERTHOUD PASS...BRECKENRIDGE...EAST SLOPES MOSQUITO RANGE...
EAST SLOPES SOUTHERN GORE RANGE...EISENHOWER TUNNEL...
INDIAN PEAKS...KENOSHA MOUNTAINS...MOUNT EVANS...
WILLIAMS FORK MOUNTAINS...WINTER PARK
336 PM MST TUE JAN 28 2014

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 5 AM MST
FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 5 AM MST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM
WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING...WIDESPREAD SNOWFALL...HEAVY AT TIMES AND BLOWING SNOW
ARE EXPECTED FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL RANGE FROM 12
TO 22 INCHES WITH LOCALLY UP TO 27 INCHES ON HIGHER WEST FACING
SLOPES.

* WIND/VISIBILITY...WEST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND
65 MPH WILL CAUSE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.
VISIBILITIES COULD DROP TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN EXPOSED AREAS.

* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED DUE
TO ICY AND SNOWPACKED ROADS AND POOR VISIBILITIES. TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES ARE LIKELY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN
AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

 

[Mn Mtn Man]

yikes

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL RANGE FROM 12
TO 22 INCHES WITH LOCALLY UP TO 27 INCHES ON HIGHER WEST FACING
SLOPES.

Holy cow. I don't know those counties on the list.
So is Denver going to get walloped too?
What about Denver to Pueblo and then south instead of
heading west thru CO?

I'm bummed as that southern route thru KS/OK/tip of TX,
NM is pretty boring.

 

[FCR112]

For now they are saying rain/snow mix Thursday night up to 1", light snow Friday and Sat in Denver, nothing too big.
Clear Creek, Summit, and Eagle are the counties I-70 runs through up high. Eisenhower tunnel and Vail pass are generally a couple of the roughest areas on the interstate. It's going to get hit hard Tonight through Friday. They are talking feet.
Definitely suggest one of the other routes in an Accord, do the cool one in reverse on your way back north.

They added this to the warning today: Still Valid till 5am Friday

* WIND/VISIBILITY...WEST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
AROUND 70 MPH WILL CAUSE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.
VISIBILITIES COULD DROP TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN EXPOSED AREAS
WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OVER THE HIGHER PASSES.

You could head down to Albucrackie, then to Flagstaff on 40.

 

[Dobber1]

3M - here's a good link to check out for real conditions.

http://www.cotrip.org/device.htm