Best route from Denver to Mesa Verde
I will be traveling from MN to Mancos, CO (Mesa Verde). I am pulling a 26' fifth wheel with a diesel. Trying to figure out best route (easiest pulls) from Denver to Mesa Verde. Thanks!
Forum Discussion
I live just south of Denver and have property right across the street from Mesa Verde. I have made the trip many many times over the years tried darn near every possible way. Colo Native and Thom02099 mentioned the best ways. After making the trip literally hundreds of times there are only three ways I go any more.
They are I-25 to Walsenburg and hwy 160. Probably the easiest as far as driving though if you get caught in rush hour traffic in Colorado Springs you will be hating life for that time period. Drive to Walsenburg is uninteresting and from Walsenburg to Del Norte isnt much better except for La Veta pass. That way takes me 6 hours and 15 minutes (sans the trailer).
My favorite way is as both mentioned above US285 to CO112 to US160. It is very pretty, the passes are no big deal including Wolf Creek as Thom pointed out. That takes me about the same amount of time as it is shorter in distance from my house but you are not on the freeway at all. Kenosha pass is nothing, Poncha pass is more but still really no big deal really only a few miles of some curves. Wolf Creek while a significant pass pushing 9 miles up and another 9 down is not really an issue either it is long but the curves are no big deal except for a couple of hairpins on the west side which still are no big deal as the speed limit is like 25 in those two spots, the road is good.
My third way is to take I-25 to 115 in the springs to US50 to Montrose 550 to 62 to 141 to 145. That adds at least an hour more like 90 minutes but from Montrose to Cortez the best scenery in the state several passes none of which are that bad but it is certainly slower. I only go that way anymore if i am looking for the most scenic route and have plenty of time.
If you are coming into Denver from I-70 and not staying in Denver you could save some time by pulling off I-70 out at Limon and take US 24 through the Springs and to the 285 route, I25 to Walsenburg route or the 115 to US 50 Route that would save an easy hour of driving into Denver then south to the Springs.
They are I-25 to Walsenburg and hwy 160. Probably the easiest as far as driving though if you get caught in rush hour traffic in Colorado Springs you will be hating life for that time period. Drive to Walsenburg is uninteresting and from Walsenburg to Del Norte isnt much better except for La Veta pass. That way takes me 6 hours and 15 minutes (sans the trailer).
My favorite way is as both mentioned above US285 to CO112 to US160. It is very pretty, the passes are no big deal including Wolf Creek as Thom pointed out. That takes me about the same amount of time as it is shorter in distance from my house but you are not on the freeway at all. Kenosha pass is nothing, Poncha pass is more but still really no big deal really only a few miles of some curves. Wolf Creek while a significant pass pushing 9 miles up and another 9 down is not really an issue either it is long but the curves are no big deal except for a couple of hairpins on the west side which still are no big deal as the speed limit is like 25 in those two spots, the road is good.
My third way is to take I-25 to 115 in the springs to US50 to Montrose 550 to 62 to 141 to 145. That adds at least an hour more like 90 minutes but from Montrose to Cortez the best scenery in the state several passes none of which are that bad but it is certainly slower. I only go that way anymore if i am looking for the most scenic route and have plenty of time.
If you are coming into Denver from I-70 and not staying in Denver you could save some time by pulling off I-70 out at Limon and take US 24 through the Springs and to the 285 route, I25 to Walsenburg route or the 115 to US 50 Route that would save an easy hour of driving into Denver then south to the Springs.
