Best Route Montrose to Pueblo

Highway 50. Pretty much a straight shot. A few hills, but nothing terrible. I tandem tow my boat and 5er that way every year.

Monarch Pass is a long up then down, just like Bionic Man I pull double with no problem Hwy 50 for sure. My profile picture is about 5 miles from where you start to climb the pass, lots of big turnouts if needed, good wide 4 lane Hwy.

US 50 from Salida to Pueblo is narrow and twisty with lots of weekend traffic and is NOT a 4 lane highway. Nice scenery but the road follows the river and has no shoulders or passing lanes for most of those miles.

Unless there has been some very large changes since last summer, it is not 4 lane from Montrose to Salida either. Not a bad road but not 4 lane and no shoulder for most of the drive. At least there are passing lanes on the pass.

Bionic Man wrote:
Highway 50. Pretty much a straight shot. A few hills, but nothing terrible. I tandem tow my boat and 5er that way every year.

^^^^^ This. US 50. Best way to go from Point A to Point B, Montrose to Pueblo. Yes, there are other ways, but this is the most direct. And it's not difficult. It's typical Colorado mountain driving which is to say, some ups, some downs and goodly number of curves.

At the top of Monarch Pass, plan on stopping there. H E R E is a link to the Monarch Crest Scenic Tram that takes you to the top of the pass on the south side. Some of the very best vistas that Colorado has to offer are from the top of this pass.

NMDriver wrote:
US 50 from Salida to Pueblo is narrow and twisty with lots of weekend traffic and is NOT a 4 lane highway. Nice scenery but the road follows the river and has no shoulders or passing lanes for most of those miles.

Unless there has been some very large changes since last summer, it is not 4 lane from Montrose to Salida either. Not a bad road but not 4 lane and no shoulder for most of the drive. At least there are passing lanes on the pass.

My bad 4 lane was for Monarch Pass.

US 50 is not 4-lane even on Monarch Pass. Part of it is 3-lane, which includes a climbing lane on the uphill side. We just towed our 5th wheel on it last fall.

From Montrose to Cimarron, which includes Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, US 50 goes over Cerro Summit, which has some steep grades. From Cimarron to Sargents, including Blue Mesa Reservoir and the town Gunnison, it is in a valley, so no major grades. From Salida to Canon City, including Royal Gorge, it is in the Arkansas River canyon, winding but not steep.

For more info on the route and possible campgrounds along it, see my blog HERE.

RodLyle wrote:
Best route for 36' pulling a jeep

thx

RT 50 is fine as others have said - but I'll be so bold as to ask what is the Mission of the trip?

You do Know that there are so many side trips along this route!

So is the origins of the trip from the South or the North?

There is a lot to see as you drive from Montrose to ANywhere.

Ouray - Telluride - Silverton - Lake City - Marble - Red Stone - Maroon Bells - Crystal Mill - Black Canyon of the Gunnison - Crested Butte - Collegiates - Cottonwood Pass - Browns Canyon - Salida - Buena Vista - Leadville - Collegiates - Independence Pass - Arkansas River - Great sand Dunes NP - ................just to name a few.

So I'll be crazy enough to say there are really no roads in this area that I would not Love to be on - from a guy who had driven all through this country, and spent a great deal of time on the Back Roads of the East Coast, Colorado has, for the most part made all the roads that aren't restricted really a pleasure to drive. Example RT 82 - Independence Pass, is restricted.

So, define the Mission and if it is not just A to B then we can make this drive a lot more FUN.

Just one Man's Humble Opinion, Best of Luck with whatever you decide.