Chyenne Mountain State Park to RMNP

We took 83 to 470 to 36. There was a lot of traffic around Denver. Best bet is to do it on a weekend.

caysea, if you want to avoid traffic around Denver you will have to go at 2 in the morning. you could go straight up I25 to US36 which is the most direct and the shortest, or take I25 to C470 to thru Golden on 93 to 36.

caysea7254 wrote:


Hi ! Hubby and I are trying to figure out best route from Colorado Springs to RMNP.

We have reservation at moraine in late July. Would like to avoid heavy traffic and go a scenic way.

Suggestions please from those of you that know this area.

Thanks Tara :)

Bing Maps route https://binged.it/2ncqLo3link

This route will avoid all the City traffic (that we all hate) and let you see some of the Beauty of Colorado.

First head up to the Springs and catch RT 24 to Buena Vista - will give you a beautiful drive out of the Springs, Beautiful, then across the high plains to Buena Vista and the Arkansas River - Head North to Leadville take RT 91 out of town to the north to I-70 - head east for a bit to - Rt 9 north, Silverthorne - follow the Blue River to Kremmling - then RT 40 east to - slide to the left on RT 34 to Grand Lake - there you will enter RMNP - Take Trail Ridge over to Estes and the Crowds of The Park.

While if you drove through the city it might be just a little faster - it will not be nearly as fun or Beautiful.

If you have the time a few days in Buena Vista and Leadville will reward you with a lot of Mining History and K's and Quincy's for a couple GREAT meals. Couple of great side areas - the New NM Browns Canyon - RT 82 Independence Pass - Turquoise Lake - Camp Hale - the Collegiates - River Rafting, just to name drop a few stops.

While the total drive is only less than 300 miles it should take a week - just sooooo much to see and do along the way.

Hope this gives you an option or two, it's a drive we love, and we usually will stay on the Grand Lake side of the park and just drive Trail Ridge in the TV/Toad, just quieter. Only reason I'd drive to Denver on I-25 is if I had to meet someone there. JMHO

Best of Luck,

Two responses based on experience:

1> If my goal was to get to Estes Park from Cheyenne Mountain in the easiest and quickest way, I'd get up about 8:00 in the morning, get back out to I-25 and go straight through Colorado Springs and then straight through Denver turning left at Longmont (or even go on up to Loveland.)

2. If you want the scenic route as described by Busskipper, I would offer the variation to go from Buena Vista up through Leadville to Copper Mountain to pick up I-70 East to near Central City and take the "Peak to Peak" highway all the way up to Estes Park.

(I won't go into the detailed highway designations for "Peak to Peak" as I have given it several times on this forum but it is readily available online.)

If I picked up on the meaning behind your question, I would emphasize that the easiest and quickest way is straight up I-25 and straight through Denver. I guess I have been lucky pullin our 34' fifth-wheel on this route many times, but we have moved steadily on with the traffic every time.

So, it's either Interstate and traffic or long, beautiful, wonderful scenic route (days not hours). There really is not much in between.

padredw wrote:
Two responses based on experience:

1> If my goal was to get to Estes Park from Cheyenne Mountain in the easiest and quickest way, I'd get up about 8:00 in the morning, get back out to I-25 and go straight through Colorado Springs and then straight through Denver turning left at Longmont (or even go on up to Loveland.)

2. If you want the scenic route as described by Busskipper, I would offer the variation to go from Buena Vista up through Leadville to Copper Mountain to pick up I-70 East to near Central City and take the "Peak to Peak" highway all the way up to Estes Park.

(I won't go into the detailed highway designations for "Peak to Peak" as I have given it several times on this forum but it is readily available online.)

If I picked up on the meaning behind your question, I would emphasize that the easiest and quickest way is straight up I-25 and straight through Denver. I guess I have been lucky pullin our 34' fifth-wheel on this route many times, but we have moved steadily on with the traffic every time.

So, it's either Interstate and traffic or long, beautiful, wonderful scenic route (days not hours). There really is not much in between.

Great advice, this will get you to the East side of RMNP where you probably are headed, it also avoids the questionable,for many, drive over Trail Ridge with the unit in tow.

Either route will avoid the city and allow you to enjoy more of the Colorado you have come to enjoy.

JMHO,

There's something of a compromise route. As others have stated, take I-25 north out of the Springs up to Denver, and at CO-470 head WEST. You don't want to go EAST, as that's a toll road.

Take CO-470 around the western side of the Metro and as you approach I-70 outside of Golden, follow the signs for US 6. Take US 6 WEST out of Golden through Clear Creek Canyon and at the intersection with CO-119, take that up through Black Hawk.

I'll elaborate on the Peak-to-Peak as mentioned in the post above.

When you're on CO-119 you'll be on the beginnings of the Peak-to-Peak Highway (there's blue signs the entire way); stay on CO-119 through Rollinsville (or explore there -- the East Portal is there, it's cool to watch trains coming out of the tunnel), and on to Nederland.

There, you will pick up CO-72 and continue north through Ward and on to the junction with CO-7. Turn left and continue on CO-7 through Allenspark and Meeker Park, it will take you directly in to Estes Park.

Be aware that the last 7-10 miles the road is in need of attention and is rough and narrow. There is also a long decline into Estes Park, so gear down.

The Peak-to-Peak is a beautiful drive, there's lots of places to explore and hike if you're so inclined. There's the Camp St. Malo shrine outside of Allenspark that is a wonderful photo op. It's the place where Pope John Paul II spent time when he visited Colorado. Though severely damaged by flooding a few years back, they are working to restore the area there. Still beautiful.

Also in Ward, there's a side trip you can take to the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the Brainard Lake/Pawnee CG area. That is a photo op that should not be missed, it is incredibly beautiful, and if you arrive there on a week day, plan to stay overnight at Pawnee. It's first come/first served and you won't regret it. You'll be at 10,600 feet so it WILL get chilly even in July, but it's an experience of a lifetime. There's incredible hiking there as well, and lots of wildlife. Great chance to see moose and elk.

This is just the tip of an viewing iceberg that can't be missed.

There is no reason to go as far west as Buena Vista to avoid Colorado Springs and Denver traffic... which I fully agree with the OP about choosing another route. Here is probably the most scenic and direct route between Colorado Springs and Estes Park. It does include a trip on the Peak to Peak but for the southern part you are on the west side of Rampart Range just to the north of Colorado Springs. It is still a very scenic drive and one I choose to drive when I travel from home to Colorado Springs. Keep in mind it is slower going as there are 30 mph limits through the small towns and I would advise not exceeding those limits.

The simple directions:

West out of CS towards Woodland Park. Continue north to Deckers. Then north west through Buffalo Creek/Pine. East on HWY 285 for about 10 miles then north through Conifer/Evergreen. Then northwest to briefly hop on i70 (you can aviod i70 and use the frontage road but gets mildly complicated). East on Hwy 6 to connect with Hwy 119 (Peak to Peak Hwy). North into Estes Park.

Google Maps - Colorado Springs to Estes Park

Thom02099 wrote:
... Golden, follow the signs for US 6. Take US 6 WEST out of Golden through Clear Creek Canyon and at the intersection with CO-119, take that up through Black Hawk.

Only issue right now with that part of the bolded route is A LOT of construction. Just went through the canyon yesterday and there are many spots with construction which will be going on during the week. Some of that construction will not be completed quickly. Hwy 119 into Blackhawk was mostly devoid of construction until you get into Blackhawk.... but it is not very bad there.

We did that drive on a weekday a few years ago. Left at 9:00 am up 25 to 225 to 70 to 270 and back to 25. There was some traffic, but it wasn't bad.

Thanks everyone for suggested routes, we appreciate the detailed responses. Will be looking at all routes suggested then decide. Thanks so much!! Tara