Colorado travel

If you want to avoid the mountains, take I-80 across the Rockies instead of I-70. Not nearly so scenic, but not such high passes. If you want to take this route and really want to avoid Denver, take US 385 north of Burlington to Wray, east on US 34 to Greeley, north on US 85 to I-80.

But I-70 through Colorado is worth the drive just for the scenery. To get to Vernal, we take CO 13 north of Rifle to CO 64 through Rangely up to US 40 and on to Vernal. We go to Vernal every few years from Glenwood Springs and this is the quickest route we take for fewest hills and easiest towing. But you can't easily avoid going through Denver if you want to go on I-70, so just avoid rush hour and go for it.

I think he means 13 from Rifle north, not 139.

No pass on any interstate is over 9% grade up or down. I ran a big truck and would just go I 70 to Rifle. Coming home Id run the I94 I 90, its shorter but you have as many pulls. Quit worrying about it and enjoy the beauty of I 70. From Rifle go up 139. Only 1 8000 ft pass.
BTW/for F150 I'd add a dual electric fan and it needs a transmission cooler for that haul.

I think Passin Thru has suggested the best route out of them all.

No pass on any interstate is over 9% grade up or down. I ran a big truck and would go I 90-I 94 unless you want to see eastern Co and the Rockies which are west of Denver and can be seen from I 25. You can go I 70, I 25, 287, I 90 to I 5 but it is farther. I 94 is using the curvature of the earth. Don't worry, they turn Class 8 drivers loose with 2 weeks training to run out there.

Long time Colorado resident. Have been many times on all these roads.

Take I-70 through Denver and on to Rifle, turn north on HIghway 13, go up through Meeker to Craig, then take HIghway 40 straight to Vernal. Only a couple of small mtn passes between RIfle and Craig, nothing like on I-70, but be sure the roads are clear, as they can get icy. This time of year you should have no trouble. From Craig to Vernal is pretty much a straight shot with no passes, good road. DO NOT take the Berthoud Pass route - you'll be huffing and puffing over windy mtn roads and Berthoud Pass can be a bear. I-70 has two long climbing stretches (Vail Pass and the Eisenhauer Tunnel), but the lanes are wide and lots of places to pull over. Avoid weekend travel. Gas up in Rifle, not Glenwood Springs (expensive). You'll be fine, lots of big rigs take these routes. Lots of places to gas up in Craig, plus a big grocery store (City Market).

No need to go over Douglas Pass, it's a bit white knuckle and too much elevation gain/loss and windy roads. Keep it simple and go through Rifle to Craig to Vernal.

Will add that I live in Glenwood Springs. Nice hot springs here if you want to take a break. Right by the freeway, but parking will be hard for a big rig.

Before you go get a copy of Mountain Directory West.

Thom02099 wrote:

ptester347 wrote:
We're towing a 36 ft. travel trailer with a Ford F-150. Thanks so much for any advice.

There's a variety of ways to get to Vernal....
...or staying on I-70 all the way to west of Grand Junction, then taking CO 139 north to Rangely and picking up CO 64 west to Dinosaur where you'll get on US 40.

A lot depends on what you want to see/do along the way, or if you just want to get the drive over with and get to Vernal. If it were me and I just wanted to get there, I'd go all the way over to GJ and then take CO 139 north. It's about 70 miles from I-70 to Rangely, and there's not a whole lot out there, so make sure you have a full tank of gas, or at least can go that 70 miles without worry. If it were me and I wanted the scenic route and to take my time, I'd take US 40 the entire way from Empire to Vernal.

Whatever way you go, you've got mountains to go over. But I'm guessing you know that! :-)

Since CO 139 goes over Douglas Pass, about 8,000+ feet with a few switchbacks, I'd think a while about towing across it unless I was really used to mountain driving/towing (which we are not). We did the reverse route a couple of years ago down to Grand Junction from Vernal - it was not a big deal in our Sprinter, but I distinctly recall seeing several couples towing large rigs stopped at a pull-off on the pass, and those were not happy faces.

ptester347 wrote:
We are planning a western trip to Tacoma from Ohio. we want to take I-70 most of the way, then cut north to go to Vernal Utah to visit family. We are worried about two things: the best way to get around Denver and the best route up to Vernal from Colorado. We're towing a 36 ft. travel trailer with a Ford F-150. Thanks so much for any advice.

A lot depends on when, not just time of the year but what part of the week you'll be coming through. Also, your mountain driving experience could be a factor as well.

May is the wettest month here in Colorado, so if it's any time soon, keep an eye on the weather forecast. Right now, and for the past week, it's been nothing but rain here in the lower elevations, and snow in the High Country. Things start to dry out some in June and beyond, and the monsoon season kicks in come August. So keep the weather in mind, for time of year.

If you're coming in during the week, driving on I-70 is not as much of a challenge as it can be on weekends, when the traffic is very heavy heading up into the mountains. As far as getting around Denver, just stay on I-70 through the city; the bypass options are a toll road (with crazy high tolls for towed vehicles) and way out of your way. If you can time it so you hit the Denver area around 10am or prior to 2pm, you'll make better time getting through town. Usually, traffic moves fairly smoothly between 10 and 2, with slowdowns usually due to accidents.

Since you mentioned you want to take I-70, I presume you mean as far as you can before heading north. There's a variety of ways to get to Vernal -- getting off I-70 at Empire and taking US 40 the entire way; going through the Johnson/Eisenhower Tunnel and picking up CO 9 in Summit County and taking it north to US 40 at Kremmling then heading west; or staying on I-70 all the way to west of Grand Junction, then taking CO 139 north to Rangely and picking up CO 64 west to Dinosaur where you'll get on US 40.

A lot depends on what you want to see/do along the way, or if you just want to get the drive over with and get to Vernal. If it were me and I just wanted to get there, I'd go all the way over to GJ and then take CO 139 north. It's about 70 miles from I-70 to Rangely, and there's not a whole lot out there, so make sure you have a full tank of gas, or at least can go that 70 miles without worry. If it were me and I wanted the scenic route and to take my time, I'd take US 40 the entire way from Empire to Vernal.

Whatever way you go, you've got mountains to go over. But I'm guessing you know that! :-)