Hello all!I'm taking my wife and 1 year old daughter to Denver for my family's Thanksgiving this year. This is our first year heading out there since moving to Dallas and I'm curious on the 2 primary routes I see available to me: I35/I70 and US287/I25.I spent most of my life in Kansas, and I've done I70 so many times I was really hoping to try something new and going 287-I25. My sister and friend are advising me to minimize risk and take the I70 route reducing exposure to the Front Range weather patterns.I will be leaving zip 75078 headed to Thornton, CO on Tuesday afternoon with a plan to make it to Raton sometime late (10 - 11pm depending on the daughter) on Tuesday. We would then get up and finish the drive up and over Raton Pass and I25 up through Pueblo, the Springs, and into Denver on Wednesday morning/early afternoon.The I35-I70 route is about 100 miles longer, but only registers as about 30 minutes longer duration. I will go this route if the weather dictates it to be a safer route, but as of now I don't see anything in the forecast for next week that would indicate any problems going US287-I25.Any thoughts? I'm hopeful someone familiar with the route this time of year can give me some insight.Thanks in advance.

Let me also add there will be no RV. We'll be doing this trip in her AWD Toyota Highlander.

We ran the basic reverse of this trip for a number of years from western Colorado to south of Okie City. Our favorite route with a good chance of decent weather was to go east to Interstate 25, at Pueblo, south to Raton, NM, east to Clayton, then Dalhart, to Amarillo. East on I 40 to Okie City and south on I 35. With that said, some of the worst winter weather I have ever seen has been in the Panhandle of Texas. One trip we were stuck in Shamrock for several days and had Turkey Day dinner there, rather than at my parents. If the Raton area has bad weather, go on east on Hwy 50, into Kansas and cut south when you find better weather to I 40. We had to do that a time or two. Make sure you have a good weather app or two on your smartphone. Carry winter gear for everyone with you, never know when you might need it.We normally made the trip in a 4 by Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Hwy 287, from Fort Worth to Amarillo is my current favorite summer road when we are headed from south Florida to western Colorado, which we do most summers. Up to I 40 at Okie City or to I 70 at Salina adds miles to using 287.

rosspulliam wrote:Hello all!I'm taking my wife and 1 year old daughter to Denver for my family's Thanksgiving this year. This is our first year heading out there since moving to Dallas and I'm curious on the 2 primary routes I see available to me: I35/I70 and US287/I25.I spent most of my life in Kansas, and I've done I70 so many times I was really hoping to try something new and going 287-I25. My sister and friend are advising me to minimize risk and take the I70 route reducing exposure to the Front Range weather patterns.I will be leaving zip 75078 headed to Thornton, CO on Tuesday afternoon with a plan to make it to Raton sometime late (10 - 11pm depending on the daughter) on Tuesday. We would then get up and finish the drive up and over Raton Pass and I25 up through Pueblo, the Springs, and into Denver on Wednesday morning/early afternoon.The I35-I70 route is about 100 miles longer, but only registers as about 30 minutes longer duration. I will go this route if the weather dictates it to be a safer route, but as of now I don't see anything in the forecast for next week that would indicate any problems going US287-I25.Any thoughts? I'm hopeful someone familiar with the route this time of year can give me some insight.Thanks in advance.I've done both, and as you said, it's pretty much weather dependent. US 287 (presumably to Dumas TX and then taking US 87/64 through Clayton NM up to Raton) to I-25 is not a bad drive. Two lane road but with passing lanes available, between Dumas and Raton. Raton is an easy pass, as Colorado passes go. Long range forecast, for now, looking favourable for you. Only real glitch at this point is Thanksgiving Day itself, looking for about a 50% chance of a wintry mix on that day.

Thanks for the feedback, this is right in line with my thinking. I don't see any reason to go out of my way to avoid the I25 route unless the weather forecast looks bad. We aren't coming back until Saturday, so unless that glitch on Thursday is an extended storm it shouldn't affect us coming back either.Thanks again! I'll keep watch for any additional comments.

You can take 287 all the way to Limon, Co. Two lane in Oklahoma and Colorado but very little traffic. You will not have to cross the pass at Raton. I did that trip this summer and it was very pleasant.

Dallas to Denver for Thanksgiving | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2014
Just to add my two cents worth here. I started driving from Dallas to Estes Park in 1969. After I was married in 1974, the wife and I would make the round trip to EP several times a year.

We always took the Dalhart/Texline/Raton/I25 route. After we moved to Colorado in 1980 when continued to take the traditional route returning to Dallas to see family. Over the years the traffic on I25 has become a nightmare due to the explosive growth from Colorado Springs to Denver.

About ten years ago, some of our equally experienced Texas friends started taking the route north out of Dumas to Limon. They said it was faster and a lot less harried. So, we tried it. It really is the best way. Yes, it is two lane, but there is plenty of places to pass because it is so flat.

My only caveat would be that during winter storms I25 might be better, but it has its own issues such as Raton Pass which can be a bear.
Thom02099
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2014
Just a quick long range weather update....

Looking like Thanksgiving Day may see a wintry mix along the Front Range, but Friday looks to be cold but clearing/partly cloudy and Saturday looking cold but sunny.
rosspulliam
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
Thanks for the feedback everyone :).
littlemo
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
padredw wrote:
We always go 287 to Amarillo, then to Dumas and Dalhart, out of Texas at Texline, Clayton to Raton, I-25 on to Denver.

Seems like you are on the right track.

Happy Thanksgiving!:)

X 2
egh33
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
I have made the trip many times as we have daughter & son-in-law up there.
Take US 287 all the way.
BB_TX
Nomad
Nov 19, 2014
We take US287-US87/64-I-25 as far as Walsenburg every year on our annual trip to Colorado. Good road all the way and little traffic.
US 87/64 between Clayton and Raton is all 4 lane now and most of it newly rebuilt. Used to be a less than desirable highway but is now a very good one.
padredw
Nomad
Nov 19, 2014
We always go 287 to Amarillo, then to Dumas and Dalhart, out of Texas at Texline, Clayton to Raton, I-25 on to Denver.

Seems like you are on the right track.

Happy Thanksgiving!:)
RckyMtnVia
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
We had done the 87/64 to I-25 route a few times in our Via and it is a great drive. Heading south, we pick up 87/64 just after Raton, then get on I-40 in Amarillo for a few miles then pick up 287. As others say, just watch the weather on whatever route you pick. Tuesday and Wednesday look clear for Raton and Denver, with chance of snow Thursday afternoon in Denver. Safe travels.
jmaotto
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
You can take 287 all the way to Limon, Co. Two lane in Oklahoma and Colorado but very little traffic. You will not have to cross the pass at Raton. I did that trip this summer and it was very pleasant.
rosspulliam
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
Thanks for the feedback, this is right in line with my thinking. I don't see any reason to go out of my way to avoid the I25 route unless the weather forecast looks bad. We aren't coming back until Saturday, so unless that glitch on Thursday is an extended storm it shouldn't affect us coming back either.

Thanks again! I'll keep watch for any additional comments.

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Dallas to Denver for Thanksgiving

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