Want to go to Rushmore on the way home from Phoenix and debating the best route. 37' A with toad only traveling up to 67 mph.First choice but longer is I-25 N to I-90 then East.Second choice takes I-25 to Trinidad, CO71 to I-76, CO113 to US386 to SD79.I have no problem with most US highways but not sure on the state routes. Most are alright but have not traveled this area.We are trying to avoid the real mountain passes yet not too concerned over 4-6% grades.Thanks for the help in the planning. Will be doing this last week of July.

So many options... If you are looking to make time - stay on the Interstate. CO-50 is a gorgeous drive but there is Monarch pass - great road but it is steep. CO-160 (into Pagosa Springs) is beautiful and road is great - Wolf Creek pass is steep coming down (less so going up - given your direction of travel).If you prefer Utah (more desert, less mountains), SR 191 down thru Moab, Blanding, Chinle is a good road.SR-60 between Soccoro, NM and PHX is very scenic but you do have the Snake River canyon to get down/up.Flaming Gorge is nice if you want to cross west further north. I-80 and then 191 south. Very pretty. One pass (that I recall) just south of Flaming Gorge and then the descent into Vernal.Assuming you have an engine brake of some sort, coming down the passes is no problem - let it do the work. I've taken all of the above roads in my 40' Dutch Star (370 HP) towing my Jeep. Going up - find a nice lower gear, throttle to about 1500-1600 and putt on up.

I like the second choice better, but I think you mean US385 instead of 386.The only grade you will notice is the one between Raton, NM and Trinidad, and it is relatively short.Going up 385, you will pass through Chadron, NE. There is a very nice state park 9 miles south of town..Chadron State Park. And a Walmart in town if you care to stock up on anything.

TexasShadow; Thanks, It looked that way and I was hopeing but now you have confirmed it. We'll do that route and see whatever sites are there. I know we can find a place to stop when the day is over so that is not a problem. We'll look for Chadron as we go.The Neptune has been going go with a great brake on the hills.

dalenoel wrote:Want to go to Rushmore on the way home from Phoenix and debating the best route. 37' A with toad only traveling up to 67 mph.First choice but longer is I-25 N to I-90 then East.Second choice takes I-25 to Trinidad, CO71 to I-76, CO113 to US386 to SD79.I have no problem with most US highways but not sure on the state routes. Most are alright but have not traveled this area.We are trying to avoid the real mountain passes yet not too concerned over 4-6% grades.Thanks for the help in the planning. Will be doing this last week of July.MAPHere's the route I'd take with 1,500 miles of FUN - Think I missed all the big Passes - few that are so Gradual I don't even remember them, when we did this drive.Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley - Then over to Mesa Verde - Catch Telluride - Slide over to Ouray for the Hot Springs - now to Black Canyon of the Gunnison - then to Buena Vista and the New Browns Canyon NM - with the possible side trip in the Toad over Independence Pass for a day trip to Aspen and Maroon Bells - Leadville - Quincy's for dinner - Turquoise Lake - Possibly Camp Hale and Red Cliff - then down to Silverthorne and the Lake - or Tiger Run - on up to Krimmling - with the Possibility of Grand Lake and RMNP/Estes Park for a day trip in the toad over Trail Ridge - then to Walden, could slip over to Steamboat/Steamboat Lake SP or Stagecoach SP - could stay at Glendo Reservoir - now to Mt Rushmore or Custer and the Black Hills.While in the San Juan's and the Collegiates it will be Cooler and refreshing - again when you get to Grand Lake and Steamboat - Usually the Black hills a warmer but not Oppressive late in the Summer - Keep in Mind that the Sturgis Bike rally is from around the 4th to the 14th, so you will want to stay down near Custer - say Custer's Gulch.Hope this is of some help, You can be sure it will be BEAUTIFUL and FUN.JMHO,MAP

Busskipper wrote:dalenoel wrote:We are trying to avoid the real mountain passes yet not too concerned over 4-6% grades. Catch Telluride - Slide over to Ouray for the Hot Springs - now to Black Canyon of the Gunnison - then to Buena Vista and the New Browns Canyon NM - with the possible side trip in the Toad over Independence Pass for a day trip to Aspen and Maroon Bells - Leadville - Quincy's for dinner - Turquoise Lake - Possibly Camp Hale and Red Cliff - then down to Silverthorne and the Lake - or Tiger Run - on up to Krimmling - with the Possibility of Grand Lake and RMNP/Estes Park for a day trip in the toad over Trail Ridge - then to Walden, could slip over to Steamboat/Steamboat Lake SP or Stagecoach SP - could stay at Glendo Reservoir - now to Mt Rushmore or Custer and the Black Hills MAP By my map, this only takes the OP over Lizard Head Pass (>10,000 ft.), Monarch Pass (>11,000 ft.), Independence Pass (>12,000 ft), Fremont Pass (>11,000 ft), Trail Ridge Road (12,000 ft), Willow Creek Pass (9,000 ft), and Muddy Pass/Rabbit Ears (10,000 ft.). Should be no problem for someone who just wants to avoid passes in the mountains!

Gallup to Rapid City | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

dalenoel
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2017
TexasShadow; Thanks, It looked that way and I was hopeing but now you have confirmed it.

We'll do that route and see whatever sites are there. I know we can find a place to stop when the day is over so that is not a problem. We'll look for Chadron as we go.
The Neptune has been going go with a great brake on the hills.
TexasShadow
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2017
I like the second choice better, but I think you mean US385 instead of 386.
The only grade you will notice is the one between Raton, NM and Trinidad, and it is relatively short.
Going up 385, you will pass through Chadron, NE. There is a very nice state park 9 miles south of town..Chadron State Park. And a Walmart in town if you care to stock up on anything.
JFNM
Explorer
Jul 06, 2017
So many options... If you are looking to make time - stay on the Interstate. CO-50 is a gorgeous drive but there is Monarch pass - great road but it is steep. CO-160 (into Pagosa Springs) is beautiful and road is great - Wolf Creek pass is steep coming down (less so going up - given your direction of travel).

If you prefer Utah (more desert, less mountains), SR 191 down thru Moab, Blanding, Chinle is a good road.

SR-60 between Soccoro, NM and PHX is very scenic but you do have the Snake River canyon to get down/up.

Flaming Gorge is nice if you want to cross west further north. I-80 and then 191 south. Very pretty. One pass (that I recall) just south of Flaming Gorge and then the descent into Vernal.

Assuming you have an engine brake of some sort, coming down the passes is no problem - let it do the work. I've taken all of the above roads in my 40' Dutch Star (370 HP) towing my Jeep. Going up - find a nice lower gear, throttle to about 1500-1600 and putt on up.

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Gallup to Rapid City

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