Golden CO to Durango CO
Have a 38' MH flat towing a car. Looking for best route. Debating between I-25 to US160 or US285 to US160. Thanks for any info.
Forum Discussion
^^^^^ This. What the last 2 posters have said.
US 285 is a beautiful drive, and at the top of Kenosha Pass, there's a pull out for a wonderful photo op. One of the most beautiful spots you'll find in Colorado is South Park.
The early part of US 285, from CO 470 to near Pine Junction, is primarily 4 lane through Aspen Park and Conifer. Big down hill from Pine Junction to Bailey, but then an easy drive up to Kenosha Pass at 10000 feet.
As pointed out, the drive across South Park is mostly flat, at ~9400-9600 feet. A down hill to Johnson Village, where you'll start heading south down the Arkansas Valley.
Once over Poncha Pass (a barely noticeable pass by Colorado standards), the views of the San Luis Valley are also breathtaking. Follow the instructions in the post above about getting to US 160.
Once on US 160, you'll have Wolf Creek Pass to go over. It's reputation is from the past, it's been "tamed" in recent years so it's not near as difficult as it once was, and literally thousands of RVers cross it all the time, as well as commercial truckers. Once down, the drive from Pagosa Springs to Durango is another beautiful stretch.
AND...if you have the time, many of the points of interest that Bill/Busskipper pointed out, can be experienced, such as Leadville, Independence Pass and Buena Vista. If you were to stay for a few days in the Arkansas Valley, you could also go over Monarch Pass to Gunnison and Crested Butte area, and explore that wonderful area of the state. A few days in the San Luis Valley also would allow you to see the Great Sand Dunes NP, if you wish.
Much to see/do in taking the US 285/US 160 route versus the I-25 route. Any more these days, it's bumper to bumper traffic from the western suburbs of Denver south to Colorado Springs with speeds frequently slowing to 25-30 MPH in stretches, and sometimes even slower around Monument Hill. And this is at times during the week, not just on the weekends. Last times I was down that was was during the week in the mid-morning to mid-afternoon. A very stressful drive that's been.
US 285 is a beautiful drive, and at the top of Kenosha Pass, there's a pull out for a wonderful photo op. One of the most beautiful spots you'll find in Colorado is South Park.
The early part of US 285, from CO 470 to near Pine Junction, is primarily 4 lane through Aspen Park and Conifer. Big down hill from Pine Junction to Bailey, but then an easy drive up to Kenosha Pass at 10000 feet.
As pointed out, the drive across South Park is mostly flat, at ~9400-9600 feet. A down hill to Johnson Village, where you'll start heading south down the Arkansas Valley.
Once over Poncha Pass (a barely noticeable pass by Colorado standards), the views of the San Luis Valley are also breathtaking. Follow the instructions in the post above about getting to US 160.
Once on US 160, you'll have Wolf Creek Pass to go over. It's reputation is from the past, it's been "tamed" in recent years so it's not near as difficult as it once was, and literally thousands of RVers cross it all the time, as well as commercial truckers. Once down, the drive from Pagosa Springs to Durango is another beautiful stretch.
AND...if you have the time, many of the points of interest that Bill/Busskipper pointed out, can be experienced, such as Leadville, Independence Pass and Buena Vista. If you were to stay for a few days in the Arkansas Valley, you could also go over Monarch Pass to Gunnison and Crested Butte area, and explore that wonderful area of the state. A few days in the San Luis Valley also would allow you to see the Great Sand Dunes NP, if you wish.
Much to see/do in taking the US 285/US 160 route versus the I-25 route. Any more these days, it's bumper to bumper traffic from the western suburbs of Denver south to Colorado Springs with speeds frequently slowing to 25-30 MPH in stretches, and sometimes even slower around Monument Hill. And this is at times during the week, not just on the weekends. Last times I was down that was was during the week in the mid-morning to mid-afternoon. A very stressful drive that's been.
