Samanthahhi wrote:
Looking for opinions on cutting off of I-70 on to Hwy 24 towards Colorado Springs to Buena Vista and then on on up to I-70 instead of taking I-70 direct to Glenwood Springs.
If I take the Colorado Springs/Buena Vista route, is it any steeper than I-70 beyond Denver? Would prefer to get off of interstate and see some local flair.
Mileage/timing doesn't seem that bad via google, however is it really slow going? Just trying to plan out reasonable travel time through the mountains.
Samantha
Presumably, you're planning to take I-70 to Limon CO and get on US 24 there, yes? If so, that's an easy drive from Limon to the Springs via US 24, and the vistas are pretty awesome, seeing Pikes Peak, continually loom large as you approach.
From Colorado Springs to Buena Vista via US 24, is a great alternative and an easy drive. The climb from the Springs to Woodland Park is a gradual climb and you top out at Wilkerson Pass west of Woodland Park...hardly noticable as Colorado passes go! Think it's only about 9400 ft or so. From there, the drive across the lower part of South Park, over toward Fairplay and then continuing on to where US 24 and US 285 join, is relatively flat, with a gradual drop down to Johnson Village and Buena Vista.
From Buena Vista, you take US 24 north going up the Arkansas Valley, a gradual drive to Leadville, which is at ~10000 feet. You can continue on US 24 north going over Tennessee Pass and dropping down to I-70. It's a rather long downhill from Tenessee Pass to I-70, but it's not overly steep nor overly curvy...not lots of hairpins like a lot of passes. One of those passes that you just take your time and drop your gears down and you'll get down fine.
You'll join I-70 between Vail and Avon. Easy drive from Avon through Edwards and on through Eagle area before you get to Glenwood Canyon. Take your time through that canyon!! It's scenic, it's an engineering marvel, and it's curvy! Take it slow and enjoy it. It's not overly steep dropping down into Glenwood Springs.
Comparing this route to staying on I-70 to Denver and then on west to Glenwood? No comparison! Going the way described above is much more scenic (subjective description, I know!) and is much easier as far as travelling with a motorhome or trailer. A lot less steep climbs and fewer steep dropdowns.
If you stay on I-70, you have a long climb west of Denver, then a steep drop down at Floyd Hill to Idaho Springs area. THEN there's the long/steep climb from Georgetown up to the Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnels and the 11 mile drop from the Tunnels to Silverthorne/Dillon. THEN you climb again west of Frisco up to Vail Pass and THEN you drop down from the top of Vail into the town of Vail. Beautiful?? You bet! Stressful? Can be, if you're not accustomed to our mountain driving.
ETA: "Slow going" I guess, is subjective. There's going slower because you're on a 2 lane road versus a 4- or 6-lane road. There's going slower because you have 3 steep climbs and drops and will likely be stuck with a line of semi's in making the climb/descent.
Given the choice, I'd rather take the extra time and the perceived slowness of the US 24 route, than the I-70 route. On I-70, in addition to having a lot of semi tractor/trailer traffic, depending on when you travel, there's also the recreational travel, particularly on the weekends. Keep in mind that there are still 2 ski areas open so there will be skier traffic on weekends as well as the camper/rv type folks to add to the semis. The approach to the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnels can frequently be at 15-20 mph due to traffic and that's a long climb from Georgetown.
