Hwy 550 from Montrose, CO to Durango, CO

S-n-L wrote:
Good question indeed.

Yes two days prior we drove to Silverton in the toad to get a handle. I confirmed it looked comfortable for me.

Stuart

While I'm sure the drive with the Coach was still fun - the Drive with the Toad is just an Amazing Time, and even if you have done this drive often, as many have, it is always a thrill, and is indeed a Lasting Memory.

Thanks for the Update, as you, like so many other can confirm, that it's doable but always best to stay in YOUR Comfort Zone.

Thanks,

Good question indeed.

Yes two days prior we drove to Silverton in the toad to get a handle. I confirmed it looked comfortable for me.

Stuart

Good question !

S-n-L wrote:
Hello everyone,

The dead is done. Yesterday Leslie and I drove the Million Dollar Highway (550) from Ouray to Durango Colorado. The drive was fun and invigorating. It is not for the faint of heart or the person with no experience with curvy mountain roads. I was laser focused with eyes on the road always. Leslie promised she wouldn’t scream and she did as promised. If you drive the speed limit there is no issues with this drive. It is times like this that I really appreciate the ISX 600 engine. Not only does it have lots of driving power it also has lots of engine breaking power.

All in all a lot of the route was easy driving mixed with frequent cliffs and tight turns. It is not all difficult driving. The drive from Ouray to Silverton was a bit more challenging than Silverton to Durango. There was one construction area just south of Silverton that was very tight and unnerving.

Thank you all for your input,

Stuart

Thanks for reporting Back the the Forum - Question? - Did you drive it first in the Toad, or did you just go for it?

Hello everyone,

The dead is done. Yesterday Leslie and I drove the Million Dollar Highway (550) from Ouray to Durango Colorado. The drive was fun and invigorating. It is not for the faint of heart or the person with no experience with curvy mountain roads. I was laser focused with eyes on the road always. Leslie promised she wouldn’t scream and she did as promised. If you drive the speed limit there is no issues with this drive. It is times like this that I really appreciate the ISX 600 engine. Not only does it have lots of driving power it also has lots of engine breaking power.

All in all a lot of the route was easy driving mixed with frequent cliffs and tight turns. It is not all difficult driving. The drive from Ouray to Silverton was a bit more challenging than Silverton to Durango. There was one construction area just south of Silverton that was very tight and unnerving.

Thank you all for your input,

Stuart

We drove Hwy 550 6 years ago from Durango to Ouray with our then 5th wheel. I truly enjoyed the trip and my wife, who says she doesn't like heights, also enjoyed the trip (she just didn't look down the mountain sides). If anyone has the least concern I would advise avoiding the trip. You need some confidence, although it's important to respect the road and other drivers. There are plenty of pull-offs along the way if you want to take photos or a break.

My one bit of advice is that make sure your brakes are in top shape if you're taking Hwy 550. You will be on them from time to time.

Just exactly a year ago I posted the following:

Padredw wrote:
This was our first time to tow over US 550 from Ouray, through Silverton, to Durango. We enjoyed it greatly. Wish we had not been so hesitant before. Our rig is a 34' fifth-wheel pulled by a Chevrolet Silverado diesel, Duramax/Allison. We never had a moment of concern about the highway or control of our rig. I highly recommend this route. Our overnight stops between Colter Bay and Durango were Flaming Gorge/Manila KOA, Rifle Gap State Park, and Ridgeway State Park in the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground

This is very much a real world report. Now it is certainly true that I have many years of towing in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana; but I had always avoided the "Million Dollar Highway"--until last year. Even my wife was secure with the drive--and we are both in our 80s.

One thing I might revise in my statement quoted above:

"I highly recommend this route for those who have experience with mountain roads and passes and who have good equipment."

Lauren wrote:
We just spent a week in Ouray. We were on Red Mountain Pass several times for my photographic efforts and just our love for it.

I am an experienced mountain driver - living in CO for 8 years and spending much time there in our rv since moving 14 years ago. I have rv'd part time for 19 years all over the west.

Based on what I saw on this trip there is no way on God's green earth I would recommend driving it with an rv. Yes, the first 3 miles or so out of Ouray are posted 25mph. Duh, no one there with radar to monitor!

And many people over the double yellow line - even coming north when they are on the inside. They come around a blind curve swinging wide.

They worked on the road a couple of years ago but still the sections of 6-12" shoulder (at times close to 0 inches), no guard rail and over the edge a few hundred feet straight down. Did I mention hills and curves as well?

For the record, I think I only saw about 3 RV's in the many hours I spent on Red Mountain Pass. And about 2 trucks. In the week we were there including Labor Day weekend and, like I said, many hours on that area.

Leaving there heading to Aztec, NM we did the usual 550/62/145 over Lizard Head Pass.

Good News - got some great images! However, we were about a week or so early for the full color. Made reservations in Ouray for next year.

On the other hand, do not miss driving it with your TV or toad if at all possible.

Be safe.

Thank you for a an intelligent, real world, been there done that, response. Wish I had a nickel for every fool I have encountered over the double yellow lines. Annoying when you are behind them, life threatening when you are coming the other way. :E

If you cannot keep all of your rig between the double yellows 100 per cent of the time you have NO business being on that road, period! The folks who proudly crow that they have driven roads like this "without a problem " have no clue where their rigs actually were in relation to the established lanes. :S

We just spent a week in Ouray. We were on Red Mountain Pass several times for my photographic efforts and just our love for it.

I am an experienced mountain driver - living in CO for 8 years and spending much time there in our rv since moving 14 years ago. I have rv'd part time for 19 years all over the west.

Based on what I saw on this trip there is no way on God's green earth I would recommend driving it with an rv. Yes, the first 3 miles or so out of Ouray are posted 25mph. Duh, no one there with radar to monitor!

And many people over the double yellow line - even coming north when they are on the inside. They come around a blind curve swinging wide.

They worked on the road a couple of years ago but still the sections of 6-12" shoulder (at times close to 0 inches), no guard rail and over the edge a few hundred feet straight down. Did I mention hills and curves as well?

For the record, I think I only saw about 3 RV's in the many hours I spent on Red Mountain Pass. And about 2 trucks. In the week we were there including Labor Day weekend and, like I said, many hours on that area.

Leaving there heading to Aztec, NM we did the usual 550/62/145 over Lizard Head Pass.

Good News - got some great images! However, we were about a week or so early for the full color. Made reservations in Ouray for next year.

On the other hand, do not miss driving it with your TV or toad if at all possible.

Be safe.

If I remember the speed limit from ouray to red mt pass is 25. It's not a crazy drive. Ture there is no guard rail.