I-70 from Denver to Moab, Utah

LuckeyUs wrote:
Can you please tell me what the driving experience is like on I-70 from Denver to Moab, Utah. Also, if near the edge of a cliff, is it ever only 1 lane in each direction? Hubby doesn't like driving along cliff edges. Thanks!

As has been said "It's an Interstate Highway" Great road - Beautiful Drive - If you are looking for the two lane road that is next to a Cliff - more than Likely it's a small black line on the map and it's likely called "Scenic". I-70 from Denver to Moab will take you through some of the Mountain/canyons people drive so far to see, I'm one of those people who can drive it for a couple hours one way stop get a cup of coffee and turn around and enjoy, no Love, the drive back.

If you are looking for a Beautiful drive just off I-70 into Moab look over this Utube Video if will let you see what you will be driving next to before you do it, but to be able to drive right next to the Colorado River and stare up at the Red Cliffs will not soon be forgotten.

I've included a little of the Utube of the Over Under I-70 in Glenwood Canyon Just beautiful.

Enjoy the drive through Colorado, hopefully you can get off the Interstate and enjoy some of the beautiful - SAFE - two lane drives in the state of Colorado through the Mountains - we love it.

Best of Luck,

If you wanted to really enjoy getting into the Mountains I'd offer this suggestion, Rt6 from Golden to Idaho Springs and I-70 Just lets you see more of the Beauty you came to Colorado to see.

You can view the entire route on Google Earth. You should probably zoom in to a "Street View" for a few places like the Eisenhower Tunnel, Vail Pass, Glenwood Canyon (just east of the town of Glenwood Springs), and Debeque Canyon (just east of Grand Junction). Then your husband can see exactly what I-70 looks like and you can see the scenery you will be missing if you use I-40 or I-10 to avoid Colorado.

I drove 2-lane US Highway 6 from Moab to Denver in the 1960's while they were building the Interstate. It took 10 hours to cover that distance; Grand Junction is now about 4 hours from Denver. And we had to go over nearly 12,000' Loveland Pass (now that's a road with steep cliffs and hairpins), even in winter, until the Eisenhower Tunnel opened in 1973. So, it's hard for me to imagine anyone not wanting to drive I-70 now!

brooks379 wrote:
I 70... 4 Lane interstate highway all the way with plenty of traffic. If it worry's you about fuel then....
1. Fuel up in Denver
2.Fuel up in Grand Junction about 250 miles.

Plenty of fuel and really it is just a pretty ride.

Dittos on the locations mentioned to fuel up.

DO NOT get fuel at the Copper Mountain convenience store at the intersection of I-70 and SR 91! It supposedly has some of the most expensive prices in the nation. Vail has some high prices too though not as bad, but the few gas station might be harder to get in/out and navigate for the larger RVs.

When?

I-70 is a breeze except when the snow is flying and/or the roads are icy.

Also, try not to leave Denver on a Friday night or Saturday morning. In the winter, the road is full of skiers. In the summer, it's full of campers.

The long stretch without fuel is beyond the turnoff for Moab, so no worries for you.

I 70... 4 Lane interstate highway all the way with plenty of traffic. If it worry's you about fuel then....
1. Fuel up in Denver
2.Fuel up in Grand Junction about 250 miles.

Plenty of fuel and really it is just a pretty ride.

I70 is like a freeway.... because it is a freeway. Two or three lanes wide(each side), sweeping curves(no hairpin), shoulders, pull outs, great views, moderate grade at 7% in places but not a big deal. If you have trouble the highway patrol should be along shortly. There is one section IIRC almost to UT that has a 100 mile stretch with no fuel so watch the signs.

LuckeyUs wrote:
Can you please tell me what the driving experience is like on I-70 from Denver to Moab, Utah. Also, if near the edge of a cliff, is it ever only 1 lane in each direction? Hubby doesn't like driving along cliff edges. Thanks!

This is something I posted in a different thread, that gives you an idea of what to expect. There are no cliffs per se that you'll encounter, as you'll be on an interstate highway with shoulders/bike lanes and guard rails, certainly not like what you'll encounter on a 2 lane road in the Colorado mountains.

H E R E - Denver to Price UT is what you'll encounter on Denver to Price, UT, to give you perspective. Coming out of Denver, there is an immediate climb to altitude, approximately 12 miles or so from the Golden area to the Evergreen Parkway. There's also a long decline into Idaho Springs. From there, to around Georgetown, it's fairly flat but gradual climb. At Georgetown and continuing west, you have the climb to the Johnson/Eisenhower tunnels, at over 10000 feet, then a very long downhill into Silverthorne/Dillon area. You'll have a bit of a valley as you approach Vail Pass, which is another climb to over 11000 feet. From the summit of Vail Pass, it's down hill to Grand Junction and on in to Utah. Colorado will be your challenge.

If you want to travel the West you'll need to do some mountain (hill) :) driving. I'll bet that by the time he drives 100 miles in the West he'll feel like a pro! Millions of people do it.

As stated, I-70 is an interstate - multiple lanes. However, it goes through a high mountain pass not far west of Denver.

There are easier ways to get to Moab... still some hills/passes, but not as high and the hills shorter in miles. CO 50 to Grand Junction/I-70 then west to Moab.

Another is to take 160 (you will have Wolf Creek Pass but very doable with a RV and multi-lane), then 160 west through Pagosa Springs/Durango then 491 to 191 north to Moab. Coming from Florida take I-40 and north on I-25 in New Mexico/Colorado and pick up either 160 or 50.

Or.. from I-40, take 491 north in New Mexico to 191 to Moab.... OR...from I-40 in Arizona take 191 north to Moab.

Or... take I-10 from Florida to some of those routes. Lots of ways not as white-knuckled as I-70 just west of Denver.

Don't avoid two-lane highways. You'll find them easy to navigate and will have gorgeous scenery and neat places to stop.... but do your research. Get the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers' and it will give you a 'heads up' on what to expect and what to avoid.

You're not just going to Moab, are you? That's for another post!!! Lots to do in that whole area.

Some of it is near the edge of a cliff, as you follow along the course of a river that has cut through the mountains. It's nothing like the million dollar highway or the roads in South America that are only one lane wide but support traffic going both ways.

It's a huge interstate highway, many lanes going both directions.

Check out uTube for i-70 "drivelapse"