I25 Fort Collins south to

We have driven I25 for about 30 years and it has changed a lot. We've lived in big cities (Houston for one) and we are outside San Antonio now so we are used to freeways & the idiots who drive them. And yes, I35 is an experience now too. I agree that 75 mph on I25 north of Denver is ridiculous. The road for one thing is not the smoothest & I think at that speed or higher there is a real chance of losing control. We were just there in July again & I basically get in the right lane and do at most 65 mph. I'm sure we annoy some but we aren't risking more. Maybe it's time for the powers that be to rethink that speed limit.

john&bet wrote:

JAC1982 wrote:
My husband and I are both transplants, as are many of our friends. I don't know hardly anybody who has moved here because of the "pot" laws. Of our friends who are not natives, every single one of them has moved here for jobs... mostly in oil and gas or in tech/IT/software industries. I personally am in software, husband is in IT consulting. He can live anywhere as he works from home or travels, but I can't. I did have an acquaintance that moved here because her husband got a job managing a dispensary for 50k a year, but once they got here and couldn't find housing they could afford to accommodate their family, they went back to Georgia. My parents just moved here too... my mom is retired, my step dad is a school bus driver, which there is a huge shortage of.

As for I-25, I sure am glad I don't commute to Longmont anymore, and I didn't even have to take the worst part of it. Now, when we head to Wyoming (where husband is from), we leave very early in the morning to avoid the worst of the traffic if at all possible.

And, if you want a quick way through Denver to go south, E470 is your best bet. Yes, it'll cost you a bit as it's a toll, especially towing, but the time and aggravation you'll save by not having to go through downtown is more than worth it, in my opinion.

We are planning to be in Ft.Collins about the 16th of Sept. leaving about the 19th headed to New Mexico. What route would advise taking. I am even looking at going 80 miles east then south on route 71 to US 350 to Trinidad.

Just got back from Akron CO and drove that route back home . Fill up your TV and enjoy the country side !! All good roads and very little traffic.

padredw wrote:
Another point of view: we just returned from a month long trip up to Banff, Alberta. On our way up we traveled from Raton, NM to Fort Collins, CO drivng right through Colorado Springs and Denver on I-25. It happened to be on a Saturday mid-day and we had no trouble at all in Denver. I must admit that there were a few slow-downs out on the freeway between C.S.s and Denver, but we still made good time. In fact, we have never had real trouble getting through Denver.

and BTW this is pulling a 34' fifth-wheel with an 85 year old driver.

Well then, I guess all the others are a little off. Maybe it is just like I-65 between Indy and Louisville.

Another point of view: we just returned from a month long trip up to Banff, Alberta. On our way up we traveled from Raton, NM to Fort Collins, CO drivng right through Colorado Springs and Denver on I-25. It happened to be on a Saturday mid-day and we had no trouble at all in Denver. I must admit that there were a few slow-downs out on the freeway between C.S.s and Denver, but we still made good time. In fact, we have never had real trouble getting through Denver.

and BTW this is pulling a 34' fifth-wheel with an 85 year old driver.

fanrgs wrote:
You know US 285 goes all the way to Roswell, just a few miles from Hobbs. Just a thought!

Yip. Just wanted to bypass the bad I-25 route the easiest way possible since alot of folks here says it is so awful. So I ask of those that live and travel there.

You know US 285 goes all the way to Roswell, just a few miles from Hobbs. Just a thought!

Thom02099 wrote:

fanrgs wrote:

john&bet wrote:
Fanrgs, I have question for you. Since we are tourist from out of state that must travel from Ft. Collins south to New Mexico in mid Sept. what route would you suggest? Thanks

My first question for you is: where in New Mexico? Second is: do you have a time constraint or several days for the route? Third is: do want to see Colorado scenery or just Colorado cities?

If I were from Indiana and had not spent much time exploring Colorado, I would want to see some mountain scenery. If you have already been to Rocky Mountain NP, I would suggest taking US 287 to Longmont, CO 119 to Boulder, CO 93 to Golden, and US 6/C-470 to US 285 (just south of Morrison). Then I would take US 285 all the way to I-25 at Santa Fe, New Mexico.

That route takes you into the mountains, but keeps you on some of the easiest mountain passes--Kenosha, Trout Creek, and Poncha--in Colorado because it never crosses the Continental Divide. It also takes you directly to the spectacularly photogenic Collegiate Range, Browns Canyon NM, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and all the tourist attractions in Santa Fe. It is also just a short detour from US 285 to Great Sand Dunes NP, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and Taos, Los Alamos and Bandelier NM, and several Indian pueblos (Pueblo pottery!).

If you would like more detailed info on that route, take a look at the "US 285" post on my blog HERE.

I am even looking at going 80 miles east then south on route 71 to US 350 to Trinidad.

This...only if you have a significant time constraint and just want to get south. Otherwise....what fanrgs and busskipper said. US 285 in particular is a magnificent drive; the top of Kenosha Pass is a must stop photo op for the beauty of South Park.

That is the idea. We have planned about two days to travel to Hobbs,N. M. for a family visit for birthdays,especially a 3 year old great grand daughters. Some day we may get the chance for a more extensive visit in Colorado. But this trip is about family from Great Falls,Mt.thru the Black Hills to New Mexico. Thanks for your ideas.

fanrgs wrote:

john&bet wrote:
Fanrgs, I have question for you. Since we are tourist from out of state that must travel from Ft. Collins south to New Mexico in mid Sept. what route would you suggest? Thanks

My first question for you is: where in New Mexico? Second is: do you have a time constraint or several days for the route? Third is: do want to see Colorado scenery or just Colorado cities?

If I were from Indiana and had not spent much time exploring Colorado, I would want to see some mountain scenery. If you have already been to Rocky Mountain NP, I would suggest taking US 287 to Longmont, CO 119 to Boulder, CO 93 to Golden, and US 6/C-470 to US 285 (just south of Morrison). Then I would take US 285 all the way to I-25 at Santa Fe, New Mexico.

That route takes you into the mountains, but keeps you on some of the easiest mountain passes--Kenosha, Trout Creek, and Poncha--in Colorado because it never crosses the Continental Divide. It also takes you directly to the spectacularly photogenic Collegiate Range, Browns Canyon NM, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and all the tourist attractions in Santa Fe. It is also just a short detour from US 285 to Great Sand Dunes NP, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and Taos, Los Alamos and Bandelier NM, and several Indian pueblos (Pueblo pottery!).

If you would like more detailed info on that route, take a look at the "US 285" post on my blog HERE.

Thank you for your response. We are visiting family in Ft. Collins for a couple of days then on to Hobbs,N.M. to see our Grand Daughter and her family for about a week. I am looking at 2 days for that part of our multi state, 6K mile, 2 month trip. We have family and extended family that we have not seen in 2 plus years scattered from Great Falls to Hobbs to include the Black Hills. With all the discussion about how bad traffic was I was looking for a quick sane route south. We traveled I-70 thru Denver at about rush hour one years headed back home. Thanks again. john

fanrgs wrote:

john&bet wrote:
Fanrgs, I have question for you. Since we are tourist from out of state that must travel from Ft. Collins south to New Mexico in mid Sept. what route would you suggest? Thanks

My first question for you is: where in New Mexico? Second is: do you have a time constraint or several days for the route? Third is: do want to see Colorado scenery or just Colorado cities?

If I were from Indiana and had not spent much time exploring Colorado, I would want to see some mountain scenery. If you have already been to Rocky Mountain NP, I would suggest taking US 287 to Longmont, CO 119 to Boulder, CO 93 to Golden, and US 6/C-470 to US 285 (just south of Morrison). Then I would take US 285 all the way to I-25 at Santa Fe, New Mexico.

That route takes you into the mountains, but keeps you on some of the easiest mountain passes--Kenosha, Trout Creek, and Poncha--in Colorado because it never crosses the Continental Divide. It also takes you directly to the spectacularly photogenic Collegiate Range, Browns Canyon NM, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and all the tourist attractions in Santa Fe. It is also just a short detour from US 285 to Great Sand Dunes NP, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and Taos, Los Alamos and Bandelier NM, and several Indian pueblos (Pueblo pottery!).

If you would like more detailed info on that route, take a look at the "US 285" post on my blog HERE.

I am even looking at going 80 miles east then south on route 71 to US 350 to Trinidad.

This...only if you have a significant time constraint and just want to get south. Otherwise....what fanrgs and busskipper said. US 285 in particular is a magnificent drive; the top of Kenosha Pass is a must stop photo op for the beauty of South Park.

john&bet wrote:
Fanrgs, I have question for you. Since we are tourist from out of state that must travel from Ft. Collins south to New Mexico in mid Sept. what route would you suggest? Thanks

My first question for you is: where in New Mexico? Second is: do you have a time constraint or several days for the route? Third is: do want to see Colorado scenery or just Colorado cities?

If I were from Indiana and had not spent much time exploring Colorado, I would want to see some mountain scenery. If you have already been to Rocky Mountain NP, I would suggest taking US 287 to Longmont, CO 119 to Boulder, CO 93 to Golden, and US 6/C-470 to US 285 (just south of Morrison). Then I would take US 285 all the way to I-25 at Santa Fe, New Mexico.

That route takes you into the mountains, but keeps you on some of the easiest mountain passes--Kenosha, Trout Creek, and Poncha--in Colorado because it never crosses the Continental Divide. It also takes you directly to the spectacularly photogenic Collegiate Range, Browns Canyon NM, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and all the tourist attractions in Santa Fe. It is also just a short detour from US 285 to Great Sand Dunes NP, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and Taos, Los Alamos and Bandelier NM, and several Indian pueblos (Pueblo pottery!).

If you would like more detailed info on that route, take a look at the "US 285" post on my blog HERE.