Mesa Verde, CO to Hot Springs, AR
Traveling from Mesa Verde to Hot Springs as part of our western U.S. loop trip and don't see any must see sites along this stretch, but I'm sure there are. Also see potential mountain range to naviga...
Forum Discussion
The basic routes out of the southwest corner of CO are:
1) US 160 east to I-25 at Walsenburg
2) US 491 down to I-40 at Gallup
3) US 550 across NM to I-25 at Bernatillo
Each has hills / mountain passes which have to be crossed.
On US 160 there is Wolf Creek Pass east of Pagosa Springs.
On US 491/I-40 you cross the continental divide east of Gallup.
On US 550 - folks say the stretch from Durango to the NM border is not much fun to drive - 2-lane.
Both the southern routes have a steep climb east of Albuquerque for a dozen or so miles.
RV Parks - plenty on I-40. US 491 and 550 are very sparse. Haven't traveled 160. Plenty after you hit I-25
After Walsenburg on I-25 the climb over Raton Pass at the NM stateline can be steep. Taking US 64 east from Raton - I try to time my stop for a night at Capulin - small nice RV park (no restaurants in the town) and a visit to the Capulin Volcano National Monument - well worth the trip. Then an easy drive to Amarillo.
I-40 in Arkansas to Hot Springs
While I personally enjoy driving AR Hwy 7 pulling a 35ft TT - a lot of folks don't like driving the 'most scenic highway in Arkansas' as Hwy 7 is known.
A bit better drive, easier and somewhat scenic is US 71 south from Fort Smith to Y City near Mena and US 280 east to Hot Springs.
Though the easiest/ fastest will be to take I-40 to the I-430 loop west of Little Rock and back track down I-30 to US-70 to Hot Springs.
1) US 160 east to I-25 at Walsenburg
2) US 491 down to I-40 at Gallup
3) US 550 across NM to I-25 at Bernatillo
Each has hills / mountain passes which have to be crossed.
On US 160 there is Wolf Creek Pass east of Pagosa Springs.
On US 491/I-40 you cross the continental divide east of Gallup.
On US 550 - folks say the stretch from Durango to the NM border is not much fun to drive - 2-lane.
Both the southern routes have a steep climb east of Albuquerque for a dozen or so miles.
RV Parks - plenty on I-40. US 491 and 550 are very sparse. Haven't traveled 160. Plenty after you hit I-25
After Walsenburg on I-25 the climb over Raton Pass at the NM stateline can be steep. Taking US 64 east from Raton - I try to time my stop for a night at Capulin - small nice RV park (no restaurants in the town) and a visit to the Capulin Volcano National Monument - well worth the trip. Then an easy drive to Amarillo.
I-40 in Arkansas to Hot Springs
While I personally enjoy driving AR Hwy 7 pulling a 35ft TT - a lot of folks don't like driving the 'most scenic highway in Arkansas' as Hwy 7 is known.
A bit better drive, easier and somewhat scenic is US 71 south from Fort Smith to Y City near Mena and US 280 east to Hot Springs.
Though the easiest/ fastest will be to take I-40 to the I-430 loop west of Little Rock and back track down I-30 to US-70 to Hot Springs.
