Missouri to Estes Park, CO

If your in northern MO I would pick up highway 36 across Kansas....great road, little traffic and a lot of pioneer history.

If you want to miss Denver take highway 79 at Bennett, CO to highway 52 west at Keenesburg, CO to I 25. Good road there too.

Depends on where you are in Missouri. If North Mo, prob up to 80 is quickest. I would also prefer 36, although slower. You will find it very congested with tight turns in Estes Park. It's a tourist destination (trap).

brooks379 wrote:
If your in northern MO I would pick up highway 36 across Kansas....great road, little traffic and a lot of pioneer history.

If you want to miss Denver take highway 79 at Bennett, CO to highway 52 west at Keenesburg, CO to I 25. Good road there too.

We are from southern MO, we will head west through Springfield and go across towards Wichita, take hwy 96 to 125 north to I70 and are going to stop in Russell, KS for the night. Then get up the next morning and head to Estes. We don't have as much time going down as we do coming back. But I am going back thru Cheyenne, ScoBlo, North Platte, etc. to see some of my old stomping grounds. I have always wanted to show my wife where I grew up.

I will look into the Hwy 79, is it a good drive? We have a little more time on the second day to get to Estes, I wouldn't mind a short jaunt to miss Denver.

98silvz71 wrote:
My wife and I are making a trip to Estes Park, CO to see some family and to go to my sister's wedding. We plan on driving across Kansas via I70 and then I25 to Lyons and up Hwy 36 to Paradise RV Park. We are actually staying in the cabins there at the park and then going over to Mary's Lake campground and staying for one more night. I was wondering if anyone could comment on taking a better route or if we would be alright taking a 36' fifth wheel that way. I read another post about coming from WI to Estes Park, but wanted to see what other thought about our way.

One of the locals here. Your plan is very sound. Just some minor clarifications. On I-25 north from Denver, you'll want to get off on the CO 66 exit for Longmont, whichs skirts the northern part of the city and takes you to Lyons. Then on up US 36 as you have planned. This is not going to be difficult with a 5th wheel, no hairpin turns, etc. The road has been reconstructed since the flood of '13 and is actually better than ever to drive.

If you were to decide to take US 36 from MO across northern Kansas, that is a very good route, with small towns interspersed every 40ish miles or so, for fueling/break/food purposes. When you get in to Colorado, you can take US 385 north to US 34 and take that all the way in to Loveland.

If you're doing this AFTER Memorial Day, you can take US 34 up the Big Thompson Canyon. If you are doing this BEFORE Memorial Day, you'll need to take a slight detour south from Loveland on US 287 to CO 66. US 34 is currently closed for major reconstruction and is not expected to reopen to thru traffic until Memorial Day weekend.

What are you doing with your trailer while you are staying at Paradise on the River? It's a tight park and IIRC, they don't have a lot of extra parking. Mary's Lake will be a good choice for your alternative place to stay, it's run by the Town of Estes Park Recreation and Parks Department and is the cheapest place to stay in the area. Pretty area there, be aware that it can get very windy there, due to the geography.

pyoung47 wrote:
Depends on where you are in Missouri. If North Mo, prob up to 80 is quickest. I would also prefer 36, although slower. You will find it very congested with tight turns in Estes Park. It's a tourist destination (trap).

Southern MO. I don't plan on driving around Estes very much if I can help it. My uncle told me I could store the camper at his business in Greeley, I just don't want to have to drive back to Greeley to go back to Mary's Lake campground again.

Thom02099 wrote:

One of the locals here. Your plan is very sound. Just some minor clarifications. On I-25 north from Denver, you'll want to get off on the CO 66 exit for Longmont, whichs skirts the northern part of the city and takes you to Lyons. Then on up US 36 as you have planned. This is not going to be difficult with a 5th wheel, no hairpin turns, etc. The road has been reconstructed since the flood of '13 and is actually better than ever to drive.

If you were to decide to take US 36 from MO across northern Kansas, that is a very good route, with small towns interspersed every 40ish miles or so, for fueling/break/food purposes. When you get in to Colorado, you can take US 385 north to US 34 and take that all the way in to Loveland.

If you're doing this AFTER Memorial Day, you can take US 34 up the Big Thompson Canyon. If you are doing this BEFORE Memorial Day, you'll need to take a slight detour south from Loveland on US 287 to CO 66. US 34 is currently closed for major reconstruction and is not expected to reopen to thru traffic until Memorial Day weekend.

What are you doing with your trailer while you are staying at Paradise on the River? It's a tight park and IIRC, they don't have a lot of extra parking. Mary's Lake will be a good choice for your alternative place to stay, it's run by the Town of Estes Park Recreation and Parks Department and is the cheapest place to stay in the area. Pretty area there, be aware that it can get very windy there, due to the geography.

I just checked my route I have planned and yes I am taking Hwy 66 on the north side of Longmont. I haven't been to Estes since 2008 or 2009 so better roads sound nice. My sister has been talking with the lady in the office, she has a place where they store their personal camper and she was checking to see if I could store it there over the weekend. If I understand correctly it is the bigger campground right across the way from Paradise, they are sisters I believe. If not then I will take it to my Uncle's shop in Greeley, which will suck but if thats what I have to do then I will do it. We are traveling the weekend of June 24.

79 is a good 2 lane road that runs through wide open country. I have driven it and 52 many times with no problem. 52 is also a 2 lane in good condition and you will miss all the Denver and surrounding traffic.

Got an easy route for you & a whole lot more scenic too. From wherever you are in MO get on 36 & stay on 36 all the way. A very civilised highway the whole way.

Veebyes wrote:
Got an easy route for you & a whole lot more scenic too. From wherever you are in MO get on 36 & stay on 36 all the way. A very civilised highway the whole way.

Does make it easy - Rt 36 from Hannibal to Estes - never change roads and IMHO is a Great - Easy option - so much so it has been My route of Choice on the last 12-15 (Maybe more - lost count) trips to and from Colorado.

Will take you to and through Boulder and Lyons right to Estes.

But my Favorite drive to Estes has to be Peak to Peak - for me Rt 6 out of Golden to Rt 119 just outside of Idaho Springs - If you want to see Colorado you have to get on those mountain roads and See/Feel Colorado.

JMHO,

If you were to decide to do I-70 across, turn north (I-470??) before I-25 and take the bypass out by the airport and back into 25 north of Denver. Traffic in the Denver area reminds me of my own Atlanta - never really light.
We usually go north to Loveland and then up Big Thompson rd to Estes Park.