new orleans to Denver

BB_TX wrote:
I would take I-49 to I-20 west to US 69 near Tyler. Then north to US 82 north of Bells and then west to US 287 at Henrietta. That is good highway and bypasses the DFW area and the traffic and construction.
Then US 287 to I-40 west to loop 335 around the northeast side of Amarillo. Then US 87 to Dumas/Dalhart/Raton. Then I-25 north to Colorado Springs.
As for miles and hours, it all depends on you and your family. With stops for food, fuel, and rest you can count on averaging around 55 mph on most highways. Maybe a little better on interstates or equal. A "quick" stop can kill your average. So think about how many hours you think the family can stand each day.

The route we always take. Stop over in Tyler State park and a stop in Amarillo for the night. It all depends on the time you have.

When near Dallas, stay away from I-35 through Dallas. Even, well after rush hour, much traffic and I raced motorcycles off-road on smoother terrain!!! :M

I would take this route
I-10 to Baton Rouge
US 190 to I-49
I-49 to I20 in Shreveport
I-20 to Weatherford TX (I-20 skirts the south side of the DFW metroplex, and only has about 20 miles of dense city scape)
Weatherford TX to Decatur (some TX state highway, not bad I drove it in a u-haul 2 or 3 years ago helping an old friend move back to Montana from Baton Rouge)
Stay on 287 all the way to Lamar CO
Lamar to Pueblo, then up to CO Springs

Note this route will have a whole lot of nothing, but some impressive open scenery once you are west of DFW. Including nearly 300 miles without a town over 10,000 people (most are more like 1,000 - 2,000)

I took nearly this route on the Montana trip 2 years ago, and am going to take a version of it again going to Wyoming next month

I would take I-49 to I-20 west to US 69 near Tyler. Then north to US 82 north of Bells and then west to US 287 at Henrietta. That is good highway and bypasses the DFW area and the traffic and construction.
Then US 287 to I-40 west to loop 335 around the northeast side of Amarillo. Then US 87 to Dumas/Dalhart/Raton. Then I-25 north to Colorado Springs.
As for miles and hours, it all depends on you and your family. With stops for food, fuel, and rest you can count on averaging around 55 mph on most highways. Maybe a little better on interstates or equal. A "quick" stop can kill your average. So think about how many hours you think the family can stand each day.

rthibodaux wrote:


We are making a trip from New Orleans area to Colorado springs,

First what is the best route , second since we never made a trip that long,

how many hours or miles do you drive in a day, we have

3 kids and 3 adults, and third we want to

bring some seafood with us, has anyone

travel with an ice chest on the rear bumper with dry ice and how long did the ice last.

thanks

MAP - avoids Dallas - is a good road - Will be HOT.

"how many hours or miles do you drive in a day" Depends on how long you have and what is the Mission of the trip? But 6 hours will work out to 4 days, with any luck. Would it be possible to say, start late, the first afternoon and get a little jump on things - say 200 miles while everyone is pumped up and ready togo? That will make a big difference later.

Figure to stop and let the kids unwind at lunch - so at least 60 minutes to stretch. Always get to the CG well before dark - lot's of booby traps as you get in.

Get a really good cooler - surround in dry ice and tape closed - keep it in the 5'er - should be good for three days.

Hope this helps,

What are the plans when you get to Colorado?