road altitudes
as our old RV (and us) don't like crossing mountains... what is the lowest altitude going from the west coast to the east coast across the mountains. i was told that I10 is flat but elpaso is 4000 f...
Forum Discussion
I-10 follows the lowest route across the country. But you will still see at least 4000 feet before you get to the Pacific Ocean. The highway and railroad pass east of El Paso is the lowest pass across the Rockies in the U.S. You'll be at 4000-5000 feet all the way from west Texas to Tucson.
I-40 you reach 5000 feet around the New Mexico - Texas line, run 6000-7500 feet across New Mexico and Arizona.
At I-70 you reach 5000 at Limon, Colorado, almost 4000 before you get out of Kansas, will see at least 11,000 before descending onto the Colorado Plateau to run at 5000-8000 feet.
At I-80 you reach 5000 around Laramie, cross Wyoming at 9000-1000 feet.
At I-90 your reach 5000 somewhere around Bozeman, because the highway stays in the Yellowstone valley a long way before trying to climb over the Rockies. I-90 stays lower than I-80 and I-70 by staying in valleys. You will still run at higher altitudes than on I-10 and have sections with significant grades crossing ridges between valleys.
I-40 you reach 5000 feet around the New Mexico - Texas line, run 6000-7500 feet across New Mexico and Arizona.
At I-70 you reach 5000 at Limon, Colorado, almost 4000 before you get out of Kansas, will see at least 11,000 before descending onto the Colorado Plateau to run at 5000-8000 feet.
At I-80 you reach 5000 around Laramie, cross Wyoming at 9000-1000 feet.
At I-90 your reach 5000 somewhere around Bozeman, because the highway stays in the Yellowstone valley a long way before trying to climb over the Rockies. I-90 stays lower than I-80 and I-70 by staying in valleys. You will still run at higher altitudes than on I-10 and have sections with significant grades crossing ridges between valleys.
