Looking for some advice. We wanted to run from Moab to Tetons to Yellowstone this summer, but we missed out on Colter Bay and Canyon. Long story short, we're going to do Colorado and then run to Glacier. We love Durango, Ouray, and Ridgeway, but we've never done RMNP. So the plan is to leave Moab on 70 and head toward RMNP. From Moab, how should we scenic route and where should we visit? We're in a 35 rv towing a jeep. Thanks for any advice.

Plan for delays around Moab due to major road construction around Arches National Park next year.

I would call your attention to two routes:1> Stay on I-70 to Central City, then take 119 North to Nederland then 72 to 7. This entire route is designated "Peak to Peak Highway." It is a favorite drive of ours, even though it is far from straight and level.2> The second route would take US 50 from Grand Junction through Gunnison and over Monarch Pass, then up to Buena Vista in the Arkansas Valley. You could even make a "spur" down to Ouray, then back up to Montrose to rejoin US 50. Many great places to stay along this route: Ouray, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Gunnison itself, Buena Vista. From Buena Vista I would take 24 on up to Leadville (another good stop) then 91 to join I-70 and over to the Peak to Peak as above.The second route is very scenic and has many possibility for campgrounds.

If you want to head east on I-70 from Moab one way to Rocky is to take Hwy 13 at Rifle, CO (Rifle Gap or Rifle Falls are nice state parks if you need to stay a night). Take 13 north to Craig, CO and east on Hwy 40 to Granby and on to Grand Lake (nice camping) and then take Trail Ridge Rd. from the west into Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park. Be warned that it's a steep drive but many RVers do it. We have. It's all a very scenic drive and you wouldn't have the Denver mess to plow through.Someone mentioned construction and delays in Arches Nat'l Park and yes, the campground will be closed all summer and there will be road delays. However, there are plenty of places to stay in Moab (Dead Horse Point State Park at Canyonlands is very nice) along with many RV parks. Plan to get to Arches by 7 am or even earlier for your touring. It would be a pleasant time of day. Also, if you can make reservations, the ranger-led 'Fiery Furnace' hike is awesome but very popular so get reservations early.Have a great trip!Here is Arches' web site where you can read about the 2017 construction project and other helpful information. Each national park has a great web site so check out Rocky Mtn., also.https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm

As to RMNP, route depends on which side of the park you want to be. East/Estes Park side is far more popular, and waaaaay more crowded. Reservations inside the park are a must at Moraine Park and Glacier Basin, the 2 most popular in-park campgrounds. Use the reservation window rapidly, sites book quickly. Commercial campgrounds will also require a reservation in most cases throughout the season. West/Grand Lake side is not a popular, and a lot less crowded. Not to say there aren't crowds...there are. Just less than the Estes side. And the only in-park campground is Timber Creek, which is very nice and is first come/first served all season - no reservations at all. There are also some very nice commercial campgrounds just outside Grand Lake, and quite a few USFS campgrounds around Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Reservoir. As to routes, some of the routes mentioned above from other posters will work just fine. A slight modification here and there gets you to the west side from Moab. Unless you're a skilled/experienced mountain driver, I DON'T recommend taking Trail Ridge Road between Grand Lake and Estes Park or vice versa. Even with the caveats about no shoulders, and extreme drop offs, over the past several years the increase in popularity and thus traffic has been insane. It's getting less pleasant in a SUV or truck, never mind in a big rig pulling a toad. Pick a side, stay there, and use your toad to go between the two.

X2 on Grand Lake but take 70 to Silverton and then 9 north. Day trip into RMNP, even to Estes Park... not my favorite tourist trap. Backtrack some to head to the Tetons. All the roads north into WY are good two lane roads. I like 286 into the Tetons. If you are into boondocking PM me.

Moab to RMNP | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

RPreeb
Explorer
Jan 07, 2017
Ivylog wrote:
By "day trip" I ment for them to use their toad to do RMNP and leave the MH in Grand Lake since they're headed to the Tetons next. Would I take my 42' DP over??? Only if I really needed to go in that direction or on a $100 bet. OK, a $50 one would do. :B

If they plan to do any day hikes, staying on the west side is not a good idea. It takes probably 2 hours just to get over the top on Trail Ridge Road and get to an east side trailhead. Anyone who hikes RMNP and doesn't get to the Glacier Gorge area (trailhead on Bear Lake road) has really missed one of the most beautiful areas in the Rockies.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jan 06, 2017
By "day trip" I ment for them to use their toad to do RMNP and leave the MH in Grand Lake since they're headed to the Tetons next. Would I take my 42' DP over??? Only if I really needed to go in that direction or on a $100 bet. OK, a $50 one would do. :B
Busskipper
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
RPreeb wrote:
Ivylog wrote:
Hey, at-least I go Hwy 9 right without looking at a map. Thanks Busskipper for trying to bail me out.

That only works if the plan is to stay on the west side of the park. Trying to go over Trail Ridge with an RV would no be advised. I don't know if there are any restrictions or not, but I've driven Trail Ridge Road many times, and I would never want to do it in anything bigger than my F-150, and never towing.

Funny thing about that - the reason Ivy and I know about Rt 9 is because we both (:@) have driven over Trail Ridge, coming fom Grand Lake, and IMHO it's really not in the same League as Rt 64 back East, actually it's really a pretty good road - go early and miss most of the traffic - but just like Rt 550 (Silverton) if you are not comfortable on the mountain roads, you better not be pressured into an uncomfortable decision.

Just hard to find a road in Colorado, that I don't enjoy the drive.

But that's just me, However you get there, GET THERE, it is full of surprises and some of the best Hikes in the Rockies.

JMHO,

Busskipper
RPreeb
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
Ivylog wrote:
Hey, at-least I go Hwy 9 right without looking at a map. Thanks Busskipper for trying to bail me out.

That only works if the plan is to stay on the west side of the park. Trying to go over Trail Ridge with an RV would no be advised. I don't know if there are any restrictions or not, but I've driven Trail Ridge Road many times, and I would never want to do it in anything bigger than my F-150, and never towing.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jan 05, 2017
Hey, at-least I go Hwy 9 right without looking at a map. Thanks Busskipper for trying to bail me out.
Lauren
Explorer
Jan 04, 2017
Thom is right on and I have said it for years (and lived in Estes for 8 years) - do not take an RV over Trail Ridge. It has hard enough to drive a toad or TV over with the crowds - not to mention the road, blind turns, elevation and dropoffs.
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
We love Rifle Falls State Park
Busskipper
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
cruiserjs wrote:
Ivylog wrote:
X2 on Grand Lake but take 70 to Silverton and then 9 north. Day trip into RMNP, even to Estes Park... not my favorite tourist trap. Backtrack some to head to the Tetons. All the roads north into WY are good two lane roads. I like 286 into the Tetons. If you are into boondocking PM me.

Not too bad BUT highway 9 takes off of I 70 from SILVERTHORNE, not Silverton.
Those two are a long way apart!!

Just a finger slip, I'm sure - as you easily noted that Silverton is on Rt550 in the Middle of the San Juan's so the Rt 9 notation clarifies the actual location. Happens all the time, even with people who live in Colorado. Silverthorne or Silverton sound the same to me......:D .....:p .....:S
cruiserjs
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
Ivylog wrote:
X2 on Grand Lake but take 70 to Silverton and then 9 north. Day trip into RMNP, even to Estes Park... not my favorite tourist trap. Backtrack some to head to the Tetons. All the roads north into WY are good two lane roads. I like 286 into the Tetons. If you are into boondocking PM me.

Not too bad BUT highway 9 takes off of I 70 from SILVERTHORNE, not Silverton.
Those two are a long way apart!!
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jan 03, 2017
X2 on Grand Lake but take 70 to Silverton and then 9 north. Day trip into RMNP, even to Estes Park... not my favorite tourist trap. Backtrack some to head to the Tetons. All the roads north into WY are good two lane roads. I like 286 into the Tetons. If you are into boondocking PM me.

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