I'll be travelling from Indy to Western Colorado (Steamboat Springs) in early May. I will be taking my time, approximately 12 days. I want to stay off of 70 and I am looking at routes 36 or 50. Any helpful input as to travel conditions and comparisons of these roads would be appreciated.

I've traveled them and it's pretty much 6 of one and half-dozen of the other. They're all 3 boring, mostly 4 lane except for Hiway 36 across Kansas. If it were me, I'd hustle to Colorado and then spend any extra time there. There's just not much to see between here and there. However I do hate I-70, so I travel Hiway 36 if I'm not in a huge rush. Not that it's much better, but it doesn't get the gawdawful traffic that I-70 does.

36 from Indianapolis to the Illinois border is a very nice road once you get out of the Indianapolis - Avon area. I travel that road quite often going out to Rockville, Indiana. (Park County ... covered bridge capital of the world... coveredbridges.com). After you leave Indiana, I don't know what becomes of the road. It eventually turns into interstate farther West. Never been that far on it. But Indiana is good. You'll enjoy the ride.

No question, 36. Done the trip a few times. Done 50 as well but that is a bit south. 36 is mostly a nice road with nowhere near the I70 traffic.

Route 36 across Missouri is a divided highway with 2 lanes in each direction. A nice drive with Hannibal (think Mark Twain) at the east end. Route 36 across Kansas is 2 lane with little traffic. There's a Pony Express staion in Marysville. We did an overnight at Prairie Dog State Park near Norton. IIRC some sites with electric.

Thank you all for the replies.I was leaning toward 36 and it looks like the route I will take. As far as rushing to Colorado, I'll be spending the Summer camphosting at two State Parks on the Western slope and will be doing a lot of exploring while there. Looking forward to seeing areas of the country that in the past I've only seen from the air.

Indianapolis to Colorado | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
36 from Indianapolis to the Illinois border is a very nice road once you get out of the Indianapolis - Avon area. I travel that road quite often going out to Rockville, Indiana. (Park County ... covered bridge capital of the world... coveredbridges.com). After you leave Indiana, I don't know what becomes of the road. It eventually turns into interstate farther West. Never been that far on it. But Indiana is good. You'll enjoy the ride.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 29, 2015
I've traveled them and it's pretty much 6 of one and half-dozen of the other. They're all 3 boring, mostly 4 lane except for Hiway 36 across Kansas.

If it were me, I'd hustle to Colorado and then spend any extra time there. There's just not much to see between here and there.

However I do hate I-70, so I travel Hiway 36 if I'm not in a huge rush. Not that it's much better, but it doesn't get the gawdawful traffic that I-70 does.

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Indianapolis to Colorado

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