Colorado I-70 using 24 and 91

Thom02099 wrote:
Nights can sometimes get downright cold if you're not accustomed to it!

Not unexpected when you are camping at two miles above sea level. Just bring an electric blanket from home!

If you don't mind dry camping, there is a nice Forest Service campground on top of Cumbres Pass. And Durango has two Forest Service campgrounds with electricity. But you will definitely need reservations for either of them.

Tin-bender wrote:
Thunder,
Thanks for the additional information.

We will be staying in Leadville for several days and making day trips up to Georgetown and Golden. We booked at the Sugar Loafin RV park outside Leadville, looked and sounded pretty good hope that wasn't an error.

At Canon City we booked at the Royal view Camp ground if these are bad mistakes let me know as we may still be able to make other arrangements:)
Thanks
Tinbender

Sugar Loafin is a nice park outside Leadville. Beautiful area there, but be prepared -- it can get rather...brisk...there, all summer long! Nights can sometimes get downright cold if you're not accustomed to it!

If you're making your trip soon, you'll want to use CO 91 both ways, US 24 had a sinkhole open up just above Red Cliff on Friday. The road narrows down to one lane and large loads are being rerouted.

While in Leadville, be sure and have a meal at Quincy's. You won't regret it...

fanrgs wrote:
Are you interested in railroad and mining history, by any chance? The only reason I can see to travel from California to Leadville, Georgetown, Golden, and Canon City would be to ride the Leadville, Colorado & Southern, Georgetown Loop, Colorado Railroad Museum, and Royal Gorge Route tourist railroads.

If so, you might want to break up riding all those trains with a boat trip. River rafting is great on the Arkansas River either through Brown's Canyon or the Royal Gorge. These are the two most popular river stretches for rafting in Colorado, so reservations would be a good idea in the summer.

And don't miss the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville--it fills the entire old Leadville High School building. Other Leadville places of interest are the Matchless Mine, where Baby Doe Tabor froze to death, the Tabor Opera House, the Delaware Hotel, and the Healey House Museum. And don't miss the Silver Dollar Saloon right downtown on Harrison. It has a fantastic carved back bar and photos of historic figures and places covering the walls in the back room.

BINGO
And from there we are going on to Chama and Durango.
We intend to check out the mining museum in Leadville while we are there.
Thanks for the input

Are you interested in railroad and mining history, by any chance? The only reason I can see to travel from California to Leadville, Georgetown, Golden, and Canon City would be to ride the Leadville, Colorado & Southern, Georgetown Loop, Colorado Railroad Museum, and Royal Gorge Route tourist railroads.

If so, you might want to break up riding all those trains with a boat trip. River rafting is great on the Arkansas River either through Brown's Canyon or the Royal Gorge. These are the two most popular river stretches for rafting in Colorado, so reservations would be a good idea in the summer.

And don't miss the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville--it fills the entire old Leadville High School building. Other Leadville places of interest are the Matchless Mine, where Baby Doe Tabor froze to death, the Tabor Opera House, the Delaware Hotel, and the Healey House Museum. And don't miss the Silver Dollar Saloon right downtown on Harrison. It has a fantastic carved back bar and photos of historic figures and places covering the walls in the back room.

Thunder,
Thanks for the additional information.

We will be staying in Leadville for several days and making day trips up to Georgetown and Golden. We booked at the Sugar Loafin RV park outside Leadville, looked and sounded pretty good hope that wasn't an error.

At Canon City we booked at the Royal view Camp ground if these are bad mistakes let me know as we may still be able to make other arrangements:)
Thanks
Tinbender

Tin-bender wrote:

Thunder Mountain wrote:
We live in Buena Vista and drive those roads all the time. 24 over Tennessee Pass is not our favorite. It is twisty and steep on the west side out of Minturn. It can be a real slow go with truck traffic. The difference time wise is about the same to go down to Copper Mountain and go over Freemont Pass to Ledville. My GPS shows about a five minute penalty going Freemont. It is a much better road.

Thanks
That is good information to have for our first time in the area.
What about 24 on to Salida? I assume once on US 50 again to Canon City
that will be good highway.
Thanks again
Tinbender

24 to Salida is a great road. Only caution is to watch your speed. It is posted at 60 mph. It is very heavily patrolled by the state and county. They'll give you some "change" but not much. 50 to Canon City is a bit twisty in places. There are a couple of unincorporated "towns" where the speed limit drops. Just watch the signs and your speed.

Enjoy your trip. PM me if you want any additional info on campgrounds etc.

Thunder Mountain wrote:
We live in Buena Vista and drive those roads all the time. 24 over Tennessee Pass is not our favorite. It is twisty and steep on the west side out of Minturn. It can be a real slow go with truck traffic. The difference time wise is about the same to go down to Copper Mountain and go over Freemont Pass to Ledville. My GPS shows about a five minute penalty going Freemont. It is a much better road.

Thanks
That is good information to have for our first time in the area.
What about 24 on to Salida? I assume once on US 50 again to Canon City
that will be good highway.
Thanks again
Tinbender

If your goal is Georgetown just stay on I70. Nothing to be gained by going up to Leadville and back down to Copper Mountain. Leave the TT in Leadville for any length of time - you had better winterize it (LOL). Many questionsabout your routes.

We live in Buena Vista and drive those roads all the time. 24 over Tennessee Pass is not our favorite. It is twisty and steep on the west side out of Minturn. It can be a real slow go with truck traffic. The difference time wise is about the same to go down to Copper Mountain and go over Freemont Pass to Ledville. My GPS shows about a five minute penalty going Freemont. It is a much better road.