Forum Discussion

d-mac1's avatar
d-mac1
Explorer
May 19, 2016

Denver to Taos

My Garmin Nuvi 465 wants to take us south from Denver and turn west on 160 in Walsenburg through Fort Garland on CO 159 and continue in New Mexico on 522 to Taos. This route will work, but looking at a map, staying on I-25 south past the state line and turning west south of Raton NM on US-64 looks to be faster. Does anyone know why my Nuvi is insisting on going via 159/522?

I can't get the nuvi to think I'm in Trinidad to see what it would do from there. I've added Trinidad as a stop, but the gps only shows the leg to there.

I've looked on Allstay's app and I don't see any height/weight/width restrictions on US-64, nor do I see any on my trucker atlas, which is a few years old.

We are 13'3" tall, 8'wide and have about 6k weight per axle, 22k combined gross (when we're maxed).

Thanks.
Roads and Routes
  • trailertraveler's avatar
    trailertraveler
    Explorer
    May 20, 2016
    Haven't driven US-64 between Raton and Cimarron, but haven driven from Cimarron to Taos many times. There is a pretty steep climb through Cimarron Canyon to Eagles Nest and Angel Fire. From there there is another climb to about 9,000' before descending into Taos. Both sections have areas of 35MPH speed limits, narrow shoulders and lower speed turns.

    Haven't driven all of the route from US-160 South, but NM-522 from the Colorado border to Taos is a pretty good road. Lots of ups and downs but no really steep sections with tight turns.
  • d-mac1's avatar
    d-mac1
    Explorer
    May 20, 2016
    Well...I think I have answered my own question. The GPS is taking the shortest/quickest route. Per Google maps, its 4 hrs 8 minutes/267 miles via 160/522 (the way the gps wants to go) and 4 hr 59 min/293 miles via the way I thought would be faster cuz you're on I-25 longer.

    Looking at the routes highlighted via Google maps, I can see why the one is shorter. Hard to see that on paper and impossible on GPS.
  • d-mac1's avatar
    d-mac1
    Explorer
    May 20, 2016
    trailertraveler wrote:
    Haven't driven US-64 between Raton and Cimarron, but haven driven from Cimarron to Taos many times. There is a pretty steep climb through Cimarron Canyon to Eagles Nest and Angel Fire. From there there is another climb to about 9,000' before descending into Taos. Both sections have areas of 35MPH speed limits, narrow shoulders and lower speed turns.

    Haven't driven all of the route from US-160 South, but NM-522 from the Colorado border to Taos is a pretty good road. Lots of ups and downs but no really steep sections with tight turns.


    Great info! Thanks!
  • Thom02099's avatar
    Thom02099
    Explorer II
    May 20, 2016
    You could consider just taking US 285 all the way down, if you'd like a drive with lots of scenery, and pick up US 64 in to Taos at Tres Piedras. Avoids I-25 from Denver to the Springs, which more and more is bumper to bumper til you get south toward Pueblo.
  • d-mac1's avatar
    d-mac1
    Explorer
    May 20, 2016
    Thom02099 wrote:
    You could consider just taking US 285 all the way down, if you'd like a drive with lots of scenery, and pick up US 64 in to Taos at Tres Piedras. Avoids I-25 from Denver to the Springs, which more and more is bumper to bumper til you get south toward Pueblo.


    Thanks for the response...I totally agree about I-25...its terrible between the 2 cities. Came up it last Saturday afternoon. Were numerous stops out in the middle of nowhere. Both directions!

    I didn't tell ya the rest of the story tho...we live SE of Denver metro...we'll take take 83 to the springs...its cake!
  • dblr's avatar
    dblr
    Explorer
    May 20, 2016
    How is 25 from Santa Fe to Denver on a week day? First time out west this year so all new roads to us.
  • Thom02099's avatar
    Thom02099
    Explorer II
    May 20, 2016
    dblr wrote:
    How is 25 from Santa Fe to Denver on a week day? First time out west this year so all new roads to us.


    The stretch from Colorado Springs to Santa Fe should be no problem. Some slowing around Pueblo, and then Raton Pass, but otherwise easy drive.

    It's the stretch from Colorado Springs to the Denver Metro area that can be a bear of a drive. Every time I've driven it, and mostly on week days, it's been heavy traffic, with some areas of being able to do 70ish and other stretches where you might be doing half that. I purposely avoid driving it on weekends; cannot imagine what it would be like, but if it's anything like I-25 from Denver to Fort Collins on a weekend, it's a nightmare.
  • d-mac1's avatar
    d-mac1
    Explorer
    May 21, 2016
    On a weekday...avoid rush hour...both ways but to Denver in the AM and to Springs in the PM is prolly worse. The speed limit is 70 and if you're running even 75 in the fast lane at rush hour, you better get over! Its a serious racetrack...until it jams up.

    I have heard that a lot of military people that work in Springs live in Pueblo and that drive might be getting worse, but I wouldn't think it would compare with Denver/Springs.

    If its not out of your way, take 83 to SE Denver metro (i.e. Parker). Nice n easy drive.
  • cruiserjs's avatar
    cruiserjs
    Explorer
    May 21, 2016
    "I didn't tell ya the rest of the story tho...we live SE of Denver metro...we'll take take 83 to the springs...its cake!"
    IN THAT CASE ( HAVE USED 83 MANY TIMES WHEN WE LIVED IN aURORA AND FAMILY IN fALCON!) IN THE sPRINGS TAKE 24 WEST TO bUENA vISTA THEN SOUTH - wALSENBURG - tAOS!!
    Oops - pardon the caps - inadvertant hit the key but did not mean to shout!! have a good trip
  • padredw's avatar
    padredw
    Nomad
    May 22, 2016
    No need to go to Walsenburg. Stay on US 285 to US 64 and breeze right on in to Taos. I've made that many times from Buena Vista to Taos.

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