Denver to Taos

[d-mac1]

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.

[d-mac1]

trailertraveler wrote:
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.

We didn't do the Cimarron-Angel Fire section, but glad we didn't go that way cuz we did drive the Angel Fire-Tao section a few times without the trailer. Pretty dang narrow as you said and very windy. It'd suck with a rig of any size...and other drivers are soo impatient! I'm going 5 over, its windy and all, and it wasn't fast enough for a bunch of folk...including a school bus!

There are a few pull outs which some slow vehicles can hit (other folks were even slower than us) but there is no way to hit any pullouts with a rig. They are generally too sudden and always too small for anything of size.

La Veta is a grind from the east. Keeps going and going and going. Definitely the best route to Tao from south Denver metro or eastern plains.

Walsenberg was very windy both times we went through. I'm sure they have some nice days but we didn't experience them.

[BillMFl]

One of my favorite drives from Denver is to head west on 70 to 24 and then south down the high valley. Nice two lane with great views of the 14teeners. Its my way to Aspen too, but going south you can connect with multiple options to Taos. I would save the route thru Angel Fire for the toad and do the whole circle from Taos. I know this route is longer and slower but its much more fun and very light traffic compared to 25 which I hate.

[padredw]

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.

[cruiserjs]

"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

[d-mac1]

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.

[Thom02099]

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.

[dblr]

How is 25 from Santa Fe to Denver on a week day? First time out west this year so all new roads to us.

[d-mac1]

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!

[Thom02099]

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]

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!

[d-mac1]

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.

[trailertraveler]

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.