Durango to Estes Park: 160 to 285 or 24

Fanrgs,
Thanks for the heads-up on 470 and the memorial...we'll be sure to stop.
Thanks again,
Gary

US 285 doesn't run into E-470. It runs into C-470 at the mountain front west of Denver near Morrison. You can then take it north to Golden where you can pick up CO 93 to Boulder.

E-470 is a toll road (C-470 is free) and begins at I-25 south of Denver. It then goes east and north to I-70, DIA, and finally loops all the way around to the northwest to again meet I-25 north of Denver.

If you take US 24 over Tennessee Pass, be sure to stop at the 10th Mountain Division Memorial on top of the pass and at Camp Hale at the bottom of the pass. You will learn about how 20,000 soldiers were trained in this little valley during World War II and came back after the war to start most of Colorado's ski areas.

For more info on the US 160, US 285, and US 24 routes, see my new blog HERE.

I knew I would get solid advice! I think we will take 24 up to 70 and depending on our time, we'll either take 6 over to Golden and then along the 93. I didn't realize 285 ran into E470...we don't need the Denver traffic. As it is, we have to go into Denver next Sat and that's enough!
As for Buffalo, well we already completed that leg of the adventure. we did 25 to 90 into Spokane. we're on our way back and decided to hit Estes Park again before heading across 70 to the East coast. and yes, we did try to find somewhere to stay in Grand Lake with no luck. We do like that area and did two day trips over when we were in EP in June.
By the way, the KOA in Buffalo was outstanding. to make it just a bit more interesting, we parked next to a regular poster on this site...what's the odds of that!
Anyway, thanks again.
Gary

...I would day trip to Estes Park from Grand Lake in the car. Granted I'm not a fan of the tourist trap know as Estes Park so rarely do I go outside of the park...

^^^ This. Based on your info, this is a good suggestion, if you don't already have a destination CG selected. There's the Timber Creek CG inside RMNP, it's all first come/first served and I've never seen it completely full in recent years. There's also 2 commercial CG in the Grand Lake area, as well as a host of USFS CG in and around the Granby/Grand Lake area. The commercial sites are the only ones with FHU, so if you can get by without them, there's certainly options. Also, rather than going all the way in to Estes Park, unless you're really in to the touristy stuff, avoid town and take the Old Fall River Road (11 miles/1 way) back up to Trail Ridge Road, where it comes out at the Alpine Visitors Center, and then back down to Grand Lake.

As to US 285/US 24... US 285 doesn't go to Boulder. It crosses the South Park area of Fairplay up and over Kenosha Pass (an easy pass at ~10000 feet), then drops down into Bailey. Sort of a long hill climb outside of Bailey up to Pine Junction, and somes ups/downs to Conifer and Aspen Park, but it's also 4 lane most of the way. US 285 actually goes into Denver, but intersects with CO 470 on the west side of the Metro, and from there you can choose whatever route you'd like, depending on where you want to go from there.

US 24 splits off from US 285 at Johnson Village outside of Buena Vista. Spectacular drive up the Upper Arkansas River Valley to Leadville, then over Tennessee Pass, and drops down to the Eagle/Vail area and the I-70 corridor.

Both are beautiful drives, they are not overly difficult, the passes aren't overly challenging, just common sense mountain driving to gearing down when going downhill and take it easy.

I would not recommend trying to do Trail Ridge Road with your 32ft gasser pulling a car. You want to avoid stressful. This WILL be stressful, with a MH and toad. Besides a challenge for the driver, there's the throng of tourists that you have to contend with and don't even think about trying to use any of the pull offs or parking lots...there won't be room for the MH and toad. Up there last weekend, it was jam packed on Trail Ridge.

Since you are headed to Spokane I would day trip to Estes Park from Grand Lake in the car. Granted I'm not a fan of the tourist trap know as Estes Park so rarely do I go outside of the park. You can do RMNP from Grand Lake and then I would take 125 up to I-80 from Grand Lake.

I like 24 all the way up to I-70 and then 9 north to 40. This keeps you on the west side of the divide and a much easier pull. This also keeps you out of the Denver traffic.

Why are you headed to Buffalo? Are you going to bypass the Tetons and just do Yellowstone? I would suggest going west on I-80 to Rawlins and 287 to the Tetons and then into Yellowstone. Excellent road and I always recommend a stop in Lander to see Sinks Canyon SP.

Hopefully you are not an advanced reservation person make it easy to be more flexible in your routing.

FunTwoDrv wrote:
Neglected to mention we are in a 32' gas unit pulling a car.

Durango to Estes Park

We would like to make this drive enjoyable and nott too stressfull. .................... but, we would like to see more of CO scenery from the back roads.

Gary,

I'm a backroads guy, Colorado Passes And I love the Passes, so I've given you the list to see for yourself if it might work.

Rt 160 over Wolf Creek, not that bad, because you can pull off and just look out. Then up to Buena Vista, Possibly Twin Lakes and RT 82 in the Toad for a day trip to Maroon Bells - Then Leadville/Turquoise Lake/Quincy's/Camp Hale.

Now out of out of Leadville on RT 91 down to Silverthorne on RT 9 to Kremmling, then over to Grand Lake Trail Ridge and into Estes Park.

My Map to Grand Lake then come in over Trail Ridge Just try to do Trail Ridge early to beat the Rush, and it will help to not go on the Weekend.

Or if you ar not up for Trail Ridge but would Favor Peak to Peak - Follow I-70 East through the Tunnel on to Idaho Springs Then Left hand Exit number 244 to Peak to Peak - OR - follow Rt 6 East into Golden and take RT 93 on to Boulder then Rt 36 to Estes Park.

I listed the options in the order I'd prefer - I've done all of the Above in my 42/3' coach and loved it.

Look them over see if any work - all are better than staying on the I's.

JMHO,

Neglected to mention we are in a 32' gas unit pulling a car.

Gary