Grand Lake, CO to Montrose, CO

Debbie wrote:
Best route to take to Montrose from Grand Lake, CO with Fifth?

So my question would be just to get there or for the Best Vacation Drive?

Fast is Get to Kremmling then to Silverthorne then to Grand Junction and on down to Montrose. (Rt 40 to Rt 9 to I70 to Rt 50)

Vacation Route would be to Kremmling and take Rt 9 to Silverthorn and I-70 getting of on Rt 91 to Leadville - Turquoise Lake - then to Twin Lakes - Spend the night somewhere close and make the drive the Next day over Independence Pass (RT 82 restricted no trailer) to Maroon Bells for the Day. Buena Vista and the Collegiate Peaks for another day if you are still not pressed for time, maybe a dirt road over to Crested Butte - Just beautiful areas - down Rt 24/285 to Rt50 to Gunnison then to on into Montrose. the scenic trip is a few miles shorter is a lot more, fun but if you take I-70 you will enjoy the Colorado River and a lot more traffic along with an easy drive.


So if it were me clearly the trip would be as good or better than the destination. (Buena Vista - is likely to become a National Park when Obama gets to the end of his term and then will change for ever).

Could go into a lot more on both routes so if you need more info just ask.

JMHO,

Two options. Both start by taking US 40 to Kremmling the south on CO 9 to Silverthorne where you catch I-70 west.

a) Take exit 195 and CO 91 to Leadville, then south to Poncha Springs where you'll catch US 50 west. Fremont Pass is high, but you start up high at Silverthorne. There's a passing lane for much of the climb to the pass so people can easily get by. Monarch Pass is also high but also with passing lanes. There is some construction on the pass, but only weekdays. Haven't been that way since the construction started so don't know how much there is. This route is mountain views almost the whole way.

b) Instead of exiting, continue on I-70 to Grand Junction and head south on US 50 from there. One big pass: Vail Pass. Downhill on the west side has sections at 7%. Once you get past Glenwood Springs, you'll enter into areas with more mesas on both sides of the highway. Past Grand Junction, you're in desert at that point with little vegetation. Biggest issue right now is single lane traffic on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon. 40 MPH. Can get very backed up at the wrong time of day. The canyon is one of the most scenic sections of interstate in the country, however. This route is probably easier and quicker than going through Leadville and over Monarch Pass.

If it were me, I'd probably go the Monarch Pass route but that's because we get to drive I-70 all the time. (And feel incredibly lucky. When we get home from travels east of us, the last section of highway we drive is Glenwood Canyon).

"Best" is always subjective, depending on what it means to you.

That said, Busskipper pretty well covered it, for "getting there" or "moseying there". 4Runnerguy may also have some good insight on such a route as well.

ETA: LOL! Looks like I was prophetic!!

Thanks everyone, we ended up going from Grand Lake to Empire to Grand Junction then 50 to Montrose, because of road construction and 6 miles of dirt road. It rained the whole time and we still hit some two lane roads. Tomorrow we are headed to Durango, having to go to Delores, Cortez then into Durango because of construction and the road is going to be completely closed. It will be a nice drive anyway.