I-70 through Colorado
We're about to head to Oklahoma from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I would like to go I-90 east to I-15 south and then take I-70 east to Denver. I don't like a lot of drama so are the passes pretty easy to na...
Forum Discussion
Sooner Schooner wrote:
We're about to head to Oklahoma from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I would like to go I-90 east to I-15 south and then take I-70 east to Denver. I don't like a lot of drama so are the passes pretty easy to navigate? Any other concerns I should be aware of? We are in a 40' Class A diesel pusher towing a car. Thank you all for advice.
I-70. Vail Pass over 10600 feet, not an overly difficult climb heading eastbound. Descent also not overly difficult, but it can be a bit deceptive, when you think you're down, there's still more downhill. You'll know you're completely down when you get to Frisco and the drop into Silverthorne.
The climb from Silverthorne up to the Johnson/Eisenhower Tunnels is about 8 miles of steady climb, topping out at over 11100 feet, making it one of the highest tunnels in the world, and the longest/highest tunnel in the Interstate Highway system. It's 3 lanes up, so it really doesn't feel that daunting going eastbound. Narrows to 2 lanes going through the tunnel. For the descent, gear down immediately upon exiting the tunnel. I usually go down it in 2nd or 3rd gear.
From the tunnels east to Denver, you do not want to do this on a Sunday. Ever. It is a slow crawl all the way to Denver. Floyd Hill, just east of Idaho Springs, is a bear of a climb when traffic is only moving at 20-25mph, in all climb lanes, and that can be frequently.
The descent from the Evergreen Parkway to Denver West, is a long 8-9 mile drop with 2 runaway truck ramps if needed. There are signs along the way "Don't be fooled. You still have xx miles to go. keep in lower gear". You'll know you're down when you see the signs for Golden and the intersection with CO 470.
Drama on these roads usually comes from other drivers. Going too slow, or too fast. Usually too fast. 80mph is not uncommon. Or towing too much with too little.
An alternative? Take I-80 all the way across Wyoming. No passes at all, and if you get a good tail wind out of the west, you'll get decent fuel economy. Highest point on all of I-80 is just east of Laramie at ~9600 feet. Lots of rolling terrain, and high plains.
