Alamosa to Antonito CO via US 285

[Vacationer04]

How is it travelling down US 285? My main concern is grades. I will be in a 36 ft Holiday Rambler Vacationer gasser towing my '98 Cherokee. Speed is not a concern just steep elevation changes.
Thanks!

[buc1980]

Going down on Wolf creek pass be sure that you don't speed. I see 2-3 cops wait for customers and that not happen only one time.

[Vacationer04]

Thanks for the advice. After some searching I found that there are three campgrounds in Antonito at about half the cost of KOA plus we won't have that long drive after a long day riding. I am not expecting glamour just a place to rest before heading out the next morning. I am prepared for Wolf Creek with scheduled stops to view and give the MH periodic breaks.

[BB_TX]

Agree that Wolf Creek Pass will be more of a concern for DW as it is about 10,800’. But it is a very good wide highway and she will be on the uphill side (assuming she is the passenger) most of the way rather than on the drop off side. Going west bound the climb up the east side is not as steep as going down the west side. The west side does have two lanes going down from the top thru most of the steepest decline before changing to a single down lane. So you can just stay in the right lane and go as slow as you want without holding up traffic. After that it is an easy drive to Durango.

You will love the train ride. If you haven’t already bought tickets I suggest you take the train to Chama and the bus back. That way the scenery starts in the semi arid flat land and climbs into beautiful mountain passes and valleys for a dramatic change. And the noon meal was pretty darn good also.

There is a pretty nice KOA in Alamosa. Don’t remember seeing anything in Antonito.

[eubank]

If you're heading west toward Durango afterwards, then you're concern should center on Wolf Creek Pass.

Lynn

[Vacationer04]

Thanks for all the responses to make DW feel better. We are only going as far as Antonio for the Cumbres & Toltec train and then back to Alamosa to continue west toward Durango. There is no decent place available to camp in Alamosa and it would also require an very early start, too. So we are going to stay at Antonio instead.

[sayoung]

eubank wrote:
Alamosa to Antonito is flatter than a pancake. It's not very fast, though. That's agricultural country. You may wind up behind a tractor someplace.

Lynn

Antonito over to Chama,NM is another story if you plan on heading that way. Its a climb but pretty scenic.

[BB_TX]

As noted above. Flat easy drive about 30 minutes.

[eubank]

Alamosa to Antonito is flatter than a pancake. It's not very fast, though. That's agricultural country. You may wind up behind a tractor someplace.

Lynn

[2gypsies1]

It's an easy drive.