Traveling AZ to Grand Lakes CO via Moab Utah

[Bogey3025]

Suggestions for the best travel route from Moab, Utah to Grand Lakes CO. We will be staying at Winding River Resort. We are traveling with a 36 ft fifth wheel and driving a Dodge 2500 diesel. Anyone have information on the 70?
Thank you !!:)

[intheburbs]

If they're coming from Moab, and traveling on 70 east out of Grand Junction, isn't it shorter/easier to get off at exit 157 in Wolcott on 131 north to Trough Rd/CO-1 to Kremmling? It's 41 miles instead of 87 miles to Kremmling, and you'll also skip Vail Pass.

I remember driving it once, but long before owning an RV, so I can't offer any advice on the difficulty.

[Bogey3025]

Thunder Mountain wrote:
As a 34 year resident of Colorado, with extensive travel in the Estes Park, RMNP, Winter Park, Granby and Grand Lake areas, I think you only have a couple of options. First, you can go through the tunnel to US 40 over Berthoud Pass and on to Grand Lake. I hate Berthoud Pass and the traffic to Winter Park and on to Granby.

Second, and the one I would do is get off at Silverthorne and take Colorado 9 to Kremling and US 40 to US 34 to Grand Lake. If you are a bit frisky take Colorado 9 to Ute Pass Road 132 to Parshall on US 40 then on to US 34. 132 is mostly paved and the part that isn't is a well graded and traveled gravel road. Don't take 132 if snow is in the forecast.

Thank you!!

[Lauren]

Also lived in CO and also traveled it a lot and also agree with Thunder Mountain....the 9 to the 40 to the 34.

[Thom02099]

Bogey3025 wrote:

Thunder Mountain wrote:
As a 34 year resident of Colorado, with extensive travel in the Estes Park, RMNP, Winter Park, Granby and Grand Lake areas, I think you only have a couple of options. First, you can go through the tunnel to US 40 over Berthoud Pass and on to Grand Lake. I hate Berthoud Pass and the traffic to Winter Park and on to Granby.

Second, and the one I would do is get off at Silverthorne and take Colorado 9 to Kremling and US 40 to US 34 to Grand Lake. If you are a bit frisky take Colorado 9 to Ute Pass Road 132 to Parshall on US 40 then on to US 34. 132 is mostly paved and the part that isn't is a well graded and traveled gravel road. Don't take 132 if snow is in the forecast.

Can I ask why you wouldn't consider the 70?

I agree with Thunder Mountain. Also been here for 35 years, travelling all over the state. Why climb to 11000 to the Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnels, then climb again to Berthoud Pass at 11,500 and a quick drop down to Winter Park? CO 9 north to Kremling and US 40 through Hot Sulphur Springs (HSS is a funky little town, worth a stop if you've got the time) and on to Granby, then US 34 north to Grand Lakes is a more enjoyable drive, if for no other reason than less stress from mountain driving. Winding River Resort is just north of town, though I've not stayed there during the summer, I've driven into the resort and I've snowmobiled that area many times during the winter and it's a nice area. As far as camping, I think you'll enjoy that resort.

[Bogey3025]

Thunder Mountain wrote:
As a 34 year resident of Colorado, with extensive travel in the Estes Park, RMNP, Winter Park, Granby and Grand Lake areas, I think you only have a couple of options. First, you can go through the tunnel to US 40 over Berthoud Pass and on to Grand Lake. I hate Berthoud Pass and the traffic to Winter Park and on to Granby.

Second, and the one I would do is get off at Silverthorne and take Colorado 9 to Kremling and US 40 to US 34 to Grand Lake. If you are a bit frisky take Colorado 9 to Ute Pass Road 132 to Parshall on US 40 then on to US 34. 132 is mostly paved and the part that isn't is a well graded and traveled gravel road. Don't take 132 if snow is in the forecast.

[crabbin_cabin]

Thunder is correct! Also a long-time resident of the CO mountain country take his suggestion!
"
Second, and the one I would do is get off at Silverthorne and take Colorado 9 to Kremling and US 40 to US 34 to Grand Lake. If you are a bit frisky take Colorado 9 to Ute Pass Road 132 to Parshall on US 40 then on to US 34. 132 is mostly paved and the part that isn't is a well graded and traveled gravel road. Don't take 132 if snow is in the forecast. "

[Thunder_Mountai]

As a 34 year resident of Colorado, with extensive travel in the Estes Park, RMNP, Winter Park, Granby and Grand Lake areas, I think you only have a couple of options. First, you can go through the tunnel to US 40 over Berthoud Pass and on to Grand Lake. I hate Berthoud Pass and the traffic to Winter Park and on to Granby.

Second, and the one I would do is get off at Silverthorne and take Colorado 9 to Kremling and US 40 to US 34 to Grand Lake. If you are a bit frisky take Colorado 9 to Ute Pass Road 132 to Parshall on US 40 then on to US 34. 132 is mostly paved and the part that isn't is a well graded and traveled gravel road. Don't take 132 if snow is in the forecast.

[caberto]

We have a similar setup as yours. Not sure what kind of info you're looking for exactly... We took I70 east from Moab a couple of months ago. The trek to the Eisenhower tunnel was slow, as you can expect. If your truck is running well, you will be OK. Just don't try to climb the hill at 65, let the truck dictate the speed; I think most of that hill we did around 37 mph and let the tow/haul do its work and settled in nicely at that speed and gear; the tranny got hotter and the engine got hotter, but all still within safe/acceptable ranges for the load and hill. Just take it steady and easy.

Coming down the other side of the hill was very manageable in terms of speed (do not speed up during the flat part at the tunnel, keep your speed the same as what you climbed at), the Allison tranny did great at keeping the speeds low in tow/haul mode, but the road itself down the hill is terrible, it's badly grooved by the semi's.

We really enjoyed Moab and want to go back... once over the Rockies, we went in the opposite direction to Colorado Springs, but I like the northern part of the state even more.

Enjoy your trip!