avoiding steep grades

[tommildren]

I need to get to Colorado Springs from Grand Junction and would like to go along highway 50. Last trip I took I 70 to Denver and remember a nasty hill just before Denver. anybody driven route 50 and if so what are the hills like?

[wingnut60]

Canon City to Salida follows the Arkansas River--depending on time of year, there may be lots of rafting companies towing rafts/kayaks along the road. It is a good road, but lots of traffic. Going west out of Salida you come to Monarch Pass--11,300' pull, tough going up, but long downhill run into Sargents. Good highway into Gunnison, 2-lane with passing lanes. Between Gunnison and Montrose you run alongside Blue Mesa Resevoir and have 2-3 8500/9000' passes with some switchbacks. Montrose to Grand Junction is just dull desert driving.
I have made this run several times over the years, always with some type of trailer, and it doesn't bother me at all.
Joe

[tommildren]

wingnut60, thanks for the very detailed info, sounds like you have traveled it many times. my dutch star only has a 300 hp engine. I had a problem with my powerstroke when i had a 40 ft 5thwheel and drove the steep grade on I 70 to denver. someone told me of a way to bypass that steep grade but i forgot the info. I'm thinking I should find that route as apposed to route 50. thanks again for your info. Tom

[wingnut60]

Are you starting from CO Springs? Or coming into there from somewhere else? Lots of MHs take Hwy 50 both directions. There isn't much of a choice without going a LONG way around.
Joe

[tommildren]

We are going to Denver from Yellowstone. We have decided to work our way east and then down from Cheyenne on I 25. That should avoid the worst hills I think. thanks, tom

[wingnut60]

Your best bet for the easiest drive is to leave the Yellowstone/Jackson area heading south to Rock Springs, WY, to pick up I-80; then I-80 to Cheyenne and I-25 going south. There are lots of other ways to go, but I believe this will turn out to be the easiest drive. If leaving Yellowstone out the east entrance (if you can make it out the east entrance highway, you shouldn't be worried about I-70 west of Denver) you can take 14 to Cody and 120 south to Thermopolis/Shosoni, then east to pick up I-25 in Casper.
Still another option: leave Yellowstone to Moran Jct and continue thru Dubois to Lander/Muddy Gap and into Rawlins where you pickup I-80.
There is surely a lot to see up that way--sure hope you have time to stop and enjoy the scenery.
Joe

[tommildren]

I like all 3 of those routes, I will have to do some research and decide which to take, will be hard to decide with so much beautiful country. we will be taking our time and enjoying the area. thanks again for all the info. happy rving. tom

[wingnut60]

I lived for 10 years in SW Wyoming--the western/northwestern parts of the state have some incredible sights. Be sure to have a good digital camera with lots of storage. If you are going to stay near Yellowstone--I hear there are some nice CGs near West Yellowstone. To stay south of the park, I recommend Colter Bay--pricey, but usually near the bears/moose.
Made the trip to Tetons/Yellowstone 3 times in last 12 years--and wanting to go back again.
Joe

[Tom and Patty]

If you don't need to make time, we have driven that route- Rock Springs, WY, to pick up I-80- but then took US 287 out of Laramie to Fort Collins. It got us off of the sla, drove at a more leisurely pace, and we saw some beautiful scenery. We did this in our 39' 330hp ISC, and I don't recall any tough pulls.

Of course Monarch pass has some nice views too, we camped along Blue Mesa.

Enjoy!

[RVThere]

If you go the Thermoplis route, stop and relax in the hot springs!

[enjoyrv]

A good resource if you travel mountain states is the "Mountain Directory" available at Camping World. There is an East and West edition available for about $16.95 each. Gives a map with infor on grades and length.