Crossing the Rockies?

[TTT1953]

We are traveling from CT. to CA. in late July. For the trip out my main goal is to see Arches NP and Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP before going on to Fairfield CA. My concern is where to cross the Rockies. We are traveling in a 31 ft class A with a Ford V-10, pulling our Colorado pick up. My question is this; with our rig, would it be better to take I-80 and then travel down I-15 to get to the national parks or would we be okay taking I-78 to I-70 in Denver and then crossing the mountains and traveling into Utah?

[carstud]

Take i70 from Denver. There are few big hills but it is very senic much better than i80. Then you hit arches, Bryce then Zion then take us 50 to i80 to fairfield. I live sacramento,ca area and drove this on are way out to Denver 2 ago in 27 ft class a

[RVThere]

I drove my 35foot class A pulling a mini-van out of Denver with no problems. Big hill right past Denver but you will be going faster than the 18 wheelers.

Stop in Fruita, CO right before the UT border for some great produce.

[TTT1953]

Thank you both for the information. That's the way we wanted to go but we needed to hear from someone that has done it in a rig similar to ours.

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

Once you leave So Utah heading to Fairfield you have several route choices. You might consider taking I 15 into Las Vegas, 95 to 50 in Silver Srings Nv and 50 to Sacramento via Lake Tahoe then 80 to Fairfield. Nevada and Utah will be pretty hot this time of year.

[Tom and Patty]

IIWM, and we have taken this route in reverse, I'd take 70 to Utah highway 24 which travels past Capitol Reef. Turn south at Torrey and take Utah 12 to Bryce and finally 89 and 9 to Zion. We have some pictures in the members gallery of Utah 12, a must drive, plus we have posted campground reviews of a few stops we made along the way.

This way you do have to travel the tunnel into Zion..... no big deal and hopefully the park gets to keep the extra moola.

Course we prefer the roads less travelled when we have the time.

[skigramp]

TTT1953

I have crossed the Rockies multiple times on I-70 and I-80 ... I would make these comments

I-70

• More scenic
• longer and steeper grades (in the 6 to 7 % range ---up and down)
• higher elevation (11,000 feet a couple of times)
• More interesting places to visit: Georgetown, Keystone, Breckinridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Glenwood Springs (large natural hot springs here)
• Glenwood Canyon with the Colorado River

I-80

• Much less scenic
• shorter and gentler grades (generally 5%)
• lower elevation (8,000 feet)
• more wind

Utah 12

There are some extemely steep grades between Boulder and Escalante ... you can make it ... but shift into your lowest gear and reduce your speed to a crawl before you begin the descent ... as I recall one of the grades is about 10% ... this is extremely scenic ... and I agree with Tom that this is a fantastic drive and you don't want to miss it.

By the time you have gotten here you will have been over the Rockies and you will have more confidence in how your rig (and you) handles steep grades ...

[TTT1953]

Thanks for all the help. This is the biggest trip we've ever undertaken and I appreciate all the help I can get.

[RVing3per]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom and Patty IIWM, and we have taken this route in reverse, I'd take 70 to Utah highway 24 which travels past Capitol Reef. Turn south at Torrey and take Utah 12 to Bryce and finally 89 and 9 to Zion. We have some pictures in the members gallery of Utah 12, a must drive, plus we have posted campground reviews of a few stops we made along the way. This way you do have to travel the tunnel into Zion..... no big deal and hopefully the park gets to keep the extra moola. Course we prefer the roads less travelled when we have the time.

YUP!