Route? Northern CA Coast to Boulder

[MoonchaserTX]

We are at Klamath CA on the Northern CA coast and will be driving to Boulder starting Friday, and need to do it in 6 days but want to see some things along the way if time allows. From reading posts here it appears we should take 101 South to 20 and East to I-80 to Cheyenne Wyoming then I-25 South to Boulder? (Google says 1478 miles), or South from Salt Lake City to pick up I-70 but that goes thru the ski area like Vail and Eisenhower tunnel area...which route has less chance of snow/bad weather (80 in WY or 70 in CO)?


What things along the way are worth seeing? Of course we wont have much time! We've done Salt Lake City before so no need to stop there.

Thanks! Curt

[1ciderdog]

I don't know about your route choice but I crossed 299 from Redding yesterday and it is good you are not taking that. Road construction delays are well posted.

[SteveLevin]

The 80 is the safer and easier route, 70 is prettier but if the weather gets much worse you'll get snow. Snow often leads to being stuck on the 70 during a closure for 3 or 4 hours after someone tries going too fast for the conditions.

If I had extra time in my travel where I could "lose" a day I'd go the 70.

Steve

[rocketslc]

I just saw your post, hopefully not too late.

Currently Salt Lake City is having some pretty good on and off thunderstorms.
The lows at night, depending on the area of the state, are low 50s to mid 40s
You mention no interest in seeing SLC. This weekend, Oct 3-4, is the general conference of the LDS church which usually results in a larger than normal number of people in the downtown city, depending on the weather. So not a great time to be in town.

An additional travel thought if you are going to take I-80
I-80 eastbound out of SLC. Aside from the long 6% grade up to Parleys summit and the large amount of truck traffic (and rude Utahns), there is a 16 mile stretch of I-80 between mile 146 (the Silver Creek junction exit to US 40) to almost Coalville Utah (Exit 164) where the road construction has the freeway down to 1 narrow lane, separated by jersey barriers, in each direction. Often lots of truck traffic.

You might think of taking I-84 instead. It will add about 12 miles to your trip, but it is way less stressful, and steep going east on I-84 through Morgan Utah on to where it rejoins I-80 at Echo Junction.

AT approximate mile 120 eastbound I80 has a couple options either south on I15S/I80E or north on I-15N.
Take I-15 north. At Farmington Ut, exit 324(?) exit from I-15 to US89 North. This is a nice limited access (there are a few stop lights) highway. Mind your speed. From multiple personal experiences there is often a speed trap a near Fruit Heights.
Continuing North on US89 for approximately 12 miles to the I-84 Eastbound on ramp.
I-84 Eastbound joins back up with I80 eastbound in aobut 30 miles.



UDOT has a pretty good smartphone app that shows road conditions, alerts, weather.

http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100g:0:::1:T,V:1673,57449