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tnedator · 03-29-2023, 08:18 AM

I'm having a back and forth with the wife on this. She's uncomfortable taking the RV to the Denver area in fall/early winter, for fear we will get trapped or wreck on a snowy road. Is it advisable or crazy to think about driving from Arkansas to Denver in November or December?

I'm fully comfortable with my Newmar handling the cold temps, what I don't know is what happens if a snow storm hits. How quickly do interstates typically get cleared? Do you guys travel in cold weather places in late fall/early winter, or avoid them in your big rigs?

I've gotten to the point that other than for work, I really don't like staying in hotels, but want to make it out to a couple or few Broncos games a year. I'm OK with possibly having to hunker down for a few days to let a storm pass, if roads typically get cleared pretty quickly.

Triangle Drifter · 03-29-2023, 12:39 PM

One thing about CO. they know how to deal with snow. Something else about CO, the weather really can change in only an hour or so. It can be bright & sunny in the morning, snowing in the afternoon & all melted away the next day.

As long as you are not going up into the mountains & keep an eye on the forecasts there should be no real surprises. Be ready for whatever might come your way. If that means being holed up for a day then so be it.

Flyer15015 · 03-29-2023, 12:56 PM

Yup.
Out here if you want to shovel snow, you have to get up early.

But then, I'm a mile and a half closer to the sun than you are.

Mike in Colorado

BarryG20 · 03-29-2023, 12:59 PM

Can it snow in those months, yes. Will it during those months is also a yes, will it during your trip/s, don't know God doesn't tell me and the weather man is predictably unreliable. However as the previous poster said it usually clears up quickly especially that time of year. As far as how good they are at snow removal that depends on the storm. Sometimes great sometimes not. Denver itself will be good unless it is a real dump but again even if a good dumping next day is usually fine that time of year at least for main streets.

I have been here for over 30 years and I wouldn't hesitate to plan a trip here during those months but it could and does happen, though unless a real serious dumping next day would normally be fine on the main roads and if not a serious dumping just slow traffic.

tnedator · 03-29-2023, 02:46 PM

In the dozen or so trips (granted not a lot) trips I've made to Denver over the years, nearly all in Dec to first week or two of jan (Broncos used to be in a thing called the playoffs), while I've seen snow a couple times, only once on the road, and it didn't last long. I don't know, maybe something about that 335 days of sunshine they claim.

So, would you guys think if I'm willing to risk cancelling my trip at the last minute if a blizzard was rolling through as I was ready to drive through Kansas, and understood that if a bad storm came through, I might be delayed in my ability to return home for days or a week or so, do you think it's then reasonable?

Barry/Mike, any feel for roads in and out of Cherry Creak state park, where I'm thinking of staying. Do you think those would get cleared following a storm or would I need to wait for natural melt?

Flyer15015 · 03-29-2023, 04:22 PM

Any snow that time of year under 3" will be gone by 11:00 AM.
You have a Jeep listed as your toad. Might be a bunch of fun.
Go for it.

Mike in Colorado

twogypsies · 03-29-2023, 10:55 PM

I don't think you'd have to worry about being snowed in but it's will be very cold. You'll need to take some precautions with your piping not freezing and don't leave any hoses outside. Dump and put the hose away. Fill with fresh water & put the hose away.

Play around with various dates in the past year or so to see what the temps were and what snowfall they had. 2022 just flurries but COLD.

https://www.wunderground.com/history...ate/2022-12-15

BarryG20 · 03-30-2023, 11:04 AM

Cherry Creek state park is right at I-225 and Parker Rd two very heavily commuted roads. They will be fine unless blizzard like conditions. Inside the park I cant say how well they do with snow but I think they have their own plow.

tnedator · 04-01-2023, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryG20

Cherry Creek state park is right at I-225 and Parker Rd two very heavily commuted roads. They will be fine unless blizzard like conditions. Inside the park I cant say how well they do with snow but I think they have their own plow.

I contacted Cherry Creek. They said over 3"and they have crews out early plowing. Less than 3" they don't plow to reduce damage to roadways.