New Hampshire to Leadville Colorado Part II

[CaptainSkip]

2024 Entegra Odyssey Class C towing a Jeep Wrangler -



I got a lot of good info here to assist with route planning for my September trip to Colorado from New Hampshire. Here’s what I’m planning on and I would appreciate any advice or suggestions for improvement.

I’m figuring on taking I90 from Massachusetts through New York, Pennsylvania into Ohio. Then at Cleveland I’m going to take I271 south to I270 west around Columbus then to I70 west. Follow I 70 west (with a stop in Dayton to see the USAF museum) then on to Indianapolis, bypassing the city on I465 south. Back on to I 70 west and use I 270 to go around the north side of St Louis. I 70 to I 470 to bypass Kansas City and either back to I 70 or one map program recommended Kansas 10 west to Lawrence then back on to I 70 west. Stay on I-70 to Limon, Colorado and get on Rt 24 south to Colorado Springs. From there drop down to Rt 50/Canon City. Now it gets confusing or at least I’m not sure which is the best route. Continue on 50 west then north on to Rt 24 to Leadville or go north on Rt 9 to Hartsel and follow Rt 24/285 west to Johnson Village then north on Rt 24 to Leadville.

I’m comfortable with the whole I 90/I70 route, just not sure if I am better off to run Rt 50 all the way from Canon City to where it meets Rt 285 then north on Rt24 or if the Rt 9/Rt24/Rt285 is a good option. What do you Colorado travelers think?

[andy29847]

From Colorado Springs I'd go 24 all the way to Leadville.

Hwy 50 from Canyon City to Salida is a beautiful drive. It winds through canyons alongside the Arkansas River.

https://youtu.be/CPR3TAXmUH4?si=GqrPtycKLeYqJYCQ


BTW, Colorado Springs is the 2nd biggest city in Colorado. Traffic there can be difficult at times.

[MooseCountry]

Take US 50 west from Canon City to Poncha Springs, then US 285 north to US 24 at Johnson Village. There are no major passes on this route.

US 24 west of Colorado Springs to Buenavista has Ute Pass/Summit, Wilkerson Pass, and Trout Creek Pass. You'll avoid all of these passes.

US 24 we take east towing over the Rockies from I-70 at Minturn to get to Woodland Park. Tennessee Pass and Battle Mountain Summit are what's on US 24 between Minturn and Leadville. You'll avoid these too. US 24 isn't a bad route and so that's how we tow from Northwestern Colorado. Over all five US 24 summits due to it's the shortest route to get to the Front Range near Colorado Springs.

Leadville is a city at over 10K feet in elevation. Expect about 1/2 visitors from low elevations feeling sick. We live near 10,500 feet elevation campgounds on the otherside of the Rockies where few people reside. Be prepared for altitude sickness.

[twogypsies]

If concerned about altitude sickness around Leadville plan to stop for a couple nights a little lower to acclimate yourself.

Canyon City, CO is 5400' elevation
Salida is 7,100' elevation
Buena Vista is 8,000' elevation
Leadville is 10,000' elevation

It sounds like you're stopping in Leadville as a destination. Perhaps stopping in Buena Vista would be easier on you for elevation. It's close enough to Leadville for visiting.

[yeloduster]

Hi, Just more to think about. I have no opinion on the eastern part of your route but I will offer some advice on the western part. I live in Colorado Springs and my late wife was born in Leadville. My daughter now lives in Carbondale, CO. I go through Leadville to get to Carbondale. I've made the trip from Colorado Springs to Leadville so many times I can't count.

You have been presented with basically 2 choices. Go from I 70 at Limon on US 24 and then take I 25 from Colorado Springs to Pueblo the west on US 50 to US 285 to US 24 or from Colorado Springs stay on US 24 all the way to Leadville.

I use US 24 route all the way from Colorado Springs. There are 3 minor passes between Colorado Springs and Leadville, Ute Pass, Wilkerson Pass and Trout Creek Pass. They are all minor passes and will not tax you nor your RV. There is nothing wrong with going to Pueblo then west on US 50. Portions of that drive are very scenic. It is just the long way around.

There is no convenient east to west route through Colorado Springs. Get your map app and fully understand the route before you get to Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs may be the second largest city in Colorado but it IS NOT a major city like Denver. Denver has suburbs bigger than Colorado Springs.

PS: When in Colorado drink LOTS of water. Drinking a lot of water alleviates altitude sickness.

[andy29847]

[Dieselboy]

I am also driving from the east coast to Leadville. I'm in Maine. Are these options better than just taking I70 through Denver and then taking 91 south at Copper Mountain ski resort? I've driven I70 before in the RV and 91 isn't a bad road either. This was originally my plan.

[MooseCountry]

I-70 to Highway 91 is the fastest and easiest. It's all good road with gentle curves and up to 6% grades. Just Floyd Hill and Fremont Pass. I taught 2 of 3 of my now adult kids to ski at Ski Cooper near Leadville on US 24. Drove from Southeast Aurora with a 80 HP (@ sea level) 1978 truck that I still have.

[MooseCountry]

The bottom of Floyd Hill on I-70 is being worked on. Road construction. Denver has grown a lot, but the US 6 and I-70 intersection on Clear Creek within the sheer wall Rocky Mountain canyon is a major bottleneck for the increased mountain traffic. It will be blasted out to fix.

https://www.codot.gov/projects/i70floydhill

[CaptainSkip]

Originally Posted by MooseCountry

Take US 50 west from Canon City to Poncha Springs, then US 285 north to US 24 at Johnson Village. There are no major passes on this route.

US 24 west of Colorado Springs to Buenavista has Ute Pass/Summit, Wilkerson Pass, and Trout Creek Pass. You'll avoid all of these passes.

US 24 we take east towing over the Rockies from I-70 at Minturn to get to Woodland Park. Tennessee Pass and Battle Mountain Summit are what's on US 24 between Minturn and Leadville. You'll avoid these too. US 24 isn't a bad route and so that's how we tow from Northwestern Colorado. Over all five US 24 summits due to it's the shortest route to get to the Front Range near Colorado Springs.

Leadville is a city at over 10K feet in elevation. Expect about 1/2 visitors from low elevations feeling sick. We live near 10,500 feet elevation campgounds on the otherside of the Rockies where few people reside. Be prepared for altitude sickness.

We’re already planning on getting to Leadville a few days before the wedding to acclimate a bit. We’re also planning on stocking up on a supply of Boost Oxygen to bring with us just in case.

[CaptainSkip]

Originally Posted by yeloduster

Hi, Just more to think about. I have no opinion on the eastern part of your route but I will offer some advice on the western part. I live in Colorado Springs and my late wife was born in Leadville. My daughter now lives in Carbondale, CO. I go through Leadville to get to Carbondale. I've made the trip from Colorado Springs to Leadville so many times I can't count.

You have been presented with basically 2 choices. Go from I 70 at Limon on US 24 and then take I 25 from Colorado Springs to Pueblo the west on US 50 to US 285 to US 24 or from Colorado Springs stay on US 24 all the way to Leadville.

I use US 24 route all the way from Colorado Springs. There are 3 minor passes between Colorado Springs and Leadville, Ute Pass, Wilkerson Pass and Trout Creek Pass. They are all minor passes and will not tax you nor your RV. There is nothing wrong with going to Pueblo then west on US 50. Portions of that drive are very scenic. It is just the long way around.

There is no convenient east to west route through Colorado Springs. Get your map app and fully understand the route before you get to Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs may be the second largest city in Colorado but it IS NOT a major city like Denver. Denver has suburbs bigger than Colorado Springs.

PS: When in Colorado drink LOTS of water. Drinking a lot of water alleviates altitude sickness.

We have friends who recently moved to Colorado Springs so we’re planning on stopping to see them on the way. We’re bringing our toad with us so we can find a campground on the outskirts and drive the toad into the city.

[MooseCountry]

Woodland Park is where we have adult kids. It's at 8,500 feet elevation. They work in Colorado Springs which is just east. US 24 has a steady 6% grade right out of Manitou Springs. You might want to camp up there to get use to high elevation.

Both of their gas trucks they had to regear for the power loss while towing at altitude with the steep grades. Our 2016 Ram 2500 pickup gas has 4.10-1 rear axle ratio, but our 2024 Ram 3500 pickup diesel it has 3.73-1. I wanted 4.10-1 as in our 1978 truck. We have a 1998 gas truck with 3.73-1 and it loses power at our high elevation. The new Cummins HO turbo diesel though at our above 10K feet elevation towing is better with maintaining power than was expected.

[oldenavy]

Is there a reason you’re going through the Springs? Why not stay on 70 to just past Frisco, then take 91 down to Leadville. We have been to Leadville numerous times over the years to visit family and that’s how we always get there from the east.

[funtwodrv]

Last Summer, that stretch of I70 between Dayton and Indianapolis was perhaps the worst section of highway we’ve been on… it made the section from Colorado state line to Limon seem smooth!