Traveling to Colorado and North West, what hwys to avoid

[tcamper]

We have been RVing for about 25 years, but have never towed our Grand Design Solitude through Colorado and up to Seatle. We plan to do that this summer, but I wanted to first ask for advice from those that have towed in that area before, what highways/areas to avoid.
I know the Million Dollar Highway (Hwy 550) between Ouray and Durango is a route to avoid.
Our rig is a 2017 35' fifth wheel and we tow with a 2015 SRW 3500 Ram

[TonyMac]

ID-33/WY-22 between Jackson WY and Victor ID is one to avoid. Steep up and downs, tight corners.

[TonyMac]

US-191/6/89 between Green River and Spanish Fork UT is easily doable in good weather, connecting I-70 and I-15.

[MooseCountry]

If you are determined to head north through Colorado from Durango to US 50/I-70 there are no routes that aren't very mountainous and challenging to tow on. We live on a Colorado State Highway east of Grand Junction which is very similar to US 550. High mountain road without guardrails, sheer cliffs, steep grades, and hairpin turns. 90% of the Colorado population lives on the east side of the Continental Divide (located in the Rockies). It's much flatter along Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Fort Collins on I-25 following along the eastern edge Front Range of the Rockies.

[traveldawg]

Originally Posted by tcamper

We have been RVing for about 25 years, but have never towed our Grand Design Solitude through Colorado and up to Seatle. We plan to do that this summer, but I wanted to first ask for advice from those that have towed in that area before, what highways/areas to avoid.
I know the Million Dollar Highway (Hwy 550) between Ouray and Durango is a route to avoid.
Our rig is a 2017 35' fifth wheel and we tow with a 2015 SRW 3500 Ram

"...through Colorado and up to Seatle..."
That is a pretty broad statement.

Where is your starting point?
Any particular sights/cities/attractions do you want to see? Or direct through?

One could pretty much just take interstates all the way "through" Colorado (I-70 or I-25 for example) and on toward Seattle. But I'm sensing you want to do something different.

Two really good tools you should use are Mountains Directory West and RV Trip Wizard. Both will help immensely with planning.

We've been all around and through Colorado with our Solitude. We wouldn't drive 550 from Durango to Ouray and other than some really out of the way, back roads which we avoid, we haven't had any issues. You do have to be comfy driving up and down mountains no matter which route(s) you take.

We're doing a Florida to Colorado to Seattle (and beyond trip) again this year but have many stops in between with a lot of non-interstate routes involved.

[Shadow5501]

You might find a copy of the Mountain Directory West a handy tool for planning routes and understanding the grades and challenges of specific roads. I have one and find it useful. Satisfied customer, no affiliation.

https://mountaindirectory.com/produc...irectory-west/

[yeloduster]

Originally Posted by tcamper

We have been RVing for about 25 years, but have never towed our Grand Design Solitude through Colorado and up to Seatle. We plan to do that this summer, but I wanted to first ask for advice from those that have towed in that area before, what highways/areas to avoid.
I know the Million Dollar Highway (Hwy 550) between Ouray and Durango is a route to avoid.
Our rig is a 2017 35' fifth wheel and we tow with a 2015 SRW 3500 Ram

Is there something you want to see in Colorado? Are you just sightseeing in Colorado? Do you want to avoid mountain driving? You are unclear about your intentions.

If you wish to avoid mountain driving on the way to Seattle there are ways to do that, but not if you go through Colorado. If you want to see Colorado let us know what you want to see and maybe we can help you find routes that best suit you.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Shadow5501

You might find a copy of the Mountain Directory West a handy tool for planning routes and understanding the grades and challenges of specific roads. I have one and find it useful. Satisfied customer, no affiliation.

https://mountaindirectory.com/produc...irectory-west/

Plan the route you want to take depending on what you want to see along the way then check the roads with the above directory. You may need to make adjustments; maybe not. We used it all the time with our 40' motorhome towing the Jeep. Even if a highway is in the directory that doesn't mean you can't drive it. It will just give you a 'heads up' on the drive. We've driven many of the highways in the directory.... including the Million Dollar Highway. Silverton, CO boondocking with the Jeep was our very favorite place to stay for weeks.

[tcamper]

Thank you, we use Trip Wizard and Im ordering Mountains Directory West today. We are starting in central Texas and our first stop is Colorado Springs where our kids (daughter & SNL) are stationed at Fort Carson. We will spend a week or so there and then we dont really have any set plans. Just want to get to Seatle the best way we can and check out the sights along that route.
Ive been towing for 25 years but have no real experience with serious mountain driving. This will be our first trip to the north west with our RV.

[tcamper]

Originally Posted by traveldawg

"...through Colorado and up to Seatle..."
That is a pretty broad statement.

Where is your starting point?
Any particular sights/cities/attractions do you want to see? Or direct through?

One could pretty much just take interstates all the way "through" Colorado (I-70 or I-25 for example) and on toward Seattle. But I'm sensing you want to do something different.

Two really good tools you should use are Mountains Directory West and RV Trip Wizard. Both will help immensely with planning.

We've been all around and through Colorado with our Solitude. We wouldn't drive 550 from Durango to Ouray and other than some really out of the way, back roads which we avoid, we haven't had any issues. You do have to be comfy driving up and down mountains no matter which route(s) you take.

We're doing a Florida to Colorado to Seattle (and beyond trip) again this year but have many stops in between with a lot of non-interstate routes involved.

Thank you, we use Trip Wizzaed and Im ordering Mountains Directory West today. We are starting in central Texas and our first stop is Colorado Springs where our kids (daughter & SNL) are stationed at Fort Carson. We will spend a week or so there and then we dont really have any set plans. Just want to get to Seatle the best way we can and check out the sights along that route.
Ive been towing for 25 years but have no real experience with serious mountain driving. This will be our first trip to the north west with our RV.

[tcamper]

Originally Posted by yeloduster

Is there something you want to see in Colorado? Are you just sightseeing in Colorado? Do you want to avoid mountain driving? You are unclear about your intentions.

If you wish to avoid mountain driving on the way to Seattle there are ways to do that, but not if you go through Colorado. If you want to see Colorado let us know what you want to see and maybe we can help you find routes that best suit you.

We are going to park in Colorado Springs for a week or so to visit our kids who are stationed at Fort Carson (daughter & SIL) and just do day trips to see as much in that area that we can. We want to see the Black Canyou of the Gunnison and then spend a couple days in Ouray. We want to drive hwy 550 but not with the RV .... maybe just a day trip to do that. Other than that we just want to get to Seatle the best way we can as mountain rookies and check out as much along that route as possible.
Thanks for your help!

[tcamper]

Originally Posted by TonyMac

ID-33/WY-22 between Jackson WY and Victor ID is one to avoid. Steep up and downs, tight corners.

Thank you

[tcamper]

Originally Posted by MooseCountry

If you are determined to head north through Colorado from Durango to US 50/I-70 there are no routes that aren't very mountainous and challenging to tow on. We live on a Colorado State Highway east of Grand Junction which is very similar to US 550. High mountain road without guardrails, sheer cliffs, steep grades, and hairpin turns. 90% of the Colorado population lives on the east side of the Continental Divide (located in the Rockies). It's much flatter along Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Fort Collins on I-25 following along the eastern edge Front Range of the Rockies.

We are going to park in Colorado Springs for a week or so to visit our kids who are stationed at Fort Carson (daughter & SIL) and just do day trips to see as much in that area that we can. We want to see the Black Canyou of the Gunnison and then spend a couple days in Ouray. We want to drive hwy 550 but not with the RV .... maybe just a day trip to do that. Other than that we just want to get to Seatle the best way we can as mountain rookies and check out as much along that route as possible. We dont necessarily have to take the north route through western colorado. Thank you

[tcamper]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Plan the route you want to take depending on what you want to see along the way then check the roads with the above directory. You may need to make adjustments; maybe not. We used it all the time with our 40' motorhome towing the Jeep. Even if a highway is in the directory that doesn't mean you can't drive it. It will just give you a 'heads up' on the drive. We've driven many of the highways in the directory.... including the Million Dollar Highway. Silverton, CO boondocking with the Jeep was our very favorite place to stay for weeks.

Thank you