Posted 2006-01-16 3:26 PM (#35545) Subject: help finding route CO to CA
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Hey there,
Does anyone have any recomendations on which route is best to travel from Fort Collins, CO to Los Angeles, CA? Map quest says I 70 over the mountains and through Utah is 5 hours shorter than going down through Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Flagstaff, but I'm afraid the mountains might be hard to haul through, although there are mountain in Flag staff too. I'm pulling a 3 horse alummium with a horse and everything I own in it:) Anyone driven both routes and have any ideas what's best, safest and shortest?
Posted 2006-01-16 4:28 PM (#35555 - in reply to #35545) Subject: RE: help finding route CO to CA
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Take I-70 unlesss you are expecting a really bad storm.
The worst part of I-70 is the pull up through the Eisenhower tunnel. Which I suspect you are familair with. It follows the Colorado river down to Grand Junction. Then across Canyon Lands in Southern Utah to I-15 Which is a major interstate. You have a couple hundred miles with no stops/no gas between Green River UT and Cove Fort, so make sure you are good to go when you leave Green River.
Are you hauling any horses? Do you need a stop over for the horses. St George UT has some nice horse motels. And I prefer to stay there vs in Vegas. Just not into Casino food.
Posted 2006-01-18 4:27 PM (#35685 - in reply to #35545) Subject: RE: help finding route CO to CA
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Colorado
I have done both routes (without horses) and I-70 is indeed faster, but does have more big climbs. The nice thing about going from CO to CA is that the worst part (Eisenhower tunnel and Vail pass) is in the first three hours. There are some mountains in the middle of Utah too, but not as bad as CO.
I wasn't sure about horse friendly stops. Sounds like St. George has some.
the NM route is lower elevation with less chance of heavy snow, but if a big storm is moving in, I would probably want to wait with either route.
Where are going to live? I just moved from So-Cal to the Denver area.
Posted 2006-01-19 7:27 AM (#35705 - in reply to #35545) Subject: RE: help finding route CO to CA
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
How funny. When I lived in Denver in the early 90' it was invaded by folks moving in from CA, which is what drove the housing market through the roof. Now I see folks from CO moving to CA a lot. Times change. I still think Colorado is as close to heaven as you can get on this earth. Good luck with your move, and I'd take 70 if V-Pass is clear.
Posted 2006-01-19 9:13 AM (#35712 - in reply to #35545) Subject: RE: help finding route CO to CA
Member
Posts: 7
From a truckers standpoint, the route to LA on I-70 is indeed faster, but you will encounter more mountains than going down through pueblo on I25 and out across I40. The mountain at flagstaff is nothing compared to the mountains on I-70. There is also one more mountain that drops you down into LA, that also has a pretty steep grade going down.
My advise to you would be to make sure your brakes are in good working order and be sure to check the weather just prior to your trip.
Posted 2006-01-19 11:03 AM (#35717 - in reply to #35545) Subject: RE: help finding route CO to CA
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
I go threw I-70 allot but have been scared to death in a snow storm in I-70 at Vail pass a few times. I check the weather before I go then decide. With a trailer I would go the extra 200 miles south to New Mexico over Raton pass, and West threw Arizona and Flagstaff. We pulled a 34' travel trailer with a H2 Hummer a couple of Decembers ago but both Flagstaff and Raton pass had snow storms while we went threw. But that's nothing compared to Vail Pass and the 7% grade at the Eisenhower Tunnel. I wouldn't even think about I-70 without 4x4 towing a trailer this time of year. Before and after Cowboy Christmas and the NFR a bunch of empty horse trailers come threw Vail pass from Vegas. Sometimes its good and sometimes you become religious.
Posted 2006-01-20 6:15 PM (#35770 - in reply to #35545) Subject: RE: help finding route CO to CA
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
The last time I was thur Glenwood Springs it was a construction area and two lane. I dont' know if it's still a construction area or not. might check first. From Ft. Collins might be faster to go north to Laramie then I80, I know that is a long hard haul from Denver to Grand Jct.
Posted 2006-01-20 10:51 PM (#35778 - in reply to #35545) Subject: RE: help finding route CO to CA
Member
Posts: 42
Not through Wyoming in the winter! I did that once, and while driving in a storm between Laramie and Cheyenne, got to see the end of the trailer ahead of the truck (or rather my passenger saw it -- I was too busy trying to keep the rig on the road).
In Wyoming when they say, "don't travel," they mean it. In Utah, it just means slow down.
Posted 2006-01-21 1:17 AM (#35779 - in reply to #35545) Subject: RE: help finding route CO to CA
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
In Wyoming, it doesn't need to snow. The wind will blow snow off mountains miles away and put a drift across the road. In the old days when I would buy livestock from Wyoming, it was always late in the winter. The bull wagons would be setting in Wheatland waiting for the Interstate to open back up. I've watched refers tip over on I-80 near Ralwins from wind.
Posted 2006-01-21 9:13 AM (#35786 - in reply to #35545) Subject: RE: help finding route CO to CA
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
I just returned from Alpine Wy with a empty trailer yesterday. I got on I80 at Granger (about mile marker 67) and had dry road to Pine Bluffs(mile marker 401). The traffic was light and the weather was great.
help finding route CO to CA
