Winter travel from Denver to LA

[ziefert]

I am planning a roadtrip from Denver to LA over the Christmas holiday---Would it be best to travel further south via I-25 and I-40 or take the more direct route via I-70 and I-15 ?? I have a 4 WD Jeep Cherokee, but have never driven in the mountains during the winter months. How much time should I allow for this kind of winter travel? I am assuming that these interstates are very well maintained during the winter and suspect closures are usually 24 hrs or less after winter storms. Thanks for any advice.

[Joseph Greybeard]

I'd choose I-70 and I-15 -- I usually make this trip (or similar) a few times each year and driving conditions are usually better on I-70, and the roads recover quicker after a storm (unless the storm is massive). Scenery is pretty too. Still, you can get bad conditions on either route, so keep that in mind. Joseph

[Mark Sedenquist]

I am planning a roadtrip from Denver to LA over the Christmas holiday-

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! You are lucky to live in Colorado, "The Higher State" (I am not kidding, that really is the official slogan...) because the Colorado Highway Department is one of the best in North America. They can clear roads of snow, ice and mud faster than just about anyone in the country. The same can not be said of the highway departments that have jurisdiction for the route along I-40. I-70 and I-15 is always my choice --year round. Here is a field report from one of my favorite sections of that route.

I have a 4 WD Jeep Cherokee, but have never driven in the mountains during the winter months. How much time should I allow for this kind of winter travel?

Here are some tips about winter driving and a few more from Moderator Brad.

Happy Planning!

Mark