LA to southeast Colorado and back via Denver in May

[shirohniichan]

Another scenic way between I-10 and I-40 is:

Take US-60 East (exit 154 from I-10) through Apache Jct., Florence Jct, Superior, Globe. At Globe, US-60 turns northeast towards ShowLow. Between Globe and ShowLow, you pass through Salt River Canyon -- beautiful country, there!

At ShowLow, you have a choice.You can go up AZ-77 through Taylor and Snowflake (also beautiful forested mountains), or go a little further east on US-60 and pick up AZ-61 to AZ-180 and then US-180.
Donna

Weren't there extensive fires in that area last year? I wonder how much near the highway is charred.

I've had to change the itinerary to match my daughter's school plans.

Option 1:
Day 1: Home to Tuba City, AZ via the South Rim (early morning start)
Day 2: Tuba City to Grand Junction, CO via Monument Valley, Four Corners, and Arches
Day 3: Grand Junction to Estes Park via Glenwood Springs (and a swim in the hot springs pool)
Day 4: Estes Park to Colorado Springs via Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 5: Colorado Springs to Lamar via Bents Old Fort
Days 6-7: Lamar
Day 8: Lamar to Albuquerque via Pecos National Monument
Day 9: Albuquerque to home via Phoenix

Option 2:
Day 1: Home to Las Vegas (this allows us to leave late)
Day 2: Las Vegas to Salt Lake City via Great Basin National Park
Day 3: Salt Lake City to Cheyenne, WY
Day 4: Cheyenne to Colorado Springs via Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 5: Colorado Springs to Lamar via Bents Old Fort
Days 6-7: Lamar
Day 8: Lamar to Albuquerque via Pecos National Monument
Day 9: Albuquerque to home via Phoenix

Option 3:
Day 1: Home to Williams or Flagstaff (moderately late start possible)
Day 2: Flagstaff to Moab, UT via Monument Valley, Four Corners, and Canyonlands
Day 3: Moab to Glenwood Springs via Arches
Day 4: Glenwood Springs to Denver via Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 5: Denver to Colorado Springs via Pike's Peak
Day 6: Colorado Springs to Lamar via Bents Old Fort
Days 7-8: Lamar
Day 9: Lamar to Albuquerque via Pecos National Monument
Day 10: Albuquerque to home via Phoenix

It looks like I-80 is far less scenic than I-70, so option 2 seems to be losing in the polls now. Is there any compelling reason to follow I-80 through Wyoming rather than taking I-70 through Colorado (other than the fact it traces the Transcontinental Railroad path)?

[Lifemagician]

Every route has its attractions and scenery.... all different. It all depends on what you are after, and what your particular interests are for the trip.

That said, there is not much to equal I-70 through CO, if you have never driven it. Though it is hard to find a route which is not scenic, in CO. Even though there have been extensive fires in an area, it is worth checking it out just to see how quickly nature recovers. Nothing like travelling through country which was burnt the year before.

Lifey

[glc]

I know you are an experienced road tripper, but some of those days in all 3 options just look way too long to me.

[DonnaR57]

Albuquerque to Orange County via Phoenix is 820 miles (using Anaheim as the place in Orange County). That is WAY too long on that last day. If it were me, I'd drive ABQ to Phoenix, overnight, and then go home the next day. You won't have time to take that "shortcut" going through Snowflake and Showlow, because that will slow you down even more on that last day.


Donna

[shirohniichan]

I know you are an experienced road tripper, but some of those days in all 3 options just look way too long to me.

Yea, verily.

I wish I had the time to travel at a more leisurely clip. I probably should leave Lamar some time on Saturday and head toward Albuquerque (maybe staying in Raton or thereabouts). Usually my first and last days of a trip are the longest drives.

Here's my latest itinerary.

Day 1: Home to Tropic, UT (next to Bryce) via Zion
Day 2: Tropic to Grand Junction, CO via Capitol Reef and Arches National Parks
Day 3: Grand Junction to Estes Park via Glenwood Springs
Day 4: Estes Park to Colorado Springs via Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 5: Colorado Springs to Lamar via Bents Old Fort
Day 6: Lamar
Day 7: Lamar to Trinidad or Raton
Day 8: Trinidad or Raton to Grants, NM via Pecos National Monument
Day 9: Grants (or Gallup) to home via Phoenix

[Southwest Dave]

Estes Park to Colorado Springs via Rocky Mountain National Park

From Estes park it's not far to the Bear Lake area of the park, but if you were fortunate enough and the Trail Ridge road were open [BIG ???] then you could drive it on the way from Glenwood Springs. Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs is pretty neat too.

[shirohniichan]

Another scenic way between I-10 and I-40 is:

Take US-60 East (exit 154 from I-10) through Apache Jct., Florence Jct, Superior, Globe. At Globe, US-60 turns northeast towards ShowLow. Between Globe and ShowLow, you pass through Salt River Canyon -- beautiful country, there!

At ShowLow, you have a choice.You can go up AZ-77 through Taylor and Snowflake (also beautiful forested mountains), or go a little further east on US-60 and pick up AZ-61 to AZ-180 and then US-180. You then turn right to go into Petrified Forest NP from the southern end of the road. View PFNP and pick up I-40 either before or after going a little further north of I-40 to the Painted Desert portion of the NP.

Donna

I just found out the Madonna of the Trail statue I saw in Upland, CA has a sister in Springerville, AZ. Since their sister monuments are also in Lamar and Albuquerque, maybe we can take this way between Payson and Grants, NM and see four of the eleven on this one trip.

Does anyone else follow a theme on road trips? If I were to take the I-80 route to see the Ames Brothers Pyramid in Wyoming, I probably would have wanted to stay in the Luxor pyramid in Las Vegas. We would have also stopped for photos in front of the state capitols of Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Does anyone else follow a theme on road trips?

Themes are very popular with many roadtrippers... I assembled 14 such themes in an article I penned a few years ago...

There is also the QUEST kind of roadtrip --

On the other hand, RoadTrip Challenges are more like your idea of collecting photos of state capitals. Here's a few more we've thought of.

It might be fun to create threads for the different kinds of trips...

Mark

[shirohniichan]

Themes are very popular with many roadtrippers... I assembled 14 such themes in an article I penned a few years ago...

There is also the QUEST kind of roadtrip --

On the other hand, RoadTrip Challenges are more like your idea of collecting photos of state capitals. Here's a few more we've thought of.

It might be fun to create threads for the different kinds of trips...

Mark

Thanks for the links.

Apparently I'm leading a quest/challenge trip. We're heading to the site of the Amache Relocation Center in Colorado to see where my dad was sent during the war. Along the way we plan on taking family photos in front of state capitols (and the Madonna of the Trail monuments if we take Hwy 60 back through Arizona). My interest in the old west and ghost towns means that we'll likely see Doc Holliday's grave while in Glenwood Springs (perhaps after a relaxing swim in the hot springs pool) and also stop in Central City on the way up to Estes Park. My daughters will also try their hand at earning more Junior Ranger badges at Capitol Reef, Arches, and Rocky Mountain National Parks, Pecos Nat'l Historic Park, and maybe even El Malpais Nat'l Monument.

There is so much to see in the southwest! I just learned that we'll be taking at least two nationally recognized, top shelf scenic drives (UT 12 and CO 119). I seem to get almost as much enjoyment out of seeing the countryside with my own eyes to know what is on the maps I look at as seeing tourist stops.

[Southwest Dave]

I seem to get almost as much enjoyment out of seeing the countryside with my own eyes to know what is on the maps I look at as seeing tourist stops.

A 'true' road trip is as much about the journey as it is about the destination in my book.

You have lot's of great routes ahead and in my opinion UT24 through Capitol Reef is just as spectacular [if not more] than scenic 12. A few miles before 12 meets 24 you will find 'Lab Hollow overlook', it's just a pull out but has great views of the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park and the Henry Mountains.

When you leave Moab you can take another scenic drive that doesn't take up hardly any extra time. Head south on 191 a short way and then take UT128 through Castle Valley to US6 and I70. It's a lovely drive through the canyon alongside the Colorado river for a way.

From Glenwood Springs you could also take a detour over Loveland Pass by taking US6 near Dillon Reservoir, it's spectacular at the top!!

And speaking of the 'Old west' you will find Buffalo Bills Grave and museum on Lookout mountain near Golden, which is south of Boulder and wouldn't be a huge detour on route to Colorado Springs. [As though you haven't enough to do ! ;-) ]

You are going to need a real early start on day 2 just to get a glimpse of Capitol Reef and Arches NP, with just a 'drive through' of Arches you are probably looking at 10 hours plus of on the road time and that's without taking the scenic drive in C. Reef.

Have fun !