Driving from Denver - 1st time

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Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on January 29, 2009 at 12:08pm

Unless there is a big storm or a big wind, the roads will be in good condition. The single most important thing to remember is that 4x4 doesn't help on stopping. :-)

CO Dept of Transportation has a site that gives road conditions http://www.cotrip.org/

You want to check I-70, CO 9 (Kemmling-Siverthorne) and US 40 (Rabitt Ears Pass)

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by Rick on January 29, 2009 at 12:13pm

The best route if roads are all open from Denver is I-70 west to the Silverthorne exit, then north on Colorado 9 to Kremmling, then west on US 40 to Steamboat Springs.

If it hasn't snowed in a couple days, the roads will usually be clear and dry except in a few shady spots (keep an eye out for them). If it is snowing, the roads you will need may be OK, or there may be a closure due to one or more accidents. Check with the highway department ((303) -639-1111) before departing, and tune the radio to the road conditions radio stations as you go (you will see signs periodically stating the frequency of the local station).

The two most likely areas for closures are the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnel and Rabbit Ears Pass. If it is snowing hard, they close Loveland Pass, and then must close the tunnel to normal traffic for 15 minutes of each hour to allow trucks with hazardous cargos to use the tunnel. Nothing you can do except wait. If the tunnel is closed for a longer term, and you find out about it early enough, you can exit I-70 at Empire and take US 40 over Berthoud Pass. A little longer normally, but useful if the tunnel is closed (but check first; Berthoud Pass closes sometimes, also.)

If Rabbit Ears Pass is closed, there are two alternatives: use the Coloroad Highway 134 exit just west of Kremmling, or take I-70 all the way to Wolcott (past Vail and Beaver Creek). Either one of these will take you to Colorado Highway 131, which will take you back to US 40 just west of the bottom of Rabbit Ears Pass, and just east of Steamboat Springs.

When you say you are arriving on the 13th, I assume you mean February. That means you will be driving up on a Saturday. Be prepared--if you don't get going by 5:30AM, you will encounter heavy traffic all the way to Silverthorne. Denverites go skiing in droves on weekends. If you aren't planning on skiing on Saturday, I would suggest waiting until around 10 AM if you don't get going by 5:30 AM.

The biggest driving suggestion relative to the Expedition is to remember that all the 4 wheel drive in the world won't STOP you any faster. If the roads are slick, leave plenty of following distance and keep your speed reasonable. If you do get going early, watch for animals on or near the highway. Especially watch for small red dots to the side of the road; they are likely reflections from the eyes of deer/elk/other critters. Slow down well in advance if you see them; their actions as you approach are totally unpredictable.

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Permalink Reply by Boo Boo on January 29, 2009 at 12:32pm

If I was you, I would make the effort to leave by 5.30am - as Rick suggests.

We are from the UK too and the 7 hour time difference should make getting up by 5am fairly painless (infact husband is normally wide awake by about 4.15am the first few mornings we get there...).

Have a safe journey and I hope that you love Steamboat. It is a bit more effort to get to, than some of the other Colorado resorts, but it is very worth it. Steamboat is like a different world when you get there and the drive up/back can be absolutely beautiful (on a good day).

Good luck
Boo

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Permalink Reply by Chris Mcfadden on January 29, 2009 at 12:42pm

Thx Rick & Boo, thats great info, very detailed, will print out & bring along.
My colleagues havent been to CO before, so I'm sure they arent expecting just how early they will be awake, so you're right, 5am just wont be a problem I'm certain.
I'd not thought about all those Denverites heading up, so will make sure we're under steam early.
Will be great to arrive early, even tho Condo wont be available, but we can get sorted with Ski's etc, & perhaps groceries too, and head up mid morning for a few hours without overdoing it.
Thx again,
Cheers.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Mcfadden on January 29, 2009 at 1:20pm

and thx skisteamboat too...... :-)
Sorry bro' !

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Permalink Reply by Mike (skipompey) on January 29, 2009 at 1:38pm

I can back up the Saturday routine for the Denverites as I was jammed up with them last year on our trip up to Steamboat after flying in from the UK the night before, did not leave earlier enough to beat them up the I 70, our plan was to call into the Silverthorne Retail Centre which does not open untill 10 am, but we should have left earlier, did not actually come to a halt on the I 70 but came close on a couple off occasions.

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Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on January 29, 2009 at 2:02pm

You should see it on Holidays! I once foolishly tried to drive up on MLK weekend. I gave up when it started backing up outside of Idaho Springs and went over Berthoud pass through Winter Park. Unfortunately, I got stuck behind someone from Alabama who must have never seen a Mountain since they never exceeded 25 MPH. :0

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by Mike (skipompey) on January 29, 2009 at 3:24pm

Reminds me what a Canadian from Alberta told me what they call their compatriots from the great open spaces, Prairie Chickens. They come up to the Rockies and tend to do the same, travel at 25 mph with their heads going from side to side.

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