Breckenridge Colorado to Las Vegas

[rrab1]

Hi all, Has anyone made this drive, We are going to Breckenridge far four day's in June then onto Las Vegas. I have made the drive from St. Louis to Denver before and am wondering about the drive to Vegas, We pull a 32' Montana and are planning to stay at Sam's town rv park(open for suggestions there) Thank's Don

 

[fkovalski]

Colorado in June will be a nice time to visit, although it can still dip into the low 30’s and high 20’s even at that time of the year. Even though the snow should be over by then (though we here hope not ) …one website that I always recommend is CoTrip.org . While snow will not be the concern, CDOT is always resurfacing areas of I-70… you may want to check it as your travel time nears. Both bores of the Eisenhower Tunnel were resurfaced last summer, but the approaches are in need of some serious repair; it may happen during your slated time.



You state you: "…are planning to stay at Sam's town rv park…" This must be in LV as I am not familiar with that name here. There is an RV park between Frisco & Breck called "Tiger Run" that would probably fit your TT and there are some State Parks around Lake Dillon ... I could recommend some great boondocking spots (but yer TT might not have enough ground clearance :-laf )



As far as mountain travel west of Denver…: do you have an exhaust brake? If not I would recommend taking the interstate at no more than the posted speed limit. Mountain curves can sneak up at you if you do not pay attention to signs. And it will probably be the steepest decents (sp?) that you may ever encounter. If you are not familiar with the road, I highly recommend driving it during the daylight hours. It is quite dark at night, but traffic is much less. Keep in mind that weekend travel (into the hills on a Friday evening westbound... and Sunday eastbound back to metro Denver) can be very heavy on the I-70 corridor. Many Denver folks head into the hills for the weekend and traffic (especially during holiday weekends) can be very heavy!



West bound I-70 after Vail is reletivly less steep and it is a nice drive all the way to the Utah border. But, again pay attention to the posted speeds, especially in Glenwood Canyon!



Feel free to ask any questions. I will try to help you as much as possible.



-frank.

 

[rrab1]

fkovalski, Thanks' for the reply, Tiger run is were we are staying for the four days', I will watch the speed I don't have an exhaust brake and Sam's town is in Las Vegas. Will be there last week in June and Vegas first week in July, I have never heard my fan kick on so maybe the mountain's of Colorado might or the desert will. Don

 

[BarryG]

Rrab1:

You wont have any problems pulling up to Breck or anywhere else for that matter. Once you get west of Glenwood Springs CO it will warm up and you probably will hear your fan come on. In fact if it doesnt it is probably broke. Are you taking I-70 to I-15 then to Vegas? If so just west of Green River Utah is the San Rafeal Reef. It is one heck of a grade one of the more severe I have ever seen on an interstate. I think the speed limit is 45 that might be on the eastbound coming down cant remember for sure. It has some very tight turns for an interstate. It lasts for a ways. Again you will get up no problem. If you are looking for a more scenic route albeit slower is to turn off of I-70 just west of Green River on US24. Follow that down to Hanksville and through Capitol Reef NP and then turn south or west on HWY 12 up and over to Boulder and on to Escalante past Bryce NP then south on I think it is 89. South to Carmel head west on hwy 9 that goes through Zion NP and then you can hook up with I-15 west of Zion. HWY 12 has eyeball bustin' scenery. Especially between Boulder and Escalante. HWY 9 through Zion is also incredible. There is a tunnel in Zion that your rig will get through but in the summer months they only run one way traffic through it at a time during the day(to allow larger vehicles to get through to narrow for two lane with big vehicles. SO you might have to stop and wait a few minutes. There is an additional charge for large vehicles to get through but imo worth the charge for the scenery. Have fun.

 

[brista]

If you are looking for a more scenic route albeit slower is to turn off of I-70 just west of Green River on US24. Follow that down to Hanksville and through Capitol Reef NP and then turn south or west on HWY 12 up and over to Boulder and on to Escalante past Bryce NP then south on I think it is 89. South to Carmel head west on hwy 9 that goes through Zion NP and then you can hook up with I-15 west of Zion. HWY 12 has eyeball bustin' scenery. Especially between Boulder and Escalante.

I absolutely agree!! I drove that route a couple years ago, and also highly recommend it.

 

[rrab1]

BarryG, the trip sounds great can you do that in one day? How much longer is that rout compared to I-70/I-15 Thank's Don

 

[fkovalski]

... Tiger run is were we are staying for the four days...

That is about a mile from where I live. Nice place, a lot of motorhomes use that park.

 

[rrab1]

fkovalski, Will be there 6-23 to 6-27 would you like to meet for coffee one morning, My wife want's to sight see non-stop while we are in Breckenridge, Don

 

[BarryG]

Rrab:

The mileage difference is only about 50 miles, Taking interstate from Breck to Vegas is approx 660 miles. Depending on how you travel that is either a couple easy days or one long day. Taking the much more scenic route is approx 710. So miles wise not much diff. Time wise the scenic route is going to be longer. The road is good but you are talking 2 lane US and State highway vs interstate so speeds are going to be slower and I can guarantee that you are going to make a couple stops just to look at the views. So I would add 3 hours or so. You would probably want to stop for the night on the scenic way just so you werent trying to hurry and enjoy the sights vs one very long day. It is worth it but time may be a factor for you.

If you do choose to take the scenic route and stay a night on the way you will want to check out campgrounds in advance as that time of year Bryce will be full without a reservation same with Zion. There are plenty of other places to stay for sure but do some research on where and if possible make a reservation.