Need advice quick! I-70 or I-80 to Mt. Rushmore?

[Bug Out]

I am headed to Mt. Rushmore from Phoenix starting 5/31. I just was checking road conditions and realized ( actually forgot)that most of Colorado to Denver, from Utah is mountain terrain going up to 11K in elevation, then back down.



I'm pulling the 39' toy hauler and its not bad on flat ground fuel wise, but once in the hills, I never look at the fuel mileage cause there's nothing to see ... it gets down to 5mpg... ... or less. then the EGT issue etc.



Anyhow, i was thinking I-15 north to I-80 would be better, less scenic and much flatter for fuel, time etc. Its a few more miles, but not as much up/down shifting etc.

Then theres the wind factor on I-80 in Wyoming that everyone says is treacherous etc .



Anyone who has taken either road this time of year, I'd appreciate your opinion as to which roads would be better for fuel use, etc etc.



Thanks in advance for your help.



Ed

 

[LaserBob]

I think your I-80 route will be good. You may figure some of north central Wyoming for additional sight seeing. N out of Rock Springs or Rawlins and then on east in a meandering fashion. Lots of historic places to see.

Stop when you first get into Wyoming, at the visitor center and get the official state map. It will be full of things to do and see.

 

[jelag]

I drive I-15 all the time from Phoenix to Spokane... . I don't care for the by-pass around Hover Dam to Vegas... I hate the long down hill and climb out by Laughlin and often take 95 off of 10 north to avoid that stretch... the rest up I-15 is fine...

The I-80 I can't help you with... I don't drive it. .

 

[damar]

Just ran a "Streets & Trips" from Phoenix to Mt Rushmore (1302 miles). Phoenix to Flagstaff to Albuquerque, then north on I25 to exit 126 in Wyoming. Then take 18/20 and angle northeast to Rushmore. Really once you get into Wyoming it's your choice as I am not that familiar with the 2 lane side roads. Your steepest grade is the down hill into Camp Verde on I-17 but with the exhaust brake it shouldn't be a problem. Been on these roads years ago with a 18 wheeler. At Denver, if you don't want to tackle going through Denver you can take the east bypass but it's toll. Have a fun trip.

 

[gathomas]

I was on I-80 in June 07, headed to Salt Lake City from Pittsburgh,PA I was driving my "97" 3500 Dually, Not towing.

As I recall there were no "monster" mountains to climb or desend. That's not to say that its a piece of cake, because my memory could be flawed. Now that I've had time to think on this most of the mountainous (read steeper) was in Utah. Wyoming was more rolling terain, and most of the time it seemed like you could see ahead for 50 miles.

Nebraska, a piece of cake. Hope this helps...

 

[BrianJ]

If you are just basing your decision on mileage, I get far better mileage towing my toyhauler through the mountains on I-70 than I ever do on the relatively flat I-25 from Denver to Wyoming. Remember, what goes up also must come down, and the mileage coming down offsets the poor mileage on climbs. I often tow on I-70 from Denver to the western slope of Colorado, and also tow on "flatter" routes like I-25 heading up through Wy to the Black Hills. I average around 11-12mpg loaded on I-70 vs 7-9mpg loaded on I-25 towards the Black Hills (hand calc).

 

[Cowboy]

my wife and I are laughing about the comment on nebraska we've been onI 80 between ohio and Elko,NV 6 round trips Utah is steep through themts east of SLC< but plenty of lanes,so keep rt andtakeit easy on your EGTs, when you hit WY, its pretty easy ride, but hitting Neb. stop and get coffee and 5 hr energy, you can see both the west and the east state boundary markers what a boring ride! straight as a chalkline, and all scenery the same,1 hill half way through, 5 ft grade 1/8 mi long. But seriously, traffic gets a bit aggressive after NEB. take care and be safe.

 

[Bug Out]

Thanks for the help.

I'm leaning toward I-15 to I-80. Per miles, its only 2-3 hrs extra driving time there at the speed limit, which I know I wont be close to on I-70.



Thanks again for all the help.



Ed

 

[GAmes]

Just ran a "Streets & Trips" from Phoenix to Mt Rushmore (1302 miles). Phoenix to Flagstaff to Albuquerque, then north on I25 to exit 126 in Wyoming. Then take 18/20 and angle northeast to Rushmore. Really once you get into Wyoming it's your choice as I am not that familiar with the 2 lane side roads. Your steepest grade is the down hill into Camp Verde on I-17 but with the exhaust brake it shouldn't be a problem. Been on these roads years ago with a 18 wheeler. At Denver, if you don't want to tackle going through Denver you can take the east bypass but it's toll. Have a fun trip.

I ran it through PC Miler. 1313 miles but the same route. No need to stress over I70 or I80 unless you really plan on taking the scenic route. You won't be going through NE either.

 

[GAmes]

I'm leaning toward I-15 to I-80. Per miles, its only 2-3 hrs extra driving time there at the speed limit, which I know I wont be close to on I-70.



Thanks again for all the help.



Ed

It is only 82 miles farther, but a lot more mountain driving to go through SLC rather than Albuquerque. With the two lane from Flagstaff to Beaver, UT, then the two lane from Rawlins to Casper it will be a lot more than an extra 2-3 hours, more like an extra day.

 

[mrtrombley]

Ed, any way you look at it you will be going up hill! I agree that you should go to Flagstaff, then Albq and then straight up thru Denver. That would be your most direct route by highways. Plenty of uphills, but not really that bad.

I am interested in how you would get from Phoenix to LV to catch I-15, if that's how you are going. No real easy way to get there. I-15 from LV to SLC is a bear!! Especially steep climb out of NV up into Utah. Seems like going uphill all the way once in Utah, tough on mileage. I don't know about I-80, but I-70 would also be a tough pull with a 39' toyhauler. Again, some real long tough uphill grades. And then the top up to the tunnel!!

Once again I think I-25 would be a better ride.

 

[BimmerAgent]

Mountains

IMHO, my Cummins was made for mountains. I get goose bumps pulling up and over passes like Monarch, Wolf Creek, Rabbit Ears, or Red Mountain. I love the way the engine & drivetrain handle monster pulls with ease, and how the Jake eases you back down the other side. Yeah, you use up some fuel on the climb, but you get it back on the descent. Still, the pulls are so much fun. Bruce

 

[Bug Out]

The wife is pushing I-70 via Moab... ... . she has what I want/ like... . Momma rules. . I-70 via I-25 it will be.

 

[GAmes]

The wife is pushing I-70 via Moab... ... . she has what I want/ like... . Momma rules. . I-70 via I-25 it will be.

I've driven most of that route. It is a lot bettter choice than the I15 to I70 or I80 plan. Lots of scenery and only one major city to navigate. You might want to see if the rock slide on I70 near Avon, CO IIRC has been completely cleared. If you have the time and like desert scenery/rock formations, The Arches nat'l park in Moab is a short excursion. Lots of RV parks in Moab.

 

[B.G. Smith]

We were up there in last Oct. , came out down through Cheyenne, nice drive but not a lot of scenery after you leave South Dakota except Antelope. If you are there a few days don't miss the Crazy Horse monument and musieum. The monument is a work in progress and has been for several years but the musieum is very nice, also if you have a chance, see the Badlands and go to Walls Drug for breakfast. Some self guided driving tours fron Rapid City, the one with the two tunnels was a little scary as I had to fold the mirrors on the truck in to get through. bg

 

[Gene Arnold]

I wouldn't worry too much about whether I-70 or I-80. I-80 has few really hard pulls and the two times it crosses the Continental Divide you won't notice unless you notice the signs. It is pretty desolate desert terrain most of the way across. I like it because there are no cities to be concerned with except Cheyenne and it isn't very big at all. If you use U. S. 20, stop at Fort Robinson. It is just across the line into Nebraska and is very historic. Very beautiful surroundings as well. They have a large RV park.



Gene

 

[Buffalo]

Last Oct. I hauled my trailer thru Moab, UT. & stopped at Arches N. P. If you go thru Arches, leave your trailer behind. They have a parking lot you can drop off at the enterance visitors center. At the visitors center, they told me that I could take my trailer but, something said not to & I was very glad I trusted my judgement. The places to park in the park are very small & I wouldn't have been able to get my trailer thru many of them. My trailer is only 25' so, yours would be impossible to get thru.



While at Arche's, the wind kicked-up to gale forces. When I got back to my trailer, I stepped inside before hitching back up & the trailer was shaking back & forth. The wind was so bad that I spent another night in Moab hoping that the early morning hours would be less windy, & they were. If you're cheap, like me, & don't like to pay for RV sites, to the far south end of Moab is an enclosed equestrian center with a huge dirt parking lot on the E side of the highway. I stayed there two nights with no problems.



Personally, if I were you, I would take I-25 N. from Albuquerque, unless there are things you just have to see elsewhere. The only real mountain grades you will encounter are in AZ (I-17) & Raton Pass at the NM/CO border. Otherwise, it's slightly hilly or flat.



The rumor I've heard is that I-80 in WY is always very windy.



Sounds like you will have a nice trip.



Joe F.

 

[Bug Out]

At Mt. Rushmore right now ( 060310)

I will say, Utah has excellent scenery and the roads were fairly good.

I-70 was great until we got to the east side of Vail,Co where the Vail pass climbs to 10,500ft.

Then back down to 9000ft, then back up to 11,500ft to get thru the Eisenhower tunnel.

I was in 3rd gear by the time I got to the top with the heater on to keep theCTD temps down. MPG showed 3. 0-3. 5!!! LOL

The ride thru Colorado was absolutely beautiful. Now that I have seen it, I'll take the I-40 to I-25. I've been that route to Colorado Springs before and its a much better route grade wise etc. Raton pass was the biggest hill I recall)

It was clear sailing since then. Mostly easy hills etc.

The road to Reno from here will be thru Casper to Rawlins, w/b on I-80 to Reno, then back to Surprise. .

I'm guessing there is not many passes on W/B I-80 that go pass 11,500ft in elevation? That was fun knowing the CTD was pulling 16K (GCVW 24. 5k) over 2miles up in the sky and didnt miss a beat.