Co springs to denver? (Parker, Castle Rock: mover, castle, parking)

[Nesbittaudia4]

I see that its about 60 miles give or take from CO springs to denver. So, around rush hour, is this drive going to be crowded the whole way or just around each city? How long should this really take around 5 or 6 pm on a weekend?

[Mike from back east]

IMO at least 90 minutes, if no accidents.

Coming northbound out of COLO SPGS, traffic often slows to a crawl from Woodmen and can be stop/go for miles. Once beyond Baptist Rd it can pick up speed until you get past Hwy 470 on the southern outskirts of Denver. Then you can get stop and go all the way to downtown Denver.

The only place it won't be crowded is from Monument Hill to Hwy 470, and it can be crowded there too at times.

[vfrpilot]

On normal weekday mornings you'll encounter traffic just north of Castle Rock around Castle Pines into Denver. I'm not sure about the afternoon traffic. Never waited that long to come home.

[phetaroi]

You kinda never can tell. Sometimes, almost anywhere along the way, it can be slow going for different stretches, and sometimes rather steady. Certainly nothing like the backups I was used to back in the Washington, DC area! I-25 in downtown Denver can be a parking lot. I HATE driving through there any time around rush hour.

[captain_hug99]

You said on a weekend though. It shouldn't be too bad except if you hit ski traffic/renaissance faire traffic (weekends in the summer).

If you find it is too bad, you can always take 83.

[ryanek9freak]

Yea, it always seems to get nasty right after Castle Pines...

[Terytee]

I never really mind the traffic heading to and from Denver (compared to DC). It's not necessarily fun, but it depends on what you're accustomed to. But I will say, when the weather is bad, (snow), it can get hairy. Especially around Monument pass.

I had a few "oh s**t" moments last year, when passing underneath the overpasses...because the ice is in the shade, it doesn't melt....not a fan of that.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

Yea, it always seems to get nasty right after Castle Pines...

Yes, upon getting to Castle Rock the several on-ramps there load up the highway with so much traffic that by the time you reach MP188 you are in the thick of it for 30+ miles until you exit the north side of Denver.

[lildreamer]

I looked up the route from Stetson Hills area to Parker, Co. The route it showed me was taking 83 to Parker. I have never been on 83. What is it like? Would that be the suggested route traffic wise to commute to work or would I be better off taking 25?

[Mike from back east]

Hwy 83 is an old 2-lane country road, a bit scenic, with many stretches of 55MPH speed limits but you can get stuck behind a slow mover at times. I would never use it as a regular commute from here to Parker.