Questions about driving/Winter Park, CO (Denver, Golden: condo, home, dangerous)

[lindarose1961]

My son is stationed at Fort Carson, which is the reason we wanted to fly to Colorado.

Unexpectedly we have a one week stay at a condo in Winter Park, CO.

We don't mind a few hour actual timeframe, but is it unrealistic and/or difficult/dangerous to expect to drive up and down the mountain on a daily basis for a week?

I'm from flat land, cornfields for miles lol, so I'd appreciate any comments.

Thanks in Advance!

[sunsprit]

You didn't mention the time frame you'd be out here.

In the winter months, it could be a difficult daily trip with snowpacked/icy roads, even though it's mostly 4 lane interstate type roads which are well maintained and plowed.

If it's the springtime, then the roads will generally be clear, although a snowstorm can come through and make a mess of the roads for a day or two.

Of course, weekend traffic up and back from the mountains from/to Denver can be problematic during ski season and summer weekends.

From the Ft Carson area, you're looking at a couple of hours driving to Winter Park each way in non-rush hour traffic. At rush hour, I25, C470, and I70 (close to Denver) traffic can easily add an hour or so to the trip.

I think it's an unrealistic plan to do this daily commute, even in good weather and able to travel in "off peak rush hour" times.

[Dan6200alt]

Between Winter Park and Ft Carson daily? Its not dangerous this time of year. The roads are basically clear unless you get a storm, which can still easily happen, though. I dont personally think its the prettiest time of year to drive up there, but if you havent been here and want to see the mountains, snow, etc, then it might be worth it.

Are you planning on spending any time up there other than just at the end of the day after visiting your son? Or is he off and can come with you? If thats the case, I'd say do it. If its just basically going to be a place to spend the night, then I'd say plan on going one or two times just to see it, then stay closer the rest of the time. The gas you'll spend getting up there will even out the free (i'm assuming) place to sleep. Winter Park is nice, but its not Vail or Aspen or Breckrenridge. Just my opinion, though.

As far as the drive, is not a difficult drive, but because of the elevation ups and downs and curves, just be a little careful. Its not hard to drive, but if you aren't accustomed, it takes a few miles to adjust your braking time, etc.

Either way, have a good visit and enjoy Colorado. Lots to do near Ft Carson too.

[lindarose1961]

The plans are to arrive the Monday after Easter.

No, we probably wouldn't drive to Fort Carson "every" day, just a couple nights to take my son out to dinner and then Friday night he would come spend the weekend with us.

I am definitely looking forward to simply taking in the view with a cup of coffee for a couple days... but in all honesty, we're not snow-bunnies, so I was figuring we'd drive down and find some other places of interest also. Colorado just seems simply beautiful any time of year!

So, it sounds like it's a workable deal....

can't wait

[Mike from back east]

Hello, hope you love Colorado....

I'd say the drive from WP to Carson would be about 3 hours each way, a lot of driving.

A bit north of WP is Grand Lake, a small town with a lovely lakefront area, places to eat, and well worth the drive.

You'll be driving I-70 a lot. When you come down from the mountain to I-70, consider taking I-70 west about 10 more miles to Georgetown and ride the old steam train, won't take long. http://www.georgetownlooprr.com/

West of Carson is Canon City, and Royal Gorge Park, amazing scenery. See these sites:
http://www.royalgorgebridge.com/ and a great train ride: http://www.royalgorgeroute.com/

A ton of stuff to see in the Denver area...
- Golden...take a tour of the huge Coors Brewery: http://www.coors.com/about_tour.asp
- Golden...Buffalo Bill Cody's grave on Lookout Mountain, you can see forever from up there: http://www.buffalobill.org/

In CO Springs, one of the best attractions is Garden of the Gods: http://www.gardenofgods.com/home/index.cfm
If you visit GotG, also go to Manitou Springs, at the foot of Pikes Peak, for the tons of great eateries and shops. Manitou is home to the Pikes Peak Cog Railway: http://www.cograilway.com/ which takes you up to 14,110 feet.

You'll have a ton of stuff to do. Check out free stuff at: http://www.colorado-for-free.com/

s/Mike