which is safest route pulling uhaul trailer I-70 or I-80 Moving to Las Vegas (Denver: pros and cons, dangerous)

[ponyrider]

Hello,

my son is moving to Las Vegas and driving from the Mid West. He's currently in Nebraska and tomorrow will need to decide which way to go.

I'm wondering if anyone could give advise on which route for him to take? Choices are either the Denver route I-76 to I-70 to 15 to Vegas
or I-80 to Salt Lake City to 15 to Vegas. It doesn't seem to be that big of difference in miles but hoping someone who has gone these routes could offer advise on which is better for less traffic, safety etc or what your pros and cons are.

He is pulling a 6X12 u-haul trailer and wondering what to expect on each route, about hills, ups and downs, traffic and for safety. His truck also broke down today so he lost a day of travel but time isnt' the issue.

We would greatly appreciate anyones fast replies since he will be going through tomorrow.

Thanks to all in advance! Ponyrider

[rgb123]

I think I-80 would be a safer bet this time of year. The only place I-80 gets really sticky is around Lake Tahoe, but he will skip that cause he will go south on 15. At least I don't recall the area around Salt Lake being nearly as tight or the grades as steep as they are on I-70 in Colorado. I'd pick 80.

[denverjoe04]

I-80 is cake. However the winds between Rock Springs and Larmie can get pretty ugly at times and blizzards in the winter. Once you get to Evanston its will be okay...you will be going up Parleys Canyon to get to Salt Lake, which is not that bad. Salt Lake to Vegas is really boring but pretty flat and straight. It will put a 2-3 more hours on yours commute though. Ide say if your doing this soon then take I-80 if your doin it in the summer I-70 for sure.

[ponyrider]

Hello,

thank you for your feedback, when traveling i-80 are you going through the mountains? or is the mountains on I-70? I'm not sure, most people tell him to go the south route vs the north so I'm wondering why??

thanks in advance again!

[htmlfamily]

Originally Posted by ponyrider

Hello,

thank you for your feedback, when traveling i-80 are you going through the mountains? or is the mountains on I-70? I'm not sure, most people tell him to go the south route vs the north so I'm wondering why??

thanks in advance again!

I-70 between Denver and Parachute, CO contains a few mountain passes and the potential for dangerous weather.

[htmlfamily]

Originally Posted by ponyrider

Hello,

my son is moving to Las Vegas and driving from the Mid West. He's currently in Nebraska and tomorrow will need to decide which way to go.

I'm wondering if anyone could give advise on which route for him to take? Choices are either the Denver route I-76 to I-70 to 15 to Vegas
or I-80 to Salt Lake City to 15 to Vegas. It doesn't seem to be that big of difference in miles but hoping someone who has gone these routes could offer advise on which is better for less traffic, safety etc or what your pros and cons are.

He is pulling a 6X12 u-haul trailer and wondering what to expect on each route, about hills, ups and downs, traffic and for safety. His truck also broke down today so he lost a day of travel but time isnt' the issue.

We would greatly appreciate anyones fast replies since he will be going through tomorrow.

Thanks to all in advance! Ponyrider

as of now, good luck! weather.com - Driving - Region

[htmlfamily]

Originally Posted by ponyrider

Hello,

my son is moving to Las Vegas and driving from the Mid West. He's currently in Nebraska and tomorrow will need to decide which way to go.

I'm wondering if anyone could give advise on which route for him to take? Choices are either the Denver route I-76 to I-70 to 15 to Vegas
or I-80 to Salt Lake City to 15 to Vegas. It doesn't seem to be that big of difference in miles but hoping someone who has gone these routes could offer advise on which is better for less traffic, safety etc or what your pros and cons are.

He is pulling a 6X12 u-haul trailer and wondering what to expect on each route, about hills, ups and downs, traffic and for safety. His truck also broke down today so he lost a day of travel but time isnt' the issue.

We would greatly appreciate anyones fast replies since he will be going through tomorrow.

Thanks to all in advance! Ponyrider

I hope he has an appropriate vehicle...With a quality trailor hitch!Pull up a good internet tutorial on pulling a trailor through mountainous territory

[ponyrider]

thanks again to everyone! he's decided to travel the I-80 route, and yes he has a good hitch - all new wiring setup too.
have a great day, ponyrider

[nelumbo]

Portions of I-80 are closed this morning:

I-80 is CLOSED WESTBOUND from Laramie to Sinclair and will be closed until sometime this morning, April 1, 2008. It is closed due to multiple crashes, road surface damage due to a truck fire and severe weather conditions. We are working at this time to get all stranded traffic off of I-80 in the vicinity of the crashes.

Wyoming Department of Transportation Travel Information Service

Yesterday I-70 wasn't much better:
Cars toboggan in snowy I-70 pileup - The Denver Post

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by ponyrider

Hello,

thank you for your feedback, when traveling i-80 are you going through the mountains? or is the mountains on I-70? I'm not sure, most people tell him to go the south route vs the north so I'm wondering why??

thanks in advance again!

There are mountains on both, but the mountains on I-70 are serious mountains. If they are telling him to take the south route it could be that they find it more scenic. It is not the place I would want to tow a trailer! however it is very pretty. It is true the winds could be worse on I-80 but I would just check the weather and only change my mind if there was gonna be a big storm.

Another option -- go south and catch I-40 -- I did this when I moved from Illinois to Sacramento. It seemed much safer in January and I had no problems.