US-50 or I-70 from Colorado to Kansas Turnpike/Wichita (Salina: house, YMCA)

[Chris19]

I am in the early stages of planning a trip. I plan to visit my family in Colorado first and then visit relatives in northern Oklahoma in late My. I was wondering which route would be better, Going from Pueblo, CO using US-50 and US-54 going through western and central Kansas or taking I-70 and going down I-135 down to Wichita. Either way, I want to hook up onto the Kansas Turpike south of Wichita.

Which way is better in the following areas: road conditions, traffic, time (most important), and avoiding deer? For severe weather (heavy rain, tornadoes, etc) which route would be better from a standpoint of pulling over until the storm passes on)? Any suggestions are welcomed.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by Chris19

I am in the early stages of planning a trip. I plan to visit my family in Colorado first and then visit relatives in northern Oklahoma in late My. I was wondering which route would be better, Going from Pueblo, CO using US-50 and US-54 going through western and central Kansas or taking I-70 and going down I-135 down to Wichita. Either way, I want to hook up onto the Kansas Turpike south of Wichita.

Which way is better in the following areas: road conditions, traffic, time (most important), and avoiding deer? For severe weather (heavy rain, tornadoes, etc) which route would be better from a standpoint of pulling over until the storm passes on)? Any suggestions are welcomed.

If time and safety is of importance the obvious choice is I-70 to I-135. If you want to see history, cows and little towns, the other way is the best.

[thriftylefty]

I 've taken them both to kansas, I-70 seems like a down hill drive the whole way west -to -east, but if you are already in pueblo, just go east from there, Your major (or Big) cities are about the same distance apart I70-Colby-Hays, 50 Dodge-Garden and Pratt ,I've dodged major tornados on both roads recently( Greenburg) ,the cold weather comes across the rockies and drops down pretty fast there nothing to stop it. the time you spend going north from Pueblo to get to 70, you can be almost to Kansas

[Chris19]

Thank you for the comments thriftylefty and KevK. I have been on I-70 last year and it is a decent road and I was able coast at 70 mph on cruise control going through Kansas. From Limon, CO to Salina, I averaged 32 mpg with the Pontiac Grand Prix doing this. I would most likely leave from Colorado Springs.

The question would be going up on US 24 up to I-70 in Limon, CO or take I-25 down to US 50 in Pueble and taking that straight to KS.

If I left from my friend's house in Denver or my brother's place in Cheyenne, WY then taking I-70 through Kansas would be the option I would go with.

[Chris19]

The next question that pops through my head is whether I should have much for problems for severe weather, mainly western KS, is if I left Colorado at 5 or 6 in the morning.

If I left CO Springs, that would put me in Hays somewhere around lunch time if I took the I-70 route or somewhere around Dodge City.

[Oildog]

I'll follow your post as I may be going the opposite direction next weekend. Stillwater OK to Colorado Springs. Wondering if going up to I70 is faster than 50 or thru OK.

[thriftylefty]

As far as weather if it's snow it will be a very large storm and it might not make much difference, Traditionally Kansas get's its last big storm around the second week of February, I've driven in them from from South dakota to Nebraska to western Kanas in the second week of Feb. but usually it's sunny and mild the next day. we haven't had that size of a storm in a few years, but if we did I would rather be driving east or west than north or south. The snow trucks run nonstop on 70 in storms, if it's real big they close 70. I made that trip from Colorado Springs all the way to southeastern Kansas in 11 hours about a year ago the day after an Ice storm, the weather was sunny and mild all the way to the Kansas border

[weathergal]

Oildog, as of right now, weather looks pretty quiet for next weekend. So it doesn't look like you'll have to deal with much snow. Of course, it's still a week away so you may want to watch the forecast and see if it changes.

Chris19, late May is our peak in severe weather. However, thunderstorm activity occurs most often in the late afternoon and evening. Getting into western Kansas around noon you should be fine. Your best bet is to pay attention to what's going on around you. If it looks stormy in the area, High Plains Public Radio is good about giving severe weather updates. If you are driving during the day and see some very dark clouds ahead, don't drive blindly into it.

As for which route is faster, it depends. The interstates are longer by miles, but you won't have to slow down for towns. I think it mainly depends on if you want to explore the area. It would probably help to pay attention to road construction also. It won't slow you down too much on the interstate as they usually just close down one lane. On the state roads however, they like to use pilot cars, which can cause delays. They usually post construction and road condition information at http://511.ksdot.org

[Chris19]

Thank you for replies. I am one who is checks the weather a lot before going on a trip and while on the trip. My gut instinct tells me that I should leave real early in the morning (around sunrise) and get to my evening destination, Oklahoma at a decent time. Along the way, I will have to stop at a Braum's and a Spangles when I get closer to Wichita.

[Modron]

If you drive US-50 between Emporia and Newton, then turn back to Wichita, you will drive through the Flint Hills which is one of the state's prettiest areas. (Camp Wood YMCA in Elmdale has a great overlook.) You're coming from CO. For some reason I was thinking you were coming from KC. If you ever did get the chance to do the drive on US-50 between Emporia and Newton, I would recommend it. It would add some time to the trip and it has a dangerous area near ... Florence(?) ..., but you could enjoy both the ease of travelling the interstates and the most scenic part of 50.