I-70 across Kansas (areas, drive, towns)

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by KevK

That is good advice- except for the last sentence. Western Kansas is what you want to drive through at NIGHT because you won't miss seeing anything! Once you his Colorado then the scenery gets better.

Not really, Eastern CO is worse than western KS.

Basically, the drive between KC and Denver blows. But there are plenty of gas stations.

[quesera]

Originally Posted by KevK

That is good advice- except for the last sentence. Western Kansas is what you want to drive through at NIGHT because you won't miss seeing anything! Once you his Colorado then the scenery gets better.

That's funny, because my husband grew up in eastern Kansas and he thinks the scenery in western Kansas is beautiful. I grew up in western Kansas and I think eastern Kansas is much prettier.

Eastern Colorado is exactly the same as western Kansas 'til you get to Limon, or so... very flat and monotonous.

[Chris19]

I have been on I-70 between Limon and KC in its entire strech last year and parts of it on a couple different occasions. This strech is certainly better than Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, and Utah outside of the urban areas of those states. It is similar to driving on I-90 in South Dakota going to the Black Hills where there is a gas station at least once every 20 miles (which is manageable). I agree with a prior post on filling up when the car is half-full in the colder times of the year.

As for scenery, Western Kansas may not be as glitzy as the Colorado Rockies but has its own hidden beauty. I find I-70 more interesting to go through than driving on I-80 in Nebraska between Grand Island and the I-76/I-80 split. I-80 is flat as a pancake for most of that strech and is more or less a road designed for function and not sightseeing. Plus, I have been on that stretch millions of times. I-70 has more hills in spots, more so in Colorado, areas just west of Salina, and in eastern KS.

I personally like the eastern part of Kansas more than the western part, but find Western Kansas to have its own character.

[denverian]

If you hit it at the right time (I think late August/Sept) you'll see the huge sunflower fields in Western KS/eastern CO in bloom. It's an amazing sight to see sunflowers to the horizon against the blue sky.

[Gunluvver2]

I was born in NW Kansas and grew up on a farm close to the corner of NE/KS in Colorado. I loved the area. Unlike those poor folks living in the Mountains and surrounded by trees I could see for miles on the plains. Another nice thing about flatland country, when you walk both feet are flat on the ground. The next time you are in the mountains note the difference in size of the legs of the natives. You can tell which side of the mountain they live on by the difference in size of the left or right leg.

GL2

[rosecitywanderer]

I guess the perk of that I-70 drive is that it's flat and you get better gas mileage.

I'll be making it in two weeks.

[Chris19]

Originally Posted by rosecitywanderer

I guess the perk of that I-70 drive is that it's flat and you get better gas mileage.

I'll be making it in two weeks.

A good way of looking at it. My car had excellent mileage when going from eastwards through Western Kansas. My car is a mid-sized Pontiac that is a couple years old. I had the cruise on 70 mph and stopped three times in between. Between fillups in Limon, CO and Salina, KS, I averaged between 31 to 32 miles per gallon. Normally, the car averages around 30 mpg on the highway.

As long as it is not super windy, you should be able to get decent gas mileage.

[kansas sky]

Originally Posted by Chris19

As long as it is not super windy, you should be able to get decent gas mileage.

That's a good point too. If there are wind warnings out, take them seriously. It's amazing how much a high wind can push your car around.

[MMichelle]

I've driven accross Kansas, I-70, a million times in the last 25 years. It's no big deal and there are plenty of small towns with gas, food, and loging. No worries. It's good advise to consider the wind - it can really kill your MPG - don't think it won't. It can cut it in half. So, if it's windy watch your gas.
The good news is there are so many towns - you could stop every hour if you had to! It's not at all like crossing the southwest. In Kansas the towns are close - Russell is 25 miles from Hays.
Check out this link Visit Kansas I-70 - tourist attractions hotels restaurants travel

[cp1969]

Originally Posted by Gunluvver2

It is always a good idea when traveling across less populated states in the winter to fill the tank when the needle gets around the half full mark. Not because gas stations are that few and far between but just in case you get stranded somewhere during a sudden snowstorm. Having enough fuel to keep your car warm can make a difference. Just make sure to take precautions to prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning. IF you don't know what they are check with your local fire department to learn how. Also it is a good idea to carry a "survival kit" when traveling. An empty coffee can with a box of matches, a BIC lighter, a few chocolate candy bars, several candles, emergency flares, a small AM/FM radio, flashlight etc. Another empty can to use as a Urinal, a couple warm blankets and a gallon jug with drinking water. Those are the basics. Don't forget the most important survival tool IMHO a good folding knife. My favorite is a BUCK.

Don't believe everything you hear about Western Kansas. If you keep your eyes open there are a lot of beautiful sights to be seen, even on I-70.

Have a safe trip,
GL2

Originally Posted by KevK

That is good advice- except for the last sentence. Western Kansas is what you want to drive through at NIGHT because you won't miss seeing anything! Once you his Colorado then the scenery gets better.

His 'last sentence' was "Have a safe trip".

I am from eastern Kansas but find western Kansas to be very appealing.

In eastern Kansas, space is at a premium. No so in western Kansas; there is an abundance of it.

The difference between the start of a drive from western Kansas and it's ending in greater Kansas City couldn't be more stark. When you start the drive, you see land and little else. When you finish, you can't see any land for all the roofs. Looking at human congestion typified by the sight of an ocean of roofs is not something that I find appealing.