What's driving like on I-80 across Wyoming? (Cheyenne, Laramie: appointed, dangerous)

[erin83]

This summer I'm making a round-trip from Cedar City, Utah to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and want to try an alternate route from the one I took last summer.

Last time I took I-29 south from Sioux Falls into Nebraska, I-80 east across Nebraska then cut over to I-76 to Denver, then I-70 west into Utah.

My problem with this route is that it goes directly through the Rockies, making for some hairy-scary mountain and tunnel driving for someone who's used to flat prairies.

So this time I'm contemplating taking I-80, west to east, all the way through Wyoming. My question is this: will that take me through mountains and/or tunnels? If so, where? And how bad is it (compared to driving over the Rockies near Denver)?

What's the traffic like on I-80 in late July?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[WyoMama]

Welllll, you won't be disappointed for straight, steady climbing & dropping hills but very few mountains. Is boring, windy as heck & I-80 as more accidents for the number of vehicles than any other interstate in USA because goes coast to coast. A LOT of semis. I would take I-70 thru the mtns ANY day for beauty. If you like rock formations & a lot of grass I-80 is your route. It is more direct but it really can be terribly busy with semis & wind. Even tho I'd rather stay in Wyo...that's my thoughts on it. Been over both a dozen times each.

[ElkHunter]

There is a tunnel down by Green River, but it's very short. 10-15 seconds and your through.

Wind can be a problem, but I've driven it more times with no wind then I have with wind. Just luck of the draw I guess.

Like mentioned, lots of Semi traffic. It is "The" East West route for trucking.

Lot's of distance between towns. Depending on what you like for scenery, I think it's beautiful.

It's a straight shot with few hills. One big mountain pass between Cheyenne and Laramie, but it's a slow ramp up going West and then drop down quickly before Laramie.

[GregW]

Unless I was in a hurry I would avoid I-80 like the plague. I would preffer to take the old Federal Rt 20. But I like mountain road driving so to each his own.

[ElkHunter]

Where does old federal 20 run?

[erin83]

Thanks so much for your quick and honest replies. It sounds like I-80 has its good and bad points. For as much as I dislike windy mountain driving, I dislike battling the interstate with semi trucks even more, so probably will end up taking the same route I did last year.

[Sockeye]

Be sure to have your camera handy when you get to Wamsutter!

[WyoMama]

Originally Posted by Sockeye

Be sure to have your camera handy when you get to Wamsutter!

You ARE joking, right???? I can't remember anything of interest there - or are there some cool rock formations there. I do love the rock formations.

Best part of I-70 over I-80 is that you have oftentimes 3-4 lanes of traffic each way to avoid the semis. You never have more than a total of 4-lanes (2 each way). So if is windy the semi traffic can be somewhat dangerous depending upon what you are driving as they can suck you towards them so much and shoot you out when you break that wind they have at their nose. In the wind, that can really be wicked. Take plenty of water with you BECAUSE the towns are quite far apart...

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by WyoMama

Take plenty of water with you BECAUSE the towns are quite far apart...

Don't forget. So are the bathrooms.

[imbobbbb]

Originally Posted by Sockeye

Be sure to have your camera handy when you get to Wamsutter!

now thats FUNNY!!