Cedar City to Cheyenne - Which route? (Green River, Wheatland: safety, food)

[mandK]

Hi All,

The last leg of my upcoming road trip is Cedar City to Cheyenne. It looks like I have two choice for routes:

1. I-15 north into SLC then I-80 east into Cheyenne
2. I-70 east thru Grand Junction into Denver then I-25 north into Cheyenne

Mileage-wise, it's about the same for each route. I'm interested in which route is the best in terms of safety, fastest time, most rest stop areas (food and gas) and best weather conditions (mid-April). I also think the most heavily traveled route will also be best.

Has anyone traveled these routes? Any advice or recommendations?

Thanks!

MandK

[sunsprit]

It's "sixes".

The I-70 route will take you through many more "mountain passes", with steep grades up and down as you go through the mountains.

The I-80 route will take you through a number of basins with long grades up and then down into the next area, but going through some very windy areas.

The I-70 route will have you passing many more rest stops, little towns to stop in for relaxation/refresment, and a lot more tourist related activity. I-80 is rather barren for 60-100 mile stretches along the route between major towns.

The most significant factor will be the weather conditions. If it's clear on both routes, then you'll probably be happier on I-70 to have all the stops available. But if one route is getting heavy snowfall and the other isn't, then your choice is pretty clear. I'd leave the route choice to the last minute with updated weather reports.

Driving time, I find the I-80 route to be faster than the I-70 route for SLC to Cheyenne.

[mandK]

Thanks Sunsprit. I knew you would chime in :-)

I was planning on getting updates along the way regarding weather. I agree it's a last minute decision.

MandK

PS: It's "sixes" ???????

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by mandK

Thanks Sunsprit. I knew you would chime in :-)

I was planning on getting updates along the way regarding weather. I agree it's a last minute decision.

MandK

PS: It's "sixes" ???????

"six of one, half-dozen of the other"

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by sunsprit

It's "sixes".

The I-70 route will take you through many more "mountain passes", with steep grades up and down as you go through the mountains.

The I-80 route will take you through a number of basins with long grades up and then down into the next area, but going through some very windy areas.

The I-70 route will have you passing many more rest stops, little towns to stop in for relaxation/refresment, and a lot more tourist related activity. I-80 is rather barren for 60-100 mile stretches along the route between major towns.

The most significant factor will be the weather conditions. If it's clear on both routes, then you'll probably be happier on I-70 to have all the stops available. But if one route is getting heavy snowfall and the other isn't, then your choice is pretty clear. I'd leave the route choice to the last minute with updated weather reports.

Driving time, I find the I-80 route to be faster than the I-70 route for SLC to Cheyenne.

Sunsprit said it well. I agree completely with what was posted above. Having driven both routes several times, I would also suggest I-70 if the weather is reasonably decent. It is a gorgeous drive almost all the way to Denver. I-80 is also pretty, too, unless you don't like wide open spaces and desert scenery. I-80 also has very little diversity in scenery when compared to I-70.

On the other "leg" of your trip, your choices will be dictated by which route you take from west to east. If you take I-80, you'll be taking I-15 north to get there. Most of this drive is fairly scenic until you start approaching the population areas south of Salt Lake City. If you take I-70, you'll end up on I-25 north into Cheyenne, which is pretty much prairie for the entire trip, except the few times you travel through a town along the way. You do, however, have a pleasant view of the Rockies to the west as long as the weather is good.

From my perspective, other than the weather issues, I would say take I-70/I-25 if you have the time, or I-15/I-80 if time is of the essence.

Here's a markup of part of your original post:
Mileage-wise, it's about the same for each route. I'm interested in which route is the best in terms of safety (both are interstates and are reasonably safe), fastest time (usually I-80), most rest stop areas (food and gas) (more frequent on I-70, except the stretch between Richfield and Green River, UT - 110 miles, no gas or food stops) and best weather conditions (mid-April) (toss-up). I also think the most heavily traveled route will also be best (I-70).

[mandK]

Thanks JDavid. Weather permitting I'm now leaning with the I-70 route.

Would you say I can drive Cedar City to Cheyenne in 8-hours via the I-70/I-25 route?

Fom experience, after 8 hours of driving (maybe 10), I'm done for the day.


MandK

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by mandK

Thanks JDavid. Weather permitting I'm now leaning with the I-70 route.

Would you say I can drive Cedar City to Cheyenne in 8-hours via the I-70/I-25 route?

Fom experience, after 8 hours of driving (maybe 10), I'm done for the day.


MandK

I figure more like 10 to 11 hours depending on speed, weather conditions, and stops. When I travel from California to Wheatland, it usually takes a little over 20 hours total drive time. Cedar City's at about the 8 hour mark, so that leaves around 12 hours for the rest of the trip, depending on the route. Cheyenne's a little over an hour closer. Google maps shows the trip as being just under 10 hours, which is about right if you don't make any stops and traffic is good. I've sometimes hit heavy traffic just west of (and through) Denver, which has added 30 minutes to an hour of drive time.

[mandK]

got it. Thanks for all the great info.


MandK