Is the drive from Montrose to Manitou Springs "scary?" (Denver: construction, live)

[HereinVA]

Today I drove from Cortez to Montrose and I found the 145 between Cortez and Placerville to be "scary" with the curves, height, etc.

In a few days I need to drive to Manitou Springs (from Montrose.) Is there a less "scary" route I should take?
Thank you for any advice!

[Mike from back east]

I've driven it a few times and it is not scary at all. Just take Rte 50 and go with the flow. Rte 50 to Penrose then Rte 115-North to Colorado Springs then Rte 24-West to Manitou. Easy drive. Only pass is Monarch Pass and it's an easy one.

PS: Lived in Chantilly, Va for 31 years.

[StarrySkiesAbove]

Any way you go in Colorado you’ll have to go over mountain passes and the Continental Divide to get from the Western Slope to the Front Range. The most direct route is highway 50, you will have to go over Monarch Pass and it is a high pass over the Continental divide. The highway is in good shape though, it’s not excessively twisting. There are drops offs in some sections however the lanes are plenty wide; not narrow like 550 between Ouray and Silverton. The portion of 50 between Salida and Cañon City goes through canyons along the Arkansas river. It’s quite beautiful. When you get to Penrose I would exit and take highway 115 to Colorado Springs, there is no need to take 50 all the way to Pueblo and back track on I-25 all the way to the Springs.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

What part of 145 did you find scary?

I have a bad fear of heights, and I find Monarch Pass to be scary. There are some drop offs where there is no guard rail. I’m fine on the rest of highway 50 from Montrose to Monarch, but my husband has to drive over the pass. Nothing scary about the drive once I get over the pass.

If you really are worried, then the least scary way to get from Montrose to Manitou would be to go up to I-70 and go east to I-25 and then south. Much much longer way than highway 50, though.

[HereinVA]

Thank you everyone! I think I might do that I-70 to I-25 route...it looks to be about 2 hours longer but it might be worth it in my case. I have a huge fear of heights and I guess I just didn't realize how many roads would be high and with no guard rails.

[StarrySkiesAbove]

If time is not an issue for you, that is a beautiful drive, I love Glenwood Canyon. I-70 through the canyon is a marvel of engineering and Eisenhower Tunnel as well (you go through the Continental Divide instead of over it )

Be prepared for much heavier traffic and it’s best if you can avoid weekend travel, particularly Sunday.

[COcheesehead]

You have to cross the Continental Divide no matter what. It’s high, there is no avoiding it. I would take the short route over Monarch. It’s less crazy than Vail Pass and up to the Eisenhower tunnel. There is also 8 miles of construction in Glenwood Canyon.

[Arrby]

Originally Posted by COcheesehead

You have to cross the Continental Divide no matter what. It’s high, there is no avoiding it. I would take the short route over Monarch. It’s less crazy than Vail Pass and up to the Eisenhower tunnel.

Agreed. I-70 has as many "difficult" sections as US 50, if not more, and has the additional complication of heavy truck and auto traffic. And with the current construction south of Castle Rock, I-25 absolutely scares me.

[Dogmama50]

I find Monarch pass far less scary than Denver traffic. You may think it's only an extra 2 hours but if you happen to hit it at the wrong time it can easily double.

[HereinVA]

Thanks all!
We have ALL day long to drive to Manitou Springs. It will be on Thursday (tomorrow.) I was in the Denver area back in late January and went to Colorado Springs (but I was not the one driving, so I didn't pay as much attention to the traffic/construction along I 25.)