Denver to Durango Best Route? (Colorado Springs, Pueblo: school, restaurants, vacations)

[Murphy728]

We will be driving from Chicago to Durango going past Denver at the end of March. I know the weather is tricky that time if year. Any suggestions on the best route assuming bad weather?

[davebarnes]

"I've gone both ways , south on I-25 then west at Walsenburg. and also south via 285. 285 is the shortest route, mileage wise, and not longer, time wise, even though I-25 speeds are higher. The major reason is traffic in Colorado Springs. It's awful. and Denver traffic on I-25 is just as bad. By heading west on 285, you miss all that. and it's more scenic. One caveat: there are Interstate rest areas for the kids. on 285, you have to stop at gas stations and restaurants. Not that there's anything wrong with that. There is a rest area near South Fork on Hwy 160.

If you go down 285, it's best to cut over to Del Norte then on to Pagosa Springs. But if you go the I-25 route, an alternate , route is to cut south from Alamosa to Antonito and head to Pagosa Springs via Chama, NM (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUrl?from=ShowTopic&url=%2FTourism-g46978-Chama_New_Mexico-Vacations.html - broken link). To me, It's a mellow beautiful mountain drive, as opposed to the more dramatic Wolf Creek Pass on Hwy 160. And for travel from Alamosa to Pagosa Springs, I have not noticed a big time difference either way."


Best (fastest) way to drive from Denver to Durango - Durango Forum - TripAdvisor

[Murphy728]

Thanks for the info. I'll check out all the options.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by Murphy728

We will be driving from Chicago to Durango going past Denver at the end of March. I know the weather is tricky that time if year. Any suggestions on the best route assuming bad weather?

Yeah there's only one route. No matter which way you slice it you gotta go over Wolf Creek. That makes everything else irrelevant. Take I-25 or take 285, it doesn't make any difference weather-wise.

[Murphy728]

Ok thanks. Probably 285, it looks a bit more scenic..

[Luvs2Trvl]

I went to school in Durango and used to drive that way frequently, couple times I changed it up. I would just drive I-25 through Pueblo, Alamosa and over Wolf Creek. Wolf Creek has recently gotten some snow but overall has not had much this winter. However, you want to check the weather forecasts because Wolf Creek can get the most snowfall in the state and it is a very mountainous pass.

[chilaili]

I have done the drive on 285 in May and it is a spectacular drive. Mostly single-lane road so you can get stuck behind slower drivers but there are pull-out spots along the way. Good coffee can be had at the gas station just outside Buena Vista.

[AMB8301]

I do that drive way too often. I prefer I-25 over 285 just because 285 is mostly 2 lane the entire way and every single time I drive it I get stuck behind slow, slow drivers the whole trip. I have 4 kids so the less time in the car the better! It is a beautiful drive, you can't go wrong with either one.

[DenverLawGal]

Which school? I'm from there.

Originally Posted by Luvs2Trvl

I went to school in Durango and used to drive that way frequently, couple times I changed it up. I would just drive I-25 through Pueblo, Alamosa and over Wolf Creek. Wolf Creek has recently gotten some snow but overall has not had much this winter. However, you want to check the weather forecasts because Wolf Creek can get the most snowfall in the state and it is a very mountainous pass.

[Murphy728]

Good points about eing stuck behind slow drivers. We will also have 4 kids in the car with us, faster is better.. Thanks for the heads up..