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Congrats on the move. We always enjoyed visiting Boise and considered it one of the west's best kept secrets. I wouldn't hesitate to run the interstate as the plows do a good job keeping the roads clear. If you must, 666 is an absolutely boring drive during the day and only the excitement comes from the aforementioned drunk drivers at night. I would take 550 through durango, stopping at serious texas bbq for some smoked trukey while there
I'll suggest the route we drove to Idaho last fall. Go north on I-25 in ABQ to 550 (exit 242, 16-17 miles). Go left at the exit and you're on 550. After about 4-5 miles you'll be through Bernalillo and the speed limit is back up to 55, and then to 70 2-3 miles after that. There's not a lot of traffic after that, just be sure to drop your speed as marked in San Ysidro and Cuba.
Take 550 to Bloomfield and go west on 64 to Shiprock, where you then go north on 491 through Cortez into Utah and Monticello. There were very few other vehicles from Shiprock north until near Cortez. Take 191 to I-70. We exiited at 191 and went through Price, west on 6 and caught I-15 at Spanish Fork, and got into Orem in time for dinner. You can also take I-70 to I-15, or exit at Salina and take 89 and 28 to connect further north.
To that, I will add that bringing your music or having satellite radio is a plus for the trip.
Like you, I would avoid Wyoming until later in April.
Soldier summit on 6 can be just as sketchy in the winter as wyoming interstates. You do get go right through Moab beforehand.
Bonus
Quote:
Originally Posted by jiminnm
Take 191 to I-70. We exiited at 191 and went through Price, west on 6 and caught I-15 at Spanish Fork, and got into Orem in time for dinner. You can also take I-70 to I-15, or exit at Salina and take 89 and 28 to connect further north.
To that, I will add that bringing your music or having satellite radio is a plus for the trip.
Like you, I would avoid Wyoming until later in April.
One thing I forgot to add, I'll be in a 20-ft U-Haul and towing my car. That's probably why I'm stressing so much about this trip...
I remember those days. Good times!
If it were me, i'd still do the interstate route. I lived in northern utah for almost seven years and traveled to ID and WY in the winters without issues. Besides, there are a ton of hills on the backroads which totally brings teh suck in a underpowered, overloaded uhaul wheezing down the road at a mile above sea level. Traffic will hate you.
I've read a lot of things about driving 491 in this forum (use to be hwy 666)
You see the deal is that I'm looking to relocate to Boise,ID from Tallahassee,FL in the next couple of weeks,
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevezeva
One thing I forgot to add, I'll be in a 20-ft U-Haul and towing my car. That's probably why I'm stressing so much about this trip...
Quote:
Originally Posted by atxzj
If it were me, i'd still do the interstate route.
A 20-ft U-Haul and towing a car, I agree with atxzj, I would stay on the Interstates... Hiway 491 would not be my major concern, the weather would be... At a minimum it is a 2,400 mile drive.
Steve, around 10 years ago we drove from north Alabama to Yellowstone. We went through Durango because we wanted to see Mesa Verde National Park, up 491 to 191 to see Arches National Park, and then headed west on I-70 a little ways. Then we set off north on Hwy 6 to 191. That road was pretty desolate. It was a long time before we came to a town. Then north to on I-16 to Salt Lake City and east and then north to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.
This was in June.
No weather trouble at all on the trip.
We came back via the northern route, through North Dakota down to Kansas City, Memphis and back.
Enjoy the ride!
I'll suggest the route we drove to Idaho last fall. Go north on I-25 in ABQ to 550 (exit 242, 16-17 miles). Go left at the exit and you're on 550. After about 4-5 miles you'll be through Bernalillo and the speed limit is back up to 55, and then to 70 2-3 miles after that. There's not a lot of traffic after that, just be sure to drop your speed as marked in San Ysidro and Cuba.
Take 550 to Bloomfield and go west on 64 to Shiprock, where you then go north on 491 through Cortez into Utah and Monticello. There were very few other vehicles from Shiprock north until near Cortez. Take 191 to I-70. We exiited at 191 and went through Price, west on 6 and caught I-15 at Spanish Fork, and got into Orem in time for dinner. You can also take I-70 to I-15, or exit at Salina and take 89 and 28 to connect further north.
To that, I will add that bringing your music or having satellite radio is a plus for the trip.
Like you, I would avoid Wyoming until later in April.
Jim has got it right here. A couple quick notes:
As Jim said here, watch your speed. When I've left Albuquerque after visiting friends, more often than not there has been the NM State Patrol watching the cars in both San Ysidro and Cuba.
Same thing in Utah, actually especially so in Utah. In fact, I was visiting friends west of Salt Lake City and just got back yesterday. Highway 6 has gotten a little better involving one and sometimes two mile long passing lanes, this road sees more truck traffic than one would expect. Watch that speed in Price and in Helper. Also the Utah Port of Entry has a M-F only scale house for trucks and it's kind of a tricky entrance and exit for the commercial haulers. It's a pretty drive through the Wasatch mountains but do watch out for deer, you'll see a fair amount of them for sure. Soldier's Summit is a pretty easy climb at 7834 ft. and it does snow up there! The last 20 miles or so the road is a full 4 laner to I-15. Provo is ten miles north of the turnoff.
Regarding those tunes? Yep! I usually keep it on "Big Oldies 98" when I leave Albuquerque and its signal booms, you can still pick it up south of Bloomfield. After that choices are limited with your classic country and rock variety radio stations in Farmington and Cortez both.
Caution always applies when traveling remote roads in the dark, NM or any other place. Have some thoughts beforehand about what you are going to do if you have a breakdown or other problems, remember the obvious problem of late night drinkers, different challenges you may encounter if you breakdown at night on the res, and more.. Personally, I would travel interstates at night, but would not feel comfortable out in the remote places on the secluded 2 lanes. NM is a concealed carry state, so be sure to have all your paperwork with you if you do roam at night "packing"...
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