I-70 West of Denver in September - 26' motorhome

[NoviBill]

For those who travel in the fall: How is I-70 west from Denver in mid September? Do you carry chains? Have you had to use them?


Looking at info, I don't think I am required to carry chains, but cannot driver if the signs say they are required.

https://www.codot.gov/travel/colorado-chain-law


Thank you

[ejw7213]

You are required to carry chains after Sept 1st. Probably will not need them but if bad weather comes early and you get stuck, the fines and towing are very expensive.

[HangDiver]

Thats a beautiful time of year to travel west on I-70 through CO. Stay informed re: weather but I wouldn't hesitate to make that trip in September.

Be advised that I-70 will have lane closures (slow downs) due to road construction. Also, the stretch of highway starting at about 10 miles west of New Castle to Parachute seems to have an abundant number of pot holes.

[NoviBill]

Originally Posted by HangDiver

Thats a beautiful time of year to travel west on I-70 through CO. Stay informed re: weather but I wouldn't hesitate to make that trip in September.

Be advised that I-70 will have lane closures (slow downs) due to road construction. Also, the stretch of highway starting at about 10 miles west of New Castle to Parachute seems to have an abundant number of pot holes.

Thanks! Colorado has nothing on Michigan as far as potholes, ours rival the Great Lakes.

[ColoGlamper]

Originally Posted by NoviBill

For those who travel in the fall: How is I-70 west from Denver in mid September? Do you carry chains? Have you had to use them?


Looking at info, I don't think I am required to carry chains, but cannot driver if the signs say they are required.

https://www.codot.gov/travel/colorado-chain-law


Thank you

Based on the link you provided, the Sept to May chain law is for commercial vehicles. Private vehicles can have a chain requirement initiated based on conditions. If you have all-wheel or 4-wheel drive you just need to have good tread depth, otherwise snow/mud tires with good tread. In September, weather is usually good, but on occasion we've had the snow come early. I wouldn't avoid coming just because you don't have chains. I've lived here for 50 years and never owed a set.

[sherman12]

If you are traveling from Michigan and heading to Denver along I-70 and then continuing along I-70 past Denver be warned that from the Kansas border to the Denver area, or I guess they call it the Eastern Slope, that section of highway is the absolute worst section of what some call a road I have ever traveled in 16 years of RV'ing. Take I-80 West to I-25 South and drop down to I-70. Apparently, the state of Colorado spends all of its federal highway dollars on the Western Slope roads where you'll find the high-end ski resorts and tony communities.

[NoviBill]

We will be traveling from Michigan, probably I-80 and drop down.

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by NoviBill

We will be traveling from Michigan, probably I-80 and drop down.

I-76 westbound has sections that are a little rough. About 10 miles west of Sterling the right lane will rattle the fillings out of your teeth for several miles. The left lane is not as bad.

[cub22908]

Originally Posted by HangDiver

I-76 westbound has sections that are a little rough. About 10 miles west of Sterling the right lane will rattle the fillings out of your teeth for several miles. The left lane is not as bad.

A little rough? I just traveled I76 from I80 to Denver a few weeks ago. OMG I can't believe I still have a functional motorhome! Next time I will try I80 to I25 as a previous poster recommended

[ColoGlamper]

Originally Posted by NoviBill

We will be traveling from Michigan, probably I-80 and drop down.

Whether you take I76 or I80/I25 to I70, Colorado highways suck, period. Just beware that I80/I25 route adds 50 miles and about an hour to your travels. My personal opinion would be to go direct and take I76 since it ends by merging into I70.

Another tip, based on day and time of day, you might want to consider taking Hwy58 to US6 towards Idaho Spring to avoid the construction on Floyd Hill segment of I70. 2 weeks ago I was on I70 thru there on a Friday afternoon and it took over an hour to go 9 miles (Genesee to Floyd Hill).

[cub22908]

Thanks for the info. I guess the solution is to get LiquidSprings before I go back

[sherman12]

And maybe wear a back brace. West of Denver the scenery is incredible and I especially like Glenwood Canyon.

[Denver Dan]

I recommend that if at all possible you not attempt to travel west out of Denver Friday through Sunday; the traffic into the high country is ridiculous. It gets worse when the ski slopes open up but it still sucks even during the low season.

[Sharon455]

I lived in Denver in the 80s. The day I moved away, May 14, 1980 I-70 was closed because of snow. We had to head north to 80 and then wait out blizzard conditions. My point is that the weather is a fickle and you should always be prepared.

[fanrgs]

Originally Posted by sherman12

If you are traveling from Michigan and heading to Denver along I-70 and then continuing along I-70 past Denver be warned that from the Kansas border to the Denver area, or I guess they call it the Eastern Slope, that section of highway is the absolute worst section of what some call a road I have ever traveled in 16 years of RV'ing. Take I-80 West to I-25 South and drop down to I-70. Apparently, the state of Colorado spends all of its federal highway dollars on the Western Slope roads where you'll find the high-end ski resorts and tony communities.

You know nothing about how or where Colorado DOT spends its money. Much of I-70 across the eastern plains was built in the early 1960s with rigid, concrete pavement over swelling soils. But few highway engineers in the 1960s knew that such a hazard as swelling/expansive soils even existed. So when those rigid concrete slabs began to crack and tilt, the Portland Cement Association became alarmed. In 1969, I attended only the second International Conference on Expansive Soils (first was in 1965), to discuss techniques used for construction on those soils in arid/semi-arid countries like western India, South Africa, Australia, Israel, and the western US. In 1974, I published the first maps showing areas of swelling soils in eastern Colorado. But all that was too late for I-70, which was completed to Denver in 1965.

Now, for 60 years, CDOT has been living with, and trying to maintain-repair-replace, that 200-mile section of highway that should never have been constructed of concrete, but with easily repaired, flexible asphalt. But they also have to take care of a few other minor hazards like plowing snow from October to May, clearing avalanches, repairing damage in Glenwood Canyon from a wildfire and the mudslides fostered by that fire, blasting potential rockfall hazards, and currently, making emergency repairs to 3 US 50 bridges across Blue Mesa Reservoir that were also built in the 1960s using a new steel alloy that welders didn't how to properly weld at that time!

[Stevejfy]

Beginning in mid September, you will encounter leaf peepers who want to view the changes aspens.

[fishingfool]

Will echo some of the previous comments - have lived on front range since 1989. First would avoid Friday-Sunday if at all possible - September colors start to change and I-70 gets very heavy traffic unless you travel off hours. Odds are you won't hit snow - but it can happen have had a couple of September snow storms down at front range - let alone up higher in passes. I don't carry chains but do have 4WD with snow rated tires (not all 4wd AT tires are snow rated), which meets CDOT regs - but still wouldn't want to trailer during snowstorm.

[sherman12]

But the road still sucks

[Saluda]

I will be traveling west on I-70, passing through Denver to Glenwood Springs on August 31st or September 1st.

[sherman12]

Enjoy the ride Saluda and hold on to the steering wheel. The scenery will be spectacular, especially going through Glenwood Canyon where they hung the highway off the sides of the mountains! Beautiful.