FWIW. coming from someone who has traveled back and forth for racing in CO the past 12 years...
Your QUICKEST route (not shown) will be through Kayenta, Banning, Bluff etc in Utah and Moab then picking up 70 east. From here pulling a trailer it's a 9-9.5hr trip to Grand Junction. (from Tempe)
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=TCE+P ... ,5,6,7&z=9
Consider the cut off at MOAB to the right that follows the CO River it's a great drive and meets up with 70 again to the NE. (a bit unlabled but you can find your way and see the highway)
For a longer and more scenic route I strongly urge you to consider Holbrook, to Gallup, to Farmington, over to Chama and north from there. The drive in norther NM is very nice and the Chama area is beautiful. (be sure to eat at the High Country in Chama and check out the train) this dive (from my shop w/trailer) can be done in 8hrs making Chama an exceptional place for food and the night. Keep driving? Ok, make it to Buena Vista or go all the way.
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=TCE+P ... ia=1,2&z=8[/code]
Be sure to use the cut off here: ZOOM IN and look for the road NAVAHO 36
at the billboards just before you get to Shiprock. If not...you'll lose an hour in Shiprock.
***The above link does not show N36, it has you going through Shiprock, avoid this if possible!
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Gallu ... via=1&z=10
Of the above listed my thoughts:
2 is nice and you can find/use the N36 cut off to your benefit also. Beware that Wolfcreek pass tends to have heavy tourist traffic and construction nearly every summer.
5 is also very nice but expect delays in and around Durango as well as slow going over 550. Limited (safe) passing and tourists again. A great drive however if you've never been. Spend the night in Ouray at the old hotel just off the main drag- big white place. Get the front room with the bath tub in the middle of the floor! (forget name, no pets either)
All that four corners stuff doesn't do it for me, not a lot to see in the middle of nowhere. Some of the offshoots once into CO are nice too but 6 for example is way long!!
I feel like a tour guide but I really have been many ways here!
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:16 pm
.Dragonflyer