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Is I-80W or I-70W more scenic?

S

Sukhoi

Elite Member
I realize I-70W across Kansas is going to be the most boring 6 hours of my life until I get near Denver and the foothills start. If I take I-80W across Nebraska and get onto I-76 for the drive into Denver am I going to see any good scenery on I-80W? Or is all of that farther west than the I-76 split?
 
80 for sure

70/kansas sucks bawls , avoid 70 anytime you possible can, 70 across missouri (between st louis and KC ) is total crap, mostly 2 lane and crowded during the day , nothing to see but big semi trucks
 
I-80 sucks until you get west of Omaha, then you pick up the Platte and it is better. When are you going? I-80 gets shutdown fairly often for blizzards. If you take I-80 you can hit Cabelas and see the Great Mountain of Dead Stuff, very moving.
 
I-80 is a hellishly boring drive through Iowa and Nebraska. 1000 miles of fields and farm land... boring stuff.

The ride is pretty cool through Utah, though, where you get the see some cool mountains and the salt flats. The drive through Nevada and most of Wyoming is boring, too... both are barren wastelands with 400 miles of sagebrush each. The Sierra Nevada mountains in California are really cool, though. I once drove through them in June, and it was snowing up there!
 
Oh I'll be going in late May so I'm not worried about blizzards. 🙂 This is part of a big looping roadtrip.

dartworth did you do it alone? If so, any issues with road hypnosis?

What state is Cabelas in, ironwing?

I figured Utah would be fun, but I didn't realize Wyoming isn't. When I-80 crosses the Rockies does it go through a real mountainous region, or is it rather tame?
 
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Oh I'll be going in late May so I'm not worried about blizzards. 🙂 This is part of a big looping roadtrip.

dartworth did you do it alone? If so, any issues with road hypnosis?

What state is Cabelas in, ironwing?

I figured Utah would be fun, but I didn't realize Wyoming isn't. When I-80 crosses the Rockies does it go through a real mountainous region, or is it rather tame?
Click to expand...

It seems to slowly creep upward, starting in western Nebraska. Basically... the endless grass fields gradually subside, and the endless fields of sagebrush and rocks begin. Make sure to bring your iPod or some CD's, too, because you'll be lucky to get 2 or 3 radio stations out there. There are some mountainous sections, but that nothing as dramatic or cool looking as Utah or California.
 
Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Oh I'll be going in late May so I'm not worried about blizzards. 🙂 This is part of a big looping roadtrip.

dartworth did you do it alone? If so, any issues with road hypnosis?

What state is Cabelas in, ironwing?

I figured Utah would be fun, but I didn't realize Wyoming isn't. When I-80 crosses the Rockies does it go through a real mountainous region, or is it rather tame?
Click to expand...

It seems to slowly creep upward, starting in western Nebraska. Basically... the endless grass fields gradually subside, and the endless fields of sagebrush and rocks begin. Make sure to bring your iPod or some CD's, too, because you'll be lucky to get 2 or 3 radio stations out there. There are some mountainous sections, but that nothing as dramatic or cool looking as Utah or California.
Click to expand...

Hmm, alright then I have a different idea. My original plan was to stop in Denver (relatives there), take I-25N, catch I-80W again, and spend the night in SLC. Would it be much more scenic and fun to take I-70W from Denver, and then I-15N to SLC? It's only 100 miles farther.

Oh and is SLC to San Francisco too far to do in a day? It's 730 miles so at 80 MPH it's only 9:15. I could try to drive past SLC to stay for the night but it's not looking like there are really going to be any hotels until I get to West Wendover.
 
If you decide to go I-70, I-15 to SLC then be sure to stop at Arches National Park. It would a shame to miss it. Also buy copies of Roadside Geology of Colorado and Roadside Geology of Utah before you head out. Also, consider taking US 191 through Price and Utah 6 to Provo instead of I-15.

If you decide to take I-80 across Wyoming you might want to head south from Evanston, WY on 150 and take the loop over the Uintas, spectactular scenery.

If you end up near Reno for the night the sidetrip up to Pyramid Lake is neat.
 
Originally posted by: ironwing
If you decide to go I-70, I-15 to SLC then be sure to stop at Arches National Park. It would a shame to miss it. Also buy copies of Roadside Geology of Colorado and Roadside Geology of Utah before you head out. Also, consider taking US 191 through Price and Utah 6 to Provo instead of I-15.

If you decide to take I-80 across Wyoming you might want to head south from Evanston, WY on 150 and take the loop over the Uintas, spectactular scenery.

If you end up near Reno for the night the sidetrip up to Pyramid Lake is neat.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks for the tips. What exactly are the US routes (non-interstates) out in that area like? Decent quality blacktop? And is the traffic volume low enough that I'm not going to be stuck behind Sunday drivers for extended periods of time without passing zones?
 
US 191 is a fast road but Hy 6 is a windy mountain road. Utah drivers are likely to blow your eastern doors off. One note about driving in Utah: when a large truck would like to pass on a two lane road it will pull out and drive straight down the center line. My advice is to move over and let them.

Hy 150 is a windy mountain road.
 
Definitely 80. 70 takes you through KC.

There is nothing to see in Kansas coming from someone that lives in Kansas.
 
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