I-80 Versus I-70 Wyoming or Colorado

Wyoming is easier, if it's open. I never take I-70 west of Denver in the winter. There are two easy 8500 foot passes in Wyoming. The I-70 route has two steep 10,500 foot passes. Just pay attention to wind warnings in Wyoming. That's a more frequent problem than snow.

 

I-80 is open now and the weather is good the next few days so I would take that if I were you.

 

I80 Wyoming any time it’s open over I70. Especially if you are pulling a tall trailer, so you don’t have to take the US6 Eisenhower Tunnel bypass. Avoid that when slick.

 

See What If It Snows thread for instructions.

 

80 all day. 70 is nice scenery, but a little more challenging between Denver and Grand Junction.

 

LMAO. "70 is challenging"? Have some of you ever been off the big roads?

 

If chain law is in effect on 70 then 80 is easier if not then 70 is easier. Although I think you'll see more wrecks on 80 regardless due to the ice & high winds so I believe it's probably more dangerous. I think most people would just answer 80 because they don't want to chain and I'm one of them but the frequent conditions on 70 are snowpack vs ice on 80 and traction on snowpack is a hell of alot more than traction on ice.

 

I prefer I-80 vs I-70. Wyoming will likely be windy and sometimes they warn the roads are "closed" to lightweight & high profile vehicles, meaning light & empty 18-wheelers and RV. The road isn't legally closed to those vehicles but you will be punished severely if you blow over driving where they "close" to lightweight trucks.

The mountains on I-80 in WY are steeper going East than going West. You can handle the steepest on I-80 as a rookie unless you decide to race. They cut the speed limits in bad weather.

Parleys Summit east of SLC on I-80 will be the hardest part of the trip. It's steep & curvy. Lots of drivers do it with just a few cuss words. You can too.