I-80 Versus I-70 Wyoming or Colorado

I would run 80, 70 the weather can change in the blink of an eye, like others said wind is the biggy on 80, honestly I won’t run that part of the country from October to May, it’s a lot less headache, but some companies will make you run it with 10 feet of snow on the ground.

 

I'm newer than you at this gig. Not been on I70 west of denver ever. But I've been on that stretch of 80 from 15 east. It's not that bad assuming no snow. Also very pretty in some parts.

 

Most megas don’t even give their drivers the option of going west on I-70 past Denver. It is Forbidden. Make sure you can before heading out.

I’ve got 10 years experience, 6 years OTR and only drove that I-70 stretch when it was a sure thing there would be no snow. It’s a beautiful run in the summertime.

 

I just hate all the skiers on the weekends on I 70. Sometimes it just gets to be stop and go traffic.

 

As someone who runs 70 on a regular basis, I can tell you there's already too many trucks on 70 who shouldn't be up there! I don't remember the last time I made a round without getting squeezed onto the shoulder at least once by drivers who can't corner without crossing the zipper.

STAY AWAY! DEATH AWAITS!


I mean it. Really!

 

Simple answer is it’s a crap shoot.

70- Amazon trailers smoking their brakes. I got stuck in 2018 at officers gulch when it was avalanching. The road is rough as hell. Chaining from MM176 to mm190 east bound is a regular thing. Colorado 511 is pretty good at giving road conditions.

80- is quicker, but the wind will get you. I gambled twice this year alone with 80. Got stuck for a few days and had to pull a rabbit out of my hat to make my deliveries. The second time I headed up the 29 to the 80 only to watch the Wyoming road condition site go Red, then hopped on the 76 to get back to the 70. Wasted a lot of my hours with my sight seeing. The Wyoming 511 app and the website are about as good as they come.

 

You're not missing anything. The only difference in pulling those passes and driving through Kansas is the Jake brake. When chain enforcement is in effect, expect to beat the crap out of your chains on pavement.

 

Agreed. I lived in Alma, Colorado, just on the other side of Hoosier Pass from Breckenridge when I drove for May back in the early 2000’s. I was always taking 70 to the Frisco/Silverthorne exit and take route 9, or if I was coming from Grand Junction, I’d take route 24, and head towards Buena Vista then 285 to Fairplay. Sometimes I’d take route 285 from Denver, but not often.
The scenery is amazing, for sure! I miss it, a lot, especially now that I’m back in the North East.

 

Pick your poison.

I'll default to I80 where possible. It can be faster. But if the weather looks bad, I'll take I70 if it looks better. Not that it guarantees me a safer time, that's just what I do.

I70 you will have to chain up a lot. I've had to do it twice so far on that stretch. It's an experience. Maybe you'll get to see someone out there in sweat shorts trying to throw chains. Lol

 

WYOROADS helps alot