Good place to park for a 34 in Denver or Vail?

Johnson's corner got bought by Petro/TA. it's now a Petro. The restaurant has gone downhill. They are (slowly) building a Love's one exit south of Johnson's Corner. Also there is truck parking/small truck stops at exit 240 (longmont) on I25 further south of johnson's Corner (10/15 miles). Gets VERY full at night, but during day spots are open.

There's a new Love's in Brush (out by the weigh station on I76, about an hour out from Denver). There's a new loves in Burlington (2.5 hours from Denver) on I70 east of town. both of which are pretty non-crowded. There's also a newish Love's in Hudson on I76 (maybe 20 minutes from commerce City. hwy 52 and I76) it's much busier than it used to be with the oil boom back up again.

Sapp Brothers if you get a spot

The TA on Quebec is ALWAYS packed, same with the Flying J on airport. ALWAYS. (and the Flying J is nasty) The Loves 15 minutes east of town in Bennett actually gets spots middle of the day. There is 2 small independent truck stops just east of town in about Watkins (I70 east), they tend to have spaces middle of the day. One is a Tomahawk and the other (S side of the road, want to say exit 299, but that's a swag) is just a gas station with a decent amount of parking.

the TA on the west side of town (Wheat Ridge, Ward Rd Exit on I70) actually sometimes has spots middle of the day, although rarely on weekends. Lots of easily walkable stuff from that location though. They have a LOT of reserved/paid spots if that is your thing.

There's actually a really nice pull off (not really a rest area i want to say they call it a senic area) right before you get to the construction as you are leaving Avon/Beaver Creek and right before the Wolcott exit. it's by a lake, got a couple nice porta potties, there's nowhere to eat or go though, not sure i would want to take a 34 there, but a 10 is nice. it's a HARD right, start slowing beforehand.

how far west do you want to/can get to? Is Vail the very limit?????? Cuz if you can go further west, there are some other opportunities.

Gimme some more specifics I can give you even better ideas.

 

You should stay in Denver then. cuz there really isn't anything but a few small stops heading west until you hit Grand Junction. and that's 4.5 to 5 hours west of Denver.

if you just need to drop the truck, if you go EAST of the flying J on airport, south of the freeway. that's all industrial land in there, all the way to Tower. there's lots of trucks and trailers parked on the street there. they aren't going to notice one more. no bathroom, no showers. no food either.

if you go to Tower Road (1 more exit east of the Flying J) and go north and then make an immediate right turn (east), that goes into another large long industrial area, lots of warehouses, in there. no one will bother you there either. no bathrooms, no showers though. There's a walmart if you went left (west) instead of right(east) and they used to allow overnight truck parking. dunno about 34's though. dunno if still allowed either.

Where are you coming from? East/north/south?

 

that rest area is 5 mile east of Vail. Sometimes it's hard to sleep there, not enough oxygen in the air..

 

There is still a bit of sprawl. Check Google Maps for undeveloped commercial areas.

Just a a bunch of empty streets with empty fields.

 

i always just go 80 to 15 if im going that way. havent lost anything out that way.

 

yea for 3 smart cars, yes you wake up by the river with clean air.

 

weekend traffic in them hills is packed, seems like all them sitting in traffic do the same in the hills on weekends.

 

I hate staying near Denver, especially on a weekend. If I have to go there I stay either north of the city at the state line I-25 and I-80, or south in Colorado City at Obie's Filling Station. Great BBQ and bar, and a market for anything else you need including a bathroom.