Nebraska to Vegas Heavy: I-70 or I-80

I figure a few hours faster running I-80 and 50-70 gallons less fuel. Running I-70 you climb over two 11,000 foot passes and more not as high in Colorado. Plus lots of zones with slow speed limits and curves with little available truck parking. Then you will have several more passes in Utah getting through the Grand Staircase of the Escalante. Besides all that you have to deal with getting through Denver.

By comparison I-80 has lower passes, wide open speed limits, and only SLC to deal with. To me it's a no brainer.

 

I've not actually timed it but being heavy and considering terrain and mileage difference, I'd say it may about be a push either way. Consider Denver traffic but better scenery (IMO) across 70, plus something different.

Looks like +50 miles via 80

 

If you time it right the traffic through Salt Lake City is minimal.
It's much more difficult to find a time when Denver traffic is light, unless very late at night.

On the other hand, traffic through Denver only lasts for 10 miles or so. Get caught at the wrong time on that route through the Salt Lake area and it could mean hours of delay.
I-80 to I-15 south, and then nearly 100 miles of densely populated areas...

 

Morehouse runs me thru Denver and out 70 thru Utah ..totally ignorant in my opinion. ...and accident potential high .
H@m also routes that way .
Desk jockeys that don't know squat about what a driver does .

 

Back in the day..... to put in perspective how harsh 70 is on a truck............JBHunt & SRT would fire you for being on 70 west of Denver, even in the summer time!!!!!!!!!!

It is that harsh on the engine, not to mention your brakes.

Like Lepton said, it's a no brainer.

You couldn't pay me enough to go over that F road. Did it twice in my career, once as a trainee, once with my own truck, a 505HP / 13 speed Century at the time, 78K pounds, had to go into 5th to get up the hill.

F that.

Never again.

 

70 is not bad this time of year. 80 you can fly and I mean fly. 70 is beautiful. Enjoy.


Be Safe Out There


Captain Dave

 

Along with wear on the truck and trailer .
Fat boys that sit ata desk and go home at 5 .