Need help from someone who knows the roads well.

I17
pheonix to flagstaff

yup that has my vote

 

longest climb I80 west up Sherman 29 miles about 4,000 feet up to 8600.

Highest I70 west of Denver about 12,000 feet.

 

Donner is 40 something miles, also cabbage is nothing to #### with it OR.

 

Vail Pass. I dont mind it because the area is absolutely beautiful. 70, west of Denver is mindblowing all the way to Richmond, Utah.

I dont mind Cabbage and Donner or Snohomish(sp?),I-17, or any of the other high pass roads. IMO, the most grueling, most boring, the most "get ready to blow your engine up" stretch of road is I-68. Not as high, not as steep, not beautiful at all, just a hard grueling 3 hour drive. Hate it with passion.

 

Actually, Vail Pass is only 10,666 ft., to get the 12,000 (11,990) you would have to break off onto US 6 and travel over Loveland Pass. That is the way 14 ft. trailers must go, as the tunnel (Eisenhower Tunnel) only allows 13'6" units. The tunnel entrance (high side) is 11,158 FT.

This would be the highest climb on Interstate, and the climb starts about Rifle (actually just west of Rifle, MP 87, and the tunnel is mp 216) so probably the longest at about 130 miles, but then again it is still up and down into Denver!

 

But I-80 Donner is clost to the old Donner. Look to your left sometime for that little 2-lane road that was the original Donner.....Not that was a real pain in the arse

 

I love I-68. It could get a little more senic though. As for "get ready to blow up your engine"...yeah right, buy a motor with some balls and you won't have a problem. I love running this stretch and passing all the "fleet" trucks and knowing that I'm at least 10,000 lbs. heavier.

 

Your truck has never met a fuel stop it didnt love(or need) lol, nice stats though, How big is the T.V.?

 

Well, actually, Loveland pass is 11,922 feet......ok...ok...no more smart A&& comments.

About that I70 route west of Denver......I will be coming from the east on 76 through Denver and then I70. I know that there are going to be some ups and downs but if I am understanding you correctly, it mostly will be down from Denver west, or least down from Loveland pass?

I will have a stop to make in Grand Junction and from there I have to head to Missoula, MT. Is the best option to head west to I-15 and take that north through Salt Lake City or is there a short cut?

Was not really looking forward to the drive through the mountains but I have seen some outstanding photos and now am really excited thinking I am in for one heck of a scenic drive.

Thanks