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Trip and Lisa 3 weeks ago.
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planning a trip from victoria to denver , sems to be 2 main routes, i90 through Spokane,idaho,utah Colorado, or 190 to ellensburgh then northeast Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, (i84 &i82) pulling a 30ft 5th wheel. either route better (less steep grades) than the other? thanks for any suggestions.
OK,this is the 2nd time I am writing this and had it dammed near done too,GRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr.Had to be my computer because I am near perfect.
OK,I have traveled these routes professionally many,many times over the years with everything from campers to 2 car loaded trailers and a dually to my trusty ole Pete pulling a “reefer trailer” hauling produce so let me stick my 2 cents worth in here on both routes and tell you which I would prefer and we have a 31 footer ourselves.
I-90 over to I-82 is a good route with nothing exciting and I-82 is also good but you will have some ups and downs as you drop to the Columbia River.Then you’ll get on I-84 with nothing until you get just east of Pendleton,Or. and Cabbage Patch Hill and that is a good climb and I mean a good climb but it’s a breeze once you get to the top and no major drop on the other side.
So I run I-84 to I-86 over a short ways to I-15 and south to US HWY 30 and east.There will be a Pilot/Flying J there at the 15/30 exit for you with plenty of RV parking and then east a short ways is a campground with hot springs on your right.US HWY 30 is a great 2 lane road and cuts off alot of time.Goes thru some nice small towns and has one hill on it,nothing major at all and I always come down it easy in a lower gear no issues and home free to I-80 and then east on 80 over to Laramie,WY and then you can either go south on US HWY 287 down to Ft Collins,CO where the traffic builds and then bounce over to I-25 and head south to Denver,OR you can head east out of Laramie,WY over to I-25 and head south into Denver (my choice) that way.You will have one small pull just east of Laramie on 80 but no drop on the other side.
Now that was your first option and the way I would go as it saves time,money and BRAKES and motors.
Your other option as per your statement was as I concluded I-90 thru Spokane and thru Idaho and into Montana where you have a good pull and drop east of Missoula over to I-15 and south where there is nothing exciting until you get to the traffic of Salt Lake down into Provo where you get on US HWY 191 and nothing exciting there and down to I-80 and head east where again you have nothing exciting until you get to around east of Glenwood Springs,CO which is where you might want to stop and pee and take an anxiety pill,,,,or two because it’s about to get exciting.You will have several good pulls and drops including Eisenhower Pass which takes you above the tree line and is a good pull and drop each way and I think is the tallest of any mountain pass on an Interstate system in the USA.You will have several ups and downs all the way to Denver and then it seems to drop forever down into Denver,It’s a beautiful piece of road but it always seems to me I am spending so much time concentrating that I can’t enjoy it.So never my choice.I Have run US HWY 40 as well east and thru Steamboat Springs where you have a good pull east out of Steamboat and then again a good pull and drop prior to Denver so not my choice either.
It’s your choice my friend and I’m sure others will throw their 2 bits in and that’s great but from my experience,the first route is my choice.
OH,you can always go thru Spokane into Idaho and south on US HWY 95 thru Moscow and into Ontario,ID and grab 84 there and that has a very definate brake burning drop on it north of Moscow that will have you setting up in your seat saying “whoa mama”.
Hope I helped you just a little and let me know if I can help you further.
” Life is a glass of adventure,make sure you drink every last drop” Trip Ruoff
Hey Bill,I screwed up when I stated US HWY 191 out of Provo down to I-80 and east to Denver.I should have said I-70 not I-80.Sorry,I’m over 60 so it’s ok or so my Dr. tells me.
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