LA to Denver route help (and then slabbing to Chicago)

[bjorn240]

I'm taking a long Memorial day weekend to ride my R1200RT from LA to Chicago.  My plan to date is something like this:

 

Thursday after work:   LA - Ontario, CA

Friday:  Ontario - Flagstaff (via Prescott / Jerome / Sedona)

Saturday:  Flagstaff - Ridgway / Montrose, CO (via Four Corners, Durango, Silverton)

Sunday:  Ridgway - Denver (route TBD)

Monday:  Denver to somewhere in Iowa (slab)

Tuesday:  Iowa to Chicago (slab)

 

Questions for folks who know Colorado:

(1) On Saturday, better to take the route I have planned or is CO-145 better?

(2)  On Sunday, Hwy 50 through Gunnison and Poncha Springs to 285 or is there a better route (Hwy 92 between Sapinero and Hotchkiss to Co65 toward Grand Mesa?)

(3)  Obviously 133 would be the best way, but it's  closed north of Paonia.  I assume it is not possible/advisable to take the road north of Bowie to connect to 133 and continue toward Carbondale and I-70 on a R1200RT.  Since that is not an option on CoDOT's page, and there are no Google roadside pics, I am guessing that's not a smart RT route....

 

Thanks!

[BamaJohn]

Lived in Denver area 6 years and rode all around the state....based upon your timeline and distance, 50 to 285 to I-70 works in my opinion.  East of Denver, you're a "high-plains-drifter" with a long haul ahead...have a great trip!

[bjorn240]

Thanks.  Appreciate that!  Will stick with that plan. And yeah the 1000 miles between Denver and my house…. Ugh. Thank god for podcasts. 

[TEWKS]

On 5/20/2023 at 1:53 PM, bjorn240 said:

Corners, Durango, Silverton)

So if my sense of direction is on, you’ll be taking 550 North out of Durango. Great choice if you’ve never been, but 145 isn’t a bad option also. 
 

John be spot on with that East of Denver description. 
 

 

 

[bjorn240]

1 hour ago, TEWKS said:

So if my sense of direction is on, you’ll be taking 550 North out of Durango. Great choice if you’ve never been, but 145 isn’t a bad option also. 

 

Yes, 550 is the plan.  With a stop in Ouray to dip in the hot springs.  

[Rob Nowell]

7 hours ago, bjorn240 said:

Thanks.  Appreciate that!  Will stick with that plan. And yeah the 1000 miles between Denver and my house…. Ugh. Thank god for podcasts. 

at least it's not August!

[Twisties]

Personally,  I'd take the 92/65 option.

 

On 5/20/2023 at 11:53 AM, bjorn240 said:

(2)  On Sunday, Hwy 50 through Gunnison and Poncha Springs to 285 or is there a better route (Hwy 92 between Sapinero and Hotchkiss to Co65 toward Grand Mesa?)

 

[Twisties]

Check out the construction on US-50.  I heard someone had an hour delay recently.  There's a website.  It's right on your way.

 

[bjorn240]

Thanks, I'll check out to CODot website!  My dream is that they sort the temp bridge on 133 north of Paonia before the weekend, but since they only signed a contractor this week, I think that's going to be extremely unlikely...