Trip Chicago to Denver

[dmk]

I'm takin my 1150R to Colorado to ride in the mountains West of Denver and was wondering if any of you have any semi-interesting routes to Denver that is not too far off a direct route (I'm a little tight on time and want to spend as much as I can in the mountains) - thanks

[MikeCam]

Forgive me. I am trying not to laugh!

Seriously,


No, I can't.


Wait, let me catch my breath.

Okay.

Never mind, I got nothin'

[MikeCam]

Well, Lebanon, Kansas near the intersection of US Highway 36 and US 281, features the geographic center of the Continental US (less Alaska) as determined by smart guys many years ago. Wikipedia has an article that shows two or three centers, but this one has a monument, water, grass and a nice free camping spot. That's about 2/3 of the way there.

[Boxer]

Before you get to Denver, dip down to the south and connect with 50 west of Pueblo. Go across through Gunnison via Monrach Pass then head north on any route and back to Denver from the interstate. That ought to whet the appetite some.

Those other guys' suggestions were just jokes.

[MikeCam]

Phil,

There's only one of those other guys....

But yes, a joke.

DMK, best ideas will come from some Mid-westerners, not us ignorant southerners.

[Dr Grabow]

I've done Chicago to Denver dozens of times, with most routes you can think of. No matter how you slice it, going through Kansas or Nebraska isn't fun. This is not a knock on those states (I lived in Kansas for 5 years), but until you hit the Front Range it's all pretty much the same...

[iowabeakster]

I've got some ideas, but i need more info...would you like to see corn, beans, or hog confinements?

[ColumbiaBMW]

If you feel like coming down to St. Louis and then across Missouri to Kansas City, their are a couple of great highways that were actually just featured in the magazine Rider last month. I live 30 minutes away from the area they reported on, and the roads really are great. HW 94 from St. Louis, and then take HW 100 from Hermann to Linn, which is about 15 minutes away from the state capital Jefferson City. The area is filled with hills, bluffs, curves, and a lot of good wineries. But as for the rest of the trip....I'm not sure you have a lot of options through Kansas, but I'm doing the same trip this summer and I will have to just get on the slab and get through Kansas, and on to Boulder as quickly as possible.

[awagnon]

Go by way of the Black Hills either coming or going. Shouldn't be much out of the way.

[Ves]

If you're crunched on time... I would put it on a trailer... haul butt out there... and just skip the nomansland between here and there... then you'll be much fresher for the beautiful roads out there...

[toolinalong]

US 34 thru Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado is the best alternative for I-80 for a north route.

US 36 (a bit lower) thru Kansas is slower (lots of small towns) but fine. (watch out, no gas stations after you leave Kansas until you reach Byers, CO.

Further south, I like US 54/50 Rte 400 (southern Kansas) and Highway 160 (way south in Missouri)

Badlands and the Black Hills are great if you can afford the time.

Check out the map and slideshow I just posted this week in the Great Rides forum for ideas about when you get to Colorodo.


Cheers.

[Lost Rider]

Why waste time in the midwest?... just take I-80 and get it over with. I've done the trip many times, and it's my opinion that any time spent "trying" to find something "scenic" in between Chicago and Denver is a waste of time. Yeah, sure you could find something remotely interesting if you like Maple tree's and cornfields, but compared to the naturally beauty in Colorado it's boring IMHO.

If you don't screw around and just RIDE, you can be there in 15 hours flat.... giving you more in the Mountains time...






My last trip through Colorado:

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11564