Driving from Denver to Casper
#1
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Driving from Denver to Casper
Never done it before, I'm going first weekend in June. I have a National Parks pass, go often to Rocky Mtn.
What are some great sights on theway, places to get off the highway, etc.?
What are some great sights on theway, places to get off the highway, etc.?
#2
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Thumper:
What are some great sights on theway, places to get off the highway, etc.? </font>
What are some great sights on theway, places to get off the highway, etc.? </font>
I always just got to my destination, Casper, and would hike/play/ski in the mountains that one sees just to the west of Casper.
As far as places to get off the highway in WY, you'll know as there ain't much
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#4
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: UA, DL, AA, Sutherlands Lumber
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I'm in Laramie, send me an e-mail.
Looked at the road atlas last night. Man there's a lot of stuff to see. Best bet would be to head west on I-70 to Enterprise and then meander north. You might really like Saratoga, Wyo. Check the Hotel Wolf (rustic) or Saratoga Inn (posh). And get a steak sandwich at the "Virginian" in Medicine Bow, Wyo. (of Owen Wister fame)
The area of Colorado you would see is really starting to develop. Good to do this before it's "ruint".
Let's communicate, there's quite a few variations.
[This message has been edited by pierre mclopez (edited 05-02-2003).]
Looked at the road atlas last night. Man there's a lot of stuff to see. Best bet would be to head west on I-70 to Enterprise and then meander north. You might really like Saratoga, Wyo. Check the Hotel Wolf (rustic) or Saratoga Inn (posh). And get a steak sandwich at the "Virginian" in Medicine Bow, Wyo. (of Owen Wister fame)
The area of Colorado you would see is really starting to develop. Good to do this before it's "ruint".
Let's communicate, there's quite a few variations.
[This message has been edited by pierre mclopez (edited 05-02-2003).]
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pierre mclopez:
I'm in Laramie, send me an e-mail.</font>
I'm in Laramie, send me an e-mail.</font>
Can this be done landing at DEN at Noon? I realize the end of the trip might be in darkness.
I'll send a private email as well, thanls for the offer.
#6
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I have a sister that lives near Casper ... I have personally driven numerous times on all of the roads I will mention in this post. Basically, Medicine Bow is one of the windiest places on earth http://www.4j.lane.edu/partners/eweb...windpower.html but not really all that scenic IMHO (not compared with what I've already got in and near SLC!) If you really want to detour from I-25 and have an Old West experience, you could swing over to Laramie on US 287 (leaving I-25 at Fort Collins EARLY IN THE MORNING). Then take US-30 out of Laramie going north until you get to Bossler Junction. Then take Wyoming Highway 34 going east. This road will take you through some nice mountains and also through a wildlife refuge, which has a visitor's center that you can stop at and visit (during summer months). Highway 34 will take you back to I-25 about two miles south of Wheatland.
Once you are back on I-25, go into Wheatland and then take Wyoming Highway 160 east to Fort Laramie, which is a National Historic Site http://www.nps.gov/fola/ and VERY INTERESTING. Then take US Highway 26 west and stop in Guernsey to see the Oregon Trail Wagon Ruts. http://www.californiawagontrail.com/torrington.html
From there, take Wyoming Highway 270 north until you get to Meadowdale. You have to watch VERY CAREFULLY for Meadowdale or you will miss it, since there is nothing really there other than a turnoff onto Meadowdale Road, a graveled road that will take you past my sister's ranch to Glendo State Park. http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/glendo.htm
At the state park, there is a paved road that takes you into the town of Glendo, which is on I-25, and you can then go north to Casper. (Or I can give you further things to do on the way there, if you want ... there is always the Spanish Diggings http://wyoarchaeo.state.wy.us/default.htm and Esterbrook Hill <A HREF="http://www.jim-frizzell.com/esterbrook_hill_wyoming_1999.htm" TARGET=_blank>and http://www.jim-frizzell.com/esterbrook_hill_wyoming_1999.htmand[/url] Fort Fetterman http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/fetter.htm and then there is ...
[This message has been edited by amanuensis (edited 05-20-2003).]
Once you are back on I-25, go into Wheatland and then take Wyoming Highway 160 east to Fort Laramie, which is a National Historic Site http://www.nps.gov/fola/ and VERY INTERESTING. Then take US Highway 26 west and stop in Guernsey to see the Oregon Trail Wagon Ruts. http://www.californiawagontrail.com/torrington.html
From there, take Wyoming Highway 270 north until you get to Meadowdale. You have to watch VERY CAREFULLY for Meadowdale or you will miss it, since there is nothing really there other than a turnoff onto Meadowdale Road, a graveled road that will take you past my sister's ranch to Glendo State Park. http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/glendo.htm
At the state park, there is a paved road that takes you into the town of Glendo, which is on I-25, and you can then go north to Casper. (Or I can give you further things to do on the way there, if you want ... there is always the Spanish Diggings http://wyoarchaeo.state.wy.us/default.htm and Esterbrook Hill <A HREF="http://www.jim-frizzell.com/esterbrook_hill_wyoming_1999.htm" TARGET=_blank>and http://www.jim-frizzell.com/esterbrook_hill_wyoming_1999.htmand[/url] Fort Fetterman http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/fetter.htm and then there is ...
[This message has been edited by amanuensis (edited 05-20-2003).]
#7
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Join Date: Jul 2000
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From Fort Collins to Laramie - which is faster? -
Route 287 or 25 to 80?
I know the latter is many more miles, but would you make it up in speed?
Estimated time for each, if you know.
Thanks everyone!
Route 287 or 25 to 80?
I know the latter is many more miles, but would you make it up in speed?
Estimated time for each, if you know.
Thanks everyone!
#8
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: UA, DL, AA, Sutherlands Lumber
Posts: 7,359
287 probably. You can take a shortcut if you head north of Fort COllins on 25 to Owl Canyon Road and turn west. You'll go about 5 miles and then be forced to turn right to the north. Proceed to end and turn left to the west. Travel to 287 and turn right to the north.
287 is a beautiful drive with a few less trucks.
287 is a beautiful drive with a few less trucks.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Jackson Hole, WY USA
Posts: 108
Seems like you really have to decide if you want to get their quickly or have a scenic drive along the way. I travel from Jackson to Denver quite a bit and must choose to drive through Casper, Rawlins or Rock Springs to get from here to there.
The Denver to Casper via I-25 is definitely the quickest route. 287 is more scenic, but would most likely take more time. You can plan on at least 5 hours of drive time on I-25, 6+ hours on any of the other routes mentioned here, depending on how often you stop. Not to say that they aren't more scenic. (287 from Laramie to Ft. Collins is my preference when driving from Jackson via Rock Springs.)
Either way you slice it, there are no National Parks along the way, unless you take a HUGE detour to Yellowstone, Grand Teton or Devils Tower.
Happy travels and feel free to email me if you need more info.
The Denver to Casper via I-25 is definitely the quickest route. 287 is more scenic, but would most likely take more time. You can plan on at least 5 hours of drive time on I-25, 6+ hours on any of the other routes mentioned here, depending on how often you stop. Not to say that they aren't more scenic. (287 from Laramie to Ft. Collins is my preference when driving from Jackson via Rock Springs.)
Either way you slice it, there are no National Parks along the way, unless you take a HUGE detour to Yellowstone, Grand Teton or Devils Tower.
Happy travels and feel free to email me if you need more info.