Montrose, CO to Denver airport; best route recommendation

montrose to black canyon to gunnison to Salida/BV to Denver is the way we go. If don’t have to catch a flight that driving day you can take the road to Taylor reservoir and cottonwood pass to BV

it’s a beautiful drive no matter what

Normally I would echo what Cgrand has said, but there is major construction and closures on hwy 50 as a result.

Well, I just checked the schedule and the weekends shouldn't be impacted.

CDOT

An aside cgrand, traffic was so fricked around here early in the week. Glenwood Canyon closed for more than a day and you had the road work on 50. It was just parade of cars coming off Independence all hours of the night.

Enjoy the drive in tomorrow, the weather should finally be clearing up a little.

Another option would be to hit 133 north of Montrose, roll into Carbondale, go through Aspen and take 82 over Independence Pass and then up into Leadville out 24 "over" Tennessee Pass and to Minturn. Then you go through Vail, into Summit. Instead of taking the tunnel, go over Loveland Pass.

Independence, Tennessee, and Loveland in a day would be pretty awesome. This would certainly take you all day too.

Cottonwood Pass is awesome too though, so you can't go wrong with either option. Cottonwood is an easier drive I think, especially with the traffic this weekend. The Aspen way has more towns though and that would probably be the most scenic.

quote:

---

Is the road through Cottonwood Pass paved? The legend on the map I have describes it as a ‘local’ road.

---

It is now. It used to be only paved on the BV side.

quote:

---

Trying to decide whether to get to BV via Cottonwood Pass or stay on 50 & turn north at Poncha Springs. The time difference is only about 15 minutes per the map app.

---

Monarch Pass is an easier drive for sure but it won't be as scenic as Cottonwood.

Thanks, we’re probably going through Cottonwood Pass unless I’m out voted.

fricking tourist everywhere up here. My spot had no data on the cell service all afternoon because we got that Tiger Stadium after a big game cell service.

If anyone was wondering why I wasn't suggesting Glenwood Canyon, it's closed again. Through the night at least based on the pictures. Independence Pass about to get lit.

Third time in a week they had to close it. Won't be the last time, since the trigger is a flash flood warning and it's a canyon.

Yeah bro, I70 from Denver to Grand Junction is about as scenic of an interstate drive as you'll get. Helps that it has to follow the Eagle and eventually the Colorado to find a way through those mountains. BIL got a job out in GJ recently so been making that drive some to check out the area.

There are going to be a lot of people making the drive over Independence Pass tonight though. Don't envy them. Going to be a steady line of headlights off in the distance tonight.

I've got the drive up the mt washington auto road set in the itinerary in a few weeks. I've a Thursday planned with a player option for Friday in case the weather is bad.