DESERTS & MOUNTAINS TRIP
Interstate 70 Colorado

Interstate 70 travels 2,175 miles from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to Interstate 695 in Baltimore, Maryland. The highway travels through the states of Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. On Day Five of the Deserts & Mountains Trip, I drove Interstate 70 from Interstate 15 to Grand Junction, Colorado. On Day Six, I drove from Grand Junction to Colby, Kansas, and on Day Seven, I drove the interstate from Colby, Kansas to Kansas City, Missouri.

PICTURES

Utah State Line to Grand Junction
Pictures taken June 27, 2003

"Welcome to Colorful Colorado" sign
and mile marker 232 of Interstate 70
Utah. For the next 451 miles, Interstate
70 will be in Colorado.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 2 - Rabbit
Valley.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 11 - Mack.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 15 - CO 139
North - Loma/Rangely.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 19 - U.S. 6/
CO 340 - Fruita.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 26 - Business
Loop I-70/U.S. 6/U.S. 50 - Grand
Junction.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 28 - 24
Road/Redlands Parkway.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 31 - Horizon
Drive.

Grand Junction to Kansas State Line
Pictures taken June 28, 2003

Interstate 70 East at Exit 37 - Business
Loop I-70 West - Clifton/Delta.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 42 - TO U.S.
6 - Palisade.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 46 - Cameo.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 47 - Colorado
River Island Park/Island Acres.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 49 - CO
65 South TO CO 330 East - Grand
Mesa/Collbran.
The first of several tunnels along
Interstate 70 East in Colorado. This
particular one is located near mile
marker 51.
Interstate 70 East at mile marker 53.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 62 -
DeBeque.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 75 -
Parachute/Battlement Mesa.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 81 - Rullson.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 87 - TO CO
13 North - Meeker/Craig.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 90 - CO 13
North - Rifle/Meeker.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 94 - Garfield
County Airport Road.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 97 - Silt.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 105 - New
Castle.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 109 - Canyon
Creek.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 111.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 114 - West
Glenwood.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 116 - CO 82
East - Glenwood Springs/Aspen. The
interstate is about to enter Glenwood
Canyon.
Mileage sign on Interstate 70 East
as the highway enters the canyon. I
apologize for the sun glare on most of
these pictures, including this one.
Interstate 70 East as it prepares to
enter a tunnel in Glenwood Canyon.
The pedestrian/bike bridge just before
the tunnel is part of a bike trail that
runs parallel to Interstate 70 through
the canyon. I have had the experience
of riding on that trail before, and it
was a great experience.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
119 - No Name - 1/2 mile.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 119 - No
Name.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
121 - Rest Area - 1 1/4 miles.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
121 - 1/2 mile. The destination point
has changed to Grizzly Creek.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 121 - Grizzly
Creek.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
123 - Shoshone - 3/4 mile.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 123 -
Shoshone.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
125 - Hanging Lake - 3/4 mile. The
bottom part of the sign says "NO
RETURN ACCESS TO I-70 EAST."
Interstate 70 East at Exit 125 -
Hanging Lake. The lane signals are
for the tunnel just ahead.
Interstate 70 East as it prepares to
enter a tunnel just east of Exit 125.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
129 - Bair Ranch - 1 mile.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 129 - Bair
Ranch.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 133 -
Dotsero. We have now left the canyon.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 140 - Gypsum.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 147 - Eagle.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 157 - CO 131
North - Wolcott/Steamboat Springs.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 163 -
Edwards.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 167 - Avon.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 171 - U.S.
24 East - Minturn/Leadville.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 173 - Vail
W Entrance.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 176 - Vail
Central Entrance.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 180 - Vail
E Entrance.
Interstate 70 East at mile marker 186.
This is during the ascent to Vail Pass.
This sign at the summit of Vail Pass
indicates that we are now 10,603 feet
above sea level. Wow! Just wait until
we get to the Eisenhower Tunnel!
Interstate 70 East at Exit 190 - Rest
Area.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 195 - CO 91
South - Copper Mountain/Leadville.
Apologies for the extremely poor
quality of this picture.
Interstate 70 East at mile marker 197.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 198.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 201 - Frisco/
Breckenridge.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 203 - CO 9
South - Frisco.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 205 - U.S. 6
East/CO 9 North - Silverthorne/Dillon.
This is the final exit before the uphill
climb to the Eisenhower Tunnel begins.
The highest point on the interstate
system is located here at the
Eisenhower Tunnel. This sign indicates
that we are 12,803 (?) feet above sea
level. But of course the sun glare had
to get in the way so I have no way of
reading this sign.
A look inside the Eisenhower Tunnel.
The interstate crosses the Continental
Divide unceremoniously during its
time in the tunnel.
The light at the end of the tunnel.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 216 - U.S. 6
West - Loveland Pass.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 218.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 221 -
Bakerville.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 226 - Silver
Plume.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 228 -
Georgetown.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 232 - U.S.
40 West - Empire/Granby.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 233 - Lawson.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 234 - Weigh
Station.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 238 - Fall
River Road.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 239 -
Business Loop I-70 East - Idaho
Springs.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 240 - CO 103 -
Mt. Evans.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 241A - Idaho
Springs.
The final tunnel on Interstate 70 East
until Wheeling, West Virginia, is located
just east of Idaho Springs.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 243 - Hidden
Valley.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 244 - U.S. 6 -
Golden.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 247 - Beaver
Brook/Floyd Hill.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 251 - El
Rancho.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 253 - Chief
Hosa.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 254 - Genesee
Park.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 256 - Lookout
Mountain.
Advisory sign on Interstate 70 East
warning of the steep downgrade into
Denver.
As far as I know, this is the only official
sign in the country that says the phrase
"Not Down Yet." This sign warns that
the fun isn't quite over yet for truckers.
But enjoy this while you can, because
after this stretch, there are no more
mountains on Interstate 70 until eastern
Ohio and West Virginia.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 259 - U.S.
40 East - Golden/Morrison.
Another BGS for Exit 259. C-470 is
one mile ahead.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
260 - C-470 - 1/2 mile.
Centerline mileage sign on Interstate
70 East, 1/4 mile to the west of C-470.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 260 - C-470 -
Colorado Springs.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 261 - U.S. 6
East - W. 6th Ave.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 262 - U.S.
40/Business Loop I-70 East - W. Colfax
Ave.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 263 - Denver
West Boulevard.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 264 - W. 32nd
Ave./Youngfield St.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 266 - CO 72 -
Ward Rd./W. 44th Ave.
Centerline mileage sign on Interstate
70 East, 2 1/2 miles to the west of
Interstate 76.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 267 - CO 391 -
Kipling Street.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
269A - CO 121 - 1 mile, and Exit
269B - Interstate 76 East TO Interstate
25 - 1 1/2 miles.
Centerline mileage sign on Interstate 70
East, 1 mile to the west of Interstate 76.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
269A - 1/4 mile, and Exit 269B - 3/4
mile.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 269A - CO
121 - Wadsworth Blvd.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 269B -
Interstate 76 East - Ft. Morgan.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 270 - CO
95 - Harlan St./Sheridan Blvd.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 272 - U.S.
287 - Federal Blvd.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
274 - Interstate 25 - 1 1/2 miles.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 273 - Pecos
Street. Interstate 25 is 3/4 mile ahead.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 274 - Interstate
25 - Ft. Collins/Colorado Springs.
From the mainline, the various ramps
inside the Interstate 25 interchange
split.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 275B - CO
265 - Brighton Blvd.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 275C - York
St./Josephine St.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 276A - U.S.
6 East/U.S. 85 North - Vasquez Blvd.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 277 - Dahlia
St./Holly St./Monaco St.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 278 - CO 35 -
Quebec St.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
282 - Interstate 225 South - 2 miles.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 280 - Havana
St.
Centerline mileage sign on Interstate 70
East, one mile to the west of Interstate
225.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 281 - Peoria
Street.
Centerline mileage sign on Interstate 70
East, 1/2 mile to the west of Interstate
225.
Interstate 70 East approaching Exit
282 - 1/4 mile.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 282 - Interstate
225 South - Aurora/Colorado Springs.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 283 -
Chambers Road.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 284 - Denver
International Airport/Pena Boulevard.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 285 - Airport
Blvd.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 286 - CO 32 -
Tower Rd.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 288 - Business
Loop I-70/U.S. 40 - Colfax Ave.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 289 - E-470
Tollway - Ft. Collins/Colorado Springs.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 292 - CO 36
East - Airpark Road.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 295 - Business
Spur I-70 North - Watkins.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 299 - Manila
Road.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 304 - CO 79
North - Bennett.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 305 - Kiowa.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 310 -
Strasburg.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 316 - U.S. 36
East - Byers.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 322 - Peoria.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 328 - Deer
Trail.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 336 - Lowland.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 340 - Agate.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 348 - Cedar
Point.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 352 - CO 86
West - Kiowa.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 354. Actually,
this is the final sign before the exit.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 359 - Business
Loop I-70 TO U.S. 24/CO 71 - Limon.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 361 - TO CO
71 - Limon.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 363 - U.S. 40/
U.S. 287 - Hugo/Kit Carson.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 371 - Genoa.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 376 - Bovina.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 383 - Arriba.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 395 - Flagler.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 405 - CO 59 -
Seibert.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 412 - Vona.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 419 - Stratton.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 429 - Bethune.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 437 - Business
Loop I-70/U.S. 385 - Lincoln St.
Interstate 70 East at Exit 438 - U.S. 24 -
Rose Avenue.
"Leaving Colorful Colorado" sign as
the highway enters Kansas. The
overpass is the state line.

Roadtrip pages:

Day One:
Oklahoma:
Interstate 44 | Interstate 40
Texas:
Interstate 40
New Mexico:
Interstate 40

Day Two:
New Mexico:
Interstate 40
Arizona:
Interstate 40

Day Three:
Arizona:
Interstate 40
California:
Interstate 40 | Interstate 15 | CA 18 | CA 138 | CA 14 | Interstate 5 | CA 126 | U.S. 101

Day Four:
California:
U.S. 101 | CA 58 | Interstate 15
Nevada:
Interstate 15
Arizona:
Interstate 15
Utah:
Interstate 15

Day Five:
Utah:
Interstate 15 | Interstate 70
Colorado:
Interstate 70

Day Six:
Colorado:
Interstate 70
Kansas:
Interstate 70

Day Seven:
Kansas:
Interstate 70
Missouri:
Interstate 70 | U.S. 71 | MO 2

Sidetrip Pages:
Kansas:
Interstate 35 | Interstate 70 | Interstate 435 | Interstate 470 | U.S. 40 | U.S. 59 | U.S. 69 | U.S. 75 | U.S. 169 | K-10 | K-68
Missouri:
Interstate 29 | Interstate 35 | Interstate 70 | Interstate 229 | MO 2 | MO 371 | U.S. 36 | U.S. 71

Day Ten:
Missouri:
MO 2
Kansas:
K-68 | U.S. 69 | Interstate 435 | Interstate 35
Oklahoma:
Interstate 35

Miscellaneous Pictures

Trip Summaries:
Page 1 (Oklahoma City-San Luis Obispo; Days 1-3)
Page 2 (San Luis Obispo-Kansas City; Days 4-7)
Page 3 (Sidetrips & Kansas City-Oklahoma City; Days 8-10)

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Last updated September 26, 2003 01:40 AM