Driving from Colorado to California

[Toadster]

who's done it? do you recommend 80 or 50? both are about the same time (within 1/2 hour)

any recommendations?

80 takes me through Salt Lake City
50 takes me through - nothing? LOL
15 takes me through Vegas



Attractions Along the Northern Route
You can find plenty of skiing opportunities in the Salt Lake City area, and many of the venues from the 2002 Winter Olympic games can be toured. Downtown Salt Lake has a number of historic sites and carriage rides for visitors. Reno, nicknamed the "Biggest Little City in the World," is Nevada's second biggest casino destination. If one-armed bandits aren't your thing, head to nearby Lake Tahoe to enjoy the scenery of this famed body of water straddling the California-Nevada border in the shadow of the Sierra Nevadas. Or check out Virginia City, the silver mining town where Mark Twain cut his journalism chops that retains much of its Old West charm.

Attractions Along the Middle Route ???
When you cross over from Utah to Nevada you will come really close to Great Basin National Park. I would highly recommend spending the day there and touring Lehman Caves. They are the caves that I like the best in the US. Better than Mammoth, better than Carlsbad.

It's known as "The Loneliest Highway". You can even get a booklet, then stop at all the locations in the booklet where they stamp that you have been there.

Attractions Along the Southern Route
You'll pass near three can't-miss national parks in Utah. Arches, near Moab, contains thousands of sculptured sandstone rocks formed by thousands of years of erosion. You can see many of them by traveling the main park road. You'll also be able to view valleys of hoodoos, another odd type of rock formation, by driving the looping park road in Bryce Canyon in southern Utah. Nearby, you can ride a tram into narrow Zion Canyon to try to catch a glimpse of mountain lions or the endangered California condor among the rock towers and mesas. If you've got a jones for Vegas and its iconic casinos, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Aria and The Venetian should top your list. Each offers a large casino space, fine dining and lavish shows.

not really looking to go the south route as it's another 3 hours...

thougths?? experts?

expected MPG?

 

[Quartz]

I have done all three, although I was going to different locations each time. I think the best route in my opinion is I-80. I suspect you'll get around 15-16 mpg depending on wind.

 

[Toadster]

I have done all three, although I was going to different locations each time. I think the best route in my opinion is I-80. I suspect you'll get around 15-16 mpg depending on wind.

we were thinking I-80 as well - just depends on the time of year...
although, nothing can stop the new Raptor - right?

 

[2014RubyRed]

VEGAS baby!!!

Moab is the bomb!!!

 

[Toadster]

VEGAS baby!!!

Moab is the bomb!!!

my son went to Moab during his senior year spring break with his buddy - they went ALL OVER the dang place!

I'm guessing either 80 or 50 would do that route

heck with Vegas, I've been there like 5 times this year already for work... gets old fast!

 

[brc misfit]

prefer 80. the smaller towns have speed traps and 25 mph speed limits so watch out.

 

[The Macf]

80 is uneventful. 15 is eh. never driven 50.

 

[Trick.Raptor]

80 will be fastest. You will have to fight slower traffic on 50.

 

[Toadster]

I have done all three, although I was going to different locations each time. I think the best route in my opinion is I-80. I suspect you'll get around 15-16 mpg depending on wind.

80 is uneventful. 15 is eh. never driven 50.

considering 50 is "The Loneliest Highway" - it can't be any better than either 80 or 15

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

i always take 80. my usual route is 25 north to wellington then 287 north to cut cheyenne corner then take 80 all the way. but i guess it depends where you are going in ca. i moved to the springs last year from santa cruz so 80 was better. if you are going to socal then cut south. but as brc mentioned the small nevada towns have a sherriff posted at the entrance and exit so watch your speed through there. my radar detector goes nuts quite often when going through battle moutain, elko, wendover, etc.