Best route to Texas from Denver area?

hofffam

hofffam

Experienced Member
Joined
17 September 2006
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770
Location
Spicewood, TX (Lake Travis)
I will be picking up my 97 NSX in the Denver area this weekend. I'm driving it back to Texas (I have to go through the Dallas area).

What route do you guys recommend? Google earth recommends I70 to I35. I'm sure that is a nice fast route.

I also played with Google Earth on some other routes - like going to Raton, NM, then Amarillo, etc.

I need to make good time without driving too fast. I'm torn between the easy boring interstate or something more interesting. Weather forecast is good.
 
I'm about a half hour south of Denver, and when I've gone to Mineral Wells I've taken the Raton/Amarillo route.

From my location, I think it's probably faster than the I70/I35 route.

However, from Denver, the full interstate route my be a little bit quicker.

The Raton route WOULD be a bit more scenic and twisty, but it's not like it's a mountain highway. You get stuck on the 2-lane road out of Raton for the next few hours, but it should be easy to pass.

What's the NSX like?
Where in Denver is it?
 
I lived just 1/2 hour south of Denver when I purchased my NSX from Houston, TX and drove it home.

Little experience notes:

Lubbock to Amarillo SUCKS. Flat, straight barren empty nothing for hours. Not even cactus.

From Amarillo to Raton, NM taking the 87 is slow and single lane. Speed limit is 45 mph and takes HOURS. "Patrolled by Aircraft". Didn't see a single plane :biggrin: or cop on that road that time. Gas stops are few and far apart, along with any real civilization. Scary for your maiden voyage. Still an interesting view. Oh, I didn't notice too many places to pass. Then again, I just wanted to get HOME, so I can't recall.

The ONLY fun part of the drive was the SHORT section on I-25 between Raton, NM and Trinidad, CO. The twistest part of the entire voyage. Trinidad is the sex change capital of the US, lol.

Speed limit on I-25 is 75mph, so you can get away with 80-85mph. Not sure, but certain the BFE sections of I-70 should be also.

Be careful on your drive! Remember it does snow everywhere in colorado! Lots of random weather.

If you have faith in your new wheels, like I did with mine..... BLAZE your own trail :) Go diagonal. Just pick out a couple decent sized towns in between Dallas and Denver

My experience, timewise is that the Longer interstate route takes just as long as cutting through on highways because you have lower speed limits and maybe a couple stoplights. Then you go through those country towns where the speed limit drops to 35mph or less at times. So shorter distance+lower speeds = higher distance+higher speeds.
 
PaulL said:
I'm about a half hour south of Denver, and when I've gone to Mineral Wells I've taken the Raton/Amarillo route.

From my location, I think it's probably faster than the I70/I35 route.

However, from Denver, the full interstate route my be a little bit quicker.

The Raton route WOULD be a bit more scenic and twisty, but it's not like it's a mountain highway. You get stuck on the 2-lane road out of Raton for the next few hours, but it should be easy to pass.

What's the NSX like?
Where in Denver is it?
Click to expand...

The car is red like yours - a 97 - and located in Arvada. So it is Northwest of Denver I suppose.

If I go I70 - I'll probably stop in Hays Kansas

If I go I25 - I'll probably stop in Raton

I probably won't get out of Arvada until about 1:30-2:00 p.m. or so. I'm not motivated to drive much past dark the first day. I gotta be in Plano, TX about 5 p.m. or so.
 
I did the same trip, but backward. I went from Austin to Arvada. The drive sucked. If I had to do it again, I would take I-25 through Ratton Pass.
 
therr said:
I did the same trip, but backward. I went from Austin to Arvada. The drive sucked. If I had to do it again, I would take I-25 through Ratton Pass.
Click to expand...

You went I-35 then I-70?

What was so bad about the drive?

I was leaning toward the interstate route for convenience and low hassle factor. My main task after all is to get the car home in one piece.

But I have hardly made up my mind.
 
Deer, I almost smashed a couple of them.
One lane road on some parts.
Nothing out there, just open fields.
Worst part, I didn't have a good experience in Amarillo.
 
We dropped in to Amarillo this past summer expecting to be able to just show up at any old hotel and get a room.

Turns out it was the first weekend of Spring Break, and the town was practically booked.

Not that people WENT to Amarillo for break, but Texas is so big that after they left Houston, or wherever, they had to eventually stop in Amarillo because they couldn't drive any more!

I don't remember the Raton/Amarillo stretch being 45 mph, though.
I though it was 65 or so. I went as fast as I wanted, practically.

If you mostly just want to get the car home safely and easily ... take the interstate.
Even straight stretches are fun in the NSX.
Are you towing it or driving it?
 
hofffam, I hope you enjoy your drive, no matter which route you take. I think you will. :smile:

My interest in this (aside from the excitement of the maiden voyage) is that I used to live in Arvada, and I am now considering moving to Denver or Austin. :wink:
 
I'm flying to Denver Friday. The seller is picking me up - we'll conclude the transaction early afternoon in Arvada. Then I'll be on my merry way (whichever way that is).

If you're interested in Austin - I've lived here since 1984. Great place to live. I actually live in the Lake Travis area.

I should be able to drive my NSX without worrying about snow or sand on the road.....
 
Well, we've had a few snows this past month, and the gravel they spread is still around ... so you might consider getting a bra or at least the spray-on-protector (mentioned in a recent thread, I think) to help protect you a little bit.

I got more rock dings in my car in the first 6 mths I had it here in Colorado than it had in the first 8 years of life.
 
PaulL said:
Well, we've had a few snows this past month, and the gravel they spread is still around ... so you might consider getting a bra or at least the spray-on-protector (mentioned in a recent thread, I think) to help protect you a little bit.

I got more rock dings in my car in the first 6 mths I had it here in Colorado than it had in the first 8 years of life.
Click to expand...

My car went from 95% perfect to HORRIBLY rock chipped in less than 3 months in colorado. It's gross looking.... Thing is, it was May-July, summer time too. Spray on is only good for grime and bugs I think. Get the bra or have the seller toss in a nice clear bra :)

I have pics of a rest stop I pulled over at to let my car rest a moment and look around the barren flat nothing. It was between Lubbock and Amarillo. I saw.... my car, other cars/trucks, highway and...nothing... dead grass as far as the eyes can see. Almost proof the earth is flat, lol. I'll post up when I get to my other computer sometime.
 
Dan,
Congrats on your new ride, shes a beauty...your one lucky man!!!:smile: They say it might snow this saturday, so definitely watch the weather since your driving back to texas. Your gonna have a blast driving her back, try not to get speeding tickets on the way home.:biggrin:
 
my1stnsx said:
Dan,
Congrats on your new ride, shes a beauty...your one lucky man!!!:smile: They say it might snow this saturday, so definitely watch the weather since your driving back to texas. Your gonna have a blast driving her back, try not to get speeding tickets on the way home.:biggrin:
Click to expand...

Hey Thuan,

Thanks for your help looking at the car. It was a huge factor getting me comfortable with it. The PPI was very good and the seller has been very good to work with. I fly up tomorrow and land at noon. Should be in the car by 1 or so.

I tried to talk my wife into some new wheels - there's a guy on Prime selling some Volk LE28s. But she said "are you crazy?" :rolleyes:

I think I'm going the interstate route. I'm SOOOO tempted to look for some interesting roads, but I have lots of time to do that. I just want to get the car home without difficulty. Maybe I'll just go on and off exit ramps when I get bored!
 
It wasnt a problem at all, it was a pleasure helping out a prime member. I hope you have a safe trip back and definitely enjoy colorado awhile your here.:smile:
 
Just now saw this thread. I live in Trinidad CO and it's not a bad drive at all through Raton. The only thing is that between Clayton NM and Raton NM there is a lot of road construction putting the 4 lane highway in. It would have delayed you quite a bit. I'd have liked to see your NSX on the way through. I could have driven mine with you over the pass. It's a great drive and I'll miss it once the NSX is gone. Best of luck with your NSX. You'll love it.
 
Doc C said:
Just now saw this thread. I live in Trinidad CO and it's not a bad drive at all through Raton. The only thing is that between Clayton NM and Raton NM there is a lot of road construction putting the 4 lane highway in. It would have delayed you quite a bit. I'd have liked to see your NSX on the way through. I could have driven mine with you over the pass. It's a great drive and I'll miss it once the NSX is gone. Best of luck with your NSX. You'll love it.
Click to expand...

I took the interstate, which all things considered, was probably the right choice. My NSX made it safely to Austin. I would have enjoyed some company on the drive from another NSX owner though. I was surprised how few sports cars I saw - barely even a Corvette. Did drive with a WRX Sti for a bit.
 

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