Denver to Kremmling next weekend..
 

We are flying to Denver on Dec 11th to visit an Uncle in an assisted living place in Kremmling. Looks like the drive is about 2 hours or so. We'll be renting a vehicle but wondering about advice on where to stay. We won't be spending all our time there but want to be close enough to see him daily. We are used to winter driving in Minneapolis - do we need a 4wd vehicle?

Any advice on places to see, visit, restaurants near there? We like a wide variety of things but are no longer skiing (too many knee surgeries). We are flying out of Denver again on the 14th.

Thanks in advance..

Kremmling is pretty tiny. It is a small slice of old west Colorado. It is somewhat isolated, and bad weather can make it more so. But there are a number of good day-trips from there.

You will probably drive to Kremmling over Berthoud Pass, Hwy 40, and will pass by Mary Jane/Winter Park ski area. Then through the town of WinterPark. Eat at Hernando's for great family-style pizza and simple Italian food at very reasonable prices and fun atmosphere. Gets swamped right after 4, when ski area closes each day.

Then you pass my all-time favorite mountain lodge, Devil's Thumb Ranch. Stay there for a huge treat. Eating dinner at their Ranch House Restaurant is pricey, but unbeatable.

From there, you can take a scenic drive on Hwy 9, to follow the Blue River and end up in Silverthorne. This puts you in Summit County for its ski towns, shops, outlet stores, resaurants. Not too far from Vail if you want to do an overnight. One caution: there can be LOTS of deer on Hwy 9, so be aware if you drive it.

Posted too soon.

Last graph should begin, "From Kremmling, you can take a scenic drive. . ."

And Hot Sulphur Springs has fun hot spring pools to soak in.

Sorry, I don't know where you should stay. There is probably a Best Western in Kremmling.

Are you suggesting staying at Devils Thumb ranch? I'll look for their web site..how far from Kremmling?

That would be a very scenic route and nice. If it is snowing or has snowed heavily recently I would suggest going to Silverthorne on I70 and up Route 9 to Kremmling.

I think the better route is I-70 to Hwy 9 at Silverthorn north. Avoid Berthoud pass and depending on time of day the ski traffic to Winter Park.

You will not need 4wheel drive as all roads are well maintained. I often caution against 4wheel drive unless you are very experienced with driving 4wheel/AWD vehicles in snowy conditions. Inexperienced drivers often end up off the road. The Denver Post had an articles several years that something like 40% of vehicle off the road in a snowstorm were rental 4WD/AWD vehicles.

I was thinking Devils Thumb might be a nice overnight, but it is a ways from Kremmling if you are going to commute daily.

Also, we drive Berthoud Pass regularly to Winter Park. We prefer Berthoud over the I-70 route and the Eisenhower Tunnel. Driving to Silverthorne, then over to Kremmling on 9 is an option, but might take longer. I wouldn't drive 9 at night, because I think the deer would be more present now that the snow season has started. Others have said when they have driven 9 they have seen several deer carcasses, hit by vehicles.

Also, Berthoud Pass is well-maintained in snowstorms, but I doubt if two-lane Highway 9 is plowed all that frequently.

Berthoud Pass may be a plowed major highway but they just can't take the hairpin turns out of it. It is fine if dry. If it is snowy, I70 would be better--still in my opinion.
We have been on Highway 9 in lots of snow and it has always been plowed. We stay about 10 miles up from Silverthorne when skiing.

Thanks for all the advice - any other suggestions as far as places to stay? Devils Thumb looks great but any other ideas?

How close to Kremmling do you need to stay? Will you commute everyday? Do you need to stay close to Kremmling every night, or could you overnight elsewhere further away? What budget? Hotel or condo?

I am not sure your are hearing what everyone is says. A little louder. There is nothing to speak of at Kremmling. It is the junction of Hwy 9 and US 40. A town of about 1500. It is a big hunting mecca in the fall so I am sure it will have some run of the mill motels. Nothing fancy but four walls and heat. There is nothing larger close to Kremmling. You will either stay in Kremmling or have a long drive. Granby about hour to the east on 40 is the next big town and it is only 1500. Nobody lives in that part of Colorado. Hwy 9 is well maintained because it is a major north south route in that area connecting 40 to I-70, Steamboat to Breckenridge. It is rolling but relatively straight for a mountain road.

Fmpden, not sure why the attitude, or even to whom you are directing it. Oh, well, no one cares anyway.

Hot Sulphur Springs is probably your best bet for a close town with lodging. It is the county seat, so should be better pickins than Kremmling. I looked on Expedia for Kremmling lodging and only found one place which gets dicey reviews.

For lodging in Kremmling, try the Allington Inn & Suites:
http://www.allingtoninn.com/kremmling/index.html

It's the newest hotel in town (completed about 18 months ago) and comparable to a nice Holiday Inn or Hampton Inn. Complimentary breakfast, indoor pool, etc. Not bad really.

There is also the Cliffside Inn:
http://www.cliffsideinnkremmling.net/

The Cliffside is about 10 to 15 years old and probably a step down from the Allington.

Then there is the Hotel Eastin:
http://www.hoteleastin.net/

The Hotel Eastin was built in 1906. Its rooms are quaint, yet comfortable and harken back to the early days of this ranching community.

I'm going to take a little umbrage with the "there is nothing to speak of at Kremmling" remark and just say that "nothing" is sometimes only nothing in the eye of the beholder. Kremmling may be a small ranching community that lacks the glitz and pizzaz of the Vails, and Aspens, and Tellurides, but it also lacks the put-on airs that sometimes infects some of the more notable and trendy Colorado towns and resorts. What Kremmling may lack in oooohs and ahhhhs, and superficial fashionable chic, it makes up for with a whole lot of good, honest, down home, small town, salt-of-the-earth hard-workin' Colorado authenticity - something that is becoming harder and harder to find these days.

Now, as far as food in Kremmling.... it's kind of like Cookie said in the movie City Slickers:

"You ain't gonna git any of that nouveau, amandine, thin crust, bottled water, sauteed, sissy city food. Food's brown....hot....and plenty of it."

Look for wholesome, hearty breakfasts at the Moose Cafe (on main street about 1 block east of the Allington Inn). Tasty steaks and western ambiance at the Quarter Circle Saloon (main street, just west of the Eastin). And the best Mexican food in Grand County at the small Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant (southwest corner at the junction of Hwys 9 and 40). For your Starbucks fix, there's great coffee and bakery at Big Shooters (main street, mid town).

Now I want to go back to Kremmling instead of just passing through it as we have done!!

Nice post furledleader! I'm checking out the coffee shop/bakery the next time I pass through Kremmling.

Well done, furledleader.

As other posters have mentioned, there are basically only two major routes to take from Denver to Kremmling at this time of year, and both have their own particular inherent ups and downs..... literally and figuratively.

The first (and fastest) is to take I-70 all the way up and through the Eisenhower Tunnel to Silverthorne, then Hwy 9 north from Silverthorne to Kremmling. In good weather, on dry roads, without any traffic problems through Denver, and without stopping, it will take you about 2 1/2 hours to get there from Denver International Airport.

The second is to take I-70 to exit 232 (Hwy 40 at Empire), then Hwy 40 through the little speed trap town of Empire, over Berthoud Pass, down through Winter Park, and eventually to Kremmling. In good weather, on dry roads, without any traffic problems through Denver, without stopping, and without getting pulled over for speeding in Empire or along the stretch of Hwy 40 between Hot Sulphur Springs and Parshall, it will take about 3 hours.

furled leader and most of the rest, THANKS! Since the main purpose of our trip is to visit Uncle Franny, I think we'll take one of your suggestions and stay in Kremmling. I like the idea of a quiet little town for the weekend...

If you've not already made your lodging arrangements, there are also some bed & breakfasts worth mentioning in Kremmling:

http://temp.ceoenterprisesnet.office...m/default.aspx

http://www.travelcolorado.com/lodgin...-bed-breakfast


The next closest lodging will be found in Hot Sulphur Springs, 17 miles away. The Canyon Motel (http://www.canyonmotelcolorado.com/index.html)and the Ute Trail Motel (http://www.utetrailmotel.com/)are both basic mom-and-pop type, single level roadside motels.

I will strongly suggest that you spend some time at the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa (http://www.hotsulphursprings.com/index.htm) to enjoy the 20 hot spring pools on a hillside overlooking the Colorado River, and the spa amenities provided. As the name implies, the smell of sulphur in the hot natural spring water is prevalent, yet not so overwhelming as to be totally obnoxious. You get used to it after about half an hour. Also, don't be put off by the color of the water, or the feather-like debris floating in the water of some of the pools - its the natural minerals in the water causing both, and it's supposedly very good for your skin. As much as I like soaking in their hot spring pools, I cannot recommend staying in their on-site lodging. In acccordance with their philosophy of providing relaxation without distraction, their rooms are clean, comfortable, but very basic, with NO telephones, radio, TV, food storage or WiFi. They are also all about 50 yards from a busy railroad track, and (not in accordance with their philosophy) in the middle of any given night you can be assured to be awakened anywhere from 2 to 5 times for 10 to 15 minutes by the whistle and steel-on-steel clanking and grinding of passing freight trains. Check their website for a $2 off coupon for admission.

The town of Granby is about 30 miles from Kremmling. Several mom-and-pop motels are there, as well as a few B&B's. There is also lodging just about a mile or two east of Granby on Hwy 40 in conjunction with the nearby Sol Vista ski area. Lodging prices will be higher in Granby due to its proximity to Sol Vista and Winter Park. As ski season has started, the closer you get to Winter Park (48 miles from Kremmling), the higher the price of lodging.

Grand Lake is about 14 miles from Granby in the opposite direction than Winter Park and has a number of lodging choices. It is also at the west entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Being 42 miles from Kremmling, a day trip to this side of RMNP may be within your purview for this trip.

Steamboat Springs is about 50 miles north of Kremmling. It has lots of lodging and is much livlier, but it will be more expensive and crowded with skiers, and in order to visit your uncle in Kremmling you'll have to drive over Rabbit Ears Pass every day. Although just fine on dry, clear days, Rabbit Ears can be treacherous and even closed when it snows.

Silverthorne, Dillon, and Frisco are about 40-45 miles south of Kremmling, and may be more lively, vialable alternatives for lodging, but they will be more expensive due to their proximity to the ski areas of Summit County.

Vail, Avon, and Edwards are just too far away IMHO, and like Steamboat they will be more expensive.

Check with the ladies at the Kremmling Chamber of Commerce Information Center on the main drag in the middle of town for info on things to see and do in the area at this time of year. They are very helpful and may come up with a few surprises. From their advice, the DW and I once met up with Colorado's renowned outdoor photographer John Fielder one evening at an intimate presentation he had at the local middle school, in part to thank the local ranchers for access to their properties for a new book he had just published.