I am planning a trip by RV from Denver to Mesa Verde round trip (we are flying in and out of Denver), I don't know much about the area, but think we want to take the Durango to Silverton train (we have 3 boys under 5 who would love it) and also Great Sand Dunes and Arches National Park, we have 6 days for this trip. anyone know a good route and what will the weather be like at the end of April around 20th? any other suggestions for what to see on way, can we do a loop? help please

Late April can be a very marginal time. April snows can be very heavy, wet,frequent and unpredictable. April is the snowiest month for Denver. So you need to be prepared for a wide range of weather.

Need to check the schedule for the train. I believe it stops running in Oct and not sure when it resumes but may not be until May. But if running in April it would be very dependent on weather.

That is a lot of traveling for 6 days. It will take day just to get to MVerde or Durango from Denver. I think the best you could do would be the Sand Dunes on your first day if you arrived in Denver in the AM. Basically I-25 to US 160 West. Follow 150 West through Durango to MV. You plan on staying overnight in MV simply because it a long, slow drive into the park and you probably need a day with the three boys to see it. Again it could very weather dependent. And you will have to climb Wolf pass getting there which is the snowiest mountain pass in Colorado. From Durango north on US 550 and 50 to I-70 would be your best bet for Moab but that is a long mountain drive. Then from Moab just east along east I-70 back to Denver. Long drive to Denver. Personally I would save Moab for another trip. Might put in Glenwood Springs. Boys might enjoy the world largest hot tub known as the GS pool with covers a city block and is feed by hot springs year around. And you could stop in Vail or Breckenridge on the way back. Those will be pretty dead areas because the ski is over and Spring has not started. And, of course, you could reverse it.

Since it is early in the camping season, you probably won't have much trouble getting sites. So you can decide which direction to do your loop. You can follow fmpden"s route in either direction. If you get to Denver before noon, you can get to Moab by night if you take I-70. and then go to Mesa Verde (maybe 3 ish hours from Moab). Check the weather before you leave, this year we did a trip in late April and it was cool, but fine for touring the area.

Oh, also I'd go 191 to 491 to 160 to get from Moab to Mesa Verde or reverse that for the trip in the other direction.

CORRECTION **:

"Basically I-25 to US 160 West. Follow **160 West through Durango to MV." not 150 as posted above.

Also, are you used to mountain driving, narrow roads, twisty, with some substantial drop offs and no guards rails? Are you experienced in driving an RV? Now, can you do them combined?

IF the train is running, do not take it both ways. Your kids will be bored silly on a round trip, not even sure about one way with 3 kids that age. It is pretty scenery, but not so much that youngster would really like; the train experience is of course fun. Take the bus/train combo, it will also take way less time and allow you to see and do other things.

I think you are making a mistake for the Colorado portion. I would head straight to Utah and enjoy the time there. You can find plenty to do there, and the weather will be perfect. I would spend a couple of nights in Arches, one in Goblin Valley(your kids will want to stay here the entire time, its amazing place-especially kids), then one night @ Dead Horse Point. www.deserthighlights.com offers great family adventures. also at Goblin Valley, there is a great hike called Little Wildhorse Canyon, do not confuse this with Wildhorse Canyon also nearby. You could stay a night at Canyonlands. You could rent a jeep for a day and do some four wheeling, you could do a hummer tour(scary). You could see Black Canyon of the Gunison on your way. You should wait until about the 1st of May for Great Sand Dunes. The creek there is actually just as much of an attraction as the dunes. It would be crazy cold and probably not running good, but I'm not totally sure about it. Just outside of Grand Junction is Colorado National Monument, I haven't done this one, but it looks good. I think you might want to wait until your kids are older for the train and Mesa Verde and also go more around the 1st of June for that trip.

Wait and do the train/zipline combo when the kids are old enough. The zipline is incredible. only way to reach it is via the train. Usually only about 1% of the people on the train do it.

There you go again. They want to see the sand dunes and Durango and you want them to go to utah!!

The only problem with Moab in late April 2011, is this will be Easter Week and Moab, Utah will be mobbed with the annual Jeep Safari. If you go, make reservations as soon as possible.

Is it possible to take this trip later in the year to avoid possible snow in Colorado? We have had a motor home for 17 years and would not drive in the snow. We would sit it out, but with only 6 days, you could get stuck anywhere and could not make it back in time.

Utahtea

Gretchen, I have been to every single places that the OP listed. The original post included The Sand Dunes and Arches in Utah. I said I didn't think that April was the best time for the Sand Dunes. Also, I really like the train in Durango, but I don't think it would be open then. Mesa Verde is limited at that time as well. They could have snow at the time in April and in an RV might not be that great. Did you actually read the original post, or did you just read mine and see Utah, then for some reason that irritates you that I might suggest that someone go to Utah? Your last two or three comments about my posts are irrational and don't make sense. Not to mention that 3 boys under age 5 will enjoy Arches/Canyonlands/ Goblin Valley far more than Mesa Verde. The train would only be cool to them for the first 15 minutes. I am 99.9% certain of that. So, where did you want me to send them?

Utahtea is correct. I haven't been to Moab during the Jeep festival, but everyone says it is very crowded at that time, so take that into consideration as well. If you could hold off on MV and Durango for another Month, then I think your original plan sounds better. It snowed 3 inches over Memorial Day Weekend, a couple of years ago in Mesa Verde while we were there. So, that was my concern going in April. And the creek at the Sand Dunes is really awesome, but would be really cold to get in April. Kids there just love the creek. I assumed that you already had your airlines booked, so I didn't know if you had flexibility to change you schedule by a month or not.

wow everybody, i am blown away by all the good advice, I am spinning a bit, but we can't change the flights but we don't really want to be driving mountain passes on snow and ice in an rv if we can help it. I think you are right and we can't take the durango train in april so that is out. if we drive on the main highway can we get to places that will be alright weatherwise at that time of year, or should we head in an entirely different direction and if so where. I know I sound completely clueless, I am an Englishwoman living in LA and I don't know anything about that part of the US. please help more

First, it doesn't snow every day in Colorado. But when it does snow we have excellent highway maintenance. Second, all of the recommended roads are major highways that have a high priority for keeping open. Generally most of the roads most of the time are snow free and dry. Worse thing is that the snow will slow you down. I think you would be fine but you need to be very much aware of the weather and watch the forecasts.

The road I was specifically refering to was the road that runs through RMNP. I think you will be fine driving from Denver on the main roads. Once in a while they do get a freak storm. If that happens, you can always go skiing or snowplaying somewhere. Tubing is pretty good for kids that age. Keep all of the places you mentioned on your list. You can always change your mind at the last minute since you are in an RV. RMNP and Great Sand Dunes might be just fine. If not, then you can always head to Moab. The main part of Mesa Verde would be open at that time(I think--check their website). The wetherill section would be closed, but seeing that much would be too much for kids anyway.

First things first.

Have you ever rented or driven an RV before?

I've traveled extensively through Colorado in both a 26 foot class C RV and a 37 foot 5th wheel, and although the roads in Colorado are not necessarily daunting, they can take some getting used to , even if you've done RVs before elsewhere.

I'm assuming you're plan is to rent a Class C motorhome in the 20 - 25 foot range. That's the most common type of RV rental that you see. They're like a big Ryder rental truck with a bed area over the cab. You should be able to handle any Interstate, federal. or state highway just fine in it. Paved, well maintained county roads should also not be a particular as long as they are wide enough. Unpaved county roads can be a little trickier, especially if there are tight curves and sustained uphill or downhill grades - just take it slower and don't get yourself into anything that you can't get out of by turning around.

Six days may seem like a lot, but RV driving is slower than flashing down the road in a regular auto. It takes longer to get up to speed, longer to slow down, and longer to get up and down hills. Don't plan on covering the same distance in the same amount of time that you would cover traveling in a car. Your first day you will be lucky to make it from Denver to Great Sand Dunes before dark, what with arriving in town, collecting your bags, getting to the rental agency, doing the paperwork, and doing the walk-through to learn about the RV and where things are and how they work.

If you plan on spending any time at the sand dunes the second day, the rest of the day will be spent just getting over Wolf Creek Pass and into Durango before nightfall.

Then you've got 1 day for the train, and one day for Mesa Verde. That's 4 days already used up. Plan on 2 days to get back to Denver, and that's your 6 days. Even if you do have a 7th day, it will mostly be spent just traveling to Moab/Arches and not give you much more than half a day to see that area before you have to start heading back.

OK - something I'd definitely consider in your situation and at that time of year . . you could forget about renting an rv and do your trip by car. Easier/faster driving, much less petrol, cheaper to rent the vehicle, and there are hotels/motels that would be very reasonably priced.

Sure a motorhome/RV trip would be fun w/ the kids -- but if the weather turns bad I'd MUCH rather be in a 4wd car.

Watch out for 3C's RV Rentals in Denver - they operate under various names including RV Rental of DIA, RV Rental of Denver, Mile High RV Rental, and Craigslist RV Rental for Less. These people are deeply dishonest. The RV we rented was shabby and poorly maintained: there were stains on the carpet, matresses, lights and shutters were broken, the washer-dryer didn't work and the RV was poorly equipped. More worryingly, the RV was also unsafe. The driver's seat belt was significantly frayed in several places, the catch on the passenger's seat belt was broken and the tyres were 10 years old, as we discovered when one blew on the interstate. Apparently, it is recommended that tyres are replaced every six (Ford) to seven (standard practice) years. We ended up being highly inconvenienced and paying $1000 to have the tyre replaced but I guess we were lucky not to have been involved in a serious accident. We are still awaiting the return of our deposit, reimbursement for the tyre and an apology! This company is appalling and the RVs are a disgrace. If you value your safety (and bank balances) do not rent RVs from this company.