Do you do the drive from Boulder to Santa Fe?
 

I would appreciate your help. I am flying into Denver this week, spending a night in Boulder area and will be driving to Santa Fe on Thursday. This is not a leisurely ride in the sense that I need to be in Santa Fe by mid-late afternoon, although ideally would like to make the most of the drive and see really nice scenery. I have looked on 3-4 different map sites and keep coming up with different routes to go. Some show taking Rt. 25, the highway, and then there are various other routes, not highway. It seems that not taking the highway is going to be a lot longer. Is it worth it? Is the highway very boring and will we miss seeing the Rockies by going that way? Also, we won't have an opportunity to go to Taos or really do any touring around so I am wondering if by going back roads it will at least give us the experience of seeing the countryside.

I would appreciate suggestions for the best overall way to go, taking into consideration I want to see the most beauty I can but also have some time limitations. Do you think it makes sense to go through Taos? I am concerned since I have so many possible routes to go, that I could make a bad choice and encounter either terrible roads or very slow driving. I cannot have this trip take 10 hours.

Bump Bump - anyone???

Keep in mind that it's snowing right now in much of the Colordo Rockies. You should factor that into your plans. Off roads are never cleared as well as the main highways.

i think it was all spelled out to you on your earlier post. all depends on the weather which could change quickly on any of the routes.

If you can't have this trip take 10 hours, then screw it and take I-25 all the way. Any other route will take time and I'm not sure any scenery you get to enjoy will be worth getting there late. I've done this trip and it takes long enough as it is....don't make it any longer unless you've got the time to enjoy it.

If you don't use I-25 then it is a very difficult and long drive. I would suggest just taking the extra time and take the cog railway up to the top of Pike's Peak or just drive up there on the road. You will probably be hours ahead and get to see some really great scenery. The USAF Academy just off the highway in Colo Spgs for noon meal formation is a fun jaunt too. You could also take a side trip from I-25 near Pueblo and go see Royal Gorge near Canyon City. You'll see plenty of the Front Range driving down I-25.