We will be first time travellers to Colorado and Utah this summer. I am hoping someone out there can verify drive times for me:
Colorado Springs to Ouray, 5 hrs., drive time only.
Ouray to Mesa Verde,about 3 hours.
Mesa Verde's Far View Lodge to 4 Corners, 1.5 hrs.
4 Corners to Monument Valley, 2.5 hrs.
Monument Valley to Moab, 4 hrs.
Moab to Colorado Springs via Aspen, 8 hrs.
We are taking 11 days to complete this trip and are mainly concerned with knowing the drive-time required between locations.
Thanks for any help!

Your drive times look right to me, maybe a little inflated, but I haven't done all those routes. www.cotrip.org can give you Colorado road conditions. Drive times are subject to significant increases because of ubiquitous summer roadwork. Sometimes stretches of highway (e.g. Wolf Creek Pass last year) are closed altogether 7pm to 7am if there is blasting going on.

You're times should be about right.

From Aspen to Colorado Springs is a very beautiful drive but it will be slow going especially over Independence Pass. You might want to give yourself more time for that drive.

Utahtea

Utahtea brings up a good point. If you plan to take Independence Pass, count on an entire day to get to Colorado Springs. The pass takes a long time, and that area is so beautiful, you'll want to stop a lot. I just drove it for the first time last summer.

You'll get a taste of what Independence Pass will be like just south of Ouray, heading toward Red Mountain pass, but, in addition to steep dropoffs without guard rails, Independence Pass also has a VERY narrow road on the west side. Make sure that your most confident driver is at the wheel for those passes, then relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Thank you both so much! I can't wait to see the beautiful scenery.
In your valued opinion, would it be worth the time to drive thru Valley of the Gods and/or Natural Bridges on the way to Moab?
All our lodging is booked, but I'm still working out some details...
Thanks in advance! rbs

Valley of the Gods and Natural Bridges are both very nice places to visit, but since you have such a limited time I think it would best be spent in the Moab area.

There is so much to do and see in this area that I like spending a week there each and every time I go. Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse Point State Park, Scenic Hwy 128, & the Potash Road.

The Valley of the Gods is a nice dirt road but I wouldn't try it if it's raining or looking like it's going to rain.


Utahtea

Thanks, Utahtea.
We are spending 4 nights in Moab, and have already reserved a raft trip thru Worldwide River Expeditions, as well as a hike/rapel adventure with Desert Highlights. We plan to explore Potash Road, Dead Horse Point, and Colorado Scenic byway. If there is time, we would also like to do some horseback riding. Any suggestions? Red Rock Lodge looks like a good spot...
rbs

rbs360,

I've never been horseback riding in the area. We have, however, rented 4 x 4 jeeps from Farbee's and gone on the many of the 4 wheel drive trails in the area. I highly recommend taking the Shafer Trail up to Canyonlands and Long Canyon back out to make a round trip back to Moab.


http://pages.ivillage.com/utahtea2/utahteaswebpages/id10.html

Utahtea


We also always camp so I don't know about lodging except there are many new motels in the area.

Utahtea

Thanks again, Utahtea! We are renting an SUV for the 11 days, so I'm hoping to take advantage of some of the 4WD trails, both around Moab And Ouray.
We have reservations at the Aarchway Inn. Because we are flying, camping would be too difficult, though I'd like to try that someday.
Do you know if the Balcony House tour at Mesa Verde is strictly a tourbus trip?

11 days in an SUV....I want to come! Of course I'd spend it all in the Moab area

Balcony House, Cliff Palace and Long House ruins are visited only by park ranger guided tours. You buy your tickets which now cost $2.25 per person for each tour at the Far View Visitor Center. Get there early to get your tickets. You are limited on how many different tours you can do in one day or anyways they use to limit you.

Balcony House is the smallest of the guided tour ruins but it's the most challenging to get to! You can find more information on the web site below.

Cliff Place and Long House are much bigger ruins. I would recommend trying to do one of those on a second day. We have done them all over the years.

http://www.nps.gov/meve/mvnp/pages/2003sched.htm

Utahtea