susmei

Hi all, planning a road trip from Chicago to Denver, but it's got to be all flat (have problems driving hilly/mountainous roads and highways). I checked an atlas and it "looks" flat, but worried about the part entering into Colorado until Denver. Appreciate all advice Thanks!

BigRuss

Um, Denver is 5200+ feet above sea level, Chicago is less than 600 feet above sea level. There's an inherent problem here. I'm thinking most of that increase is on I-76 from western Nebraska into Denver and that I-80 will be fairly flat (and dull).

Denver is east of various mountainous regions and the Continental Divide. It's at the western end of a large plateau and all the "hilly" areas close to the town are west or south of it. There's a reason the "new" airport is out of town to the east/northeast of the city.

historytraveler

The ( Rocky) mountains are west of Denver. The route is flat, a few small hills of no consequence on I-76.

Tabernash2

It is mostly flat, but you need to know that drive can be extremely treacherous in storms. Rain, tornadoes, snow, wind and ice are fierce on the plains. Eastern Colorado has some of the worst weather for drivers, and oftentimes I-70 East of Denver gets closed.

What time of year?

wtm003

Boredom and lack of scenery will be your biggest concern on I-76.

fmpden

The hills in Iowa and along the river between Omaha and Council Bluffs will be much higher than any of the hills along I-76. The hills along I-76 are rolling. Once past Grand Island, I-80 is absolutely level because it follows the Platte River valley. But you will have a lots of up and down across Ill, Iowa, eastern Nebraska.

Tabernash's comments on our road conditions is a little over the top and you will be nowhere near I-70 till you actually get to Denver.

Tabernash2

My comments also apply to I-76. They are not over-the-top.

We were driving from Omaha to Denver last time, and the wind was scary strong. It opened up the Tulle carrier we had on top of the Honda. We found a place to duct tape it shut securely. Everyone was pulling over and finding lodging.

What time of year is important.

Tabernash2

PS I think when people post a question here, they want to hear our personal experiences. Not personal debates, please.

Gretchen

Head southward to I70 and enjoy a FLAT ride. Boring. Bring audio tapes.

fmpden

No, when people post a question, they want accurate information. You made a broad blanket statement about driving on the eastern plains with no reference to personal experiences or a one time event (for you). IMO, you make it sound like bad weather is the standard. There are some bad storms from time to time but susmei's probability of encounter such storms even in the winter is very low. In the winter I-70 east does get closed three or four times a year but the closure is caused by conditions in Kansas and not Colorado. In the same vain, I-76 is rarely closed. BUT if it is bad enough for the roads to be closed, you should not be traveling anyway. Generally plenty of warning.

You can have bad road conditions anywhere especially in the midwest in winter. But it is not 100%.

Tabernash2

Exactly where did I say it is 100%?? Or that "bad weather is the standard"?? So it's a "broad blanket statement" to say "can be extremely treacherous in storms"??

You just like to contradict anything I post about Colorado, fmpden. You aren't the only person who lives here. Just state your own point without belittling someone else's. That's the way it's supposed to work here.

What I said is this, and I certainly still stand by it:
"It is mostly flat, but you need to know that drive can be extremely treacherous in storms. Rain, tornadoes, snow, wind and ice are fierce on the plains. Eastern Colorado has some of the worst weather for drivers, and oftentimes I-70 East of Denver gets closed."

PS The term is "in the same vein", not "vain".