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Road Trip to Colorado from Louisiana

Posted on 3/2/17 at 9:36 am
Posted by ZDub86
Colorado
Member since Aug 2006
312 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 9:36 am
Hello.

My wife and I would like to start planning a road trip for our one year anniversary in late November, specifically Thanksgiving weekend. We are still not sure if it's possible yet (mainly due to unknown weather conditions) but I figured it wouldn't hurt to plan something ahead of time to see if it's feasible or not. I know Colorado is a favorite among many travelers, so I am hoping to receive some good feedback here. Neither of us have visited Colorado but have always wanted to go. Here are some details of what we would like to do...

Visit a bed and breakfast type place for 2-3 nights and mostly just relax in a smaller town. This would be our first time to Colorado for the both of us so we don't want to do too much, mainly trying to avoid the big cities/tourist areas like Denver, Aspen, Breckenridge, etc. I found a great deal for a bed and breakfast called Black Bear Manor in Ouray, SW CO. Seems like the perfect small community for us right in the middle of the mountains. We would like to do a little sightseeing while there, maybe some hiking and beginner-type skiiing (we have never skied before but would love to) obviously all of this is dependent on the weather conditions. Which leads me to my next paragraph...

What are the average temps like for western CO in late November? What is the average snowfall for this time of year? Should we be expecting heavy snow while driving into northern NM and into CO (obviously my main concern being from LA)? We have never driven in snow so it kind of freaks me out a little. Here is a tentative plan/route we are going to be taking...

Traveling from Lake Charles: 171 north, west on I20 through Dallas, Abilene, Lubbock, and then hit I40 through Albuquerque and then north on 550 into CO and looks like straight into Ouray (according to Google maps). This route would avoid any tolls, and would take about 20 hours (not counting traffic, weather conditions, stops, etc.) We will more than likely cut that in half and stay somewhere about midway through the drive. Right now we'd be looking at leaving on Wednesday 11/22, stay 3 nights at the bnb, and head back on Sunday 11/26. I know that weekend might be the worst possible weekend to travel but there are a few reasons behind choosing that weekend... We are both off from work for the holidays (would give us extra days to enjoy Colorado) and our one year anniversary is 11/26.

Is this drive even doable in two days? Am I getting way ahead of myself here? Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance.
Posted by mizslu314
Dirty STL
Member since Sep 2013
15973 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 10:08 am to
What kind of car you got?
Posted by ZDub86
Colorado
Member since Aug 2006
312 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 10:19 am to
Sorry, forgot to include that information.

Two choices:

VW Passat and Nissan Rogue.

Obviously the Passat gets better gas mileage, and the Rogue is more spacious and more comfortable for a long trip.

Will I need to put any special kind of tires on the vehicle for a trip like this?
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
42631 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 10:40 am to
I drove to Colorado with my wife before we had kids and I will never do it again!

Once you drive to Colorado you still have to drive everywhere in Colorado to do everything. You never stop driving. It was misery.

Last summer we flew to Denver and rented a car and it was the best vacation ever according to my son.
Posted by jsk020
Nola
Member since Jan 2013
1699 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 10:53 am to
+1 for flying and renting. the journey through west texas is terrible
Posted by ZDub86
Colorado
Member since Aug 2006
312 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 10:59 am to
We have thought about flying but trying to cut down on the costs. Plus not sure if we would want to stay in a busy big city like Denver. I'd need to research how far of a drive it would be to a smaller city from Denver if we went that route. Did you guys stay in Denver or go somewhere else?

Honestly, we wouldn't be driving all that much once we get to our destination in Colorado. Ouray is a tiny town and all of the reviews that I've been reading say everything is pretty much within walking distance.
Posted by jmarto1
Houma, LA/ Las Vegas, NV
Member since Mar 2008
33961 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:05 am to
Be honest, you're hauling some weed back aren't you?
Posted by mizslu314
Dirty STL
Member since Sep 2013
15973 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:08 am to
does frontier fly out of MSY? frontier flights from stl to denver are normally about 130 RT
Posted by Wade Phillips
Member since Dec 2008
572 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:09 am to
Go to Fredericksburg TX and stay the first night. Drive to Santa Fe NM for the second night. Then Colorado next day.
Posted by Funky Tide 8
Tittleman's Crest
Member since Feb 2009
52703 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:09 am to
I'd fly if I was yall. Plane tickets to Denver are pretty cheap, especially if you don't wait until last minute.
Posted by ZDub86
Colorado
Member since Aug 2006
312 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:10 am to
$130 RT wow, great price!! I will have to look into that for sure.

Although it would be during the Thanksgiving holiday and plane tickets prices usually get jacked up to travel during that weekend.
This post was edited on 3/2/17 at 11:12 am
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
42631 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:11 am to
We flew to Denver, rented a car, probably need the Rogue to go up in mountains.

We stayed in Denver two nights.
We stayed in Estes Park and Vail the rest of the trip. Boulder is really close to Denver too.
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
42631 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:11 am to
The gas money alone could pay for two flights.
Posted by Hamma1122
Member since Sep 2016
19823 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:14 am to
FLY!!
Posted by ZDub86
Colorado
Member since Aug 2006
312 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:20 am to
Thanks everyone. Seems like it would be much less of a headache to fly. We will look into this.
Posted by ZDub86
Colorado
Member since Aug 2006
312 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:27 am to
Where does everyone usually look online for cheap flights? Everything I am seeing on Expedia or United.com is over $1,000 for two people. Out of Houston or NO.
Posted by jsk020
Nola
Member since Jan 2013
1699 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:35 am to
google flights. track prices. msy or iah are cheap.
Posted by SnowAubie
Member since Dec 2016
349 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 11:36 am to
Wait until Southwest opens their flight calendar for your dates
Posted by TeddyPadillac
Member since Dec 2010
25579 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 12:43 pm to
I drove to Apsen with 2 buddies a while back. took 24 hours from BR, and we didnt' stop. Each took a 8 hour shift.
I enjoyed the scenery of west texas. Vast openness of land as far as you can see. and you can go as fast as you want out there b/c there's literally nothing for miles and miles. Saw plenty of deer and even some tumbleweed rolling across the highway like it was a bugs bunny cartoon.
that being said, you should fly. spending a weeks vacation where 4 of the days all you are doing is driving is a waste of time.
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 3/2/17 at 12:53 pm to
If you're dead set on driving someplace, how about the aforementioned Fredericksburg, TX? Smallish town, nearby hiking, plenty of small/quaint B&B style lodgings, and close enough to maximize your week's vacay without wasting time in an airport. Plus, if you like to drive, the TX Hill Country has some nice twisty roads & scenery.
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