Road Trip - I-70
July 27, 2017 11:28 AM   Subscribe

I'm looking specifically for lodging between the Eisenhower tunnel and Denver metro. I'm trying to keep the drive from Bryce to the 6 hour range. Open to camping. Final destination the other side of Denver. Also on the way back I'm looking for lodging around Moab. Thanks for your time, and feel free to mention other thing that would be useful.
posted by notned to Travel & Transportation around United States (5 answers total)
 
So most front range people don't think of there being much on that leg, since we're generally driving through to or from some destination on the west side of the tunnel. The only town of really decent size there is Idaho Springs. There's a developed hot springs there which is pretty cool, they have a large vaulted glass hot house over the swimming pool and do offer accommodations. There's plenty of national forest camping around, check the Clear Creak ranger district. Clear Lake campground in particular looks promising, though I've never been there myself. There are also plenty of commercial campground options, though, again, no personal experience. Do note that everything about your trip is going to be easier, both traffic- and lodging-availability-wise, if you'll be traveling through on a weeknight.

HTH, and feel free to DM me if you have any specific questions.
posted by 7segment at 12:05 PM on July 27, 2017


The Apache Motel in Moab is inexpensive and John Wayne stayed there. Many of my friends stay at that hotel, mostly out of tradition - they've been going to Moab for years, and for a long time it was one of the nicer ones. There are much, much newer places, but I don't know anything about them.

Grand Junction, CO has a bunch of hotels as well, and liquor laws that are not as weird.

If you want camping, there is a nice campground at 18road in Fruita, CO, and Rabbit Valley near the state line. Otherwise, go down hwy 128 to Moab and there are many campgrounds along the Colorado River. They fill up fast though - they are very popular. If you take a left at Dewey Bridge, and follow that dirt road back into the hills, there are many dispersed spots back in there. Moab has a ton of great dispersed camping around town though. My favorite sites are out near the Hamburger Rock campground.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 12:31 PM on July 27, 2017 [1 favorite]


If you stay in Idaho Springs, Beau Jo's pizza is excellent, and there are a couple breweries, all along the main street through town. There are also a few lodging options in Georgetown - The Alpine bar and Whistle Stop Cafe are both worthwhile.
posted by hootenatty at 2:31 PM on July 27, 2017


The Three Dogs and a Moose cottages in Moab are awesome. Highly recommended.
posted by cnc at 3:05 PM on July 27, 2017


Seconding that Idaho Springs and Georgetown are probably the only two places between the tunnel and Denver with hotel/motel-type lodging. 7segment's suggestion about the hot springs in Idaho Springs is a good one. Since you mentioned you're open to camping, Golden Gate Canyon State Park is only about 30 minutes north of Idaho Springs off of I-70 and is a good camping/hiking option that's close to Denver.
posted by Vek at 5:00 PM on July 27, 2017


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