My family and I are going to be driving to Colorado for vacation and I wanted to see if anyone had made the drive from the Killeen/Temple area. what is the best route and approximate driving time, assuming rest stops and no hotel stays? Thanks in advance.

Goggle Maps will tell you everything you need to know.

I understand the existence of google maps, mapquest, etc. I also know there's more than one way to get there and wanted to see if anyone had a strong opinion on the best route. Do you think I'm asking what to use to direct myself there? I'm asking for first-hand experience of how to get there.

What part of Colorado? Most likely you will get to Lubbock (hwy 36 from temple, or hwy 84 from Killeen), 87 to Amarillo, Clayton, and raton new Mexico, where you will cruise up i25 into Colorado.

And lubbock is roughly 5.5 hours from temple, and Denver is 8 hrs from Lubbock. Thats at a pretty fast pace though.

I don't have much to add but agree with Erac.
On the Travel Board I believe you stated you were going to Winter Park. Having been to WP multiple times per year for the last 20 years, and coming from Waco, I'd say the Abilene/Childress route is about the same as Sweetwater/Lubbock. If we had to pick up family in Dallas we of course used 287/87/25 etc.

We always left at 4am and with minimal stops could make it to our condo in Fraser by 8pm.

Yes, it depends on what part of Colorado. If it's SW Colorado (Durango, Pagosa Springs), I'd go 36 to Abilene, I-20 to Roscoe, 36/84 to Lubbock, then to Clovis, Santa Fe, Chama, and on into SW Colorado.

If Denver, may use Erac's route.

Thanks for the responses. I think we're going to go through Amarillo, Dumas, Raton and then up I-25 on into Denver and then over. I appreciate all of the help and suggestions.

Doh! Meant 84 to Lubbock

No, go I-35 North til you hit Kansas, and then go West on I-70.

The reason for this is there is honestly no civilization until Abilene once you leave Killeen, and that can be taxing on the demands of children. Also you will lose several hours of time when you hit New Mexico because the road there becomes 45 miles an hour due to construction from Clayton to Raton.

[This message has been edited by aunuwyn08 (edited 6/4/2011 5:57p).]

Oh, and I made the trip from Killeen to Denver in 12 hours via I-35 and I-70, although I sped through Oklahoma, Kansas, and Eastern Colorado under the cover of night.

[This message has been edited by aunuwyn08 (edited 6/4/2011 5:57p).]

Yep, I35 to Salina Kansas, then I70 to Denver does indeed look like the best route.

But Killeen to Denver, 1025 miles, in 12 hours? I might have to throw the bullschiittt flag on that one.

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although I sped through Oklahoma, Kansas, and Eastern Colorado under the cover of night.

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What is this, 1850? Radar guns don't work at night?







[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 6/5/2011 5:36a).]

There is nothing along that route for miles, so at night officers are least likely to actually be out in speed traps.

Mmm hmmm

I have driven to Denver from Killeen about 5 times. Killeen to Amarill0 -quit early and enjoy the motel pool and have a nice dinner. Amarillo to Dalhart to Raton. One trip we stopped at Mount Capulan(?) and toured the extinct volcano. Continued Raton, Trinidad, Pueblo, cut across and visited Royal Gorge,back to I25 and pulled into Denver about 5:00 PM of the second day. Coming home we took the cog railroad to the top of Pike's Peak. Kids were about 10 and seven at the time and we had a nice family vacation. It wasn't rushed and we got to do a lot of things along the way - sort of stopped and smelled the roses as they say.

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No, go I-35 North til you hit Kansas, and then go West on I-70.

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Did this route a few years ago. I did it just to try it to see if it was any better than the old tried and true Raton route. It's a better route if you're towing a trailer because it's completely flat until you get to Denver. But, it's a long haul. And with kids in the car, ... We stopped and spent the night in Wichita.

My parents used to do I-35W to 287 to I-25 and would make it from Waco to Denver in about 12 1/2 hours of drive time in the summer. Google puts that route at 858 miles. That's an average of 68.64 mph. So maybe they meant 13 1/2 hours and called it 12 1/2 after the change from CDT to MDT. That would be a more believable 63.55 mph average.

I made several trips between Austin and Denver. With kids in the car, it was 14 hours. Austin to Lubbock was 6 hours, Lubbock to Denver was 8 hours. Or, going the other way, Denver to Amarillo was 6 hours, Amarillo to Austin was 8 hours. We'd always go via Brownwood and Abilene.

Just for kicks, I checked the distance from Killeen to Denver via Wichita. Yeah, 1018 miles in 12 hours gives you an average speed of 84.83 mph. Not gonna happen.

My personal best long distance run was 800 miles from Dallas to Fort Knox in 12 1/2 hours (including stops) for an average of 64 mph on 2 January 1994. More recently (24 October 2006), I drove from Los Angeles to The Bay Area in just over 4 hours. I averaged 78.46 mph on that trip (340 miles in 4:20 ironically). On jaunts between Los Angeles and San Diego, I've been able to average about 80 mph over a 150 mile route through the Inland Empire which included a solid hour at 100 mph. It's just impossible to keep up an 85 mph average speed over a great distance like that from Killeen to Denver. You have to stop for fuel, bathroom breaks, etc.

Also had many great runs between Brady and Llano back in the 1994-1995 era. But not at night and not during deer season. Came around a bend one morning and almost ran into Hogzilla. That'll make you think twice about speeding.

[This message has been edited by HollywoodBQ (edited 6/6/2011 9:32a).]

Hollywood, you are correct, sir. That's why I called bull*****t on the 1025 miles in 12 hours claim. Can't be done, unless you're traveling by plane or helicopter.

I did it, I travel along all interstates at an average of 80 mph, and through Kansas and Eastern Colorado at around 90.

aunuwyn08 - what may I ask were you driving for this sustained high-speed trip?

Don't say a PT Cruiser

Believe it or not a Plymouth minivan can really motor along, not too great 0 to 60 time though.

From Amarillo, try continuing north through the top of the Panhandle. Many folks from Colorado claim that as a better way. I've done the drive a few times, and it's ok - it's more of a bunch of nothing out there...

I have gone from Killeen to Denver many ways. I think the best is up through Ft worth and out to Amarillo and Dalhart.