Summer travel- OKC to Denver

[Filthy]

Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations on the drive from OKC to Denver. Last several times I've been to Denver has been via plane...and its probably been 12-15 years since I've driven. Wanted to take the wife and kids for a week or so, and rent a cabin and do the whole outdoors deal. So, were going to rent a vehicle, and make the drive. 10 hours isn't a big deal obviously, but with two young kids, I was hoping to break the trip up into (2) 4-5 hour drives.

So, I'm looking for recommendations on a good "half way " point. Somewhere to grab a hotel room to sleep..but also someplace of interest for the kiddos. (4 and 9) There just doesn't seem to be much between here and there...but I know there has to be some hidden gems along the way, that some of you have discovered. So, what say you?

[BoulderSooner]

Dodge city Kansas would be fun for your kids and it is about half way.

[Buffalo Bill]

Hays, KS is almost exactly halfway. I-135 and I-70 is the quickest route now that Kansas has bumped the speed limit to 75, albeit incredibly boring. Hays has tons of lodging, the Stenberg Museum for the kids, and Gellas for dinner and beer.

Sternberg Museum of Natural History ...Discovery Under the Dome

Welcome To Gella's Diner & Lb. Brewing Co.

[Teo9969]

The drive is infinitely more interesting if you take State Highways. It ends up being very close in terms of time, and if you're going to stop over night anyway, then making time probably isn't your main goal.

[Bellaboo]

I always took the Northwest passage out to Boise City then north to Lamar. Distance wise it's a little shorter (especially if you live on the west side of OKC and are going to the south side of Denver like I was) but if you cut over to Pueblo from Lamar then you get to the front range a couple to 3 hours sooner than if you are out in the flats of Kansas and eastern Colorado. Stopping halfway ? Never did, it was a 10 hour drive and if you start early enough you can stop in Woodward for breakfast.

[adaniel]

It would be hard to spice up that drive in any way. I say this as someone who loves the high plains and wide open spaces, but OKC to Denver might be one of the most boring drives you can do. I did it once years ago...never again LOL.

Its not quite halfway, but I have heard nice things about Wichita. You can spend an afternoon there and drive to a hotel in Salina.

I also had some friends who drove to Boulder and took the NW passage eventually out to Raton, New Mexico. Supposedly a lot of art galleries and wild west themed attractions. They liked it, but they are kinda woo-woo new age types...not sure how kid friendly some of that stuff would be.

[LocoAko]

I literally just got done doing OKC-DEN and back. I actually enjoy the drive, weirdly enough. We always go out to Amarillo, then head NW across NE NM and then up I-25 along the Front Range. I find a lot of the drive beautiful even in its openness and emptiness. Much prefer it to the route through Kansas even though it is about 30 minutes longer. I just enjoy watching the geography change from central Oklahoma to NM and then the Rockies, becoming more arid, hillier, the volcanoes in NM, etc. Maybe I'm easily entertained. :P

[shawnw]

There's a volcano in NE NM near Raton you can visit along the way that is interesting to check out...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capuli...ional_Monument

[Bullbear]

have done it several times.. I prefer going through Amarillo.. you end up with a much more scenic drive than across Kansas.
its not much from here to Amarillo of course. .but once you get into NM and souther Colorado its nice. can hit garden of the gods as you go towards Denver as well.. beautiful.

[Bellaboo]

I literally just got done doing OKC-DEN and back. I actually enjoy the drive, weirdly enough. We always go out to Amarillo, then head NW across NE NM and then up I-25 along the Front Range. I find a lot of the drive beautiful even in its openness and emptiness. Much prefer it to the route through Kansas even though it is about 30 minutes longer. I just enjoy watching the geography change from central Oklahoma to NM and then the Rockies, becoming more arid, hillier, the volcanoes in NM, etc. Maybe I'm easily entertained. :P

I feel the same way about that country.

[mkjeeves]

ditto! NW Passage through NM is a favorite drive.

[ctchandler]

Maybe I'm easily entertained. :P

LocoAko,
No, your just sick! Actually, I agree with you, I prefer your drive to the drive through Kansas even though it's a little longer. And if you have time, stop by the Great Sand Dunes, even the Royal Gorge, and as you mentioned, the Garden of the Gods. But if time is of the essence, going through Kansas is probably best, and Dodge City would be a nice stop for the kids. Wichita might be a good place to stay but it's only a couple of hours from here, so I'm not sure where the best place is. Maybe Salina or Hays. Neither is a great metropolis but there's probably decent places to spend the night.
C. T.

[Tritone]

Several routes as these posts say, all with their plusses and their minuses. I've taken them all. Are these kiddoes the kind that realize that cars have windows or are they buried in their electronics? No offense intended but some kids are the former and others are the latter. We took our young (at the time) grandson up that way and drove two lane highways most of the way. He was amazed at some of the new things not found in "the City." Dodge City has a lot of old west type stuff and if the kids are into this that could be a factor. We try to come back over a different route when we can, just to see more things. Happy trails!

[Zuplar]

I've done both ways that most have described, mostly just posted because I remember seeing that volcano and saying something to my wife, but at the time don't recall actually knowing it was a volcano. My best friend just spent a week with us and is heading back to Denver, the past 3 times he's taken the state highways, but this go around decided to do the I35 to I70 way. I say if time is of the essence that's the best way to go and stay in Hays or Colby Kansas. But for what you want to do I'd definitely go "back-roads."

[Urbanized]

I agree about NW passage, and also Capulin volcano; It was pretty interesting on my trip to Colorado Springs a few years back. Another option is Black Mesa in the Oklahoma Panhandle, with a small re-route. I drove OKC-Salina-Denver two years ago and it was MIND-NUMBING. That said, there were a ton of neat-looking churches, a cathedral and postcard-perfect-looking small towns just off of the interstate that I would have liked to check out, but didn't have the time.

[Filthy]

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. It's definitely a crap shoot. I guess I'm somewhat leaning towards heading West towards Amarillo, and possibly staying there for the night. Its somewhat "halfway," and would probably offer a somewhat decent hotel to stay in for the night. It also looks as if the place I'm staying In Colorado is actually about 2 hours South/Southwest of Denver...so, drive time would actually be a bit shorter.

Still open to any other suggestions though, as this is going to be a very layed back vacation. No schedule, No itinerary, and No pressure to be anywhere at any specific time.

[Bellaboo]

Be sure to go to the Big Tex in Amarillo for dinner if you go that route. Interesting place. Also the 'Caddillac Stonehinge' on the west side of Amarillo.

I've gone several ways going west and from Amarillo north to Dumas, Dalhart and Clayton NM is good. You can stop by Capulin (sp) volcano and drive to the top if you want. Then on to Raton and pick up I-25. The speed limit in Texas is 75 also.

The other way is straight west from Amarillo to San Jon NM and then north. The Canadian River Gorge is pretty cool, then cut over to I-25. Not bad at all but you won't see Capulin this direction.

[soonermike81]

I definitely agree with all the people that say to head west. I have made the drive four-five times over the past 10 years, and the drive through western Kansas is the worst drive I've ever taken. Flat with absolutely nothing to look at. The topography out west is pretty amazing. Well worth the extra time.

[MagzOK]

Certainly take the western route! If you have never taken the NW passage, you should at least take it once in your lifetime. There are some places along the way that are historic and might be interesting for kids to see as you're going, history-wise. There's a nice Plains museum in Woodward and you have an old frontier prairie fort to tour in Ft. Supply. On one trip, once we got to Boise City we kept going west on SH325 and took it through Black Mesa State Part, which is beautiful, and drove through Kenton -- because you always used to hear Gary England mention Kenton when he had the maps up. Kenton is the only town in Oklahoma that recognizes mountain time. But we then followed that highway west from Kenton and came into Folsom, NM then continuing to the volcano at Capulin which itself is pretty neat. From Capulin go west to Ratan, then north into Colorado. We hit up Santa Fe at least once a year and have taken many different routes out that direction. To me there is awesome beauty to the west and the northwest passage glorifies just that. It's so much better than the same-old boring interstate. If you want a little faster time on the return trip, just come back south on the interstate and make your way to Amarillo. In Amarillo look for a burger joint called Blue Sky. It's off of I-40 and Western there in Amarillo (yes Western). We eat here almost every time we travel out west. I guarantee it will be one of the better burgers you will have ever tried. Anyway, I'm jealous of your trip and eager for my next one out there! Safe travels to you and your family.

[sixkiller]

Too bad this never came to be.
[IMG][/IMG]

[Tritone]

We went through the Plains Museum in Woodward last week. It's not big but it has some great stuff. A current display is the pencil works of a local artist from Gage. Wow! She is good. You know, my experience is that just about every other or every third little town has something really neat to see. Have a great trip!

[OKCRT]

I definitely agree with all the people that say to head west. I have made the drive four-five times over the past 10 years, and the drive through western Kansas is the worst drive I've ever taken. Flat with absolutely nothing to look at. The topography out west is pretty amazing. Well worth the extra time.

You must not like car sized tumbleweeds then.

[BG918]

I've done this drive dozens of times, the "southern" route is by far the most scenic especially as you get into northeast NM which is mesa country (similar to the far western OK panhandle). Raton Pass is your first "mountain" experience and tops out at 7834 ft. on I-25 at the Colorado border then you just have views of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mtns to the west to near Pueblo and the Front Range (dominated by Pikes Peak) from south of Colorado Springs to Denver. You get a great view of Denver heading north down from the higher elevation Palmer Divide right after you pass Castle Pines. The only downside is having to stop at stoplights in the small towns northwest of Amarillo until you get to I-25, and depending on when you go traffic can be heavy in Colorado Springs and south Denver.

[kevinpate]

Are you wanting beauty to enjoy from windows and tourist traps or ease of driving.
Ease of driving is (major boring) drive up into KS and then across. Sleep in Hays as someone mentioned.
I do not travel that route but if the goal is get done the road already, it's an ok option.

My favorite route is early afternoon start, go west through texas panhandle and sleeping in Amarillo. If you want touristy dinner, then yes, Big Texan. It's not bad food, but it's not going to be the kind of place you make a special trip to either. You can even sleep in touristy trap next to it, though I have not.

Next leg, go west on 40 into NM. About half way between TX/NM line and Tucumcari, go north on HWY 469 (not in wintertime) to 54, thn North short distance to Logan, then NW out of Logan on NM Hwy 39. beautiful two lane road. follow NW through Mosquero to Roy and switch to HWY 120 to Wagon Mound. If you are not rushed, go south on I-25 to state 161 and then NW on 161 to Fort Union site.
Then back out to I-25 and follow it on into Colorado. If you have ample time, You can easily see more in the NE NM area.
I used to take the family with me when the kiddos were younger. They played while I did Scouting training at the train center across from Philmont Scout Ranch, south of Cimarron NM. I love that countryside up there.

Another option is North out of Amarillio, US 287 to Dumas (never winter in Dumas, brrrr), then 87 over to Dalhart and Clayton NM, then 64 to capulin to visit the volcano (drive up and walk the rim) and then over to Raton NM then up I-25 into CO. Royal Gorge NW of Pueblo is nice. Bit of an ugly fire in 2013, but area is open for business per website. Pikes Peak is nice when it is not clouded in.

[catch22]

I took the north route (I-35 to I-70) when I moved to Portland in May.

I disagree that it was "Mind Numbing". It was actually quite a scenic trip, as just outside of Selina you drive through some very tall rolling hills, and in some areas the windmills are right up next to the road.

Once you get closer to Denver, you start entering some more tall rolling hills.

One very interesting phenomena my girlfriend pointed out to me, was how the grain elevators got smaller and smaller as we left Wichita.

Here's the one in Wichita

Almost a half mile long.

As we got further and further away, the grain elevators got smaller and smaller. Some 10 to 15 silos, and then some 8-10 silos, then finally we saw a 2 silo one way out near Colorado. It was a fascinating observation, but maybe I am easily amused.