highway 36: good for cross country trip?

[blackbuell]

I'm planning a 16 day ride from KY to the four corners area and back. I plan to slab it (I-64 and I-70) to CO on the way out, but would rather take a different, more relaxed route home. I have never ridden on rt. 36. How is it? Can you still make good time on it?

Thanks for the info,

Jon

[Justin]

Are you referring to US 36 across Kansas etc? If so, you can make good time. It's 65 MPH west of Wathena if I recall. Not sure what the limit is in Missouri though.

[blackbuell]

Justin,

Yes, I am referring to US 36. It looks like a very direct way to get across eastern Colorado, Kansas and Missouri; I just wondered how much slower it would be than taking I-70.

Jon

[gtsrider]

I've rode Rt 36 about 7 years ago. It will be slower than I-70 but it is a more interesting road than I-70, lots of small towns evenly spaced and a cross section of America. Charles Kuralt would take Rt 36.

[Cablebandit]

Charles Kuralt would take Rt 36.

 

[BMW_Ken]

I rode US36 across MO and KS on a trip to CO in 2006.  I enjoyed it and would do it again.

[bikerfish1100]

have run 36 from KA/CO border to Indy many times. it will add some time in compared to the interstate (maybe a half day?), but it is certainly a more enjoyable road.
hope you're planning something in SW CO that is more exciting than "4 Corners" itself. that is a major  , especially ehwn there is such great stuff in the general vicinity- Million $ HIway (US 550), Lizard Head Pass, 141, 92, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde.

[birdrunner]

hope you're planning something in SW CO that is more exciting than "4 Corners" itself. that is a major  , especially ehwn there is such great stuff in the general vicinity- Million $ HIway (US 550), Lizard Head Pass, 141, 92, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde.

Black Buell doesnt' need to see Mesa Verde,  I think he actually was one of the residents.  

[blackbuell]

Black Buell doesnt' need to see Mesa Verde,  I think he actually was one of the residents.  

Actually, my brother and I might go there to visit our childhood cliff-dwelling---so many memories there

Bikerfish,

I lived in NM for many years, so I realize the only reason someone might want to visit the Four Corners monument would be the opportunity to piss on four different states at one time. My brother has never seen the Grand Canyon, so we will head there (north rim) from KY. En route we will also ride through Rocky Mt. NP, Leadville, Gunnison, Lake City, and other nice places in CO. While in Utah, we will visit Moab (and Arches) and ride some of those wonderful roads in the SE part of the state.

Jon

[Orson]

Late response here but, I've heard good reports on MO-160 across Southern Missouri. It continues on into Kansas.

[98z51]

It sounds like you have a nice trip planned.   I ride from northern CO to Kansas City a few times a year and try to take different routes every time.  Hwy 36 is the shortest distance and it's more interesting than I-70 but the road is very straight.  

My favorite route so far is Hwy 34 from Loveland CO to Arapahoe NE, then Hwy 136 east to Red Cloud NE, then south on Hwy 281 to Downs KS, where I take Hwy 24 all the way east to KC.  This route is only a few miles longer than taking the interstate, and the speed limit is 65 on most of the roads.   Much of this route follows rivers, so it has more trees than you would normally see in western Kansas and Nebraska.

[blackbuell]

Orson & 98z51,

Thanks for the tips; I will consider both suggestions as I am always looking for novel ways to cross the Great Plains (I never did understand what was so great about them).

Jon