Driving from LA to Aspen - help me out

alexg1687

alexg1687

Active member
Going to Aspen in Jan/Feb. We're picking up an SUV in LA and driving to Vegas then driving from Vegas to Snowmass. Has anyone ever done that drive? What are the roads like? Not that I plan on speeding but are the cops lenient? Can you sit on 80mph or will I get arrested?

I have driven from Aspen to Vail and Steamboat before so I'm familiar with roads in CO but not in Utah. Google maps says the Vegas to Aspen leg will take 10 hours but I'm comfortable with long drives and we have a few of us between whom to share it.
 
in the deserts of nevada and utah you could probably safely cruise at 85-90; just be on the lookout for cops coming in the opposite direction. when you start getting into the mtns, just move at whatever speed the traffic is moving along at and youll be fine.
 
I've done this drive many, many times.

You are fine to go 80 from LA to 15, if you don't people will probably hate you. You may hit snow going through cajon pass or crazy traffic if you are doing the drive on a weekend. You can honestly sit for hours on the 15 before Cajon pass if you don't leave at the right time of the day.

Cajon pass to Vegas, I'd stay just under 80. A lot of cops chill out in the CA section. Beware.

Vegas to Utah is quite beautiful. Slow down as soon as you hit Arizona though, usually lots of cops pulling people over for the 20 miles you drive through there. Once, I got a warning for going 4mph over.

A lot of Utah is 75/80mph or test zones and what not. You can probably go a bit faster, but I wouldn't press my luck too much since the speed limits are already so high.

The drive usually takes me around 13 hours with stopping and so forth and I almost always have done it by myself. Just make sure you stay gassed up in Utah, there is a 111mi stretch or so with absolutely no gas stations. During this stretch, people also seem to drive as fast as they want, be careful though and watch the signs cause you can overheat, run out of gas, or take a turn too fast and have that be the end of your journey.
 
Do you lose demerit points if you're caught speeding overseas? American speeding fines are infinitely cheaper than ours.
 
I did santa barbara to boulder last august. Longest fucking drive 18 hours straight. But yeah cops are fine and sparse once you get out of california. But in california CHP will fuck you in the ass keep cruise control set at 7 mph over the limit and you're golden. Nevada is really chill you will be able to average 85 and be fine until vegas. Utah is the most fun. The road I took to get to I-70 was desolate. I averaged 98 mph through that stretch of utah. Once I got to I-70 it slowed down just going up hill and all but the roads were fine it was a fun drive a beautiful drive. I kept my speed through colorado granted it was like 10 pm to 2 am when i was driving through colorado. But i DID get pulled over (bound to happen) right outside boulder for going 119. But it's an easy drive a lot of fun I did it alone in one sitting only stopping for food and gas. You will be golden.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top