Touring - Interstate 80 in Wyo

Anyone ridden this? I know a portion of it is part of the ACA Transamerica route, but I'm thinking of also including the stretch from Rawlins to Green River (headed west). I have a reunion coming up in G.R. in 2011 (I know, a year and a half away), but I'm beginning to make plans. Headwinds are a given, but is there anything else I'm missing?

I rode the Rawlins/Rock Springs portion one August as it was the most direct route to my destination. Just typical interstate with good gradients, widely spaced rest areas [50 miles?] and wide shoulders filled at times with debris from the passing vehicles. Headwinds somewhat reduced by the passing semi trucks at times. Heat in August was the hardest part-90's+. Enjoy the reunion.

Laws may very well be different in Wyoming, but here in Nebraska, bicycles are not allowed on I80. Might be worth checking into if you haven't already.

The part that's on the TransAm is pretty nice. The shoulders are excellent and after the first few semis, you don't really notice the 70mph cars flying by.

I really liked knowing that there were rumble strips between me and the cars - I felt safer knowing that if anyone crossed over the line towards me I would at least hear them first. Generally, though, the cars moved to the left lane and gave me PLENTY of room. I say go for it!

Laws may very well be different in Wyoming, but here in Nebraska, bicycles are not allowed on I80. Might be worth checking into if you haven't already.

From what I can tell from the Wyoming web site, bikes are legal on the interstates there, but that they are "discouraged". As I said earlier, part of the TransAm route is on I-80 in Wyoming (but only about 30 miles or so).

Why?

If you are coming from a southeasterly direction -
there is no need to take I-80.

You can head west on US 40 thru Steamboat and Craig in Colorado -
Continue west to Maybell and then head out on COLO 318.
(Camping in the little Maybell town park)
About 50 miles out you turn north towards Rock Springs
This road is hard packed dirt/gravel.
I've biked it twice - no problem - almost like pavement.
At the Wyo border its turns back to pavement - WYO 430.

West of Craig traffic is very light.
West of Maybell it is almost nonexistent.

I have Rock Springs to Rawlins and it was fabulous eastbound with a Wide shoulder. Compared to CO it was flat as can be even crossing the divide. At Point of Rocks WY you can get off and ride the serivce road west bound. where I never encountered a single car. You do need to get back on I80 exit 111? to get into Rock Springs or take a detour south which I didn't do.

Lots of BLM land compared to CO. Rawlins I slept 2 miles out of town on the west side by the flying J.

If you come up through Saratoga there is a nice free hot spring pool by the river.

Very few if any services between Warmsutter subway, gas station (near Freeway) and Point of Rocks gas station, fireworks, laundry (open?).

Laws may very well be different in Wyoming, but here in Nebraska, bicycles are not allowed on I80. Might be worth checking into if you haven't already.

I believe bikes are allowed on Interstates in Wyoming. I've ridden on I-25 in central parts of Cheyenne, only 50,000 people but a lot more on/off ramps than further west on I-80. I've driven that part of I-80 but haven't been on a bike. I'd expect a fair amount of debris and truck traffic - however, a broad shoulder and not much in way of grades.

What I would watch for however is road construction. Wyoming has this habit of occasionally closing down parts of Interstate and directing all traffic on one side with essentially one shoulder. Have that happen to you on the reunion and it could be awkward but otherwise I wouldn't worry about it.

I have only ridden the part on the TA. It had a wide shoulder and seemed safe enough. It wasn't especially pleasant though and there was a lot of sharp stuff on the shoulder so be sure you have spare tubes, a pump, and patch kit.

I actually kind of like riding on Interstates in some cases (I-25 in NM was very nice), but as I said did not find I-80 on the TA aesthetically pleasing.

I've ridden stretches of I-70 in Colorado and Utah, Interstates can be reasonably safe but they're not the most pleasant places in the world to ride. I would look for secondary or frontage roads and ride a few extra miles if you have the time, just to make the journey more pleasant. Try a DeLorme's Atlas of either state to find the really minor roads.

If you are coming from a southeasterly direction -
there is no need to take I-80.

You can head west on US 40 thru Steamboat and Craig in Colorado -
Continue west to Maybell and then head out on COLO 318.
(Camping in the little Maybell town park)
About 50 miles out you turn north towards Rock Springs
This road is hard packed dirt/gravel.
I've biked it twice - no problem - almost like pavement.
At the Wyo border its turns back to pavement - WYO 430.

West of Craig traffic is very light.
West of Maybell it is almost nonexistent.


Interesting option, but I try to stay in motels or B&Bs when I tour (moderately-loaded credit card type). The area you're talking about is quite desolate. I've been kinda fixated on taking the TransAm route up thru Encampment and Saratoga 'cause I love that area and one of my sisters used to live there. But, it looks like an alternative may be to depart from the TransAm at Kremmling CO and to take U.S. 40 west thru Steamboat over the Lay CO area (ministry there, but I don't know if they'll house folks for a nite). That would also give me a chance to drop in on the MOOTS folks (my roadie - not my tourer - is a Vamoots). From Lay it's a loooong ride (110 mi or so) to Dutch John UT where a lodge exists. Finally, a ride north from there to the Green River / Rock Springs area is about 60-70 mi. Hmmmmm ....