User:Zanygenius2 (WV-en)/Draft/Interstate 25

Long forgotten among the United states, the rather formidable Interstate 25 is a generally four-lane highway in the Rocky Mountains, covering 1062 mi in three states: Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico; The road trip begins in Las Cruces and heads up north to Buffalo. Everyone should find something under the sun here, no matter if they are laid-back, adventurous, western, or urban. For much the route, US 87 shadows this rural and urban amalgam, and can when the route rarely diverges, one can see the Rocky Mountains for all their beauty, and why I-25 and US-87 is not just to pass by.

Understand
Straddling the line on the Front Range between the Rocky Mountians and Great Plains, the Interstate 25 corridor is like a hidden gem far from any coast. While this may feel like isolation, one may truly find this place a reminder of home, as there is something here for everyone.

Orientation
In general, the highway runs south to north, with the miles increasing to the north in each state (though the process repeats per state). There is the possibility that you may get lost on the highway, so the best course of action, according to the locals who joke about it, is not the GPS due to sometimes poor signal in rural areas, however this can be more helpful than anything else combined. If you don't have one, look for an exit sign, this will tell you how many miles you are in a certain state. So Exit 9 is nine miles from the Southern Border of a state or the highway.

Itineraries
One can pick up a pamphlet from any town, or look at a website, or even a video!


 * Interstate Kyle covers the Interstate on a series of drive-viewing videos on YouTube. There are state specific videos available in Colorado and Wyoming.

Watch

 * A Dog's Way Home: Bella, separated from her owners in Denver embarks on a 400 mile journey that to some extent runs along I-25 in New Mexico and Colorado.

Prepare
''Additional info can be found at this driving tips article, where some useful info is found. ''

What to expect
The populace would likely say: See also: Good luck!, which is rather true. In general though, I-25 is a rather flat, normal size highway, with the occasional curves. Within big cities such as Albuquerque and Denver, the lanes double in number, and traffic increases ten-fold, causing a feeling of nervousness in the driver. This is, however the exception, as much of the Interstate is smooth-sailing, and generally not chaotic. If you are in traffic though, don't panic. The best advice might be: "Research your destination and try to get into the correct lane ahead of time." Though this may be an exercise in frustration, it will lessen the trouble later on when actually trying to exit the free-way.

What is something that requires a lot of planning, but is hard to predict? That would be weather, the literal definition of unpredictable. From one end of the interstate to the other, there is sunshine and warmth to clouds to snow and cold. Meanwhile, some locations in May have all four seasons in a single week! Thus it is important to remember that the forecast is a guess. An educated one, but still just estimation on the Front Range. Blue and Yellow signs, particularly in Wyoming informs you of which radio stations hold road info. (Cheyenne, by the way is AM 530, while Fort Collins is AM 1610). Also, many stations will have the weather forecast, which can be beneficial. Even the radio is often rough in accuracy, so the best bet is to prepare for anything, and plan wisely. Good luck!

What to pack
Weather, as was previously discussed is the definition of unpredictable. Even a few hours is hard to tell on the front range, as is proved by the forecast companies who find it hard to keep up. There should be some gear for all types of weather, and even if it's 80° F (27 C) degrees outside, don't underestimate a jacket or a coat. At the same time though, sun-block (often called sunscreen) is just as important.

Depending on the length of the trip, you may wish to consider bringing basic home necessities, such as deodorant and toothbrushes for everyone; shaving for men, make up for women, as well as (proper doses of) over-the counter medications for children and the elderly. Food and drinks from a store or at home is also a consideration, though restaurants are almost-always tempting. Even in spite of this, the well planned can avoid un-expected last-minute restraint trips. Although it is reccomended to visit an eatery in each state, overdoing will sicken the stomach, so finding the balance between "lunch-pack" food and restaurants is essential.

In case of emergency, a First-aid kitis a must for every trip. The American Health Association recommends packing band-aids, a flashlight, treatment cream, as well as an AED. For the vehicle, bring along a spare tire, a jack, as well as canned gas (this can leave a stink, so use this info to your discretion); going without can lead to a bill worth thousands.

Some items aren't necessarily a need, however these can up your recreation game. Fishing poles, Picnic supplies, and sporting goods will guarantee a fun time off the road.

Planning accordingly
Depending on when you come, the results may be completely different from time to time. Temperatures is just one of many factors, but may include traffic--congestion as well as construction--, hotel prices and openings, and activities (some are seasonal, after all). In addition to this, driving the entire stretch will require that the agenda can fit the drive. In other words, be wary of any other plans that are close to the vacation time, they may be ran into. In general, people will find Autumn (Fall) the best time to go: The weather is warm and the summer traffic has calmed. On the plus side, many activities are still open through October. Again, the weather can be a stumbling block for a vacation in any season. Always check ahead, and choose a time that works best for you and accounts for conditions, and you'll have a wonderful time!

Hop on
Since there are numerous cities and towns along the corridor, there is an equally large number of ways to enter Interstate 25, such as by Interstate, local street, US Highways, and of course public transportation.

By car
This is the easiest way to join others on Interstate 25 anyway, and will also prove helpful later on when going from place to place at your own pace.

Colorado
From Denver Take Colfax or I-70, but beware of traffic.

New Mexico
Start your trip off of I-10 and onto I-25.

Wyoming
On the contrary hand, one could begin at Buffalo off of the I-90 interchange. There is also, of course, I-80, the cross-country highway that parallels the Lincoln Highway, goes through the largest city Cheyenne, and is great when you want to have mile-long semis past you when you just went by them 5 minutes ago. It should be noted that entering I-25 from the west on I-80 is dependent on the conditions out near Buford, so check the weather before going on I-80 this way.

By bus
Some terms to go by may be "expect the unexpected", and while this may sound seedy, to some extent this statement is true. Weather gets in the way, traffic snarls, and there are multiple buses. In Wyoming alone, one can choose from six companies-two of which run along I-25 (Arrow Express and Amtrak Throughway)-to take passengers a d tourists around the state. All states have the classic Greyhound service, however it should be noted Santa Fe was taken off in early 2019. All in all, while the services can vary, they are actually a convenient way to get from place to place.

Go
Effectively, Interstate 25 numbers its mile posts from south to north, much a repeat of the rest of the United States, so the guide for the trip will commence from the south. To reverse this, read from the bottom up, or to learn about a specific drive, see "Side trips" below, or consider looking at region or city specific articles. Either way, there is plenty to discover.

Day 1:Las Cruces to Santa Fe
The perfect way to begin a trip is by loading up in. To truly take in every mile if the interstate, enter from I-10 as opposed to a street entrance. Las Cruces can be a destination within itself at 100,000 people and a fair collection of things to do. From there, make your way to a small town that was named for a game show, We kid you not.

Side trips
Over half the experience is visiting the charms that are the smaller towns, sometimes on the axillary routes of Interstate 25. If these trips are missed, it could be said that the whole trip was incomplete, so hop on the US Routes, are get off that rural exit and explore!

Alternative routes
US 85 is generally on the east side of Interstate 25, going through towns and cities that are a great pleasure, but is missed otherwise. Start in Torrington, and work your way through towards Wyoming's Capitol city Cheyenne, then off the beaten path towards Eaton, college town Greeley, and Brigton. Following that, US 85 plows into Denver's western suburbs of Lakewood and Centennial before merging onto I-25. "Part 2", one could say, is on Colorado Springs where it is Nevada Avenue.

US 87 Only diverges North of Santa Fe, however this route follows an alternate path of the Pan-american highway into Texas, which can be worth it if you can set aside a week. There is also the [[File: US 287.svg|22px] US 287, which in its entirety runs from Montana to Texas. Within Colorado and Wyoming, the route touches US 87 in Denver (where it is I-25); the route then visits Lamar, Springfield, Longmont, Loveland, and Fort Collins in Colorado, with Laramie, [[Rawlins]], Lander, Dubois, and most notably Yellowstone National park. Either way, US 287 is a wonderful opportunity to explore and get away. But don't forget the main US 87!

Where next
After touring Interstate 25, the next logical step is to visit the rest of the highway system! Between the coastlines and hills of I-5, and the sandy beaches of I-95, the trip has really just begun. Don't forget the old U.S Routes though, it's an adventure just waiting for someone to go off the beaten path and into discovery.