I was just up in CO this last week and decided that I want to go back in the near future. I've heard from numerous people that Pikes Peak is an awesome scenic (and fun) drive, but is it worth the 12+ hour road trip from Phoenix, AZ?

Things to consider:

1) I have a free place to stay in Denver
2) Money is not a huge issue, so the only reason for driving would be to let the Z run a little more open than my typical city driving.
3) I don't have cruise control (sux)

Would anybody who's driven Pikes Peak drive over flying? If you've driven from Phoenix, how long did it take? Also, how far out of the way is Pikes Peak if the final destination is Denver?

Thanks guys, just trying to weigh my options...

 

Do it and chalk it up to another cool life experience. If you have the chance, and money is not a big deal, then I'd go for it.

I drove along I-25 over New Years and saw no snow on the ground. Saw the track from the freeway. I think Denver was only a couple of hours away.

 

he's not talking about the pike's peak racetrack, he's talking about driving to the top of pike's peak.

if you're up there on a clear day, its pretty spectacular.

 

Pheonix to the 'Springs about 11-12ish hours another 1 1/2 hours to Denver. You drive through the 'Springs on the way to Denver and the Pikes Peak Highway is just West on HW 24. Not sure I would drive my Z up Pikes Peak as the top few miles of the road are dirt. Good drive for a rental car :-)

There is another option and that is to go up Mt Evans (14K feet and all paved, couple of very large frost heaves near Echo lake I think but other than that okay) which is about an hour West of Denver on I70.

 

Go for it. Fun little drive.

 

If you're only coming because of likes peak, then it's not worth it. On the other hand there are a lot of other scenic areas while driving to pikes peak that would be worth it.

Take your time and enjoy what colorado has to offer.

The z car club of colorado is hosting the midwest z fest in sept. We have our track day scheduled at high plains raceway on sept 12th.

For more info www.zccc.org and follow the links to the midwest z fest.

 

If you really want to see Pikes Peak, consider coming to Colorado when the Pikes Peak hillclimb is being run. When's that? You just missed it this year, it was last weekend (July 18-19). You can drive up the Pikes Peak toll road and pick a safe spot to park. Watch some amazing machines being driven up the mountain at speeds you won't believe.

 

do pikes peak and mt evans, I'd also recommend during the hill climb event. I went about 4 weeks ago and it was snowing and I wore a t-shirt and shorts....go figure

 

I live in Colorado Springs and I would agree that the drive up the peak is not all that exciting and neither is the view - yes, you can see Kansas from up there if you think that's cool. Pikes Peak is in my opinion best appreciated from Colorado Springs and beyond (you can see it from South Denver too). There are plenty more exciting drives that you can drive "with spirit" in your Z, that are also much more scenic. Heck, the drive up to Cripple Creek from the Springs is kinda fun, and there are some back roads that take you to Canon City that you can down right get silly on, yet the scenery makes you want to drive slow. The guys in Denver should have some good suggestions for mountain drives that are closer to that area. You'll have to decide whether it's worth driving out here versus flying though.

edit: After reading that I thought maybe I sounded anti-Pikes Peak, which I'm not. Pikes Peak IS America's mountain and it's an image that's burned into my soul. I know I'm home when I see that mountain and it's the biggest and heaviest darn anchor, there's no way I could ever live anywhere else. Your only risk in coming here is that you may not want to leave.