Getting to Porsche Parade in Boise, Idaho, is one thing. Getting home is turning into an entirely different adventure.
Porsche Parade 2027 wraps up on Saturday, July 17. Rather than pointing the 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S southeast and taking the quickest route back to Dallas, Texas, I’m planning to spend six days exploring some of the best driving roads in the Rocky Mountains.
The direct route is roughly 1,500 miles. My proposed route will be closer to 2,200 miles.
Those extra 700 miles are entirely intentional.
The current plan includes Independence Pass, Cottonwood Pass, the Unaweep–Tabeguache Scenic Byway through Gateway, and the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Durango. Along the way, we’ll cross several passes above 10,000 feet, descend through spectacular canyon country, and hopefully find some stretches of pavement where traffic is the exception rather than the rule.
I’m still working out the details, and that’s where I could use some help from fellow Porsche enthusiasts who’ve driven these roads.
Sunday, July 18: Boise to Green River, Utah
Approximately 520 miles | 8–9 hours driving
The first day is about covering ground.
We’ll leave Boise early, follow I-84 through southern Idaho, then I-15 toward Salt Lake City before picking up US-6 through Price and continuing to Green River.
Nothing particularly exotic here, although the drive through Soldier Summit should provide a preview of the mountain roads ahead.
The objective is to position ourselves for Independence Pass the following morning without having to start from Salt Lake City.
Overnight: River Terrace Inn, Green River, Utah.
It’s a longer first day than I’d ordinarily plan for a casual road trip, but I’d rather cover those miles on Sunday than sacrifice time in Colorado.
Monday, July 19: Independence Pas
Green River → Glenwood Springs → Aspen → Independence Pass → Buena Vista
Approximately 290 miles | 6–7 hours driving
This is where things get interesting.
We’ll follow I-70 east through Glenwood Canyon, turn south on CO-82 toward Aspen, and then climb Independence Pass.
At 12,095 feet, Independence Pass crosses the Continental Divide on a road that’s narrow, technical, and reportedly spectacular.
Jeff Zwart, Porsche racer and Pikes Peak veteran, has described Independence Pass as one of his favorite driving roads. That’s a pretty compelling endorsement.
My interest isn’t in driving quickly. It’s in finding that combination of pavement, corners, elevation changes, and scenery that makes driving a Porsche so enjoyable in the first place.
We’ll cross from west to east, descend toward Twin Lakes, and continue to Buena Vista.
Overnight: Surf Hotel, Buena Vista, Colorado.
The Surf Hotel sits beside the Arkansas River and looks like exactly the sort of place worth spending an evening after a day in the mountains.
My biggest question about Independence Pass is traffic. We’ll be crossing on a Monday in July, ideally before the afternoon sightseeing crowd gets too thick.
For those familiar with the road, is west-to-east the better direction? And how early do we really need to get there?
Tuesday, July 20: Cottonwood Pass and Gatewa
Buena Vista → Cottonwood Pass → Gunnison → Montrose → Unaweep Canyon → Gateway
Approximately 300 miles | 6–8 hours driving
This may be the most ambitious scenic day of the trip.
We’ll start by heading west out of Buena Vista on County Road 306, climbing Cottonwood Pass to 12,126 feet.
Unlike some of Colorado’s other high mountain routes, Cottonwood Pass is paved on both sides. The western descent toward Taylor Park Reservoir and the continuation through Taylor Canyon should make for an entertaining morning.
From Gunnison, we’ll continue west on US-50 toward Montrose, then head north toward Whitewater to pick up CO-141.
And that’s where the scenery changes completely.
CO-141 is one of the roads I’m most excited about.
The Unaweep–Tabeguache Scenic Byway runs through canyon country that looks more like Utah than the alpine Colorado we’ll have experienced that morning.
Red sandstone cliffs, sweeping curves, and long stretches between towns. This is exactly the sort of road I’d rather drive than another hundred miles of interstate.
We’ll follow CO-141 south through Unaweep Canyon to Gateway.
Overnight: Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, Gateway, Colorado.
Gateway is a non-negotiable stop. The resort looks extraordinary, and I want time to enjoy the setting rather than simply check in, sleep, and leave.
My concern is that combining Cottonwood Pass and the northern section of CO-141 might be trying to do too much in one day.
Anyone who’s driven both, I’d appreciate your thoughts.
Wednesday, July 21: Gateway to Ouray
Gateway → Naturita → Norwood → Placerville → Ridgway → Ouray
Approximately 130 miles | 3–4 hours driving
After three fairly substantial driving days, Wednesday is intentionally short.
We’ll continue south on CO-141 through the Dolores River canyon country before connecting with CO-145 and CO-62 toward Ridgway.
This is the kind of day I enjoy the most. No need to cover hundreds of miles. Just a good road, a leisurely lunch, some photography, and an afternoon enjoying wherever we end up.
And Ouray looks like a terrific place to end up.
Often called the Switzerland of America, Ouray sits in a dramatic mountain setting surrounded by the San Juan Mountains.
We’ll have the afternoon to explore town, visit Box Cañon Falls, and enjoy the hot springs.
Overnight: Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs, Ouray, Colorado.
I’d much rather spend a night here than push on to another chain hotel simply to get closer to Texas.
For those who’ve driven CO-141 south of Gateway, how does it compare with the northern section through Unaweep Canyon?
Which section offers the better driving?
Thursday, July 22: The Million Dollar Highway
Ouray → Red Mountain Pass → Silverton → Durango → Albuquerque → Tucumcari
Approximately 460 miles | 8–9 hours driving
Thursday begins with what might be the most dramatic road of the entire trip.
US-550 south from Ouray to Silverton is the famous Million Dollar Highway.
Steep grades, narrow sections, dramatic drop-offs, and mountain scenery that apparently makes the absence of guardrails rather noticeable.
We’ll cross Red Mountain Pass at 11,018 feet before continuing through Silverton, Molas Pass, and Coal Bank Pass toward Durango.
I’ve seen enough photographs and videos of this road to know I want to experience it myself.
Preferably with dry pavement, clear skies, and no RV doing 15 mph in front of us.
We’ll leave Ouray early enough to drive the mountain section in daylight and before afternoon thunderstorms become a concern.
After Durango, it’s time to point the cars toward Texas. We’ll continue south through New Mexico, join I-40 near Albuquerque, and spend the night in Tucumcari.
Overnight: Fairfield Inn & Suites Tucumcari.
It’s a long day, but the first few hours should more than compensate for the miles that follow.
Friday, July 23: The Long Way Finally Ends
Tucumcari → Amarillo → Wichita Falls → Dallas
Approximately 470 miles | 8 hours driving
After five days of mountain passes, canyons, and spectacular scenery, Friday is simply about getting home.
I-40 east to Amarillo, US-287 south through Wichita Falls, then US-380 toward the Northern suburbs of DFW.
No elaborate sightseeing agenda. Just a couple of coffee stops, lunch, and the satisfaction of having driven the long way home.
Assuming everything goes according to plan, we’ll be home Friday evening.
What Didn’t Make the Cut
The original wish list was considerably longer.
Grand Teton National Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier, Pikes Peak, and even Utah’s Moki Dugway were all considered.
Grand Teton was the hardest to eliminate. The scenery is extraordinary, but its famous scenic loop strikes me as more of a sightseeing and photography destination than a driver’s road.
Independence Pass won that argument.
Glacier would require several additional days, while Pikes Peak introduced too much backtracking to fit comfortably into the schedule.
Moki Dugway was easier to eliminate. Its unpaved switchbacks don’t sound particularly appealing in a low-clearance Porsche, especially one I’m planning to drive another thousand miles home.
I’ll save those destinations for another trip.
A Few Things I’m Still Working Through
This is not a race. The objective is to enjoy the roads, the scenery, and the company without spending every day watching the clock.
My preference is to leave around 7–8 a.m., drive, stop for coffee a couple of times, and have an actual lunch somewhere along the way.
I’m also trying to balance driving time against the opportunities to stop and enjoy these places.
A day with six hours of driving can easily become nine hours once you add lunch, fuel, photography, and the inevitable conversations at every scenic overlook.
And there are practical considerations. Summer thunderstorms at 12,000 feet aren’t something I intend to ignore. Neither are road closures, construction, or the availability of Top Tier premium fuel in some of Colorado’s more remote areas.
The hotel selections are deliberate, too. For the destination stops, I’d rather stay somewhere distinctive, such as Gateway Canyons or Box Canyon Lodge. For the ordinary transit nights, Marriott Bonvoy properties generally get the nod.
Nothing is booked yet, so there’s still room to make changes.
Here’s Where I Could Use Your Help
I’ve done quite a bit of research, but Google Maps and YouTube can only tell you so much about a driving road.
I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who’ve actually driven these routes, preferably in a Porsche or something similarly entertaining.
A few questions:
- Independence Pass versus Cottonwood Pass: Which offers the better driving experience? Is either one worth driving in both directions?
- CO-141 through Gateway: Is the northern section through Unaweep Canyon or the southern stretch toward Naturita the better drive? Any stops we absolutely shouldn’t miss?
- Million Dollar Highway: Is southbound from Ouray to Durango the way to go?
- Traffic: We’re traveling Monday through Thursday in Colorado in late July. Are there particular roads or times of day when we’re more likely to avoid crowds?
- The itinerary: Is Tuesday’s combination of Cottonwood Pass and CO-141 too ambitious? Anything you’d rearrange?
- Food and lodging: Any memorable restaurants, coffee shops, or accommodations along the route that deserve consideration?
And perhaps the most important question: Am I overlooking an exceptional paved driving road that’s reasonably close to our route?
I’m willing to add some miles for the right stretch of pavement. That’s rather the point of the trip.
Six days. Roughly 2,200 miles. Multiple mountain passes, canyon roads, and a few nights in places I’ve wanted to visit for years.
I spend plenty of time at Eagles Canyon Raceway trying to shave tenths off a lap. This trip is about something entirely different.
No lap timer. No apex cones. No personal best to chase.
Just a Porsche, some good company, and a long way home.
If you’ve driven any of these roads, I’d love to hear what you think before I finalize the route.