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Old 07-05-2022, 05:45 PM   #1
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2017 25' Flying Cloud
Raleigh , NC
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Ouray to Durango - Million Dollar Hwy (550)

We had the choice to drive this highway on July 4th or take the long way around. After reading about this road here and elsewhere, I thought it would be terrifying. We have a 25’, pulled by a V6 F150 Ecoboost.

Just wanted to pass on to others here that it really was not at all bad, and it is a beautiful drive. A couple of key points:

1. Speed limit is mostly 35 or less, so you can take your time.
2. Lots of pull offs to let traffic by and enjoy the scenery.
3. We did a lot of the downhills in second gear, but did not require excessive brake use. Be sure to downshift going down.
4. For sure, you want to keep your eyes on the road, as there are some places where it is a shear drop near the edge of the road. If there is no oncoming traffic you can hug the center line. There are a couple of spots like this, but most of the road is no different than any other hilly two lane highway.

Caveat:

We had a beautiful, dry day to do our run. It would be a lot scarier in heavy rain or snow. Watch the weather before you go.

We once wound up on a narrow fireroad up a mountain in WV by mistake. That was scary…I thought the only way we would get our camper down was by helicopter. Fortunately, there was a paved road at the top, and 0.5 bars of service for a ranger to tell us to just keep going.

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Old 07-05-2022, 05:56 PM   #2
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We’ve driven that road many times pulling or ‘25 Trade Wind . it’s easy just take your time use your gears and common sense .
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Old 07-05-2022, 06:05 PM   #3
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Beautiful drive. It’s one of my favorites. It’s not a big deal in the summer months, even towing an Airstream. Winter is another matter.
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Old 07-05-2022, 07:15 PM   #4
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The 'scary' part for a flatlander is the first 5 miles out of Ouray. After that, it's just a curvy mountain road.
The YouTube couple Less Junk More Journey towed their 40' fifth wheel over it. Not sure I'd do that but I've driven it many times in both cars and motorcycles, and although it takes my breath away, it is doable.
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Old 07-05-2022, 07:39 PM   #5
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The Million Dollar Highway is a wonderful drive for fall colors, especially in a convertible. We enjoy that, and we have camped in the Ouray area with the Airstream in the past. It’s a very cool area.
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Old 07-05-2022, 08:27 PM   #6
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My wife and co-pilot say's it's a lovely drive.............
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Old 07-06-2022, 10:23 AM   #7
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easypeasy
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Old 07-06-2022, 11:04 AM   #8
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Went over it several times with our 13 31’ classic. Wonderful trip
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Old 07-06-2022, 11:49 AM   #9
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We took this route from Ouray to Durango just a few weeks ago. As a Hoosier, I'll admit it was a scary first few miles getting used to the lack of guard rails, but it's not a terrible drive. We have a 27 FBQ and tow with a 3/4 ton diesel ( I need all the help I can get).
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Old 07-06-2022, 01:42 PM   #10
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My wife and I have driven thousands of miles in the Appalachian Mountains, the Rockies, the Sierras, etc. We generally take secondary roads. We've been on plenty of roads that were described as 'scary' and/or dangerous -- sheer drops, no guardrails -- "not suitable for RVs."

None of them bothered me -- except US 550 south of Ouray:

* Narrow (sub-standard) lanes
* A jagged rock wall on one side, and drops of up to 2,000 feet on the other
* No guardrails
* Little to no shoulder in many places
* In some sections the pavement had been undermined and there was no white line left!

Combine all that with straight trucks and semis coming the other direction, their sideview mirrors coming within inches of yours -- forcing you toward the edge. Had we been going the other direction (next to the wall) my opinion would be slightly different.

That is the one road (out of hundreds of mountain roads) we will never travel again -- not that section anyway. It is insane.

Needless to say, it CAN be done. There is plenty of traffic on it every day. It's more a matter of 'do you really want to?'

It has little to do with "skill". A blowout, an oncoming truck crossing the line, and you could easily go over the edge. There's almost zero chance of surviving that.

There are many articles and YouTube videos about US 550. Here's one I just came across:

"The Most Dangerous Road in America - The Million Dollar Highway":
https://youtu.be/gd5SYDzXKKY
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Old 07-06-2022, 02:59 PM   #11
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Have you seen the "cabin" on the hillside just a short way south of Ouray?
Always has wash on the line, but there's no apparent way to get there.
I decided the 'laundry' is plywood. Nope, it's real, or at least cloth.
read more:
http://littleadventures-jg.blogspot....ine-trail.html
It's hard to take a picture because the road has no pullover right there.
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Old 07-06-2022, 04:42 PM   #12
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I drove a semi on that stretch of road 4 nights a week for 14 years. My truck was a 250 in wheelbase Kenworth with a 45ft trailer. It was probably 4 years before I actually saw that road in the daylight. As in all mountain driving slow and easy is my motto. I feel very comfortable nowadays pulling my 28 ft airstream on that highway during the summer season. I have been that road in the winter and while I don't dislike it then ,I respect it even more. The scenery anytime of the year is spectacular.
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Old 07-06-2022, 07:22 PM   #13
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Just keep it between the lines and your hands on the wheel and you are good to go [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]
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Old 07-09-2022, 08:45 PM   #14
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We drove it going south to Durango with our 25ft at night in a rain storm. We made it. Slowly. Great views
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