U.S. Route 34 in Colorado
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Route information | ||||
Maintained by CDOT | ||||
Length: | 259.529 mi[1] (417.671 km) | |||
Existed: | 1972[2] – present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end: |
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East end: |
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Highway system | ||||
Colorado State Highways
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U.S. Route 34 in Colorado is a segment of U.S. Route 34. Its west end is at U.S. Highway 40 in Granby and its east end is at the Nebraska border east of Laird, Colorado.
Route description
![](../I/m/Trail_Ridge_Road.jpg)
Granby to Rocky Mountain National Park
The route begins in Granby at US 40. It then follows the Colorado River Valley near Granby Lake and enters Arapaho National Recreational Area.[3]
Trail Ridge Road
After entering Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado's Front Range, US 34 follows the North Fork Colorado River through Kawuneeche Valley. It passes over Milner Pass and reaches the Alpine Visitor Center. Then it continues east, passing its highest point at 12,183 feet[4] near the Gore Range. It exits the park at US 36 at Deer Ridge Junction.
US 34 here is the highest continuous highway in the United States.[4]
This section of US 34 requires a $30 national park entrance fee, making this segment into a toll road.
Estes Park to Loveland
From here, it passes by Estes Park as Eisenhower Boulevard, has a business route and enters Loveland, becoming a four-lane expressway. Here, it intersects I-25 and U.S. Highway 287.
Greeley to Nebraska border
At Greeley, it passes by U.S. Highway 85 in a complex interchange[2] and U.S. 34 Business, and crosses the South Platte River. It also has an interchange with SH 257.[5] From here, it is no longer an expressway. It intersects SH 144 and SH 39, then joins I-76 at Wiggins. It leaves, and follows the North Fork Republican River east into Nebraska, where it intersects SH 71, SH 52, SH 63, SH 61, SH 59, and U.S. Highway 385.
History
Parts of the route were originally designated as US 38. US 34 was extended into Colorado in 1939.[2]
Major intersections
County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand | Granby | 0.000 | 0.000 | ![]() | West end of route |
Grand Lake | 14.683 | 23.630 | West Portal Road – Grand Lake and Village | former SH 278 | |
Larimer | Deer Ridge Junction (RMNP) | 53.758 | 86.515 | ![]() | |
Rocky Mountain National Park | 55.546 | 89.393 | Old Fall River Road – Endovalley | ||
57.686 | 92.837 | Fall River Entrance Station | |||
Estes Park | 60.965 | 98.114 | ![]() ![]() | ||
62.081 | 99.910 | MacGregor Avenue – Devils Gulch, Glen Haven | former SH 262 | ||
62.507 | 100.595 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
Drake | 75.584 | 121.641 | ![]() | former SH 262 | |
| 85.617 | 137.787 | ![]() | former SH 186 | |
Loveland | 91.924 | 147.937 | ![]() | ||
92.009 | 148.074 | ||||
96.250 | 154.899 | ![]() | |||
Weld | Greeley | 102.476 | 164.919 | ![]() ![]() | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
102.804 | 165.447 | ![]() | |||
111.233 | 179.012 | 23rd Avenue / 27th Street | |||
112.772 | 181.489 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | West end of US 85 overlap | ||
113.136 | 182.075 | ![]() | East end of US 85 overlap | ||
| 115.411 | 185.736 | ![]() ![]() | ||
| 117.251 | 188.697 | ![]() | former SH 37 south | |
Kersey | 119.178 | 191.798 | ![]() | former SH 37 north | |
Morgan | | 144.470 | 232.502 | ![]() | |
| 149.164 | 240.056 | ![]() ![]() | ||
| 149.345 66.288 | 240.347 106.680 | ![]() | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; western end of I-76 overlap | |
| 73.130 | 117.691 | Long Bridge Road | I-76 exit 73; former SH 144 | |
| 75.704 158.794 | 121.834 255.554 | ![]() | Eastern end of I-76 overlap | |
Fort Morgan | 162.962 | 262.262 | ![]() ![]() | ||
Brush | 172.414 | 277.473 | ![]() ![]() | West end of SH 71 overlap | |
| 173.570 | 279.334 | ![]() | ||
| 173.852 | 279.788 | ![]() ![]() | ||
Washington | Akron | 196.336 | 315.972 | ![]() | |
Otis | 209.305 | 336.844 | ![]() | ||
Yuma | Yuma | 223.345 | 359.439 | ![]() | |
Wray | 249.931 | 402.225 | ![]() | ||
| 259.529 | 417.671 | ![]() | Nebraska state line | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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Estes Park business loop
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Location: | Estes Park |
Length: | 1.690 mi[6] (2.720 km) |
Existed: | 1964[7]–present |
U.S. Highway 34 Business serves Estes Park, Colorado. Both of its termini are at US 34. The business route splits from the main route east of the Rocky Mountain National Park Fall River Entrance Station,[8] in the western city limits of Estes Park and enters town on West Elkhorn Avenue. The main route continues around the northern edge of Estes park on Wonderview Avenue, passing a large number of motels. At Moraine Avenue, It joins US 36 in downtown Estes Park. It returns to US 34 after about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) at an intersection with Wonderview Avenue, Big Thompson Avenue, and North St. Vrain Avenue. The business route was established in 1964.[7]
![](../I/m/EstesPark.jpg)
The entire route is in Estes Park, Larimer County.
mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.000 | 0.000 | ![]() | Western terminus | ||
1.306 | 2.102 | ![]() | West end of US 36 overlap | ||
1.690 | 2.720 | ![]() ![]() | Eastern terminus; east end of US 36 overlap | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
- 1 2 3 "Segment Descriptions for Highway 34". Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
- 1 2 3 Salek, Matthew E. (January 30, 2010). "Colorado US 34". Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ↑ The United States (Map). National Geographic. October 2006.
- 1 2 "Destinations: Trail Ridge Road, Colorado". Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ↑ "Interchange Information for Highway 034". Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ↑ "Segment Descriptions for Highway 34". Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
- 1 2 Salek, Matthew E. (January 30, 2010). "Colo Hwys: US and SH Business Routes". Retrieved March 24, 2010.
- ↑ Sanderson, Dale (January 1, 2009). "Highway signs and endpoints in Estes Park". Retrieved March 25, 2010.
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