Denver to Hanksville Road Trip: Ultimate Guide

This 370-mile route from Denver to Hanksville follows US-6 and I-70 across the Colorado Plateau, a region once submerged under the Cretaceous Seaway. A single tire blowout on this stretch can cost you hours, as the nearest tow truck might be 100 miles away.

Denver sits at 5,280 feet; Hanksville at 4,300 feet, but the road crests at 10,600 feet near Vail Pass. The drive takes about 5.5 hours non-stop, but cutting into Utah’s dust-choked backcountry demands patience, not haste.

Road quality on I-70 is excellent, but US-24 from Green River to Hanksville is a two-lane highway with no shoulders and frequent cattle grids. Speed limit drops to 55 mph near Hanksville; local ranchers drive slow in beat-up pickups.

• Family stop: Moab (30 miles detour) offers Arches and Canyonlands – but skip the 3-day itineraries. Walk the 1.2-mile Park Avenue trail in 40 minutes.
• Pet-friendly: Most rest areas along I-70 have shade and water spigots. The Hanksville BLM office provides free dog waste bags.
• Fatigue: Set a timer for every 90 minutes. The straightest, most mind-numbing section is I-70 from Rifle to Grand Junction – 70 miles of unchanging plateau.

Hidden off-route: Just north of Hanksville, the Mars Desert Research Station is a mock Mars habitat run by the Mars Society. Access requires prior permission, but you can see the white domes from the road at coordinates 38°24'18.1"N 110°47'27.8"W.

To uncover even more stops, read how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

Fuel stations cluster along I-70, but between Green River and Hanksville, you will find zero gas stations for 110 miles. The last reliable stop is Green River’s Chevron at the US-24 junction, open 6 AM to 10 PM.

• Cost: Gas in Denver averages $3.50/gal; in Hanksville, expect $4.20/gal.
• Cash or card? Many rural stations (e.g., in Moab detour) still require cash. Always carry $40 in small bills.
• Phone service: AT&T and Verizon work intermittently near I-70 exits; T-Mobile dead zones start after Green River.

For food, pack a cooler. The only sit-down restaurant on US-24 is the Robbers Roost Bar & Grill in Hanksville, famous for its “Fry Bread Burger.” Alternatively, detour 20 miles south to Hanksville’s Lone Star Grill for homemade pies.

Within the first hour, the Front Range gives way to Glenwood Canyon, a 12-mile gorge carved by the Colorado River. At milepost 139 (exit 119), the No Name Rest Area offers a quick photo stop with petroglyph replicas.

• Glenwood Canyon: Soaring limestone cliffs up to 1,300 feet. Watch for bighorn sheep near the Hanging Lake exit.
• Grand Mesa: Just south of I-70, this flat-topped mountain holds over 300 lakes and the Grand Mesa National Forest.
• San Rafael Swell: US-24 cuts through this 80-mile-long uplift; look for the “Mexican Hat” rock formation at mile 30.

Local commerce thrives on roadside rock shops. Stop at the “Rock Stop” (mile 67 on I-70) for polished geodes and dinosaur bone fragments. The owner, a third-generation prospector, will explain how to spot uranium ore among the sandstone.