I used to live in Colorado Springs, Colorado as a child. When my dad and I moved, we made this drive, but in the opposite direction. We were driving from Denver to Lincoln. Granted, I was a young child and he was the one who was driving, but it was alright. We drove during this time of year too - mid-late summer.
My tips:
- Make sure your car has no major problems. Maybe like two weeks before your trip, take your car to the mechanic. Check for major leaks and suspension problems.
- Make sure your car has a spare tire packed into it somewhere, extra oil, extra coolant, a working jack, and an extra can of gasoline if need be.
- During your trip, bring lots of water. A lot of this drive is very empty. There might be nothing for miles and miles, so having water and maybe a snack or two handy will be super helpful at times.
- You're definitely going to want to plan your stops. As I've mentioned, a lot of this drive is filled with nothingness. If you don't plan to stop, you might get stuck and things might be dire for you.
- Bring some good tunes! I recommend that you put together a playlist or something before you leave so that you won't be fumbling with your iPod or your phone or whatever. Be safe while you drive- don't drive preoccupied and keep your hands on the wheel!
- If you feel sleepy, definitely take a rest on the side of the road or at a rest stop. Driving tired can be almost or equally as dangerous as driving drunk.
- Make sure that your insurance is up to date... just in case you get pulled over on the road. Keep your license and registration in the car too.
One other thing: The altitude will be totally fine. The altitude incline isn't so drastic that you'll feel sick right away. If you drive in the mountains, I'm not going to lie- you might feel a little light headed, but for the most part, it's fine. (For example, I took a day trip to Pike's Peak a long while ago and I felt incredibly sick when I was standing at the top.) But just being in Denver feels totally normal. I can reasonably say this because I now live in Seattle, Washington and am about 400 feet above sea level. Whenever I visit family in the Denver area, I have no troubles and I feel fine. I am rather sensitive to altitude changes.
That's all I have. Good luck! Have a happy and safe trip :)