U.S. 385 is a very long route, serving the Great Plains between Big Bend National Park in Texas and Lead, South Dakota. The highway was created all at once, in 1959 as a major addition to the U.S. Highway System. Through Colorado, U.S. 385 enters the state paired with U.S. 287 in Comanche National Grassland. The routes divide at Lamar, with U.S. 385 traveling east briefly with U.S. 50, then turning north again at Granada. From there, U.S. 385 passes through Cheyenne Wells, Burlington, Wray, Holyoke, and Julesburg before leaving the Centennial State and entering Nebraska just south of Chappell.
U.S. 138 West and U.S. 385 North
A farming community, the Julesburg skyline is dominated by the large co-op grain elevator. The town was established during the frontier days as a trading post. Julesburg was named for the French trader Jules Beni who founded the town in 1859. As of the 2000 Census, 1,467 people call Julesburg home, which is an increase over the 1990 population of 1,295 people. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Julesburg is one of the lower communities in the state, with an elevation of 3,477 feet above sea level. It location at the junction of Interstate 80 and Interstate 76 has helped it to gain prominence as a service center for commercial traffic en route to Denver, the West Coast, and the Midwest. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Westbound U.S. 138 and northbound U.S. 385 are signed at the intersection with the main street downtown: Cedar Street. The mileage sign refers to Chappell, which is a town in Nebraska found along U.S. 30 and U.S. 385 near Interstate 80. Photo taken 09/05/05.
U.S. 138 East and U.S. 385 South
Northeast of Sterling and south of Chappell, U.S. 385 merges with U.S. 138, and the two routes travel east through the town of Julesburg. With four lanes, the road acts as a barrier between downtown Julesburg and the railroad. Photo taken 09/05/05.
A gas station, restaurant, and antique store are located on the north side of U.S. 138-385 as they pass through Julesburg. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Now leaving downtown Julesburg, U.S. 138 and U.S. 385 divide. U.S. 138 continues northeast into Nebraska, passing by Interstate 80, through Big Springs, and ending at U.S. 30. U.S. 385 exits here to resume its southerly trajectory toward Holyoke, Wray, and Burlington. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Eastbound U.S. 138 reaches the exit for U.S. 385 south to Interstate 76. Interstate 76 offers the freeway bypass around Julesburg, Ovid, and Sedgwick as well as the fastest route to Denver to the west and Interstate 80 to the east. Photo taken 09/05/05.
At the top of the ramp, U.S. 385 turns south off of U.S. 138. Photo taken 09/05/05.
U.S. 385 South
Immediately after the interchange with U.S. 138 east, U.S. 385 passes over the railroad. It is signed to connect with Interstate 76, which it does just south of the South Platte River. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Here, U.S. 385 south crosses the South Platte River, a wide river that consists of several channels. U.S. 385 has a separate bridge for each channel. Photo taken 09/05/05.
After crossing the multiple channels of the South Platte River, southbound U.S. 385 approaches Interstate 76. Several gas stations and truck stops are located at this interchange, which is the last interchange on eastbound Interstate 76 before that freeway enters Nebraska. Photo taken 09/05/05.
The Colorado State Welcome Center is located here at the Julesburg interchange. It is found on the west side of U.S. 385. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Southbound U.S. 385 reaches the junction with Interstate 76 east to Big Springs and Ogallala and west to Sterling, Fort Morgan/Brush, and Denver. U.S. 385 continues south toward Wray and Burlington. Photo taken 09/05/05.
An oversized U.S. 385 shield is posted on southbound at the onramp to eastbound Interstate 76 en route to Big Springs and Ogallala (via Interstate 80). Photo taken 09/05/05.
Other Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 385
Southbound Cedar Street approaches its junction with U.S. 138 and U.S. 385 in downtown Julesburg. Neither of these shields is standard: the U.S. 138 is a California-style cut out shield with extra bold numerals, while the U.S. 385 shield has smaller than normal numerals and is yellowing with age. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Turn left on U.S. 138-385 for the fastest route to Interstate 76 en route to Interstate 80 to the east and Denver to the southwest. To the right (west), U.S. 138-385 leads to Chappell (via U.S. 385 north) and Ovid (via U.S. 138 west). Photo taken 09/05/05.
Southbound Cedar Street reaches its junction with U.S. 138-385 in downtown Julesburg. Photo taken 09/05/05.
