Hey 40 Route

Campbell701 · 09-28-2023, 11:32 AM

Planning on going out west to Casa Grande Az in late December.
Since weather can have big effect I plan on going south from Michigan to Nashville and the take hwy 40 west till Amarillo tx and then south on I-25 to I-10.
A few questions
Is 40 in good shape?
Has anybody taken 60 to 70 out of Amarillo and is this a good road ?
The other route could be go to Indy take 70 to St. Louis and then 44 to hwy 40 but I a concerned with bad weather on this route?

Thanks

**sourdough** · 09-28-2023, 11:49 AM

I40 is about as good as any interstate going through that route. The further west you get the more of flat terrain and miles of "nothing". I like those stretches but many don't....but it's that way. It has some rough patches because it carries a lot of truck traffic but nothing bad.

Are you asking about taking I27 S out of Amarillo to get on US60 then to US70 and on to Las Cruces or ?? I25 does not intersect in Amarillo.

wiredgeorge · 09-28-2023, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

I40 is about as good as any interstate going through that route. The further west you get the more of flat terrain and miles of "nothing". I like those stretches but many don't....but it's that way. It has some rough patches because it carries a lot of truck traffic but nothing bad.

Are you asking about taking I27 S out of Amarillo to get on US60 then to US70 and on to Las Cruces or ?? I25 does not intersect in Amarillo.

A drive through Amarillo is worth it just to take in the hills and green forests!

Campbell701 · 09-28-2023, 02:15 PM

I think so - I have never taken I27 s to us 60 then us 70 before I went over to I 25 south

Thanks

**sourdough** · 09-28-2023, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campbell701

I think so - I have never taken I27 s to us 60 then us 70 before I went over to I 25 south

Thanks

What was the route you were inquiring about? It takes some driving to get from I40 in Amarillo to I25. Were you talking about Albuquerque, NM and not Amarillo, TX? I40 and I25 intersect in Albuquerque.

Edit: are you asking if I27S out of Amarillo to 60 to 70 is a better route than going on Albuquerque?

Campbell701 · 09-28-2023, 03:09 PM

I agree it takes some time to drive from Amarillo to Albuquerque.
I was told about the I27s /us 60 /us 70 a couple of weeks ago but never went that. It would be good to get off interstate road.

Thanks

**sourdough** · 09-28-2023, 06:30 PM

I27S out of Amarillo, once you make the little cloverleaf getting off I40 is a good clean shot then you hit US60 in Canyon, about 10miles (but more like 20 after going through Amarillo). Take US60 to Farwell then jog a couple miles and hit US70 to Roswell. At that point you're going to take 70 to Ruidoso....there are some mountains there so you will be climbing a bit - not bad but going from about 4k to 7k? over a span of many miles. It's a pretty town but touristy and if you're trying to make miles IMO it slows you down. If you like horse races they have them but in mid Dec. it could easily be snow everywhere. Coming down on 70 to Alamogordo is a piece of cake then on to Las Cruces and get on I10.

At that time of year I'm not sure the better bet wouldn't be staying on I40 to Santa Rosa then cutting S on US54 if you wanted to travel the unbeaten path. It travels between the two mountain ranges and is virtually flat. Not as scenic but in mid Dec is definitely where I'd be....I've been caught in those mountains many times in the winter and owned a vacation home in them for 25 years. The 54 route is pretty desolate and not nearly maintained like the interstates so keep that in mind. Not much fuel down thru there if the vehicle is thirsty.

firestation12 · 09-28-2023, 07:00 PM

Easiest, shortest, and also a scenic route would be to stay on I40 to Flagstaff, then I17 south to Phoenix and I10 to Casa Grande.

bobbecky · 09-28-2023, 07:37 PM

The problem with I-40 late December is there is a high probability that there could be serious snow and ice conditions that would make travel with an RV very risky. Your best bet would be get as far south to I-10 and then after getting to the Phoenix area, go up to your destination that way.

LHaven · 09-28-2023, 07:50 PM

US60 through Globe/Miami is a roller coaster. Did it once, and would really rather never do it again towing. I-17 S from Flag to Bumble Bee is also a grade-fest, but not white-knuckles.

Campbell701 · 09-29-2023, 04:07 AM

Thanks for all the information

firestation12 · 09-29-2023, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campbell701

Planning on going out west to Casa Grande Az in late December.
Since weather can have big effect I plan on going south from Michigan to Nashville and the take hwy 40 west till Amarillo tx and then south on I-25 to I-10.
A few questions
Is 40 in good shape?
Has anybody taken 60 to 70 out of Amarillo and is this a good road ?
The other route could be go to Indy take 70 to St. Louis and then 44 to hwy 40 but I a concerned with bad weather on this route?

Thanks

Will you be pulling a trailer and if so what is your year and model tow vehicle and trailer length? Will you be using an equalizer hitch? Have you had you camper weighed and checked against tow vehicle capability? Driver experience pulling your rig might also affect your choice of route. One caution I can personally vouch for is the drive through El Paso and Tucson on I10.

**sourdough** · 09-29-2023, 06:39 AM

Bob mentions snow in post #9 which I had alluded to earlier. I don't know your setup, your experience towing and your tolerance for towing in snow but I won't do it unless I'm caught in it.

I have been caught on I40 in blizzards 3 times and it can be a horrendous mess (and I wasn't towing). The semis don't stop and you are stuck in them in one lane forever....of course on that adventure they had closed the road while we were all still on it unbeknownst to us - not good. The weather is not only unpredictable but can be deceiving.

That stretch across OK and TX (not encountered winter weather going on W) has typical weather for that area which many times includes mist, sleet etc. that melts then freezes on the highway becoming one long sheet of ice you can't see unless you constantly watch and know what you are looking for. That is what generally accounts for the accidents and fatalities in my neck of the woods in winter. To me a trip like that at that time of year pushes you as far S as you can to to avoid those situations which is what I do every year if traveling in winter.

Have you considered just shooting straight S from Nashville to Birmingham then I20 all the way to I10 in TX? That's a bit further S or you could go on down S to Mobile AL via Montgomery and get on I10 for the remainder of the trip. Take I12 and stay above New Orleans. A safe but somewhat congested route (and out of the way a bit). I guess it all really depends on your desire to stay away from bad weather.

Campbell701 · 10-05-2023, 09:39 AM

Thanks everybody
This will be first year driving a motorhome out west, however our 4th year going in Rv to Casa Grande, Az. In Dec/Jan time. All previous years we traveled to Albuquerque across I40 then south onI25, then I10 to Casa Grande. Watching the weather as we go. This year I was told about the route of 27s, 60s, and 70s from Amarillo across to Las Cruces which I have never travelled. Watching the weather is key,
Thank for all information

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