Traveling PHX to ATL: I-10E or I40E better?

[road_tripped]

Hi,

We are planning to drive from Phoenix AZ to Atlanta GA - and had 1 basic question:

Do we go to Flagstaff and then take I-40E all the way? Or do we go to Tucson and take I-10E and go all the way?

If anyone on this forum has traveled on either of these - could you please share your experiences? Which Highway is better and why?

[Mark Sedenquist]

We are planning to drive from Phoenix AZ to Atlanta GA - and had 1 basic question:

Do we go to Flagstaff and then take I-40E all the way? Or do we go to Tucson and take I-10E and go all the way?

If anyone on this forum has traveled on either of these - could you please share your experiences? Which Highway is better and why?

Welcome to the Forum!

Either way is fine -- I have driven both routes several times over the years, but without question, the shortest route is I-10 to I-20 (via Dallas) and then over to Atlanta. The real question is dependent on the weather. I-20 between Ft. Worth and I-10 near Van Horne can be quite icy in November. So far, it has been unseasonably warm -- but you really need to check the weather conditions 24 hours before you travel to know for sure.

Mark

[Robert Schaller]

Aside from Mark's good advice about the weather, do you have time to sightsee or is this a quick trip? The sights are different along each corridor. Bob

[RoadTripper Brad]

I'd say take 40, as I-10 is going to be closed through New Orleans so you'd end up having to track north anyway.

[AZBuck]

There really are only minor differences between the two routes. Going by way of I-10 and I-20 (note that you are not on I-10 after west Texas and won't be going through New Orleans) the journey from Phoenix to Atlanta is about 1851 miles and would take approximately 29 hours of actual driving time. The I-19, I-40 combination would be 1861 miles and 29 and a half hours. So there's a slight edge to the I-10 and I-20 route, but not much. If it's a consideration, the I-40 route includes a portion on US-78 between Memphis and Birmingham. While it's mostly controlled access, there are parts, especially at the terminal cities, where you are on 'surface streets'. I've driven major portions of both routes and they are very similar in large measure. Both routes are covering roughly the same terrain, the high plains, Mississippi valley, and the coastal plain. So in the end, there's not a lot to choose between them. Have a look at what's along each way and see if there's anything that appeals to you specifically.

AZBuck.

[road_tripped]

Thank you for all your responses - this really helped! I had actually scoured the internet looking for a good comparison between the routes - and haven't been able to find anything - till I joined this forum!

Looks like we'll be leaning more towards I-40 now. Does I-40E also get colder during November? Or is the icy phenomenon mostly on I-10/20?

To answer Bob - this trip is going to be (hopefully!) as quick as we can make it - so no sight seeing.

Also - are there any good websites which show current route conditions etc.? I would want to check this 5-6 hours before starting the drive.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Looks like we'll be leaning more towards I-40 now. Does I-40E also get colder during November? Or is the icy phenomenon mostly on I-10/20?

I-40 gets the same weather, if there is an ice storm in Texas, it will be widespread.

Also - are there any good websites which show current route conditions etc.? I would want to check this 5-6 hours before starting the drive.

There are a dozen or so excellent sources for road and weather conditions in each state. We maintain a list here.

Mark