Sedona to San Diego

[Jolanie]

I am looking for guidelines on best routes to follow? Family traveling with 3 kids, would like to stop at Yuma(?).

Thank you!

[Mark Sedenquist]

I am looking for guidelines on best routes to follow? Family traveling with 3 kids, would like to stop at Yuma(?).
Thank you!

The most direct route is to follow SR-89A through Jerome (an old mining town, built on the side of the mountain) over to regular SR-89 through Prescott and down to US-60 and then west to I-10 and then south on SR-95 to Yuma -- be sure to stop and check out the Territorial Prison musem and then follow I-8 to San Diego.

If you have more time, there are lots of cool parks and things to do around Phoenix on your way south. Check out Thurman's field reports here or search for posts about Phoenix and Arizona road trips on this forum.

[Jolanie]

We arrive PHX 28 Dec. Tucson from 28 to 1st Jan, then Sedona from 1 - 8 Jan. Off to San Diego on the 8th. Carlsbad from 8 - 22nd Jan.

I would love to get to Carlsbad with one night stop over, don't know where. Please recommend something. From Carls I would like to do day excursions - not to Mexico, but into the desert. We have a farm 4 hrs drive from Cape Town, in the desert - area called Tankwa Karoo. I would love to experience a different desert talking...

Thanks!

[Mark Sedenquist]

We arrive PHX 28 Dec. Tucson from 28 to 1st Jan, then Sedona from 1 - 8 Jan. Off to San Diego on the 8th. Carlsbad from 8 - 22nd Jan.

When you are in Tucson, be sure to spend some time at the Saguaro National Park. Other places I would recommend would be Kartchner Caverns. Tombstone and the Chiricahua National Monument. Your kids will probably enjoy the mine tour at Bisbee.

I would love to get to Carlsbad with one night stop over, don't know where.

I am not sure what your intentions -- are Will you be spending some time in San Diego first or driving direct from Sedona to Carlsbad?

If you are driving to Carlsbad from Sedona, I would stay overnight at Ocotillo Wells and explore the Anza Borrego State park on your way in. Although it is a little early for wildflowers, it is still a very cool place to visit.

If you do the Yuma route -- see if you can take a ride on the Carrizo Gorge Railroad -- it crosses the world's tallest wooden trestle and a trip I have wanted to make ever since I first learned about it.

Mark

[Jolanie]

Thanks Mark for your reply.

Well, I am not familiar with the region at all, so I kind of go with the flow. Our plans were to travel from Sedona straight to Carlsbad, but if there is more interesting things to do along another route, then we will follow that one. I will follow your recommendations, howz that? I am waiting....

[Mark Sedenquist]

Well, I am not familiar with the region at all, so I kind of go with the flow. Our plans were to travel from Sedona straight to Carlsbad, but if there is more interesting things to do along another route, then we will follow that one. I will follow your recommendations, howz that? I am waiting....

One of these days, I will probably activate a fully-functional chat on certain days to enable these back-to-back conversations.

Sedona to Carlsbad will be a long day -- doable -- but I wouldn't suggest going as far south as Yuma and San Diego on the way. Unless you want to see what is in San Diego -- a lovely city...

What I would suggest instead would be to stay on Interstate 10 and proceed west to the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park and wander around there for a few hours and then stay overnight in Indio, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage area.

Then get up early the next morning and drive the awesome mountain road SR-74 over to county road 371 at Paradise Valley and then head southwest to SR-79 to join I-15 at Temecula. The Temecula valley has become a great wine area and is fun to drive through. You can have lunch at my favorite pizza place (also on SR-79)

And then head south on I-15 to SR-76 to Oceanside and thence on to Carlsbad.

Mark

[Jolanie]

Thank you very much. I will follow your directions and wander off too!

Thanks again!