Los Angeles to Atlanta

[W6FO]

Has anyone driven from LAX to the Northern burbs of ATL before during this time of year? I'm wondering which route would be better. I have two options, both are roughly the same mileage wise.

Route 1 - I-40 via Flagstaff/ABQ/Little Rock and through Nashville
Route 2 - I-10 via Phoenix/Tucson/Dallas and I-20 through Birmingham

Route 1 is shorter than Route 2 by a mere 5 miles and doesn't go through any HUGE cities such as Dallas does in Route 2. On the map, Route 1 is also a much straighter shot. However, I've never driven either.

Anyone done either/both and/or have a preference? No firm date on my departure yet but probably by the end of Jan.

Thanks

- JT

[Robert Schaller]

Although both have their charms, I prefer the I-40 corridor for the scenery.

But...I have driven I-40 more lately, and for that reason if I were doing this trip right now, I'd probably take Route 2 just for a change.

Both are good routes.

[W6FO]

Overall, which route would have fewer people travelling on it. I-10 is alot more popular, isn't it?

- JT

[Robert Schaller]

I don't think you'd notice much difference. Both are heavily used truck routes, but this time of year is one of the lightest for auto traffic.

[W6FO]

From a 'speed run' perspective, I-10 would probably be the smarter route this time of year I guess. I need to be there relatively quickly, not with any pressure attached, just get there as soon as safely possible.

I've done a few big trips like this but this will be my longest by about 100 miles. Valparaiso Indiana to Malibu, CA in December only stopping twice. One stop was a 40 minute power nap and the other was a 5 hour hotel sleep.

I'll try to sleep a little more this trip. :wink:

- JT

[W6FO]

Someone on another forum commented that there is a notorious black ice area (large) on I-40 in Eastern AZ near Holbrook (Hellbrook?). Can you guys here confirm this?

My plan is to leave So. Cal so that I am in Albuquerque by 4pm'ish. ABQ is right around 13 hours from my departure location and is likely to be my first stop for a decent sleep.

Thanks

- JT

[W6FO]

Another route question:

Most of the online direction maps (mapquest, google, et al.) have me taking I-40 all the way to Nashville and catching I-24 over to I-75 down into Georgia.

However, I just checked mappoint.msn.com and it suggests getting off I-40 in Memphis and catching US-78 via I-55/I-240 and heading through Birmingham.

Is anyone familiar with US-78 in this area? There is also US-72 to the North.

Thanks

- JT

[Robert Schaller]

You could encounter ice anywhere along I-40 during the winter season. In Arizona and New Mexcio, prime areas are around Williams, Flagstaff, or anywhere along the stretch between Winslow and the middle of New Mexico, etc, and on east from there. There is nothing specific about the Holbrook area that makes it any more likely there than any other place, to my knowledge (and I'm as close to a "local" as you'll find on the forum).

Icy conditions are usually storm specific in Arizona and New Mexico -- meaning between storms you are just as likely to find the pavement dry on major highways.

Keep in mind that taking I-10 is no guarantee not to run into ice and snow -- winter storms hit that stretch of roadway also. Bob

[W6FO]

I've decided to hit the road on this trip on Sunday morning around 3am. The Weather forecast is looking real good for the SouthWest and I'm going to take advantage of it.

Day 1:

I-105 E - > I-605 N -> I-210 E -> I-15 N -> I-40 E -> NM Exit 155

Crash at the Super 8 in West Albuquerque

Day 2:

I-40 E -> AR Exit 157

Crash at the Super 8 in Little Rock

Day 3:

I-40 E -> -> I-440 E -> I-24 E -> I-75 S -> GA Exit 290 -> GA-20

GA-20 a few miles East to my final destination in Canton, GA.

I might be pushing it a little bit with the 12-13 hour days but I've done it before so it shouldn't be a problem. My small car only has a 11.9 gal tank so I will be stopping often for gas anyway so I will be getting a lot of body stretching in and may partake in a few 20 minute power naps as well.

- JT

[W6FO]

Well, my little roadtrip was an uneventful success.

Total miles driven: 2275

I departed at 0230 (PST) on Sunday and arrived at 1215 (PST) on Tuesday afternoon. I drove roughly 800 miles on Sunday, 900 miles on Monday, and the remainder on Tuesday.

I-40 is in very good shape with very little construction going on. Memphis was the only area that had slow downs due to construction.

WX was fine but had some serious 20 to 30 mph crosswinds through most of Texas and all of Oklahoma. Looks like OKC got some nice snow just after I left however. Had a bit of rain in Little Rock for a couple hours.

- JT