Southwest RoadTrip (Merged from several threads)

[qsoundrich]

I understand that people from the East may not realize how big the West really is. It's possible to drive 12 hours from Denver and still be in the state of Colorado. (not all interstate, of course.) So, if you want to have time at the end of the day to relax, I wouldn't go over 600 miles a day MAX, and figure fewer per day if you drive I-70 through Colorado. The shortest route is I-70 through KC, Denver, I-15 through Las Vegas.

I-40 is more heavily traveled cross country because it's easier and much lower elevation over the Continental Divide. If you want to go through Dallas, you're better off Taking I-20 to I-10 and going across the desert southwest. In this case you'd want to go Columbus, OH to St. Louis, Tulsa, OK on I-44.

My advice is to spend the night in Columbus, Ohio and make a decision if you want to stay on I-70 or go south based on the weather. Someone predicted that due to El Nino, there may not be much snow this winter in Colorado, but more in New Mexico.

[KingofJacks]

Well this kind of dampers the plan. Its upsetting but i will take your advice. I figured with two of us switching driving, we could easily do 5 hours each. Thats not too bad is it? Is the weather bad this route?

KoJ

[AZBuck]

Sorry, didn't mean to dampen your enthusiasm, but reality is a stern taskmaster. If I could run a marathon at the same rate I run a hundred yard dash, I could do it in just over an hour. (The world record is twice that.) It's the same with long distance drives. One thinks if they can do 75 mph, they can do 750 miles in 10 hours of driving. But it never works out even close to that. Once you factor in stops to gas up, eat, use rest rooms, etc., and slowdowns for traffic, cities and sights, you're lucky if you can maintain 55 on an hour after hour basis. We have learned from hard experience that, in fact, you can do maybe 57 (on average) in the wide-open west, and only 53 in the more congested east. We're just trying to save you from learning that same painful lesson all over again. And much as you think having multiple drivers and cars will help, it will only help in as much as it will let the drivers share the load. Anytime you add to the number of people involved or the complexity of a task, it slows things down even more.

You probably can take time to see a few things along the way. In fact I'm sure that everyone here would encourage you to do so, if only to take a mental break from driving. But your basic route is going to have to be pretty direct given your time constraints and any sites you visit are going to have to be pretty close to the main highway, no wandering off to Denver.

Weather is simply not predictable any further than 5 days out, so you'll have to keep an eye on it as you travel. Be sure to check the Weather Channel each evening and morning from your motel room, and keep an ear open to local radio (a hoot anyway), and don't press your luck.

AZBuck

[KingofJacks]

Ok so we are taking Denver out of the trip. We are still going to drive from NJ to Nashville then Nashville to Dallas. After that its up in the air. Where do you suggest we go from Dallas. We would love to see the Grand Canyon....


KoJ

[Midwest Michael]

Trying to make it from NJ to Dallas in 2 days is not a good idea. On a theoretical level, it would be possible. But it will involve 2 greuling days on the road.

Depending upon where you are starting in NJ, you are looking at 800-900 miles to get to Nashville. Assuming ideal conditions of good weather and light traffic (which are certanly not sure things in January), that means you will need to spend between 15 and 17 hours on the road. You'd follow that up the next day by "only" being on the road for 13 or so hours. Put simply, there are laws that prevent professional drivers with years of long haul experience from even attempting this kind of feat.

If you want a suggestion on where to go from Dallas, I will agree with Buck, you should go to San Diego the most direct way possible which involves using I-20 and I-10. The Grand Canyon will add several hundred miles to the trip from Dallas to San Diego, which quite frankly, you don't have time for if you are going to make this journey in just 7 days.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Ok so we are taking Denver out of the trip. We are still going to drive from NJ to Nashville then Nashville to Dallas. After that its up in the air. Where do you suggest we go from Dallas. We would love to see the Grand Canyon....

It could happen that you will have lovely weather and dry pavement the entire way across the country -- (not real likely, but it could happen). If you stretch the trip to Dallas to 2.5 days, you MIGHT still have time to detour up to the Grand Cayon. However, on the most direct path, there are some really cool places you could stop and check out....

Las Cruces, New Mexico is in a gorgeous valley and a short detour will take you to White Sands National monument. An amazing sight -- keep your eyes peeled for the long-horned Eru that live near here.

Another short detour comes up when you reach Benson, Arizona -- the Kartchner Caverns are a few miles south on Highway 90. -- Even easier is taking the round trip drive through Saguaro National Park near Tucson. From Tucson, you could head for the Grand Canyon, but this will effectively take another day and will have to see if you have this much time.

If time is as short as it could be (weather, fatigue, etc.) another place to stop (that is on your direct route) is the Yuma Territorial State Prison park -- here are some dreadful photos -- but it is a fun stop.

The trip across the country can be done very reasonably in five driving days So, if you lose a day in Dallas, it will make it tough to fit in the Grand Canyon and still have a day/night in Las Vegas -- But if you make a plan to be on-the-road for 10 hours or so for each of the 5.5 DRIVING DAYS-- you should be fine---it is going to be an adventure of a lifetime. Enjoy!

Mark

[KingofJacks]

OK well thanks everyone for all the comments, assistance, ideas, and so on and so forth. We will consider all of your recommendations for our trip. We will be departing January 3rd at 9am so wish us luck, less than a month away. I will be sure to update the forum on the entire trip. Thanks again.

KoJ

[KingofJacks]

What does everyone know about El Paso? I may be diverting my trip to go through there, possibly sleeping there a night. Is it a safe town? Does anyone recommend a hotel or a restaurant.

[Mark Sedenquist]

What does everyone know about El Paso?

It has been a little too long since I have been there to offer recommendations about lodging or restaurants -- it is a place with a little rough edges (as are most border towns) but a fascinating place for shopping and sightseeing. I am curious why you choose to route your trip that way?

Mark

[KingofJacks]

Well, i heard the weather is better down there then in Amarillo. Its not set in stone. We are cutting out the Grand Canyon basically because everyone here said its alot to add to the trip and its possibly cold up there. Also I would like to hit up Phoenix/Scottsdale. I hear Scottsdale is great. Do you maybe have a recommendation for another place to stop and sleep before heading to Scottsdale. I would need somewhere between Dallas and Scottsdale. I would like it to be a safer town, doesnt have to big very "popular".

Thanks Mark.


KoJ