We'll be travelling Albuquerque to Phoenix late next week. Wondering what the drive is like once you exit I-40 at Holbrook and drive 377 to 260. We're towing a 42' 5th wheel and would like to avoid narrow steep hills if possible, hence not going through the Salt Canyon.

There are grades just as steep as the Salt River Canyon on highway 87 between Payson and Phoenix, and the grade down into Payson is steeper than you will find in the Canyon. Myself, I do not mind the Canyon, the grades are around 7 percent. I always take route 117 just east of Grants, down to 36, then to 60 then straight into Phoenix.

If you don't like steep grades just continue on I-40 to Flagstaff then south to Phoenix. All freeway

This is not the time of year to take that route. Last week brought snow to the higher elevations. At this time of year pulling a 5th wheel, the freeways will be safer.

Don & Carolyn wrote:This is not the time of year to take that route. Last week brought snow to the higher elevations. At this time of year pulling a 5th wheel, the freeways will be safer.No sir - the storms are long gone and those roads will be clear by the time the OP comes down. The grades/highways are nothing to worry about. Nice wide roads with lots of passing lanes or 4 lanes - esp. from Payson into Phx./Mesa.

The highway from west of Heber and south to Payson and on to Phoenix has several downhill grades but most are 4 lane divided and all good road. However, like I-40 its all high elevation and prone to heavy snows and closures. Watch the weather before traveling this area.

Albuquerque to Phoenix | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Don___Carolyn
Explorer
Nov 28, 2013
This is not the time of year to take that route. Last week brought snow to the higher elevations. At this time of year pulling a 5th wheel, the freeways will be safer.
drillking
Explorer
Nov 28, 2013
If you don't like steep grades just continue on I-40 to Flagstaff then south to Phoenix. All freeway
dbbls
Explorer
Nov 28, 2013
There are grades just as steep as the Salt River Canyon on highway 87 between Payson and Phoenix, and the grade down into Payson is steeper than you will find in the Canyon. Myself, I do not mind the Canyon, the grades are around 7 percent. I always take route 117 just east of Grants, down to 36, then to 60 then straight into Phoenix.

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Albuquerque to Phoenix

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