Forum Discussion

dalenoel's avatar
dalenoel
Explorer II
Feb 04, 2021

Apache Junction, AZ to El Paso, TX

We will be leaving Apache Junction October 11 for Fl in a 36' DP with toad. Two routes look good and wondering what locals would recommend. I-10 looks like it is too far West from Apache Junction.

First is US-60 to Globe then US-70 to I-10 as the first stop is Mission RV in El Paso.

Option is US-60 to AZ-79 to AZ-77 to I-10 near Tuscon and follow that to Mission RV.

The last time through here we were East to West stopping at Karshner Caverns and used Tombstone as the 2 night campground.

I am not locked in to either route or even Mission RV except it is in the range of a days drive. We are planning 4 stops before Tampa.

Thanks for the help.
  • Hope your good with mountain roads. Lots of twisties and climbs on the 60 from Superior up into Globe. It's a pretty drive, though. Oh, and the cool tunnel you go through (don't get too close to the sides, stay in the left lane). We've used this road on our way to Roosevelt Lake for four decades.
  • Thank you everyone. I think the trip as planned of 60 then 70 to I-10 will be the best route. All of the comments have been great and the suggestions will be taken into account.
  • Getting to El Paso, take NM-404 east at I-10 NM Exit 162. Over to NM-213 and south to the El Paso Loop 375 to the RV Park. No big grades, good road, little traffic.

    Drove through there in Sept, and while staying in El Paso, drove I-10 through town. Still a little construction, but not bad. Would not want to be using I-10 in an RV between 3 and 6 PM with traffic.
  • Depends on what you want to accomplish during the trip. If it's the fastest time with the least aggravation and lesser of everything but sightseeing, you can't beat the 202 to the 10 to El Paso. If you negotiated Main Street in Mesa/AJ, I10 through Tucson is a cake walk in an RV so don't let that discourage you. It will come down to the time you have to spend enroute.

    As a side note, the trip from Main and Signal Butte to Wild Horse exit at I10 was only 30 minutes. That same time won't even get you to the 60/79 turnoff. And if there some slow poke RVer in from of you on 60, (or any of those back roads) you may want to plan an overnight before El Paso.
  • Do yourself a favor: Take the Globe/US70 route. US70 is a good surfaced 2 lane road. Saves all the messing around in Tucson.
  • Living in Tucson for 49 years and travelling the state regularly, I'd choose from AJ take 60 east to 79 south to Florence, then 287 west to Coolidge (in Florence turn right at Florence Heights to get to the 287 easier), and 287 south to I-10. This route you'll avoid city street driving in Phoenix and Tucson.

    I remember when my wife wanted to do Tucson to tamp in 4 days. That's four 500 mile days. We did it but with her helping with the driving.
  • We just did the route thru Globe. It was a nice drive. There are some hills but otherwise roads in good condition and pretty for the most part.

    Going thru Globe is a bit of stop and go with signals but not bad. But the Tucson route will have similar issues.

    We primarily chose based on it being less miles.