best non interstate route from Cottonwood to Albuquerque

260 to 60 as someone above said, nice drive with scenery, many got to see along 60. Small RV park in Pie town with full hook ups and walk to town.

Don't know if you've already headed out, but I'd take US 89A through Oak Canyon to Flagstaff then east on I-40. Walnut Canyon NM is an interesting stop if you can deal with the hiking. East from there you'll hit Petrified Forest NM. However you want to route it, I'd recommend NM %# to take you past El Morro NM and El Malpais NM. We been to quite a few NP's and NM's and El Moro was really quite an interesting, worthwhile stop. You can do it in a couple of hours.

We have taken both the AZ-260/87 route to Winslow and the AZ-260/US-60 route to Socorro. Pie Town and the Very Large Array on US-60 have already been mentioned.

Homolovi Ruins State Park which has a nice campground is near Winslow where you can stand on the corner. Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest National Park are not far from the Arizona/New Mexico border.

In Grants, there is the Mining Museum. Just South of I-40 going West from Grants are El Malpais National Monument, El Moro National Monument, El Malpais National Conservation Area,and the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano. Acoma Sky City is said to be the longest occuppied location in the U.S.

doxiemom11 wrote:
I don't know when you plan to do this, but keep in mind that snow and wind start being an issue this time of year in that area. I-25 isn't a very busy x-way except right in the big towns.

I-25 was shut down last night just south of Albuquerque due to snow. More snow predicted tonight. Hope your through here by now.

I don't know when you plan to do this, but keep in mind that snow and wind start being an issue this time of year in that area. I-25 isn't a very busy x-way except right in the big towns.

We took 36 to 117 in NM between 60 and I40 once and it was a nice quiet scenic drive. Shorter than 60 to i25 as well.

Two suggestions, besides Pie Town

The VLA is located on US-60 west of Socorro near Datil (Very Large Array of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory) a bucket list item for space flight geeks. VLA on US-60

Unfortunately COVID closed the information center this summer

The New Mexico Mining Museum in Grants is simply amazing. The basement is a recreation of a uranium museum. Wonderful. Well worth the detour.

Well, I lied, saying two.

El Morro National Mounument on NM-53 is also worth a visit.

We drove US-60 all the way across NM, from Clovis on the Texas border to Springerville, AZ in late June and early July. Only 25 miles of interstate on I-25 as mentioned above. Wonderful road, nothing too challenging as far as grades.

We also drove AZ-260 from Show-Low to Cottonwood. You will climb and descend 5 and 6 percent grades on that route. The stretch from Camp Verde to Payson is steeper and narrower. Nothing crazy, but a definite challenge.

Payson to Show-Low the road is better, more traffic, several passing lanes, and a couple good places to stop on the way.

NMDriver2 wrote:
Grants is a bit of '50 s route 66 and reservation pueblos.

Great description of Grants. :B

Don't forget Pie Town on RT 60!!!!!!

You can go through Show Low or up through Gallup. Just put Albu in your google maps destination and Cottonwood as the origin. Then go to options and click on avoid Hiways. On the map Google puts you through to I-40 near Grants but if you stick with US 60 from Quemado you will wind up on I-25 in Socorro and be able to use old US 85 now NM 408 north to San Acacia then on I-25 to US 60 (exit 175) and then back on old 85 (NM116 and 314 after Belen) to Bosque Farms and Albu.

The Google route up north of I-40 is reservation mostly and it is closed now so stick with the routes south of 40 or along the frontage roads of 40.

Lots to see from the Very Large Array on 60, to El Malpais off of I-40, Grants is a bit of '50 s route 66 and reservation pueblos.