Best route from Wichita Ks, to San Diego Ca
We will be traveling in June and will be towing a fifth wheel. My husband wants to avoid mountains as much as possible. We Have decided that we would like to see the Grand Canyon briefly on the way ou...
Forum Discussion
ohhell10339 wrote:
I-40 generally avoids the mountains, but you do gain a fair amount of elevation, albeit gradually. If you want to visit Zion on the way back, you will have to afterwards cross the Rockies at some point--easiest to take I-15 up to I-70, though you could conceivably retreat to I-40 via US 89 from Zion. The problem with the latter is that exits from Zion to the east through the tunnel are problematic and might cost you extra money, given that your rig probably exceeds the length limitations (you would have to be escorted through the tunnel).
Grand Canyon to San Diego: Just take I-40 through Needles to Barstow and thence south on I-15 to San Diego. Easy, monotonous, non-scenic, fast drive.
Ohhell and Desert Captain got me thinking a bit more about flatter routes from Zion eastwards.
Coming back from Zion to the east, then US89 south, to I-40 east, then at Albuquerque, pick up I-25 north to Denver and then east on I-70. This would get you around the Vail Pass, Eisenhower Tunnel, on I-70 through Colorado, and avoid the long uphill out of Albuquerque on I-40. Might be your best bet, unless I-25 north of Santa Fe has some steep grades I'm forgetting?
EDIT: Never mind about I-25 N to I-70. Too far past Wichita. Might as well test the I-40 east hill. Either way, I-35 is the final goal, and neither works really well. Sorry.
EDIT2: You could take I-40 east to Tucumcari and pick up US54 east from there right into Wichita. Maybe?
