Best route from Wichita Ks, to San Diego Ca

Desert Captain wrote:
I-40 and I-17 in and around Flagstaff are terrible roads. Lots of potholes, poorly patched at best. East of Flagstaff or west of Williams the road surface gets better. As noted there are several steep grades between Flagstaff and Phoenix.

Also, note that the climb up and out of Albuquerque on eastbound I-40 is a long, very steep climb. Not a problem for 24' C but you folks hauling large trailers/fivers will have your work cut out for you.

Also be aware/prepared for seriously hot weather in June, Zion {and much of the rest of your route} could easily be triple digits.

Enjoy!

:C

we are thinking of taking this route? 8 to 78 to 10 to 40, OR 15 to 10 to 95 to 40.....whats your opinion? Leaving San Diego to The Grand Canyon

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?

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.

I-40 and I-17 in and around Flagstaff are terrible roads. Lots of potholes, poorly patched at best. East of Flagstaff or west of Williams the road surface gets better. As noted there are several steep grades between Flagstaff and Phoenix.

Also, note that the climb up and out of Albuquerque on eastbound I-40 is a long, very steep climb. Not a problem for 24' C but you folks hauling large trailers/fivers will have your work cut out for you.

Also be aware/prepared for seriously hot weather in June, Zion {and much of the rest of your route} could easily be triple digits.

Enjoy!

:C

Avoid I-17 south out of Flagstaff. It's got some steep grades as you approach Phoenix.

Google Maps options?

Several years ago we took Hiway 54 to SW Kansas from Wichita, then caught I40 to Williams, AZ and camped there. The Grand Canyon was about 45min north of there. Good hiways with just gentle elevation climbs through NM and AZ. Also a very scenic drive.