Best route Santee, CA to Lake Havasu City, AZ

The route with the less hills would be I 15 to Temecula I 215 to hwy 74 to Hemet and then hwy 10 to I 10 at Beaumont. That route will keep you out of the Riverside traffic and is a good way to I 10. At Indio you will have about a 8 mile grade all up hill then it will flatten out... only grade to pull, a water stop half way up if you need it....Stay on I 10 into Arizona and at exit 9 take AZ 95 south to LHC. If you can handle the big mountain on I 8 that would be shorter but the way I just added is also a good way with not much pulling.

More To See wrote:
The most relaxing route with minimal traffic would be I8 and 95 - - but you would have a long 6% interstate climb east of El Cajon up past Alpine to Pine Valley and then about 30 miles farther east a winding 10 mile 6% interstate descent down into the desert near El Centro.

However if you want to avoid 6% interstate grades then obviously don't take I8 and 95. I should also mention that the winding descent down into the desert although a beautiful drive could be intimidating. It is marked as 30 mph max for the big rigs.

If you should decide to take this route there is a great fuel stop at the Golden Acorn Casino about 40 miles east of El Cajon. (but obviously try and make it to Yuma where fuel would be about a dollar cheaper.)

This the route I would take....I have been on I8 with the 6% grades to Yuma with my gas rig....no problem.

The most relaxing route with minimal traffic would be I8 and 95 - - but you would have a long 6% interstate climb east of El Cajon up past Alpine to Pine Valley and then about 30 miles farther east a winding 10 mile 6% interstate descent down into the desert near El Centro.

However if you want to avoid 6% interstate grades then obviously don't take I8 and 95. I should also mention that the winding descent down into the desert although a beautiful drive could be intimidating. It is marked as 30 mph max for the big rigs.

If you should decide to take this route there is a great fuel stop at the Golden Acorn Casino about 40 miles east of El Cajon. (but obviously try and make it to Yuma where fuel would be about a dollar cheaper.)