Brother is headed to California to see family and wants to run by the Grand Canyon on the way - Last time I used I-40 it was the Pits, but that was a while ago (10+years).So looking for advice from recent travelers on the route of choice.Throw in anything you think might be worth a stop along the way.Carlsbad and Canyon de Chelly are my two, add a couple more,TIA,

Petrified ForestPainted DesertWinslow AZ. (Eagles)Meteor CraterTeePee Motel Holbrook AzRoad Kill Cafe - SeligmanWatch for snow --Dennis

Have only driven parts of it over the years. But like most all other interstates, some parts are great, some parts will beat you to death. And it changes both ways as the years pass. Just enjoy the good parts and suffer thru the rest.

There is a lot to see along I-40. In Amarillo, there is Palo Duro Canyon State Park and the Big Texan on Old Route 66. In New Mexico, Tucumcari still has dinners along Historic Route 66 and numerous murals painted on buildings plus other attractions such as the foundary and windfarm training center at the college. Santa Rosa is another Route 66 town and has the The Blue Hole and Santa Rosa Lake State Park which has a nice campground. In Albuquerque, the Pueblo Cultural Center and Petroglyph National Monument are worth visiting in my opinion. 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 and the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano. Acoma Sky City is said to be the longest occuppied location in the U.S. They give tours of the pueblo and there is an RV park next to the casino.On the way to Flagstaff along I-40 are Petrified Forest National Park, Meteor Crater and Homolovi Ruins State Park. You can stand on the corner in Winslow Arizona.In the Flagstaff area are Sunset Crater National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Walnut Canyon National Monument. Sedona/Camp Verde/Cottonwood are about an hour South of Flagstaff with Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well National Monuments, Tuzigoot National Monument, Palatki and Honaki Ruins, V-Bar-V Heritage Site, Verde Canyon Railroad, Fort Verde State Park, Cathedral Rock, Gold King Mine, Jerome State Historic Park in the area.All this before you even get to the Grand Canyon.

Are you thinking about going this time of year, or in April or May?They get deep snow in Flagstaff, along I 40 near Grand Canyon. At 6,500' elevation, the first trip I took with my new to me camper in 1987 was to the Grand Canyon over Thanksgiving weekend, and it snowed, ice on the main road, and slippery. I could not even see the canyon through the fog. So I kept checking the newspaper for Flagstaff weather, and it kept reading in the teens and 20's all winter long, only getting warm in the summer.May might be OK or warm, it all depends. . .Check Weather.com for the month that you plan on traveling. If you plan on traveling in March, also check Albuquerque weather, as it is 5,200' elevation, and also subject to snow between October and March.I guess you are used to driving in the snow, but if you want to avoid it in the next couple of weeks, you can plan to travel between the storms, or go south to I-10. Good luck,Fred.

Looking at taking the trip in April so weather should not be an issue.Just really trying to find out how bad/good? I40 is???????Thanks,

Central West Virginia to the Grand Canyon - will I-40 be OK?

13 Replies

trailertraveler
Explorer
Feb 10, 2016
There is a lot to see along I-40. In Amarillo, there is Palo Duro Canyon State Park and the Big Texan on Old Route 66. In New Mexico, Tucumcari still has dinners along Historic Route 66 and numerous murals painted on buildings plus other attractions such as the foundary and windfarm training center at the college. Santa Rosa is another Route 66 town and has the The Blue Hole and Santa Rosa Lake State Park which has a nice campground. In Albuquerque, the Pueblo Cultural Center and Petroglyph National Monument are worth visiting in my opinion. 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 and the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano. Acoma Sky City is said to be the longest occuppied location in the U.S. They give tours of the pueblo and there is an RV park next to the casino.

On the way to Flagstaff along I-40 are Petrified Forest National Park, Meteor Crater and Homolovi Ruins State Park. You can stand on the corner in Winslow Arizona.

In the Flagstaff area are Sunset Crater National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Walnut Canyon National Monument. Sedona/Camp Verde/Cottonwood are about an hour South of Flagstaff with Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well National Monuments, Tuzigoot National Monument, Palatki and Honaki Ruins, V-Bar-V Heritage Site, Verde Canyon Railroad, Fort Verde State Park, Cathedral Rock, Gold King Mine, Jerome State Historic Park in the area.

All this before you even get to the Grand Canyon.
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 10, 2016
Have only driven parts of it over the years. But like most all other interstates, some parts are great, some parts will beat you to death. And it changes both ways as the years pass. Just enjoy the good parts and suffer thru the rest.
Executive45
Explorer III
Feb 10, 2016
Petrified Forest
Painted Desert
Winslow AZ. (Eagles)
Meteor Crater
TeePee Motel Holbrook Az
Road Kill Cafe - Seligman

Watch for snow --

Dennis

Forum Discussion

Central West Virginia to the Grand Canyon - will I-40 be OK?

13 Replies

About Bucket List Trips

Related Content

Central Florida to Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

Elkins West Virginia

virginia Beach

Canyon Point CG (Central AZ)