Flattest, warmest route to Las Vegas in January from NC

I never considered Phoenix traffic horrible perhaps because I'm in the LA area more than I like and many years in the bay area.

With the new 202 loop complete the worst I-10 part can be avoided.

The shortest/best route for the OP IMHO is 10, new 202, 10, 303, 60, 93.

Basically the same as a Garmin GPS. The 202 route is close to local roads.

I-10 to I-8 to Yuma AZ , then route from there to Vegas. With this you will avoid the horrible Phoenix traffic. You will go around Tucson and north a little to I-8 and as long as you don't go thru at rush hour it's okay. You also will be in warmer areas and flatter areas. You do climb in elevation from ElPaso TX but nothing you even notice and then you will go back down in elevation to warm temps. (hopefully - they are colder in AZ right now). We stop in VanHorn TX which puts you about an hour away from ElPaso. That allows you to time it to go thru after morning rush hour. Enjoy your travels.

LuluL wrote:
ItsyRV - did you check out the new 202? How’d it go? How did your gps do? Thanks!

I;m not going to name the GPS as not all models of the same manufacture may work the same, so here it goes.

The standalone GPS would not allow me to set a route using the new freeway portion. When I did use the new freeway anyways, it did follow the new 202 for most of the new section although it did not appear as a freeway, just a generic road. The GPS probably had updated that the 202 will be built on that alignment just didn't yet have it as an actual freeway. It kept warning me that the freeway ended when on the old Pecos Rd alignment heading west. Where the old Pecos Rd ended, it kept attempting to get me to turn off the non existent road to an existing road every time one showed at or near the new freeway. So, about every mile it wanted me to turn left here or right there with constant warnings the road has ended.

Google maps pretty much did the exact same as the standalone GPS with the added problem of jumping to an existing road that crossed or paralleled the new freeway. It did have the entire 202 showing as a freeway just didn't let you use it. So when you were passing Vee Quiva, it jumped from the new freeway to the service road behind the casino until that road ended and it jumped back to the new freeway. This happened many times along the route assuming I was on a parallel road or on an intersecting road until it jumped back to the freeway. It did it less frequently heading from the west to east.

GoFleet stayed right on the new highway and actually knew it existed although the initial route would not automatically show me the freeway as available. Had to manually set the 202 freeway. Once on it, it would warn that the route may not be available due to construction so use caution, but it tracked and let me continue. The only issue was where the new freeway met I-10 on the west side, it told me to turn left while over the freeway as if at an intersection instead of tracking around the new ramps.

As for the road itself, took it twice and avoiding I-10 from Chandler Blvd to 59th Ave was simply a joy. Nice, smooth, not congested, (seems a favorite for DPS as well) and no headaches from metro traffic. The lead-up to the interchanges are still a mess especially on the west side, but still worth it as a bypass.

Overall, a nice Holiday and New Year gift from ADOT!

The reports for the new 202 section are good and I'll try it in a few weeks. Expect several years before the GPS maps are updated so in the meantime expect to be redirected while on that section. ie Turn around, off route, turn on a nearby street, etc. No different than any other new/changed route.

And there is already one report of a wrong way driver on the new section. Many are DUI and at night. Don't know why they seem to be so many in the Phoenix area as hit and run are also common.

WOW! Thanks everyone for your input! I had no idea I’d get so many responses! What a fantastic website!

ItsyRV wrote:
LuluL,
just want to update you that the new section of the Loop 202 Phoenix bypass (Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway) from I-10 to I-10 is now open. That means you can completely bypass the downtown metro Phoenix area when using I-10.

The connection points are at I-10 and the Loop 202 in the southeast portion of the valley with the other connection point is at I-10 and 59th Avenue in the south west side of the valley. Taking the new segment will bypass the entire airport, US-60 (east valley), Downtown, I-17, and the ever present disappearing lanes, exit right - no it's now on the left, over and under mess of Phoenix. Those heading to and from CA on I-10 without the need to be in Phoenix can use it as a bypass.

I'm going to check it out tonight with the RV to see if the signage makes sense to travelers. Also want to see if the GPS freaks out when I'm on it.

ItsyRV - did you check out the new 202? How’d it go? How did your gps do? Thanks!

Think the OP might have just gone to the Keys- :)


LOL! I wish. I’m in cold, rainy Germany, packing up my household goods, looking forward to some Vegas sunshine next month!

SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVING IN THE SNOW
1) Install Winter Tires
2) Drive south
3) Continue until you see palm trees
4) Apply brakes and sunscreen!

CA Traveler wrote:
The GPS will be lost on the new segment as it can take 2 years for a update plus delays for map uploads.

Well that depends on exactly what GPS you are using.

The ones that are "built in" to the vehicles certainly will have delays like that.....and often cost more than a Garmin to DO the update.

A Garmin with free map updates typically will have a much shorter delay, maybe 6 months for major changes.

An "online" navigation app like Google is continuously updated and a major change MIGHT show up in a matter of weeks. Might.