I40 west roadside must sees?

suprz wrote:
Heading west from mammoth caves KY, on I40 to the grand canyon in the fall and was wondering about sites to see along the way. DISCLAIMER... We will be moving right along, and not really doing more than overnights to get out to the grand canyon asap. Thats why i was just asking about roadside attractions etc...

Thx!

Jump off at Gallup and drive through Window Rock (Capital of the Navajo Nation) then on to Canyon de Chelly before driving across the Navajo Reservation First and Second Mesa to Tuba City and South on Rt 89 to Rt 64 into the Grand Canyon from the East.

Window Rock

Canyon de Chelly

Desert View East entrace to the Grand Canyon


You could just skip all this and drive on into The Grand Canyon with the Herds of people and only see a small fraction of what is out there. Or you could drive in from the east catch just a couple of the many unbelievable spots that on along the route to the Grand Canyon.

Hopefully you drove all this way to see more than just the Grand Canyon?

Next question what are you going to drive by on the way home? Do you have a route - more things to see.

IMHO the trip should be as good as the destination.

BOL,

I would spend a lot more time at the spots along I-40 and less time at the grand canyon. One day was plenty at the canyon. Just my opinion but my DW agrees so I guess two opinions. Spend a day in Santa Fe, NM. It's an hour from I-40. Ride the tram in Albuquerque. It's just minutes from I-40 but you will want to plan on half a day including the tram ride. You can spend the rest of that day in Old Town Albuquerque which is about two minutes from I-40. I'd take a couple of days in Northern NM and ride the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad in Chama, NM. Fun ride and beautiful scenery.

It is a two hour delay to quickly do the Petrified Forest by about the quick drive through. It takes a bit longer than two hours, but you do get some of the time back because you make it about 30 minutes down the interstate when you come out the west end.

Lots more, but it all probably adds to much time to interest you.

I tried to link the gps coordinates but it did not like it. They are:

35.18723, -101.98706

Cadillac Ranch


Off I-40, just west of Amarillo, 10 Cadillacs are half buried, tail fins up. Created in 1974 by a collective of artists called Ant Farm, it's a tribute to America's once-most-beloved cruiser. For the true artistic experience, bring spray paint; Ant Farm encourages audience participation. Free.

The Meteor Crater is just off I40 in eastern Arizona.

Elvis Presley house at Memphis

Hot Springs Ark.

Grand old Opry tour in Nashville