LA to Tucson

Tucson to Corpus? Not much! Looooootttttssss of open space. :-)

Thank you everyone for all the fantastic information !
I may also ask about anything interesting to see from Tucson to corpus christi area.
Cheers everyone

Anza Borrego is a nice park but if that is your destination go down through Escondido; shorter and more scenic than the Salton Sea route. If you want to visit the Salton Sea the East shore highway is closer and is where the public RV campgrou9nds are.

I have lived 25 miles south of Tucson for 12 years so do know the area quite well. I also know many of the roads you might travel, and places to stay, as we have spent a lot of time doing that. Feel free to email or PM me if you would like.

OK, Giggle - aka Google - says Hwy 60 to the I10 all the way to Tucson. The one section I don't know is the 60 portion. And, very honestly, from Palm Desert area to Tucson you really don't have many choices. It is just desert.

If you want to come down past the Salton Sea - pretty much a waste of time in my opinion, you want to come down the west side and stay at Anza Borrego SP in Borrego Springs. Great place; probably need reservations. Yuma has several places - we like The Palms. Then not much until you get to Gila Bend and Quail Trail is good. On on to Eloy area and Picacho Peak staying at the rv park there or one that has turned into a KOA in that area. Then into Tucson.

If you come across on the I10 go south on Hwy 85 just west of Phoenix to connect up with the I8; avoid Phoenix and their traffic and all. Leaf Verde in Buckeye near the I10 / Hwy 85 intersection is good place.

In Tucson you might try getting into Catalina S P; we go there although it is only just north of Tucson and 45 miles from the house. Neat place. Otherwise I would recommend on that used to be rv dealer owned and now a KOA in the center of town or Rincon West.

If you are going east from there I can offer help if and when you want it.

In Tucson there is a lot to do but do not miss the Desert Museum. Again, if you want help just email or PM me.

We are heading over to Indio, CA for a month soon staying at Indian Waters - will catch Leaf Verde going over and coming back once again. And, once again, when we get back we will spend 5 nights at Catalina.

Enjoy!

Chris

Check out AAA trip tick. Has been helpful to us in the past...
and I was raised in El Centro. Ha ! Lots of Agri-history in the Imperial Valley... Brawley, Holtville, Niland , Calipatria, Imperial ... Calexico, Mexicali. All American Canal, Colorado River, Yuma Territorial Prison, geothermal tours, solar tours, Old Highway 80, Salton Sea, Wiest Lake, Sunbeam Lake, Naval Air Facility, Mount Signal, Superstition Mountain range, Barry Goldwater bombing range ...
etc.... lots of great kid exploring / teaching points.

... just a thought... on occasions it is miles between re-fueling
points out in the desert... start looking at 1/2 tank.

..if in the neighborhood , hit up Dateland and get some Medjool
dates... delicious.

Charles

CDM wrote:
Thanks for that that sounds great! Is it open at this time of year?
We then intend to continue east along the gulf to Florida.

The Arizona State Parks I mentioned are open year-around but check their web sites to be sure.

A great resourse for choosing camp grounds is RV Park Reviews,RV Park Reviews. They publish user reviews of RV parks and campgrounds all over the country and provide links to their web sites.

"....but one option would be to take Hwy 11 from Indio" It's Hwy 111

A less direct route with more unique scenery and California history is to take I-15 down to Temecula. Then head south east on Hwy 79 through Warner Springs to S-2 (San Felipe Rd.) at Hwy 78 you need to jog west a short distance to catch S-2 again which is now called Great Southern Overland Satge Route. Some historic stage coach related buildings along the way, plus it skirts Anza Borrego Natl Park. S-2 changes names to Sweeney Rd and Imperial Hwy along the route. It ends at I-8 in Ocotillo just west of El Centro. Head east on I-8 into Tucson.

Thanks for that that sounds great! Is it open at this time of year?
We then intend to continue east along the gulf to Florida.

There are not very many secondary roads across the desert but one option would be to take Hwy 11 from Indio South along the North shore of Salton Sea and then hook up with Highway 8 East to Casa Grande, then I-10 to Tucson. West of Tucson there is a neat State Park a Picacho Peak that we like to stop at. East of Tucson at Benson take Hwy 90 South abou t 15 miles to Karchner Caverns SP. There is a nice RV campground in the Park. The cave tours are awesome, especially the Throne Room Tour that takes you to a giant formation called Kubla Khan.

Even from the interstate you will see lots of beautiful desert.

Matt B