Hi Everyone!Looking for some advice from some seasoned travelers regarding routes. My wife and I are on our first trip out west from Michigan in a 30ft Holiday Rambler with car in tow. We have made it past Oklahoma City on the Interstates (currently I40) and I am almost ready to tap out.The Interstate has been dreadful to say the least. With the 18 wheelers the 30-40mph winds, and my rig barely being able to keep minimum speed, this trip cross country is becoming a nightmare.Do any of you have any suggestions for a more "relaxing" route that we can both start to enjoy the country as we make our way out West? Or is it a matter of sucking it up and limping out there on the interstate? I have owned the RV for 4 years and have made numerous smaller trips, but travelling the interstate cross country is a completely different story.Just looking for some insight/help on alternate routes.Thanks for any help, its appreciated!P.S. the search feature on these forums isn't too stellar, but I did try searching for my answer that way.

I would catch west US62 south of OKC, then 86 to US 60 into AZ. But that's the way I travel, non interstate.

Where in AZ are you planning to end up? Do you have to be at your destination at any particular time or day?

Thanks for the quick feedback @WE-C-USA. My wife is currently looking at Google Maps at your suggestion.@ItsyRV We plan on hitting Yuma and Quartzsite areas, and we are taking the winter to do this. We do not have a timeline for this journey

In google maps, set your destination. Then click on the three small dots in top right hand corner. Click on route options. Select “avoid highways”. That shows routes avoiding interstate highways and instead choosing other smaller, but still major, highways.

Assuming you aren't on a schedule, turn south and slow down.We shoot for between 100-200miles driving and usually don't drive more than 3 days per week. If the weather isn't nice, we will happily stay an extra day.Check the wind with www.windy.com. It's not fun driving in 30mph winds. This site allows you to see the wind along your route during the proposed driving time.Last time we went direct Michigan to Arizona, it took us a month. PS: what are you feeling is "too slow". If you are struggling to make 50mph, that's a problem. If you are chugging along at 65mph, you are probably fine.

Michigan to Arizona route advice | Good Sam Community

DustyRooster
Explorer
Nov 25, 2021
valhalla360 wrote:
Assuming you aren't on a schedule, turn south and slow down.

We shoot for between 100-200miles driving and usually don't drive more than 3 days per week. If the weather isn't nice, we will happily stay an extra day.

Check the wind with www.windy.com. It's not fun driving in 30mph winds. This site allows you to see the wind along your route during the proposed driving time.

Last time we went direct Michigan to Arizona, it took us a month.

PS: what are you feeling is "too slow". If you are struggling to make 50mph, that's a problem. If you are chugging along at 65mph, you are probably fine.

Thank you! We have been hunkered down in Ok for a couple days to let this wind let up some, and we will be heading a bit South now towards Roswell NM instead of directly East to Albuquerque. Appreciate the windy.com suggestion, this will be extremely helpful as the wind has actually been one of the most daunting parts of the trip even though I installed sway bars and a track bar on the rig. Our original goal was ~300 miles per day (but 100-200 sounds MUCH better), and it was nothing but a rushed feeling which is no fun. We plan on really paying much more attention to the weather during the rest of the trip, especially the wind on windy.com and try to enjoy the journey instead of the destination.
Appreciate your feedback and insight.

Happy Thanksgiving!

DR
valhalla360
Navigator
Nov 25, 2021
Assuming you aren't on a schedule, turn south and slow down.

We shoot for between 100-200miles driving and usually don't drive more than 3 days per week. If the weather isn't nice, we will happily stay an extra day.

Check the wind with www.windy.com. It's not fun driving in 30mph winds. This site allows you to see the wind along your route during the proposed driving time.

Last time we went direct Michigan to Arizona, it took us a month.

PS: what are you feeling is "too slow". If you are struggling to make 50mph, that's a problem. If you are chugging along at 65mph, you are probably fine.
BB_TX
Nomad
Nov 25, 2021
In google maps, set your destination. Then click on the three small dots in top right hand corner. Click on route options. Select “avoid highways”. That shows routes avoiding interstate highways and instead choosing other smaller, but still major, highways.
DustyRooster
Explorer
Nov 24, 2021
Thanks for the quick feedback @WE-C-USA. My wife is currently looking at Google Maps at your suggestion.

@ItsyRV We plan on hitting Yuma and Quartzsite areas, and we are taking the winter to do this. We do not have a timeline for this journey
ItsyRV
Explorer
Nov 24, 2021
Where in AZ are you planning to end up? Do you have to be at your destination at any particular time or day?
WE-C-USA
Explorer
Nov 24, 2021
I would catch west US62 south of OKC, then 86 to US 60 into AZ. But that's the way I travel, non interstate.

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