Tulsa OK to Yuma AZ

Update

In Amarillo now and heading to Albuquerque in minutes again thanks for he info. I am flying solo, wife's mom was ill and passed just before Thanksgiving, and just trying to get to Yuma and my wife, and things are literally breaking this trip. MH for a EGR cooler in Tulsa and the toad Jeep, heater core and other major stuff, is beginning to show its age and needs some money thrown at it. So I am staying on the main highways for now and I am west bound and down as the song goes.

Thank You folks
JimR

tatest wrote:
I always go I-44 to WF, 277 to Abilene, I-20 out to I-10 unless particularly nasty weather says "don't go just now" and that could be not just winter weather, but tornado outbreaks as well.

30+ years of habit, it was the preferred route for mail-car twice-daily runs NE Oklahoma to Odessa.

Been through New Mexico diagonally as well, route is more scenic but slower, and mountain roads more susceptible to winter conditions.

this is the route we have taken for 10 years. I-44 thru Okla costs us 30.00. We get on before Tulsa and off in WF to go 277 to Abilene. Fuel is usually cheaper on I-44 and easy to get into the service areas. Good hwy all the way. 277 is great, has been re-routed to bypass the towns, so have a full tank before you get on it. Dona

I always go I-44 to WF, 277 to Abilene, I-20 out to I-10 unless particularly nasty weather says "don't go just now" and that could be not just winter weather, but tornado outbreaks as well.

30+ years of habit, it was the preferred route for mail-car twice-daily runs NE Oklahoma to Odessa.

Been through New Mexico diagonally as well, route is more scenic but slower, and mountain roads more susceptible to winter conditions.

We just left Yuma this morning ....in Las Cruces now . We are going I-8 I-10 I25 N to hwy 70 N-E to Ruidoso, NM and drink beer with a hunting buddy for a couple days then on to Cloves, NM and pickup hwy 60N-E to I-27N TO I-40 into Amarillo, TX. Great ride and have been going that way for many years...The weather has been nice and sunny and the roads are dry and dusty this weekend.

I will second the motion for I 35 down to Ft Worth, then 20 to 10 and on to Yuma. This time of the year you look for a window, then get South as soon as possible. We are heading South shortly and it will be I 35. If the weather is suspect I would go all the way down to I 10 before heading West, longer but not as much chance for bad weather although you still have to watch out for the El Paso/Las Cruces area.

Thanks guys for the information depending on weather I-40 to Albuquerque
then south to I-10 then west to Yuma on I-8 looks sunny and around 40 in the day but we will see. I am really tired of the cold so the further south I get the better.

JimR

IMO, the best route this time of year is I 44 down to Wichita Falls, then 277 to Abilene and I 20 west to I 10 etc.
The tolls on I 44 will total up to about ten bucks. The fuel on the toll road is not over priced.

If there is not a major snow storm in progress - I-40 to Albuquerque wouldn't bother me - but 54 across New Mexico might. I'd personally take I-25 down to I-10 (in the winter - I try to avoid long interstate drives in the good part of the year). Longer dogleg - but less likely to be held up by weather and more places to hide if weather socks you in.

Be careful of the downgrade right before Albuquerque.

Taking I-35 down to Fort Worth, Loop 820 around the west side and I-30/20 out to Abilene is farther than I-44 & 277 - but probably about the same time wise.

To me the difference would be the weather the day I get to OKC. If the three day forecasts for Amarillo, Albuquerque show any precip and freezing temps - I'd go south.

That won't guarantee no freezing weather/ precip - but it will usually be less.

That said - as the recent ice storm showed - New Mexico highway dept is better/ more experienced in clearing such highways than TXDOT.

All the roads are basically good roads with no problem for your rig. I haven't driven 54 in many years, but it was pretty good if my memory is correct. 277 looked good last year. Been down the others within the past year. 44 from Lawton to Wichita Falls is a bit bumpy.

Outside of some very minor construction on 35 near Denton and north Fort Worth - should be fine.