US 89A AZ-UT

Thanks, All. We will plan to take US 89A. It sounds very similar to other routes we've taken.

You're from Tucson so you've probably driven I-17 to Flagstaff. It has 6% grades around Camp Verde. I just looked up 89A to Jacob Lake in the "Mountain Directory for Truckers" (highly recommended online) and it's the same 6%. So it should be very doable for you...beautiful scenery. Have a good trip!

Plus on 89A you can take a side trip to North Rim. Or from Navajo Bridge drive to the Colorado at Lees Ferry.

http://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/lees-ferry.htm

Same here - have towed on 89A several times with no problems. It is a two lane, hilly route in some spots with short passing zones. One time through, we got stuck behind a slow moving camper. Didn't have time enough to pass safely so we just settled in for the ride.

They are paving Navajo 20 which will shorten the detour by about 50 miles. That should be ready in the fall, and will be labeled 89T.

They also announced plans for fixing the slide on US89, but that will take a couple of years.

US89A was the original route. It crosses the first bridge over the Colorado between Las Vegas and central Utah, Navajo Bridge. Well, technically, it now crosses a parallel span. The original is open for walking. The Page crossing dates from when Glen Canyon Dam was built.

We took 89A in May and handled it fine with a 35' toyhauler with a tag trailer. It is a SLOW climb because the road has some switchbacks and curves. Because of that, some vehicles do overheat.

We spoke with a friend who had taken the detour (up hwy 98) and said that she will always go that way from now on. She said that there is very little grade on that route.

Unless your trailer is over 50' long, or weighs over 30k, the 89A through Jacob Lake is the route to take!

89A is a good secondary road. There is a long climb from House Rock to Jacob Lake, about 14 miles, some of it 7-8% grade. I have pulled it several times, you should have no trouble.