Wichita to Albuquerque suggestions

For those folks that live near and work at or sell to those plants, that is the smell of money. It is like living downwind of a feedlot. The good news is you do get used to the smell after a while. At least we did when we lived a couple of blocks from an IBP processing plant and I think most others did as well.

Thanks again for all the ideas; we're in Liberal today (DW: Oz fan) but will have to try the other routes on future runs. I can't believe the National Beef processing plant produces this much smell! Or that this town (despite the smell) was named in one of the top places to live lists. I'm going to learn a bit more about why; there's always good reasons to live in every place.

For better roads and less truck traffic, we have taken US 50 to Dodge City, US 56 through Clayton and Springer to I25 then south to Albuquerque.

If your looking to get there quickly I suggest US-54 to I-40 to Albuquerque. If you want the scenic route I suggest the US-50 to I-25 route.

If you have time for a layover I would highly suggest a nite at Ute Lake, it is about 20 minutes north of Tucumcari

It all depends on the time of year, the weather, the amount of time you have for the trip, your interests, and what you want to experience on your trip. We just traveled US 54 from Guymon to Tucumcari two weeks ago. Very little to see or experience until Tucumcari.

Having taken multiple routes from Wichita, I personally would drive U.S. 50 to La Junta, Colorado, U.S. 350 to Trinidad, and I-25 to Albuquerque. Why would I take this route? Because I am a Western history buff and there is so much of historical interest on that route--the Santa Fe Trail, Dodge City, Bent's Fort NHS, Raton Pass, Ft. Union NHS, Glorietta Pass Civil War Battlefield, Pecos National Monument, and Santa Fe, with many of the oldest buildings in the U.S. And I would even take time for lesser known historical sites like Amache, a WWII Japanese internment camp near Granada, CO, and Boggsville, where Kit Carson died, near Las Animas.

But, if I were leading one of my car clubs on a tour, I would head south from Wichita on I-35 to Oklahoma City, then follow the remains of U.S. 66 all the way to Albuquerque. I would stop at the many iconic motels, gas stations, and restaurants along the "Mother Road" for photos of 1950's kitsch. And I would not miss the Route 66 museums in Clinton and Elk City, OK.

So, your route really depends on your primary objectives for taking the trip!

DFord wrote:
I'd take US-54 from Wichita to Tucumcari and get on I-40 to Albuquerque. 54 is all two land but you'll probably have it all to yourself most of the time and it was much smoother than the interstate. Close your windows and recirculate your cabin air as you go through Dalhart, TX (home to the largest feed lots I've ever run across) Tucumcari has lots of Route 66 things to see. Be sure to take in a movie at the Oden Theater and dine at Dels Restaurant. We stayed at Blaze-In-Saddle RV park on the east side of town (BL I-10).

What he said and add the dinosaur museum in Tucumcari, well done.

I10 - could have blizzard conditions/ice/wind on I-40 starting anytime now.

Thanks for correcting me! I edited my post to correct it. I-40 runs through Tucumcari and Albuquerque.

busyguy wrote:
You are going to have to go way south to get on I10. I think he meant I40 at Tucumcari.

x2, thumbs up on Del's also.