Yuma, AZ to Carlsbad, NM

Mark- Hammer Down, nothing but the road NO HILLS

Hello, I'm from El Paso..never been to Yuma, but the I-10 highway from Phoenix/Tucson to El Paso is relatively flat. There are a few hills now and then. About 90 miles east of El Paso on US62/180 you'll run into the Guadalupe Mountains and probably the steepest grade in your journey.

I don't know the grade of the highway there, but it's two lanes driving up. So there's no worries of holding people back. The climb is 2-4miles in length (more or less). Once past that it's a slight downhill to the Caverns (about another 40miles away).

Have you visited Kartchner Caverns by Benson,AZ?? I've never been, just passed them on the way to Tombstone. Might be worth a slight detour on the way to Carlsbad.

I tow with a PSD 6.0L as well.

I am not sure what your planned route is but if you are coming I-10 East from Yuma and then branching off at El Paso to take Hwy 62/180 then there is a significant grade thru Guadalupe Pass which is a few miles Southeast of Carlsbad Caverns NP. I would not expect any issues there but it is the only really significant terrain change along the way. Be aware that there can be significant crosswinds there as well.

If you do come this way there are several other natural areas of interest that you might consider as well as the caverns. The first you will come to is the Salt Flat area just West of the mountains. Not much to see really, but there is a roadside historical marker there. Then the Guadalupe Mountains NP which has the highest peak in TX. Both the Frijole Ranch House area and McKittrick Canyon are nice to see as well and are right off of the highway. Just about 5 or so miles Southeast of Whites City and the caverns turnoff is what I believe is a hidden gem of a picnic area. I would not try to take the trailer there but if you are without it, then Rattlesnake Springs is a really nice place. The spring there is the source of the water supply for the caverns facilities with the infrastructure being built as a CCC project back in the 40's I think. Anyway, there is a nice grassy tree shaded picnic area there that is a very nice diversion from the surrounding desert scrub landscape. Again, there is not really room for a trailer so you would need to be without it for this portion. Enjoy your trip.

"Yah-ta-hey" or "Yá-át-ééh",

I-8 to Casa Grande area & I-10....nothing much in the way hills. I-10 to El Paso, not much at all, unless you take Trans Mountain Rd. (Closer to get on the hwy. to Carlsbad Caverns). Crest is 5280' at Smuggler's Pass.

Tucson/Arizona, New Mexico & Texas

---- Guadalupe Pass - Elevation: 5,424' Near Carlsbad Area TX/New Mexico

One can use the War Road Route to bypass the Trans Mountain pass: Use Exit 162 in New Mexico (just short of the NM/TX state line) NM-404/Ohara Rd East, turn right on NM 213 S (War Road), this turns into Martin Luther Kings Jr. Blvd (FM 3255) once entering TX. Take the ramp onto Gateway S Blvd/Patriot Fwy (US 54 S) to TX 376 Turn left onto Woodrow Bean Trans Mountain Rd (Texas Loop 375). Follow Loop 375 to the US-62/US-180/Montana Ave exit (about 12 miles). The US-62/US-180 takes you to Carlsbad Caverns. Not mountains to cross on this bypass. If you take a right on 376, then it'll take you up & over the pass.

If you want to take the Pass, just stay on I-10 on into TX. Take the exit toward Texas Loop 375/Trans Mountain Rd (about 5 or 6 miles from state line)....Turn left onto TX-375 Loop W/Woodrow Bean Trans Mountain Rd it will take you up & over (great vistas up at the top, at a rest/viewing area). Video Drive Trans Mountain

You really do not want to drive into El Paso & do a few city streets to get to & onto very busy Montana Ave (US-180 E/US-62 E). Much worse than a mountain pass.

Post Edit: Between Benson & Wilcox, a mild pass with a rest area in Texas Canyon, neat rock formations - elevation 4500'.

Also In the area: The Amerind Foundation :C Clicky :C ( Amerind Art Gallery is Neat ) a ethnological, anthropological, archaeological museum and art gallery with paintings by 20th century Anglo and Native American artists. We enjoyed the art gallery and the museum. A neat out of the way, hidden site in the boulders of Texas Canyon. The Amerind is located in Cochise County, one mile south of Interstate 10, only about an hour east of Tucson, between Benson and Willcox. It is easy to find - just look for Dragoon Road exit, #318, and head south until you see mile marker 1 on one side of the road and the Amerind entrance on the other.

Cochise Strong Hold is in the same area, drove to it but did not camp, a nice setting. Cochise Stronghold

Eastbound I-10 into Benson, will descent into the San Pedro River valley, then a climb out of the valley & somewhat a gradual climb to the pass at Texas Canyon. A little descent from Texas Canyon on the way to Wilcox. Some 18 wheeler get slow on the ascent. Not too bad.

Kartchner Caverns (Kartchner State Park) in Benson, AZ (east of Tucson, AZ,
I-10, to Hwy 90 south toward Sierra Vista) is an awesome 'living' cave and the tours are great! The formations are continuing to grow as opposed to Carlsbad (which are great, too, but in a different way). Both are advisable. Kartchner also has a very nice campground with electric and dump station.

Your route from Yuma to ElPaso will be relatively flat. Just before ElPaso we always take the 375 Loop (Trans Mountain Rd.) over toward Guadalupe Nat'l Park (no hookups at their campground & it will be very hot) and on to Carlsbad. For Carlsbad we stay at Brantley Lake State Park which has electric. Hwy 375 is a steep uphill but RVers do it all the time. Have a good trip but it will be HOT all the way.