We are planning a trip next week from Birmingham to Phoenix and we're trying to decide berween the I-40, northern route and the I-20/I-10, southern route. Driving a 40' MH with a toad and really don't care to deal with ice potential. The northern I-40 route is about 15 miles shorter and I am familiar with this route only during warm weather. The I-20/I-10 route through Shreveport, Dallas and ElPaso looks OK on paper but just wondering if there are any negatives to chosing this route. Also, would appreciate any recommended, safe, clean camping stops on the lower route.My wife has physical restrictions and we will probably make only about 350 miles/day. She also thinks stray bullets are constantly flying across the Rio Grande from the Juarez cartels, so I guess we won't be camping near ElPaso.Thanks, in advance.

On our yearly run to Arizona we always preferred the I-20 thru Dallas. The route is actually South of Dallas so was much much easier than going through Houston. I-40 would be okay if you can be certain that weather will not be a factor..Enjoy.

It's not recommended to take I-40 in the winter. I-20/I-10 is the best way to go...and don't worry about stray bullets! :) As you get closer to ElPaso, plan to stop at VanHorn, TX then you have an easy drive to Las Cruces, New Mexico just beyond ElPaso. If you want to drive a littler further that day, Deming, NM has many RV parks. Your next stop should be Benson, AZ because there's nothing between Deming and Benson. Go BAMA!! :)

Next week we wouldn't even consider it.We wouldn't do it to save a couple hundred miles. Once we had to get to San Diego in Nov.and we foolishly did I40,wow was that that a mistake and we were in a car.We got thru Flagstaff and part way down 17 before they shut down 17. We saw several slide offs on both sides of the road and 1 SUV that had passed us earlier lay upside down off the side of the road.We would have had to hole up for 2 days if we had been an hour later.We were going to take the camper but changed our plans at the last minute.Go south and have a good trip.

new mexico is having a lot of snow right now. don't know if they ever got it cleared off the roads yet or not.

Weather is a big consideration on I40, however, my warning is that I40 through Arkansas is horrible. Large pot holes multiple holes in a given area, etc. your rig will need a front end alignment from the beating it will take on this interstate. We drove it west then back east and both directions are the same. Don't know what Arkansas is dong with its highway money, but spending it on fixing I40 is not one of their projects. Therefore I recommend using I20 and I10.

Preferred route from Birmingham to Phoenix | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

Grandpere
Explorer
Dec 31, 2015
Weather is a big consideration on I40, however, my warning is that I40 through Arkansas is horrible. Large pot holes multiple holes in a given area, etc. your rig will need a front end alignment from the beating it will take on this interstate. We drove it west then back east and both directions are the same. Don't know what Arkansas is dong with its highway money, but spending it on fixing I40 is not one of their projects. Therefore I recommend using I20 and I10.
old_guy
Explorer
Dec 31, 2015
new mexico is having a lot of snow right now. don't know if they ever got it cleared off the roads yet or not.
Farmerjon
Explorer
Dec 31, 2015
Next week we wouldn't even consider it.We wouldn't do it to save a couple hundred miles.
Once we had to get to San Diego in Nov.and we foolishly did I40,wow was that that a mistake and we were in a car.We got thru Flagstaff and part way down 17 before they shut down 17.
We saw several slide offs on both sides of the road and 1 SUV that had passed us earlier lay upside down off the side of the road.
We would have had to hole up for 2 days if we had been an hour later.
We were going to take the camper but changed our plans at the last minute.
Go south and have a good trip.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Dec 31, 2015
It's not recommended to take I-40 in the winter. I-20/I-10 is the best way to go...and don't worry about stray bullets! :) As you get closer to ElPaso, plan to stop at VanHorn, TX then you have an easy drive to Las Cruces, New Mexico just beyond ElPaso. If you want to drive a littler further that day, Deming, NM has many RV parks. Your next stop should be Benson, AZ because there's nothing between Deming and Benson.

Go BAMA!! :)
USAFBILL
Explorer
Dec 31, 2015
On our yearly run to Arizona we always preferred the I-20 thru Dallas. The route is actually South of Dallas so was much much easier than going through Houston. I-40 would be okay if you can be certain that weather will not be a factor..Enjoy.

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Preferred route from Birmingham to Phoenix

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