Fall/Winter Across U.S.

We've run coast to coast 4 times so far (snowbirding in Az and Ca) and can only tell you our experiences in January (going) and late March/early April returning:
I-40: gatta watch the weather...and few cg's are open in the winter. Really gotta search. Winter storms drive RVs down to I-20.

I-20: Better than I-40 as far as open cgs...but the road itself seems always to need major repairs. And here, too...winter storms drive people further south to I-10.

I-10: NEVER a problem finding open cgs'. The southernmost route coast to coast. I suggest however, you figure where you are going to stay the next night and call/make a reservation. We travel about 300 miles a day. Using the KOA book, I figure we run from KOA to KOA about 80% of the time. ALL easy-on/easy-off. If a KOA is not around, we use the Trailer Life Directory...altho I question some of their ratings....we were just fine.
With I-10, if you're not going to New Orleans, I suggest you take I-12 around it. Much better road.

Enjoy your trip!

We did that trip last autumn...I 40 as far a Memphis then the new US 78 to Birmingham I 20 to Columbia then I 26 to Charleston. KOA Ladson is scary, Mt pleasant is better nad monthly rayes off season or Oak Plantation on Johns Island on the southern side of Charelston. In 78 we stayed at a Corps of Engineer park for $5 and it was terrific.

I10 has also been closed in the winter couple of times, but the times I have seen it closed, it was open the next morning.

We travel to Los Angeles each Christmas. Only had snow once. Plenty of open campgrounds on both I40 and I10.

David

rgatijnet1 wrote:
I40 is open year round. It is one of the major truck routes and it is always kept open.

It's definitely not kept open in snowstorms or ice. We were caught in one the end of April one year near Albuquerque, NM and it was closed. We spent the night at a fuel station. You were lucky in January. It's not a good time to use I-40.

However, the OP is planning on I-40 in October which will be just fine. Use I-10 for the return trip.

I40 is open year round. It is one of the major truck routes and it is always kept open. There are several RV parks along I40 that are open year round as well. I10 is OK but does not have as many places of interest as does I40, in our opinion. We have traveled I40 in January and several RV parks are open year round.

I40 is fine in Oct. You will not have any problems with weather or campgrounds. You will need to return on I10. I10 is really the only route in Jan. Winds can be pretty bad in the West Texas region to AZ/NM border blowing from the South thu the West. You will want to start early when the winds are weaker and pull over for the day when they get too strong. We have encountered 65 mph gust between Fort Stockton, TX and Deming, NM. Lots of places to pull over and dry camp. You won't be alone as most everyone else will have pulled over also. Don't worry about it tho as you are planning a really fun trip.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

Keep in mind that a lot of campgrounds close down in the winter. Especially the further north you go.

We've run across 10 coast to coast in Jan-Feb with no problems weather wise.

Thank you for the great information (and urls) about places to see and stay. I'll definitely check those out.

Northern NM & AZ does get cold in the winter. High Elevations. But not socked in with snow & cold all the time. The I-10 route much more likely to be free of snow & less cold.

There is much to see & do in the Santa Fe & Bandelier Nat'l Mon't area of New Mexico -A Trip Report last summer.

Bandelier Nat'l Mon't is off US 285. We were there in August last year. Not too hot at all. Cools off quickly after sundown each evening. I believe we were there years ago in July. Warmer during the day, but cool nights.

Los Alamos is a very neat small city in itself. Free bus system with very neat buses. Very pretty setting up in the high country. Somewhat of a gated community as well. We only drove through & stopped at a SuperMarket. A nice town. http://www.visit.losalamos.com/
http://www.losalamosnm.us/transit/Pages/default.aspx

More on the Santa Fe Area Expanded & ABQ.

More on the Sante Fe Area Plus. And Campgrounds in Santa Fe.

From Santa Fe head east (Northbound on I-25) to take US 285 S to I-40. I-40 E toward Amarillo. Near Santa Rosa on this route just Off I-40, Santa Rosa Lake State Park would be another nice place to overnight. Never been there myself.

Off I-25 between Santa Fe & Las Vegas, Villanueva State Park. It is off the 25 a bit. Somewhat off the beaten path. However, one can use NM 3 to cut down to the I-40 from Villanueva. We did that one visit.

There is Conchas Lake State Park NorthEast of Tucumcari as well. Somewhat of a detour to get to it.

Near Amarillo: Never been to the state park either, but have read about it & would like to make it over there someday. Palo Duro Canyon State Park as well as Caprock Canyons State Park, from what I have read, seem like very neat areas to see.

Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway would make a neat place to check out. One I would like to see. For perhaps a neat experience, Copper Breaks State Park near Quanah sounds pretty cool.

An older post (some of the above) but with info on the Southern Route AZ, NM & TX.

Ditto on South Texas RGV.

I-40 west of Flagstaff and east to Albuquerque can get dicey from early winter storms so pay close attention to the weather. otherwise your outbound trip should be fine. we travel I-40/44 between St. Louis and Arizona each spring and know it well. OK highway crews were finally working on I-40 west of OK City last year and it was in bad need of attention. if you stay in RV parks please let me know if you would like suggestions.