hwys in arizona

I would take 215 north, or pines to palms highway up to palm springs. Then 10 east, 101 north, 17 north to 260 west. Phoenix traffic is nothing like where you are coming from. The roads here are nice, and most of the time traffic is about 20% of the LA area traffic you are used to. Just avoid the two rush hour's in phoenix. About 7-9am, and about 5-7pm. The traffic still moves, but probably 20mph. Any other time of day or night you won't have a problem. Careful on the 17, people drive like complete retards. There are wrecks almost daily all along there, and almost every time I go to flagstaff to go camping, my 2.5 hour drive on the way home ALWAYS turns into about 5 hours, due to a wreck on the way home. A lot of "outta my way" drivers up and down the 17, you'll see. The last time was a flipped over diesel pusher, time before that was a flipped horse trailer, and on and on. Lots of steep climbs up the 17 also, just forewarning you.