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RVM5's avatar
RVM5
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013

Driving From Albuquerque to San Diego in December

We are hoping to drive from Albuquerque to San Diego in the end of December for the holidays. We plan on taking 2 days to travel. We have driven before but haven't ever done it towing our TT. My husband is nervous about the drive. From my perspective if the weather is too bad, we'll either stop when we need to and wait for it to improve, find an alternative route, or adjust our dates if we're not on the road yet.

What should we do to be prepared for the drive?

We have already winterized the camper and would plan on leaving it that way for the drive until we get to San Diego and warmer weather, but we will want to use the toilet. We will then re-winterize it upon returning. Do you think there will be any problem with it not being completely winterized the one night we are stopping on the road. We will use propane to heat the camper that night.

Please feel free to refer me to previous threads that apply. I searched and didn't come up with a lot of information.

10 Replies

  • RVM5's avatar
    RVM5
    Explorer
    Nov 01, 2013
    Thanks everyone. Thanks also for the suggestions on where to stay on the road. If anyone else has suggestions of where to stay on this route, please let me know. Thanks.
  • RWDIII's avatar
    RWDIII
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2013
    Musicman wrote:
    I have traveled from San Diego to QQ in December and January a couple of times and I would suggest heading south on I-25, the SR26 cut off to Deming, I-10 to Tucson area the first day. that cuts the trip almost equally in half. Continue NW on I-10 to Casa Grande Where you pick up I-8 on into San Diego.

    Should be no issues. The only area where we have encountered snow is on I-25 south of QQ. Of course it is always wise to check the weather forecast.

    Have a safe trip.


    This is the only way to go to avoid the weather and mountains.
    The divide on I 10 is not even noticeable except for the sign.
    I would overnight at the state park near Bensen
  • mileshuff's avatar
    mileshuff
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2013
    If the weather is clear then a great option would be I-40 to Holbrook, then south on highway 377 to highway 260 to Payson then highway 87 to Phoenix. All are good easy roads. 87 is mostly 4 lane divided. Total mileage is 775 which would be the shortest route. There are a few grades but mostly downhill. This would be the most scenic route but avoid if theres a chance for snow. A good place to stop for the night would be at Eagle View RV located on 87 on the outskirts of Metro Phoenix, about 380 miles.

    I-25 is 860 miles, I-40 to I-17 is 820 miles.

    If snow is in the forecast then the only real choice would be I-25 to I-10 to I-8.
  • tatest's avatar
    tatest
    Explorer II
    Oct 15, 2013
    What route? Your weather could be quite different depending on whether you take I-25 down to I-10 then I-8, versus going across I-40 to either I-15 or I-17.

    Go south first, and your first stop could be in a place warm enough to dewinterize, i.e. somewhere around or past Tucson. The southern route is only about 30 miles longer than going to I-17 and then down.

    Also, sometimes when moving a RV, we get fixated on having to live in it during the trip, and that is not necessary. It is barely a day and a half, you can go winterized all the way, stay in a motel the one night. People who deliver these things don't live in them enroute.
  • Billthepiper's avatar
    Billthepiper
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    I live in the East mountains and have traveled a lot in the winter. You can un winterize the trailer, fill the water heater and partually fill the water tank. With the water heater on propane, the fridge on propane and the furnace on low you will be good to go. Turn your water pump off and open your faucets, you have just freeze proofed your trailer. I really would make a reservation in Demming (early) and probably in Casa Grande, break the trip up, a mad rush to the coast is not required or desired. Stop in Dateland and buy some dates, take time to look around as you travel, it takes a lot of low temperatures to freeze damage a trailer. I lived in my 5th wheel up here when it was 20 below and the wind was blowing hard, had a minor freeze up but a well placed electric heater took caro of the problem. Enjoy your trip, don't look on it as a survial situation, have a nice easy winter trip.
  • rfryer's avatar
    rfryer
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    Going south from Albuquerque to 10 and west would minimize the chance of winter storms and frigid temps. 40 and I-17 to Phoenix would work if you travel during the day and there are no storms forecast for the day as you could likely make that in 8-10 hours towing.
  • DougE's avatar
    DougE
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    Going I25 to I10 to I8 is 45 miles further than starting out on I40, but you avoid several high elevation points where seasonal snow could be a problem.
  • Musicman's avatar
    Musicman
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    I have traveled from San Diego to QQ in December and January a couple of times and I would suggest heading south on I-25, the SR26 cut off to Deming, I-10 to Tucson area the first day. that cuts the trip almost equally in half. Continue NW on I-10 to Casa Grande Where you pick up I-8 on into San Diego.

    Should be no issues. The only area where we have encountered snow is on I-25 south of QQ. Of course it is always wise to check the weather forecast.

    Have a safe trip.
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    Use RV anti freeze to flush toilet. I alternate. Use bottled water one time RV anti freeze the next time I flush in cold weather.
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator III
    Oct 15, 2013
    I think you'll be fine.

    It's possible that there will be snow and freezing weather in the local mountains that you'll have to pass. But any kind of chance of an actual wet/frozen road is fairly slim if you're driving during daylight hours. And it only takes about one hour from the desert floor to the warmer coast if you go down through Phoenix to Yuma and out Interstate 8. If you can make it to Phoenix without winterizing I don't think you'll need it after that.

    You could also take the 10 through Riverside and probably only see about the same amount of snow.

    Make sure you bring a heavy jacket with you because it can get down into the low 50's and sometimes 40's at night around here. ;)

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