Mogollon Rim access from Phoenix?

You’re a half-mile SO where I lived for 40 years and where my son now lives. One of those coincidences, I guess.:) You’re going from about 1600’ to about 7000’ so you’re going to have some steep climbs no matter how you go. 87 to Payson has some good grades, then NO Pine you’ll hit some tight switchbacks.

260 might be the better route, you’ll have a stretch with a very steep climb EO Camp Verde but no switchbacks.

I would go through Camp Verde.

poloace wrote:
I have taken both, i17 and the beeline. I favor the beeline.
We take the 101 to shea, the pick up the beeline.
260 out of camp verde has a lot of switch backs.

I believe you are mistaken. The switch backs are on 87 between Pine and the junction with 260.

poloace wrote:
I have taken both, i17 and the beeline. I favor the beeline.
We take the 101 to shea, the pick up the beeline.
260 out of camp verde has a lot of switch backs.

I believe you are mistaken. The switch backs are on 87 between Pine and the junction with 260.

I have taken both, i17 and the beeline. I favor the beeline.
We take the 101 to shea, the pick up the beeline.
260 out of camp verde has a lot of switch backs.

Where you're at, it would be shorter and less city driving to take the gps route. I prefer the 87 route through Payson, more scenic IMO, but you would have take Thunderbird Rd which turns into Cactus Rd and over to Shea Blvd, all the way from I-17 to the 87, which is all surface streets, probably 15-20 miles. Both highway routes have steep inclines. If you want to see more of Phoenix/Scottsdale, take 87 - If you want to get the heck out of Phoenix, take I-17. Have fun either way, it's a beautiful time of the year up on the Rim.

Both routes will have grades in excess of 6%, but the 260 is by far the least winding and faster route.