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Anyone familiar with I40 through NM and AZ

Dottie5
Explorer
Explorer
Hi, I'm new to this board and new to RVing. My dh and I recently purchased a 31ft travel trailer. We've only driven it from the point of purchase to home - but that was 600 miles through Oklahoma and got a good taste of how it handles in the wind. And it was windy! But we did ok with the help of an anti-sway hitch.

Anyway, we have been considering some trips. One is to Anaheim CA to take our kids to Disneyland. Here is my question:

We are road trippers and have driven out to California numerous times before the TT. We live in the Denver area and take I70 west. That route consists of, first the Continental Divide/Eisenhower Tunnel then on to Vail Pass and then through Glenwood Canyon and then there is a stretch of road through Utah (at least a couple hours of driving) that is nothing but up and down and winding back and forth. It's pretty but, frankly, we've driven it so many times I can't stand that stretch through Utah anymore. And I have a feeling with a TT it will be an even longer drive and even more frustrating.

We have only traveled I40 once from CA to CO and I can't remember the route that well. Taking I25 down to Albuquerque then west on I40 into CA will add about 160 miles to the trip as opposed to the I70 route but if there is less elevation, less winding turns, the travel time difference might be minimal if at all.

I'm trying to be mindful of the breaking that will have to be done and the engine having to work so hard with all of that elevation gain and terrain on the I70 route. My dh says it's no big deal. However, he hasn't driven that Utah stretch as many times as I have and even without a TT, the constant down shifting and up, down, round and round gets tiring.

Anyone familiar with taking a southern route out of Colorado to California? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Sorry this got so long ๐Ÿ˜ฎ
24 REPLIES 24

hotpepperkid
Explorer
Explorer
sealevel ram wrote:
If you have driven on I-70 west of Denver, you have been "baptised", so to speak, in mountain driving. You will be fine if your DH is a responsible and careful person, as I am sure he is. As my kids used to say: "chill".

You live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. We lived in Grand Junction for a few years. Enjoy it.


You haven't been baptized until you have towed on US-550 between Durango and Ouray. I-70 is a walk in the park.
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TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Explorer
Again do not know how many miles you want to go in a day but check out Lake Havasu State Park near the London Bridge.
Tyrone & Gladys
27' 1986 Coachmen

Dottie5
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks Mr. Ed and Tyrone&Gladys! Dh and I talked about it last night and he's on board with the I40 route. He said he's ready for some new scenery too. So I'm very glad to hear the road is pretty uneventful!

Thanks everyone!!

TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Explorer
I40 is not a bad road. Do not know how many miles in a day you want to travel but around 450 miles from Denver on I40 is dancing eagle casino RV park good overnight stop full hookups $10
Tyrone & Gladys
27' 1986 Coachmen

mr__ed
Explorer
Explorer
Executive wrote:
Unless you go all the way to US101, you're going to have to travel down some twisty turny somewhat steep grades in order to get from the northern section of the country to the southern section. After Albuquerque you either come down I-17 out of Flagstaff to Phoenix and take I-10 across, or you have to take the Cajon Pass down into San Bernardino or the Grapevine. All three are about 20 miles of 6-7% downgrades...nothing like I-17...but they are still pretty steep and winding. Doable, just take your time.

You could simply take I-25 all the way down to Las Cruces, pick up I-10 there and cruise all the way into SoCal....Dennis


X2. If you take I-25 towards Las Cruces you can cut a few miles off if you take the highway from Hatch to Deming, NM. That will deposit you right on I-10 towards AZ. I've taken that route several times and it's pleasant.
Mr. Ed (fulltiming since 1987)
Life is fragile. Handle with prayer.

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mr__ed
Explorer
Explorer
I travel I-40 frequently, especially in late spring and fall since I winter in so. AZ and often spend summers in Albuquerque. There is nothing out of the ordinary I can think of on this route. Few surprises such as long, steep grades or bad pavement. It's usually a pretty unevenfull trip for me and I'm sure the same for others.
Mr. Ed (fulltiming since 1987)
Life is fragile. Handle with prayer.

2007 Hitchhiker II LS Model 29.5 LKTG (sold)
2007 Dodge Ram 3500/6.7 CTD/QC/4X4/SB/SRW/6-speed man/Big Horn edition (sold)

Dottie5
Explorer
Explorer
sealevel ram wrote:
Dottie5 wrote:
sealevel ram wrote:


You live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. We lived in Grand Junction for a few years. Enjoy it.


We are looking forward exploring a bit more of Colorado since we have the TT. Should be easier than having to find lodging and kennel the dog.


I didn't mean that you should stay in Colorado only. Just saying it is a great starting place to explore the west.

Safe travels.


I know ๐Ÿ˜‰ But I am looking forward to seeing more of Colorado. We've been here for 26yrs and kind of slacked on getting out and enjoying the state. With the TT, I think it will make that more affordable and easier.

sealevel_ram
Explorer
Explorer
Dottie5 wrote:
sealevel ram wrote:


You live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. We lived in Grand Junction for a few years. Enjoy it.


We are looking forward exploring a bit more of Colorado since we have the TT. Should be easier than having to find lodging and kennel the dog.


I didn't mean that you should stay in Colorado only. Just saying it is a great starting place to explore the west.

Safe travels.
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." Red Green

Dottie5
Explorer
Explorer
sealevel ram wrote:
If you have driven on I-70 west of Denver, you have been "baptised", so to speak, in mountain driving. You will be fine if your DH is a responsible and careful person, as I am sure he is. As my kids used to say: "chill".

You live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. We lived in Grand Junction for a few years. Enjoy it.


We are looking forward exploring a bit more of Colorado since we have the TT. Should be easier than having to find lodging and kennel the dog.

sealevel_ram
Explorer
Explorer
If you have driven on I-70 west of Denver, you have been "baptised", so to speak, in mountain driving. You will be fine if your DH is a responsible and careful person, as I am sure he is. As my kids used to say: "chill".

You live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. We lived in Grand Junction for a few years. Enjoy it.
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." Red Green

Dottie5
Explorer
Explorer
Executive wrote:
Unless you go all the way to US101, you're going to have to travel down some twisty turny somewhat steep grades in order to get from the northern section of the country to the southern section. After Albuquerque you either come down I-17 out of Flagstaff to Phoenix and take I-10 across, or you have to take the Cajon Pass down into San Bernardino or the Grapevine. All three are about 20 miles of 6-7% downgrades...nothing like I-17...but they are still pretty steep and winding. Doable, just take your time.

You could simply take I-25 all the way down to Las Cruces, pick up I-10 there and cruise all the way into SoCal....Dennis


Thanks! I know I can't expect flat land like we traveled across in Oklahoma and Texas when we picked the trailer up. But there is an over abundance of elevation gains and drops with a lot of twists and turns on I70. We're planning a short trip to Moab after school gets out and we will have to go through the Eisenhower tunnel and Vail pass and the rest of Colorado before heading south to Moab. I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a lot of yelling from the passenger seat "SLOW DOWN!"

Executive45
Explorer III
Explorer III
Unless you go all the way to US101, you're going to have to travel down some twisty turny somewhat steep grades in order to get from the northern section of the country to the southern section. After Albuquerque you either come down I-17 out of Flagstaff to Phoenix and take I-10 across, or you have to take the Cajon Pass down into San Bernardino or the Grapevine. All three are about 20 miles of 6-7% downgrades...nothing like I-17...but they are still pretty steep and winding. Doable, just take your time.

You could simply take I-25 all the way down to Las Cruces, pick up I-10 there and cruise all the way into SoCal....Dennis
We can do more than we think we can, but most do less than we think we do
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Dottie5
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks Thom! We would try to do this over fall break so we don't have a whole lot of time, so some of the regimented point A to point B has to be done! But I really feel like 160 miles on relatively flat terrain as opposed to all the passes, winds, twists, turns, ups and downs of the I70 will be very similar in travel time with less wear and tear on the transmission and brakes. Not to mention my comfort factor! We came down Raton Pass on our way back from Oklahoma and our first trip with the travel trailer speeding down a steep grade on turns was a little stressful. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but if I can avoid whipping down into Silverthorne from the Eisenhower tunnel, I'll try to do that!

Thom02099
Explorer II
Explorer II
Dottie5 wrote:
Thanks Fred! Yes I agree the I70 route is one beautiful drive! But we have driven out that way to California and Las Vegas probably 5 times or more so we've seen it. I wouldn't mind seeing some different scenery but dh is still in that point A to point B mode and 160 mile difference is hard for him to get past. I told him when we bought this TT there would be no more regimented point A to point B travel because this will just take longer - so may as well enjoy some stuff along the way.


Like your attitude about travel taking longer with the trailer and no more point A to point B! That's the spirit! Keep reminding your DH about that, it's all about the journey and enjoying it when you have a trailer.

I-40 from ABQ to Flagstaff is not a bad drive at all. The maps show that you'll cross the Continental Divide in NM between Grants and Gallup. Well that crossing is NOTHING at all like on I-70 at the Continental Divide at the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels! Instead of being at nearly 11000 feet, you'll maybe be at 7200-7300 feet and you'll barely notice it! When I was last through there, it sneaked up on me! All in all, that drive is fairly flat.

Yup, it's a windy drive; can't get around that on I-40. An alternative route would be to go north from Denver to Fort Collins, take US 287 up to Laramie and grab I-80 all the way across Wyoming to Salt Lake City. You could then take I-15 south into California. BUT there will still be wind issues in Wyoming, probably more so than the southern route. But you also won't have the major elevations like in Colorado, no major passes to go over in Wyoming.

A lot depends on your timetable. There's certainly other routes you could take, through the Colorado mountains down to the 4 Corners area and then on to Cali. But that will mean more ups/down of a variety of passes. Just depends on what you want to see on the trip out to the Land of Disney!
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