Best route from Los Angeles to Durango CO - Class A

pparker900 wrote:
Hi everyone! I've heard that we have to watch out for low bridges and similar on the road when driving a class A (13' 8"H). What is the best route from Los Angeles to Durango CO and is there a good place to stay overnight in Flagstaff if I make it a 2 day drive?

Thanks everyone!

In 50 years and probably over 500,000 miles in various RV's the only three spots we have had a Height Issue were Zion (they let you run the middle of the tunnel) New York State Thru Ways and one Rail Road underpass built before cars just outside Buffalo, so IMHO you just need to keep your eyes open and not worry about it as it is not and issue, IMHO.

On the route to Durango, is Flagstaff the only Stop? You will go right by Monument Valley and Mexican Hat - these are two places we try to catch every time we are in that area (I also will always catch Canyon de Chelly NM) Mesa Verde NP is another stop if Durango is the destination (IMHO Durango is a drive through to the San Juan's - which are the real reason, I hope, that you are headed here. So be sure to do your research on 4X4 trails - Silverton - Ouray - Million Dollar Highway - Lake City - Telluride - Dunton - Animas Mines - Creede - Ridgeway - ..............on and on and on.

I see Thousand Oaks is your home Base - as a very young Kid I spent a couple of year living on Lake Sherwood - is it still the same? Just Google it - looks like a multi-million dollar house is where we lived - oh how times have changed.

Mpond A fellow RV'er who live in Thousand Oaks and his adventures to give you an idea of the options (you could PM him if you wanted to get more local insight)

Matt along with Stan will give you a wealth of info.

Hope this is of some help,

Avoiding interstates is good advice for those ready for it. But clearly, the OP isn't. Once they get their sea legs under them they can experience the little towns and enjoy the countryside, maybe on the return trip. :)

For that distance & timeframe let the GPS decide & follow signs. Too far & too little time to be taking any scenic secondary roads.

Dick_B wrote:
Looks like you may be a candidate for Mountain Directory West.

Don't waste your money it is only going to scare a flat lander into not taking some of the beautiful routes

2gypsies wrote:
I would really hope you do that drive in two days....at least! There is so much beauty in that whole area - once you get off I-40.

There are many routes you can take and none have bridges to worry about. It just depends what you want to see along the way. From I-40 Flagstaff, AZ you could take Hwy 89 north to 160 and take in Monument Valley. 191 and 491 are also good roads.

TWO days, that trip would take me at least a week

If you stay with the 18 wheelers you'll never see this beautiful country. Use the secondary roads and you will. :) Just do a little research before your trips and you'll be just fine. There are many RVers driving to these places. Trust me, after your first trip out of your California area you'll be planning your next trip.

Thanks everyone for the great advice! This will be our first adventure outside of Ca in our MH. I think the best advice was to keep an eye out for 18 wheelers and we should be good. We're towing, so we need to mindful of being in proximity of some kind of repair facility if we ever need one.

Again, thanks for all the great advice!

Pat

Yes, the mountains along the NM/AZ border at the north are in the Chuska mountains, rising to just under 10,000 feet. The pass over them via BIA 13 should be avoided by RVs.
Lynn

Does Mountain Directory West have any significant notes along the most obvious route(s)? Picturing the territory in my mind, I can't think of any mountains that you have to cross. I40 coming up from the Colorado River crossing is probably the biggest grade. Flagstaff may be the highest point - or at least comparable to Durango.

Without pulling up a map I'd suggest going NE from Flagstaff past Tuba City, and then jogging a bit around 4Corners to reach Cortez, and then east to Durango. An alternative would be to stay on I40 to New Mexico (Gallup) and then north. There's a mountain range on the AZ/NM border that you have to skirt one way or other.

Looks like you may be a candidate for Mountain Directory West.