Phoenix to Albuquerque

[HPYHILM]

What is the best and easiest route in the fall. All you snowbirds give me your opinion. Thanks.

[Desert_Captain]

For the record I first encountered the poor road conditions in the immediate Flagstaff area last April on our way to Utah. Once was quite enough thank you very much. :S
Since we were bound for Moab by way of Tuba City skipping Flagstaff was not adoption.

On the return trip, again passing through Tuba City, I managed to avoid all but 2 miles of I-40 and all of I-17 by taking Lake Mary Road south for 60 miles to 87 and then south down through Strawberry, Pine and Payson. I shared this as an alternate route in my earlier post.

On my recent trip to the Flagstaff area {last week}, I deliberately skipped I-17/I-40 in the RV and was focused on a lot of quality time on my bike. Dodging potholes from the back of a Harley is a challenging but satisfying riding skill and enabled us to see a lot of fine sites - Meteror Crater, Snowbowl, Williams and Camp Verde {to name just a few}.

Between my Class C, Harley and car I drive about 40,000+ miles a year and am always happy to share what have learned with others. Comments like yours, inferring foolishness on my part, are not particularly well received especially when I was just trying to help out the OP with good, current information.

:C

[RE_Todd]

Desert Captain wrote:

RE_Todd wrote:
If it's that bad, stop going there 🙂

Desert Captain wrote:
IMHO: AVOID Flagstaff at all costs. I-17 and I-40 anywhere near Flagstaff are two of the worst interstates in the country. Potholes are everywhere and many that they have attempted to fill with uneven concrete patches are worse. On both, the closer you get to Flagstaff the worse it gets but the last 10 - 20 miles are ridiculous.

I have been through Flagstaff 3 times this year as recently as last week. These roads will beat your rig to death. Once you get east of Flagstaff I-40 is fine. West all the way to Williams is terrible and I-17 from Camp Verde north is probably the worst of all.



:C

Sharing useful information with others is basically what this Forum is all about. Having first hand knowledge of the terrible road conditions I shared that info in answer to the OP's original query. It's too bad you fail to grasp the concept.

:R

I grasped it, hence the smiley face. Thanks for the share, we all appreciate it :B :B

[mileshuff]

brooks379 wrote:
For me the best route is through Globe, Show Low, Socorro and up I 25. A lot less traffic and you get to see beautiful Salt River Canyon.

For those coming from the east valley that is the shorter route. For most in the north valley the Payson route is often preferred.

For me, I prefer the drive up the rim from Payson. Greatly improved since they widened much of the highway to 4 lanes. Either way works, just depends on where you're coming from.

[brooks379]

For me the best route is through Globe, Show Low, Socorro and up I 25. A lot less traffic and you get to see beautiful Salt River Canyon.

[Desert_Captain]

RE_Todd wrote:
If it's that bad, stop going there 🙂

Desert Captain wrote:
IMHO: AVOID Flagstaff at all costs. I-17 and I-40 anywhere near Flagstaff are two of the worst interstates in the country. Potholes are everywhere and many that they have attempted to fill with uneven concrete patches are worse. On both, the closer you get to Flagstaff the worse it gets but the last 10 - 20 miles are ridiculous.

I have been through Flagstaff 3 times this year as recently as last week. These roads will beat your rig to death. Once you get east of Flagstaff I-40 is fine. West all the way to Williams is terrible and I-17 from Camp Verde north is probably the worst of all.



:C

Sharing useful information with others is basically what this Forum is all about. Having first hand knowledge of the terrible road conditions I shared that info in answer to the OP's original query. It's too bad you fail to grasp the concept.

:R

[RE_Todd]

If it's that bad, stop going there 🙂

Desert Captain wrote:
IMHO: AVOID Flagstaff at all costs. I-17 and I-40 anywhere near Flagstaff are two of the worst interstates in the country. Potholes are everywhere and many that they have attempted to fill with uneven concrete patches are worse. On both, the closer you get to Flagstaff the worse it gets but the last 10 - 20 miles are ridiculous.

I have been through Flagstaff 3 times this year as recently as last week. These roads will beat your rig to death. Once you get east of Flagstaff I-40 is fine. West all the way to Williams is terrible and I-17 from Camp Verde north is probably the worst of all.



:C

[mileshuff]

Love the Payson, Heber, Holbrook route. One notable downhill grade south of Sunflower and two uphill grades. First starts 11 miles south of Payson all the way into Payson, second is a 10 mile grade from approximately Christopher Creek to Woods Canyon Lake turn off. From Payson to Heber is very scenic thru forests climbing to the top of the Mogollon Rim. From the top the view is spectacular looking over the valley below.

87, 260 and 377 are all good roads.

[eichacsj]

Expyinflight wrote:
87 to Payson...260 to Heber...377 to Holbrook...40 to Albuquerque.
Lighter traffic during the week, and you move right along.

Avoiding I17 and Flagstaff is always a good thing.:)

Do this a couple of times a year, the shortest, easiest, least traffic, scenic.

[Expyinflight]

87 to Payson...260 to Heber...377 to Holbrook...40 to Albuquerque.
Lighter traffic during the week, and you move right along.

Avoiding I17 and Flagstaff is always a good thing.:)

[dalenoel]

Thanks for the 87 trip through Payson. We will hopefully be doing this in a couple weeks. Did not like I-40 around Flagstaff or I-17 North out of Phoenix.

[darsben1]

87 through Payson and then through to Winslow

[Desert_Captain]

IMHO: AVOID Flagstaff at all costs. I-17 and I-40 anywhere near Flagstaff are two of the worst interstates in the country. Potholes are everywhere and many that they have attempted to fill with uneven concrete patches are worse. On both, the closer you get to Flagstaff the worse it gets but the last 10 - 20 miles are ridiculous.

I have been through Flagstaff 3 times this year as recently as last week. These roads will beat your rig to death. Once you get east of Flagstaff I-40 is fine. West all the way to Williams is terrible and I-17 from Camp Verde north is probably the worst of all.

Going up through Show Low is probably your best bet and don't be intimidated by the Salt River Canyon as the road is excellent. Taking 87 north out of Payson all the way to Holbrook is another good choice if you are in no particular hurry as much of this route is 50 - 55. Both of these routes have spectacular scenery and while shoulders are few and far between anything but a very large rig will do just fine.

As always.... Opinions and YMMV

:C

[JFNM]

I suspect 'easy" means different things to different people. However; staying on the Interstate is pretty easy. I-10 to I-25 thru Tucson and Los Cruces is easy and rarely are there snow/weather issues. I-17 to I-40 thru Flagstaff and Gallup is also easy but involves the big climb to Flagstaff and a much more significant chance of snow in the winter months.

The most scenic, in my opinion, is US-60 thru Globe, Show Low, Springerville, and Soccoro. However; I would not call the Salt River Canyon climb/descent "easy".

[TyroneandGladys]

Where in Phoenix? It makes a difference.