Phoenix to Mid-Michigan

Thanks for coming back with an update. Wish more folks would do that.

Enjoy that motorhome!

ThomasFour wrote:
Having done that trip, I think you would be remiss by not planning a visit to the Big Texan in Amarillo. Great first stop on your way to MI. Free shuttle from surrounding campgrounds. Quirky, memorable, and awesome food.

Amarillo? Land of the worst water in America! There was a campground there that gave you free laundry and told you that you could feel free to wash you TV and TT. They don't tell ya that the water stains everything and you'll be hours getting rid of those water spots!

We are home from the trip and want to do it again in reverse when we can spend more time and have the towed with us so we can enjoy some of the sights. It was a great trip, we took 3 full days and 2 half days to get home. When we left Phoenix it was 104 and we managed the climb to Flagstaff without any problems. We did stop in Amarillo on our 2nd night - thank you for the suggestion - and enjoyed the long horn limo which took us to and from our campground to the Big Texan. If you are ever in Amarillo that is one stop your need to make for dinner and some fun entertainment. No problems on the trip other than an driver's side window wiper that decided to have a mind of it's own and a leaky toilet - nothing that can't be taken care of. Thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions.

Thank you for your suggestions and ideas. We start out tomorrow on our drive home.

You have two choices to get to Grand Rapids, Michigan from Phoenix. Both are approx. 1900 miles - one is all interstates and the other some secondary driving.

Phoenix - if you're close to I-17 take that north to I-40 then east on I-40. If you will be closer to the far east side of the greater Phoenix area, take Hwy 87 to Payson, then 260 east to 377 at Heber, AZ, then 377 to I-40 east. This is a 'cool' drive (temperatures) and o.k. for RVs.

Then for both take I-40 east to Oklahoma City then I-44 to I-55 at St. Louis to I-80 at Joliet, IL to I-94 in Michigan to 196 to Grand Rapids.

The second route - same miles - get to I-40 Arizona as above to Hwy 54 at Tucumcari, New Mexico to Wichita. Then I-35/335 to Kansas City and north to Cameron, MO. Then 36 east to I-55 at Springfield, IL. I-55 to I-80 at Joliet, IL and proceed as above to Grand Rapids.

It's not going to be an interesting drive. There will be plenty of RV parks to stop - it'll be hot so you'll want AC.

We once lived in St. Louis and near Grand Rapids - now in Arizona. Good luck!

Just follow google maps is my suggestion.

400-500 miles will put you in Albuquerque or Santa Rosa on the first night and around OK City the second. There are lots of options for camping around Albu. I like Isleta Lakes link and Santa Rosa Lake state park link but both of those are 5-10 miles off of I-40.

In a motorhome I would use truck stops/Wal Mart and skip trying to find campgrounds, since you seem to be in a hurry.

I try not to go east of the Pecos River in the RV, so I am sure others will have suggestions for that piece of your trip.

Having done that trip, I think you would be remiss by not planning a visit to the Big Texan in Amarillo. Great first stop on your way to MI. Free shuttle from surrounding campgrounds. Quirky, memorable, and awesome food.