Westbound from Taos NM to Farmington NM

[Ltrip]

I am towing a 35' fifth wheel.
I use Basecamp in conjunction with my Garmin RV760 GPS.

Basecamp is routing me (in RV mode) SW down hwy 68 to 285, to I-25 all the way to Bernalillo before head NW up Hwy 550 to Bloomfield. This route is calculated at 428 miles and 7 hr 27 min.
I know it is factoring in the RV

What about alternatives? Are there any show stoppers in these?

- If I use the "car" calculation, it routes me down 68 to San Juan Pablo, then 96 to 550 This calculates to 363 miles and 6 hr 36 min

- If I force it to go on Hwy 64 all the way it calculates to 358 miles and 6 hr 47 min

I am not too concerned with the steepness or tight turns I read about on 64. If the RV is passable, I can do it. I just dont want to get into an impossible situation. For that section of Hwy 64, is a 35 ft fiver OK???

Thanks for any advice. Doing this drive 4 days from now.

Cheers,

[Fleet_Man]

We took 64 from Taos to Farmington via Tierra Amarilla several years ago. Westbound, the grades were no problem for us towing a 4,000# toad. Just watch your braking on the descent after the summit. Good road all the way. You should not have any problems if mountain driving does not bother you.

[R__Walter]

I'd also take US 64. I've been over that road many times and its no problem for a large 5th or Class A. It's almost in my backyard.

[Heisenberg]

64 is no problem and beautiful scenery.

[padredw]

If you go US64 all the way. The road goes above 10,000ft between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla. It is steep with several curves on the west side. But the road is good and wide and the curves are not very tight. The is a nice pullout and vista to see the whole valley before the steeper part. I have not drive this in the motorhome only because it is not on the way anywhere for us. But, have driven many times in the car. It is often closed in the winter if that matters.

This is a beautiful drive and I've always considered it easy, towing a 34' fifth-wheel. I don't think you'd have any trouble on this route. I highly recommend it.

[2gypsies1]

Hwy 64 is no issue for RVers. From Taos between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla there are short steep sections of 3-6%. Westbound descent from milepost 193 to MP185 is 5 miles of 6%. It eases to 4% for a couple miles and then 3%.

There are many interstate sections that are 6% and a few on I-70 that are higher. Hwy 64 is no biggie. From Chama to Bloomfield is practically flat for a western highway.

[Ltrip]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will pass on Hwy 64 with steep climbs and hairpin turns.
I'll go 68>96>550.

By the way, the calculations I used for comparison was my total trip from Taos to Monument Valley.

Thanks!

[Ozlander]

US-64 is a federal highway, which means it's used by semi's and buses.
202 miles.

[dsteinman]

There is certainly no reason to go down to Sante Fe and I25.

The other 2 routes are fine.

If you go US64 all the way. The road goes above 10,000ft between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla. It is steep with several curves on the west side. But the road is good and wide and the curves are not very tight. The is a nice pullout and vista to see the whole valley before the steeper part. I have not drive this in the motorhome only because it is not on the way anywhere for us. But, have driven many times in the car. It is often closed in the winter if that matters.

The other route you could take NM68 to Espanola, then take Fairview Ln, to US84/285, then to NM96 and US550. It is an easier drive. NM96 is a narrow back road. We have driven it in the motorhome and it was fine, but we did have to stop for cows crossing. This route is probably a bit faster.

The scenery is good both ways, but completely different. US64 goes through the mountains. NM68 follows the Rio Grande and then US84 goes past Abiquiu, and will have more traffic.

David

[newman_fulltime]

What I remember of it lots of switch backs and step grades