I-40 across the country

[cardtarget]

Hey all, we're driving from Durham, NC all the way to the Grand Canyon on I-40. Planning on hitting Memphis, Little Rock, OK City, Albaquerque, etc.

Family of 5 with kids 10, 8, and 5. Tell me about anything else worth seeing in that 3000 miles. Campgrounds, museums, restaurants, whatever! What are you "must sees"?

[tdsxt51]

Don't forget the Big Texan in Amarillo.

[jmckelvy]

Several stops in the Flagstaff area have already been mentioned (highly recommend) however I did not see any mention of the Lowell Observatory. Pretty interesting place.

Lowell Observatory

[linnemj]

You have a very ambitious schedule! While I know you have limited time, I will join others in suggesting you scale back your plans. Arkansas has some great camping once you get back the delta. Hot Springs is a good place. You could spend more time to/from the Grand Canyon and see some great sites close to I40.

I would recommend the Tom Sawyer campground in W Memphis, Arkansas for the Memphis area.

We hope you have a wonderful journey!

[DownTheAvenue]

azdryheat wrote:
Graceland is a must do.

You are not serious, are you?

[DownTheAvenue]

I suggest you go to the National Park Service's website, www.nps.gov. and research what sites will be along your route. You will find everything from historical, cultural, and scenic sites. Each site will have a junior ranger program where the kids can earn a ranger's badge for learning about the site. Some even have camping! Many are free! Much better experience than visiting the tourist traps!

[wxtoad]

I realize that is of the essence for you, but I'd like to suggest that you wander off I-40 now and then, at least, to experience Historic Route 66. Let the kids see what America used to be like before the interstate highway age, big box stores and hotel chains.

Have a great trip!

[eDUBz]

Acoma Pueblos in New Mexico

[RE_Todd]

md_procouple wrote:
If the kids like animals the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Farm is a must! They also have a walk in bird cage where you can feed the birds. Its located in Picocho Az. between Tucson and Phoenix My husband and I loved it. Good Luck and Happy Caming

No where near the I 40

[trailertraveler]

There a lot to see along I-40. In Amarillo, there is Palo Duro Canyon State Park and the Big Texan on Old Route 66.

In New Mexico, Tucumcari still has dinners along Historic Route 66 and numerous murals painted on buildings plus other attractions like the foundry at the Community College. Santa Rosa is another Route 66 town and has the The Blue Hole and Santa Rosa Lake State Park which has a nice campground.

In Albuquerque there is Petroglyph National Monument, the Pueblo Cultural Center, the Turquoise Trail and the Sandia Crest Highway.

In and near Grants are the Mining Museum, El Malpais National Monument, El Malpais National Conservation Area, El Moro National Monument and the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano.

Acoma Sky City is said to be the longest occuppied location in the U.S. They give tours of the pueblo and there is an RV park next to the casino.

Homolovi Ruins State Park is near Winslow where you can stand on the corner. Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest National Park are not far from the Arizona/New Mexico border.

In the Flagstaff area are Sunset Crater National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Walnut Canyon National Monument.

Sedona/Camp Verde/Cottonwood are about an hour South of Flagstaff with Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well National Monuments, Tuzigoot National Monument, Palatki and Honaki Ruins, V-Bar-V Heritage Site, Verde Canyon Railroad, Fort Verde State Park, Cathedral Rock, Gold King Mine, Jerome State Historic Park in the area.

All this before you even get to the Grand Canyon.

If you do make it to Utah, in the Moab area in addition to Arches National Park, there is Kane Creek Road, Potash Lower Colorado Byway, Upper Colorado River UT-128 Scenic Byway, Sago Canyon, Dead Horse Point State Park, Canyonlands National Park, Needles District and Newspaper Rock.

In the Bryce Canyon National Park area are Ut-12 Scenic Byway, Fishlake Scenic Byway, Scenic Backways off UT-12, Burr Trail, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Anasazi State Park, Calf Creek Falls, Hells Backbone, Capitol Reef National Park, and Goblin Valley State Park.

In the area between Moab and Monument Valley are UT-261 the Moki Dugway, Goosenecks State Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument, Bluff Fort, South Fork of Mule Canyon and House on Fire, The Valley of The Gods, Edge of the Cedars State Park and the Dinosaur Museum.

Much more to see and do than you will have time for so you will have to pick and choose.

[Us_out_West]

tdst51 wrote:

md_procouple wrote:
If the kids like animals the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Farm is a must! They also have a walk in bird cage where you can feed the birds. Its located in Picocho Az. between Tucson and Phoenix My husband and I loved it. Good Luck and Happy Caming

I'm pretty sure that would be I10, not I40.

Correct...on I-10W just a few miles down the road from us.

[cardtarget]

2gypsies wrote:
You can certainly do your planned trip. All of us retirees have done similar when we only had 2 weeks vacation. I know we did.... and we tented.

Some suggestions:

Albuquerque - unless you have extra time on the one day there, skip the petroglyphs. You can see more later on.

Petrified Forest - don't spend a lot of time at the beginning just off the interstate Exit 311 because the very best is near the end of the drive at Hwy 180. There are many viewpoints along the whole drive. Then on the right side of the park road near 180 is Rainbow Forest Museum/Visitor Center and the Giant Log trail. It's well worth it to walk the trail. When you come to the intersection of 180 there will be two commercial gift shops. The one on the left side offers dry camping and I think has a few electric sites. It's a nice place to stop if you're ready. Then you'll take 180 back to I-40 and west.

If going to Meteor Crater there's a nice RV park there.

Flagstaff has some very nice Indian ruins - Walnut Canyon Nat'l Monument and Wupatki Nat'l Monument. There's a lovely dry national forest campground at the entrance to Sunset Crater Volcano Nat'l Monument just off Hwy 89N. It's on the left just before the ranger booth. A full day here would be ideal.

Sedona - I'd recommend staying nearby in Cottonwood at Dead Horse Ranch State Park and it's a easy drive into busy Sedona.

Grand Canyon - You'd get a lot more enjoyment if you stayed at Trailer Village in the park rather than in Williams. It would be better use of your time for the canyon. To get a better perspective of the canyon fill your water bottles and hike below the rim if only for 1/4 mile or so on the Bright Angel Trail.

Leaving Trailer Village you can take the park road Hwy 64 east then north on 89 toward Zion. Watchman makes an ideal stay.

If going to Moab and visiting Arches Nat'l Park be warned that there will be major construction all summer long so traveling through the park will be slow. The campground will also be closed all summer. There are many RV parks in town. If you were considering rented a car in Moab you might want to rent a Jeep for at least 1/2 day and do some easy off-roading. It's THE place for Jeeping! Canyonlands Nat'l Park - Needles Unit - if driving a car is worth going for some interesting hiking on 'slickrock' (it's not really slick but it's very unique and the kids would enjoy it. Not far after turning off Hwy 191 toward Needles will be Newspaper Rock with lots of interesting pictographs.

I-70 through Colorado would be a nice change of scenery and a chance to see the really BIG mountains. Have a great trip!

Great info! Thanks!

[tdsxt51]

md_procouple wrote:
If the kids like animals the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Farm is a must! They also have a walk in bird cage where you can feed the birds. Its located in Picocho Az. between Tucson and Phoenix My husband and I loved it. Good Luck and Happy Caming

I'm pretty sure that would be I10, not I40.

[2gypsies1]

You can certainly do your planned trip. All of us retirees have done similar when we only had 2 weeks vacation. I know we did.... and we tented.

Some suggestions:

Albuquerque - unless you have extra time on the one day there, skip the petroglyphs. You can see more later on.

Petrified Forest - don't spend a lot of time at the beginning just off the interstate Exit 311 because the very best is near the end of the drive at Hwy 180. There are many viewpoints along the whole drive. Then on the right side of the park road near 180 is Rainbow Forest Museum/Visitor Center and the Giant Log trail. It's well worth it to walk the trail. When you come to the intersection of 180 there will be two commercial gift shops. The one on the left side offers dry camping and I think has a few electric sites. It's a nice place to stop if you're ready. Then you'll take 180 back to I-40 and west.

If going to Meteor Crater there's a nice RV park there.

Flagstaff has some very nice Indian ruins - Walnut Canyon Nat'l Monument and Wupatki Nat'l Monument. There's a lovely dry national forest campground at the entrance to Sunset Crater Volcano Nat'l Monument just off Hwy 89N. It's on the left just before the ranger booth. A full day here would be ideal.

Sedona - I'd recommend staying nearby in Cottonwood at Dead Horse Ranch State Park and it's a easy drive into busy Sedona.

Grand Canyon - You'd get a lot more enjoyment if you stayed at Trailer Village in the park rather than in Williams. It would be better use of your time for the canyon. To get a better perspective of the canyon fill your water bottles and hike below the rim if only for 1/4 mile or so on the Bright Angel Trail.

Leaving Trailer Village you can take the park road Hwy 64 east then north on 89 toward Zion. Watchman makes an ideal stay.

If going to Moab and visiting Arches Nat'l Park be warned that there will be major construction all summer long so traveling through the park will be slow. The campground will also be closed all summer. There are many RV parks in town. If you were considering rented a car in Moab you might want to rent a Jeep for at least 1/2 day and do some easy off-roading. It's THE place for Jeeping! Canyonlands Nat'l Park - Needles Unit - if driving a car is worth going for some interesting hiking on 'slickrock' (it's not really slick but it's very unique and the kids would enjoy it. Not far after turning off Hwy 191 toward Needles will be Newspaper Rock with lots of interesting pictographs.

I-70 through Colorado would be a nice change of scenery and a chance to see the really BIG mountains. Have a great trip!

[cardtarget]

ken56 wrote:
I live a few miles away from Anchor Down and can vouch that its a beautiful campground. You will want to stay there longer. It overlooks Douglas Lake and has a beautiful view of the Smokies. It would make a good base to tour the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg area some other trip.

I think the most important thing would be to be flexible and be willing to change your itinerary if needed. Otherwise just go have a great time.

That's great to hear. I was trying to decide between Anchor Down and Elkmont and decided for Anchor down because of the beach/swimming for the kids. I think they'll enjoy it more.

As far as flexibility, I'm more than ready for that. I am just trying to make sure I have a basic itinerary so that any campgrounds we need to book 6 months in advance I'm ready to do in the next few weeks. I've found that we can always find a place to stay during the week easily. But several weekends have been tough in the summer so I want to get those booked.