Hwy 10 vs Hwy 40

[Tabearone]

Hi
We are new to RV. We drove Hwy 40 from Barstow, California to Red Bay, Alabama, March 24- March 29, we encountered heavy winds and tons of Big rig trucks, that just fly by doing 75 - 80 mph. My wife is very frightened by this. Hwy 40 seemed to have decent roads.
My question is: Does Hwy 10 have less big rig traffic and do they have less wind. We should be making our way back to California first week of May.
Thank you

[MrWizard]

It varies
I drove I=10 in the 1980s, I thought it felt like a paved over cattle trail , and this was in a van conversion

I drove I=40 in 2012 with our DP and it beat us to death and the trucks were terrible
Drove I=10 on the return trip and it was a much better road,
But Az is always going to have wind and fast trucks on all interstate roads, when the winds get bad , I just pull off the road and kill time until conditions are better, usually about four hours, I can make up the time, by driving later into the evening ....If I want to

[afrescopXx]

On a recent trip to and from Florida we drove IH-10 for about 70% of the trip. One thing we noticed was the amount of semis on the roads. There were more big rigs than we have experienced in a long time. Portions of 10 have very poor conditions, especially in parts of Louisiana. Coming from the West on 10 you will have to go through the terrible traffic in El Paso and Houston. Here in San Antonio it is not bad if you transit before or after rush hour. The east side of the Mississippi River Bridge is fun too for a few miles.
I never drive more than 62, usually 60 - 61 with toad so they can all fly by me. I do not care how far behind me traffic might back up. I am only concerned about the safe operation of my RV by me. Will you ever see any of those people again? I doubt it. Remember, the right lane is the RVer's friend. Any professional RV driving instructor, as I used to be, will teach that to you.

[Mr_Mark1]

Tabearone, we travel I-40 or I-10 quite often from TN to CA and back. The only reason we choose one route over the other is the time of year (winter vs. summer). I-40 can get bad weather in the winter. The traffic is about the same on either route (trucks, wind, etc.).

I usually travel at 60-65 mph and get passed quite often. When the speed limit is 80 mph as it is in Texas, I'll move up to 68 mph. Even though our coach can travel at 70+ with ease, I just don't like to go that fast.

Safe travels,
MM.

[jorbill2or]

Just came across 10 in east tx .. Plenty of trucks and rough freeway spots, Speed limit is 80 in many places. Hard to believe but big trucks can do 75 safely too ( I drove one for a living) . I travel at 66- 68 in the MH and if you aren't willing to go that fast you will be passed a lot ! Maybe the back roads are a better place to look ? The freeways are the safest but only if your able/ willing to keep up with the flow of traffic.

[chuckftboy]

Traveled to the Rally in Phoenix, ran !-10 both ways and there seemed not to be a lot of big trucks. The highway through west Texas doesn't go through many big citys so theres plenty of road to travel at your own pace. AS for the wind, there was a lot but that was Feb. and early March, enough said about that.

[garry1p]

You are subject to high winds and big rigs either way.

One year heading east late March on I-10 we could only make 50 miles or so before looking for another campground just to much wind, not a big deal if you are retired and not in a hurry.

You can always start early in the morning as the winds tend to increase later in the day.

Big rigs were slowing down so they were not a problem.

[wolfe10]

http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/southplains.php

Click on "Wind speed and direction".

You can advance to days in the future to review all weather conditions.

[OutdoorPhotogra]

You could Take I-20 to I-10 to I-15 if you want a different route but I-10 is heavily travelled as well. I didn't have much traffic on I-40 last year between TX and CA but I wasn't in a class A so I wasn't paying attention to the big rigs.

I wouldn't drop all the way down to I-10 to cross TX. Like noted, you will have high winds regardless. I don't think I've ever crossed West TX without winds. Couldn't say what time of the year each trip was but I've driven it a half dozen times or so.

[JetAonly]

Take the two lane roads back to CA. More scenic , slower pace and lots of places to stop and shop. The other choice is to keep pace with traffic. It is spring time there will be windy spots everywhere.

[MountainAir05]

We have travel all three going back to Huntsville. We like 20 for the road condition. As far as wind and trucks. You are going to get it on all three certain times of the year.