I-40 From Tennessee to California

[Retired_VSP]

My wife and I are planning a cross-country trip along I-40 from Tennessee to Semi Valley, California ....... we plan to take our time and need some ideas to visit some places of interest along this route.......we will begin our voyage from Bedford , Va around mid June .... thanks for any info......

[ArchHoagland]

Pop-Pop C wrote:
I-40 from Williams to lake havasu is like washboard eastbound any way.!

Thank Heavens you are wrong on that statement. It used to be true up until about two months ago. They resurfaced that section.

I came through there a few months ago and they were finishing it up, painting lines, etc.

[tragusa3]

I'm taking 40 from SC to Arizona next month. I like the idea of getting off the interstate, but in reality, need to make some time.

Is there any section of that ride that I could/should get off of 40 for a few hours and not lose much travel time? Maybe a 3-4 hour section of 66 that gives a good flavor of it?

[Pop-Pop_C]

I-40 from Williams to lake havasu is like washboard eastbound any way.!

[2gypsies1]

You didn't say how much time you have but unless you plan to do this trip a few times later, I would highly recommend you get off the interstate at Albuquerque and head north into Colorado taking in Santa Fe and then Hwy 84 to Pagosa Springs, CO. Then west on 160 toward Durango, CO, and start touring this beautiful area. There are awesome national parks to visit heading west into Utah. There's Arches, Capitol Reef, Escalante, Bryce, Zion, the Grand Canyon. Then if you're running out of time, get back on I-40 from the Grand Canyon and take the boring drive into California.

You will then have had nice rememberances of your trip!

[edm3rd]

Don't know what part of Virginia you're from, but west of Little Rock you have a lot of National Forest, Ozark NF to the north of I-40, Ouachita to the south, also Corp of Engineer campgrounds near major dams/lakes if you'd like some mountain camping.

The further west you go, you can pickup sections of old Rt 66. Another option is leave I-40 and make part of your trip on US highways, ie US 64, 160, and others.

Depending on your destination in Calif, you could leave I-40 and visit Colorado, northern Utah, and northern Nevada, or go one way say to northern Calif, return a more southern route, ie Grand Canyon.

[MAC-a-roni]

Stand on the "corner in Winslow, Arizona"!

[Retired_VSP]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
So, lots of things to see and do along I-40. However, not knowing your interests this may or may not be of any help.
Working our way East to West.....
Nashville. Lots to do and lots to see if Country music holds any interest. I am not a country fan but had the best time at the Grand 'ole Opery.
Memphis. Graceland. Interesting to me. Maybe not to you.
Little Rock. Clinton library (called something else) again, if you are interested.
Ft. Smith, AR. Fort Smith. Maybe more!
All through OK, lots of "changes" to visit a number of Indian Casinos.
OK City, OK. The Murrah building bombing museum is EXCELLENT! It could be a bit disturbing for kids (I don't know, but it's very descriptive!).
Also in OK City is the Cowboy museum and is a MUST SEE. It takes a very long day to see or can be seen better with a 2 day visit.
Amarillo, TX. The Big Texan Steak House. Eat more food than 5 people should and get your meal for free! You aren't going to do this but it's a great stop with good food and a "been there, done that" stamp.
Albuquerque, NM. Can you be here in Oct!? If so, plan to stay for at least a week for the Balloon Fiesta. If not, plan to visit the Balloon Museum. You might also find one or two excellent casinos here. If you don't mind a detour, check into the VLA (Very Large Array) antenna farm in Socorro, NM to see if they are doing anything open to the public while you are in the area. We happened upon an annual event with scientist led tours which left me feeling very stupid but extremely curious. It was a great day.
Between Albuq and Flagstaff, AZ you will pass through the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest and Meteor Crater (do not drive past Meteor Crater).
Flagstaff, AZ. Plan to visit Lowell Observatory. Check online for the various activities available during your visit. There are day time viewings of the sun and evening viewings of the planets as well as historical information during the day. Lowell is the place where Pluto was discovered.
Stay at the Black Bart RV Park and have dinner at the Black Bart's restaurant. Have the Prime Rib and enjoy show tunes performed by your wait staff. They are all corral students at the local college and just plain fun.
Next stop, Williams, AZ. Stay here and take the train to the Grand Canyon. You can do it in a day (in a hurry) or plan an overnight at a hotel at the Canyon and return the next day. Awesome! Even more awesome is to detour your trip to include actually going to the Grand Canyon with your RV so you can spend several days exploring this amazing part of the US.
Kingman, AZ. Nothing to do here.....However, less than 100 miles N of Kingman is the Hoover Dam, with a very cool side trip to VEGAS BABY! If you go to the Hoover Dam be sure to take the insiders tour and not just the "standard" tour. You go inside the dam and get much more history and detail. It's worth going out of your way.
OK, finally, from there West there is not much that I find interesting until you get to the Presidential library in Simi Valley. Just a bunch of big city stuff you wish you didn't have to deal with.
What more can we discuss? You should have a terrific experience and don't let anyone tell you that there's nothing to see along any road in this great Country of ours!

Thank you all so much......and Bill you have simply made our trip worth looking forward to.....thank you soooo much!

[backhoemike]

Bill also north of tenkiller is Tahlequah, "cherokee nation" they have villiage and museum /casino , Native american stuff interest me plus i like to gamble..

[backhoemike]

Just pass the arkansas /Okla line is lake tenkiller about 15 miles north of interstate, very wonderful place to visit i choose to live there... you wont be disappointed with view and food. several state parks and lots of corp of engineer camp grounds.

[MrWizard]

Just North of Tulsa in Claremore OK is the J. M. Davis Gun and Historical Museum. Lots more than gun collection.

we spent 1/2 of an entire day in there.. so much too see
including the "Surrey with the Fringe on top" from the movie

also in Claremore is the Will Rodgers museum, two things, one town

[Janss]

And then there's
Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo TX

[BobGed]

I can't give you any suggestions for attractions to see as we pretty much drove through with one night stops from NV to AL in February. However if it works into your schedule there was one RV park that was a stand out and one that I wish we could have spent more time at.

It is Tom Sawyer's RV Park in West Memphis, AR, which is on the west side of the Mississippi river just across from Memphis, TN. It's definitely nothing fancy. We had a river view site, and even though we had to endure a severe thunder storm with tornado warnings, once that passed it was beautiful watching the tugs handle huge lines of barges up and down the river.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Southwest of Little Rock Arkansas is Hot Springs. Lots to do there. Very interesting: bathhouse row, gangster museum, mountain lookout tower. We like Catherine's Landing RV Resort on Lake Catherine. Or Lake Catherine State Park.
Just North of Tulsa in Claremore OK is the J. M. Davis Gun and Historical Museum. Lots more than gun collection.
Near Amarillo TX - Palo Duro Canyon. We liked Oasis RV Park there (no shade)
North of Albuquerque is Taos and the Enchanted Loop. Very beautiful scenic drive.

[Bill_Satellite]

So, lots of things to see and do along I-40. However, not knowing your interests this may or may not be of any help.
Working our way East to West.....
Nashville. Lots to do and lots to see if Country music holds any interest. I am not a country fan but had the best time at the Grand 'ole Opery.
Memphis. Graceland. Interesting to me. Maybe not to you.
Little Rock. Clinton library (called something else) again, if you are interested.
Ft. Smith, AR. Fort Smith. Maybe more!
All through OK, lots of "changes" to visit a number of Indian Casinos.
OK City, OK. The Murrah building bombing museum is EXCELLENT! It could be a bit disturbing for kids (I don't know, but it's very descriptive!).
Also in OK City is the Cowboy museum and is a MUST SEE. It takes a very long day to see or can be seen better with a 2 day visit.
Amarillo, TX. The Big Texan Steak House. Eat more food than 5 people should and get your meal for free! You aren't going to do this but it's a great stop with good food and a "been there, done that" stamp.
Albuquerque, NM. Can you be here in Oct!? If so, plan to stay for at least a week for the Balloon Fiesta. If not, plan to visit the Balloon Museum. You might also find one or two excellent casinos here. If you don't mind a detour, check into the VLA (Very Large Array) antenna farm in Socorro, NM to see if they are doing anything open to the public while you are in the area. We happened upon an annual event with scientist led tours which left me feeling very stupid but extremely curious. It was a great day.
Between Albuq and Flagstaff, AZ you will pass through the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest and Meteor Crater (do not drive past Meteor Crater).
Flagstaff, AZ. Plan to visit Lowell Observatory. Check online for the various activities available during your visit. There are day time viewings of the sun and evening viewings of the planets as well as historical information during the day. Lowell is the place where Pluto was discovered.
Stay at the Black Bart RV Park and have dinner at the Black Bart's restaurant. Have the Prime Rib and enjoy show tunes performed by your wait staff. They are all corral students at the local college and just plain fun.
Next stop, Williams, AZ. Stay here and take the train to the Grand Canyon. You can do it in a day (in a hurry) or plan an overnight at a hotel at the Canyon and return the next day. Awesome! Even more awesome is to detour your trip to include actually going to the Grand Canyon with your RV so you can spend several days exploring this amazing part of the US.
Kingman, AZ. Nothing to do here.....However, less than 100 miles N of Kingman is the Hoover Dam, with a very cool side trip to VEGAS BABY! If you go to the Hoover Dam be sure to take the insiders tour and not just the "standard" tour. You go inside the dam and get much more history and detail. It's worth going out of your way.
OK, finally, from there West there is not much that I find interesting until you get to the Presidential library in Simi Valley. Just a bunch of big city stuff you wish you didn't have to deal with.
What more can we discuss? You should have a terrific experience and don't let anyone tell you that there's nothing to see along any road in this great Country of ours!

[rfryer]

Someone who I have forgotten once said the interstates allow you to go from coast to coast and never see anything and there’s a lot of truth in that. I’m sure there’s much to see in AR, some around the OKC area, NM and AZ. But you’d have to get off I-40 to see most of it. If you stick to the freeway I can’t think of much until you get to the places mssmith1199 mentioned, though I’d add the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and maybe Sunset Crater NM to it.