San Diego to Indianapolis

[craig36]

My wife and I are about to make a trip from San Diego to Indianapolis. We are leaving 1st week in December, can anybody have a best route to suggest??

[Hoosier_Cruiser]

As some have indirectly stated, watch the weather. Having made the trip for several years from Indianapolis to the Phoenix area, only once did we have trouble where we had to go south. We had much worse weather in late March and early April. I would take I-10 to 303 to bypass Phoenix to I-17 north to Flagstaff to I-40 east. Near Oklahoma City take the Kilpatrick Turnpike north and east to the Oklahoma Toll Road I-44. Go south and east around Saint Louis to I-70 and east to Indianapolis. The toll roads will save you enough mileage to offset the tolls.

[Dick_B]

It wouldn't hurt to get a copy of Mountain Directory West to get an idea of the terrain you will be going over ie. 4 and 6% grades, etc.

[MrWizard]

double post

[MrWizard]

when i make the trip to "old home" Indiana

i go in may and return in Oct~Nov

i always return the southern route

So
take 10 east, then angle up to 70 or 65

stay south as long as possible

this time year norther Az can get snowed in

i came back thru the northern route "one time" hit snow east of flagstaff and had to put up with it many miles going west until I40 dropped to a lower elevation

rain is better than snow or ice
stay south as long as possible, especially on your return trip

[BobGed]

I would go through Dallas and Memphis. If the weather is really bad, I'd take I-10 to I-55 and then up through Memphis

[darsben]

That time of year I would definitely stay south as far as possible.
So I 8 to I 10 to I 20 to I 30 to I 40 to I 65 unless you want to stay off the interstates

[Mandalay_Parr]

Phoenix, St. Louis, Indy.