[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

As western Oklahoma towns go, Weatherford is probably the best one overall relative to offerings and the convenience of offerings located close to lodging. Marginally better than Elk City. Again, I just don't think crime is really an issue anywhere. You'd have to be really unlucky to be a victim in any town along I-40 in Oklahoma.

Now if you want Mexican food...you need to go to Clinton. The town between Weatherford and Clinton. It will fail on your crime stats but it's A+ for Mexican joints. There are three places literally next door to each other and several others throughout the town.

I really hadn't planned on putting myself anywhere in which we could become victims of criminals. But I also know that crime can and does happen just about everywhere. We'll even be in our rooms right after we eat our evening meal. We act older than what we are sometimes.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by WK91

Don’t assume I-40 cities in Arizona are any better because they definitely aren’t.

As far as I-40 in Oklahoma, the Mustang/Yukon area has always been good to me.

From Weatherford we're heading to a Hilton Garden Inn in located in Albuquerque. Only around 7 hours but we decided to not do long days so we can explore a little and my health issues with my legs. Then the next day we're only driving o Chandler to spend a week with our new grandson before starting back.

[forsheamountain]

I'm assuming you're taking at least a handgun on your journey? Congratulations on the new grand baby.

[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

From Weatherford we're heading to a Hilton Garden Inn Inn located in Albuquerque. Only around 7 hours but we decided to not do long days so we can explore a little and my health issues with my legs. Then the next day we're only driving to Chandler to spend a week with our new grandson before starting back.

I may be misreading that, but you won't be doing any exploring in ABQ. State's on a lockdown, very measured response to COVID. I drove I-40 from Amarillo to Holbrook and then AZ 77/377/260/87 to Scottsdale a couple weeks ago, there are strict occupancy restrictions everywhere; Santa Rosa was our first "potty stop" and it was very desolate, a lot of places closed.

I-40 added almost an hour to our trip when we got through Gallup, which was also mostly closed. Three construction zones from about milepost 45 to the AZ state line, with signs stating there was road work ahead, but no communication which lane was closed until right on top of them. Which meant a lot of drivers ended up in the wrong lane right up to the "merge now" signs, turning I-40 into a parking lot. We took the I-10 through Tucson on the way back for the construction, to minimize time in NM, and to avoid the snow which fell from Gallup to Amarillo; the southern route adds an hour (15 versus 14 total) to our time to SW Oklahoma.

[ketchikanite]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

I've traveled much of the US, mostly for work. But OK is one state I've not visited. The wife and I are coming through in a few weeks driving from VA to AZ to see our new grandson. (Please, no lectures on the pandemic as we plan on taking all the precautions possible) As a retired LEO I like to research how safe an area is when the wife is with me. I've googled numerous towns along I-40 looking for one to stay overnight and I am blown away by how these towns are listed as very dangerous with some numbers I would not expect. I have little doubt OK is a beautiful state and has plenty of great places to visit and live but I was curious why towns along I-40 are rated as such. A couple of them were from like 2014 so obviously things cold have changed. Two examples were Fort Smith and Shawnee. When I travel I use Hilton properties so I looked at towns that had this hotel chain. We settled on Elk City. Excellent numbers on the violent crimes although property crimes are too high.

Again, I am not disparaging OK as every state has their problems areas end even these areas can be nice places to live or visit as long as you are smart about where you go while there. I was just more curious why the I-40 corridor seems to have so many areas with these kinds of high crime ratings. If there is even an explanation.



Elk City: 3 Elk City is another modestly-sized city located on Historic U.S. Route 66 near the western edge of the state that boasts the state's lowest violent crime rate, a mere 0.61 offenses per 1,000. Elk City's property crime rate, nearly double those of the first two entries in the ranking, keeps it out of the top spot


Here is what I found for Fort Smith: One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 18. Within Arkansas, more than 95% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Fort Smith.

Shawnee: Dec 3, 2019 — ... safest city according to the study. Shawnee was listed as the least safe city in Oklahoma with a violent crime rate of 12. 23 per 1000 people.

I’m also a retired LEO. Spent 8 years in Oklahoma and the rest in Alaska. As others have said Weatherford would be your best choice. Just about every other city in Oklahoma that have established hotel, retail and restaurants along the I-40 corridor is plagued by crime. Easy pickin’s for criminals.

I attended a number of LEO training classes at Weatherford PD and was impressed with the operations and quality of employees. Weatherford is also home to Southwestern Oklahoma State University and that adds to the stability of the place. Good luck on your journey and stay vary aware when you’re in Albuquerque. It’s changed a lot.

[swake]

What the hell? You people are terrified of nothing. Gotta have a gun and be careful of small towns in western Oklahoma on I-40? What? It's not some dystopian hell from Mad Max, they are just small towns off an interstate. You will be fine.

Be careful of Covid, it's far more likely to kill you than some random criminal hunting travelers in scary western Oklahoma. Driving poorly is even more likely to kill you than Covid.

[grampaTom]

Originally Posted by swake

What the hell? You people are terrified of nothing. Gotta have a gun and be careful of small towns in western Oklahoma on I-40? What? It's not some dystopian hell from Mad Max, they are just small towns off an interstate. You will be fine.

Be careful of Covid, it's far more likely to kill you than some random criminal hunting travelers in scary western Oklahoma. Driving poorly is even more likely to kill you than Covid.

Now, THIS, I can agree with.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by swake

What the hell? You people are terrified of nothing. Gotta have a gun and be careful of small towns in western Oklahoma on I-40? What? It's not some dystopian hell from Mad Max, they are just small towns off an interstate. You will be fine.

Be careful of Covid, it's far more likely to kill you than some random criminal hunting travelers in scary western Oklahoma. Driving poorly is even more likely to kill you than Covid.

Thank you! Today the weather should be of more concern.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by ketchikanite

I’m also a retired LEO. Spent 8 years in Oklahoma and the rest in Alaska. As others have said Weatherford would be your best choice. Just about every other city in Oklahoma that have established hotel, retail and restaurants along the I-40 corridor is plagued by crime. Easy pickin’s for criminals.

I attended a number of LEO training classes at Weatherford PD and was impressed with the operations and quality of employees. Weatherford is also home to Southwestern Oklahoma State University and that adds to the stability of the place. Good luck on your journey and stay vary aware when you’re in Albuquerque. It’s changed a lot.

Yes, we remember you from your previous incarnation on here. Maybe it's an ex LEO thing with this crime thing because you all were on the calls when things did happen. But as a member of the general public there is not a town on I-40 that I would be scared to get a room on in the I-40 corridor. Not one. Most of those areas are newer developments for those communities and are the cash cow for those communities. Those cities protect those areas at the expense of other parts of town.

Now getting a ticket for going 5 over by the local police. That's another story.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

Yes, we remember you from your previous incarnation on here. Maybe it's an ex LEO thing with this crime thing because you all were on the calls when things did happen. But as a member of the general public there is not a town on I-40 that I would be scared to get a room on in the I-40 corridor. Not one. Most of those areas are newer developments for those communities and are the cash cow for those communities. Those cities protect those areas at the expense of other parts of town.

Now getting a ticket for going 5 over by the local police. That's another story.

While I am asking these questions I really am not that concerned as I am smart enough to keep us out of the bad areas while we are stopped for the night. My biggest concern is the car break ins while stopped for the night. It happens at even the best hotels