Injecting some REALITY into Phoenix getaways (Flagstaff, Prescott: house, construction, living)

[cmist]

So many posts immediately reference all the things that are "within 2 hours" away. Let's start by being real. Make that more like 3 hours, since it really doesn't count if you make it to the border of Flagstaff or Payson. If you want to average out the size of Phx as a whole, a huge percentage will need to travel about 30-45 when you factor in traffic just to get to a freeway that goes out of town, and then its going to take more time to get to your actual destination since not much is going on as soon as you cross the city line.

Thats a minor point, but I don't understand why so many people like to downplay the reality. Don't forget, the freeways are packed with all the other Phoenicians looking to escape as well as come back home at pretty much the same times... Personally, its fine by me and I'm not complaining, traveling is part of the fun, traffic and all, but honestly... saying "within 2 hours" is not real for most people and I don't get the need to stretch the truth.

Secondly, I don't think a person should consider moving to Phoenix whatsoever based on how many hours drive away it is away from anything. Once your in your car and rolling somewhere hours away, you are going to be on an extended trip, so whats the difference if you drive 3 hours, or 5 hours. Most cities have getaways "hours away" that will provide a little change of scenery or relief from your daily grind. Anyhow, if you are living elsewhere and don't regularly drive to your own state's getaways, its unlikely you would do so here.

[KarmaPhx]

Most of us use common sense, and avoid the I-17 on Weekend Afternoons. I have no problem getting from my house to Prescott in under 2 hours, I can reach Corde Junction within an hour usually.

Rocky Point is only a 4 hour drive, San Diego is a 5 hour drive, and those aren't very long drives, and definetly offer a change of scenery.

I personlly enjoy the fact that it's only a 2 hour drive to go Snowboarding, and it doesn't require me to live somewhere where it actually snows.

Even when I live in Michigan, I had to drive an hour to get to a good snowboarding park comparable to Snowbowl, otherwise it's little hills that are only good for kids sledding.

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

Most of us use common sense, and avoid the I-17 on Weekend Afternoons. I have no problem getting from my house to Prescott in under 2 hours, I can reach Corde Junction within an hour usually.

Rocky Point is only a 4 hour drive, San Diego is a 5 hour drive, and those aren't very long drives, and definetly offer a change of scenery.

I personlly enjoy the fact that it's only a 2 hour drive to go Snowboarding, and it doesn't require me to live somewhere where it actually snows.

Even when I live in Michigan, I had to drive an hour to get to a good snowboarding park comparable to Snowbowl, otherwise it's little hills that are only good for kids sledding.

Common sense whether morning or afternoon makes driving out of town more pleasurable

[HX_Guy]

So...how is what you are doing, making a generalization about 3 hours, any different then someone saying it takes 2 hours?

I think the real reality is that it completely depends on where in the Phoenix area you end up living and when you go on your trip.

I personally live in NW Phoenix (67th Ave and Happy Valley) and have made it to downtown Flagstaff in 1:45 driving 8-10 MPH over the 75 MPH speed limit. If I were to live in the SE Valley, it would take another 45-50 minutes on top of that. This is if you're not leaving on a Friday afternoon when everyone seems to be leaving or coming back on Sunday afternoon. Of course now with the expansion of the I-17 between the Carefree Hwy and the 101, that delay really shouldn't be there anymore...its been expanded from 2 lanes in each direction to 4 lanes in each direction.

And there is a big difference between a trip that takes 2-3 hours vs 5. The first, you can actually go and come back the same day. A 5 hour trip, to say San Diego (well that is more like 5:30-5:45) is going to require an overnight stay for most people.

[KarmaPhx]

There has been some construction on the ramps for the I-17, but once finished, combined with the extra lanes, the backup should be almost obsolete, no more waiting by the 19th Ave dead stopped just to get on the I-17 north coming from the East.

As HX_Guy stated, Phoenix has many destinations that do not require an overnight stay.

[Xica_da_Silva]

Ok. I'm pretty familiar with this since my mom lives in Cottonwood. I live in central Phoenix and it takes me 1.5 hrs to get there...I don't even drive that fast. Granted, I normally leave Saturday morning instead of Friday afternoon. Since it only takes 1.5 hrs, there's no need to rush, really. Sedona...from my mom's it's just a 1/2 hr drive. Or up to Jerome, just a 1/2 hr drive from Cottonwood. Snow up in Jerome. Cottonwood's always about 10 degrees cooler than Phoenix, same with Sedona.

And let's not forget the lovely Canyon Lake and Superstition Mtn area. Gorgeous wildflowers and nice hairpin curves for motorcycle enthusiasts to try their luck. When the only transport I owned was a motorcycle, I once brought my bike up there and had a wonderful time. Maybe an hour away from me...closer if you live in the east valley, of course.

Oh, and there's the pretty and not-too-well know Boyce Arboretum out east...maybe 2 hours away? I was lucky enough to sight a real cardinal while wandering around there one day.

[cmist]

"And there is a big difference between a trip that takes 2-3 hours vs 5. The first, you can actually go and come back the same day. A 5 hour trip, to say San Diego (well that is more like 5:30-5:45) is going to require an overnight stay for most people."

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I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound so nit-picky about one hour, I just mostly didn't get the need to stretch the truth. As for me, I would hate to drive someplace for 3 hours and then head home the same day. Thats like 6 hours of yours 18 waking hours driving, not to mention you have to wake up with the chickens to get an early start and will feel tired pretty early as well. I always feel this nagging pressure that I can't enjoy myself too much because I have to leave soon. Day trips that involve 3 hours drive to get there, and returning the same day aren't worth it for me. I have a family and it takes us 3 hours just to pack the car and actually leave the driveway!

Cottonwood isn't much of a destination. Sedona is nice and touristy. The idea of going there always sounds neat, but then once your there, there isn't much to do but shop for crystals, or other cheesy souvenirs, eat and go home.

I agree the landscape in Sedona is amazing, and I wish I could do something more than look at it... Meaning, I prefer the ocean, lakes and water type things since you don't have to just stare at it, you can actually interact with it. Slide Rock of course is a cool way to take part in some water fun, but we all know its more widely known as "feces" rock...

Same goes for Canyon Lake, nice to look at, but without a boat, how many times can you just stand on the rocky shoreline and stare at it before it gets old?

Superstitions is a great hiking destination, for me I live in the west valley and that takes me nearly 2 hours to get to the trail head since it starts more like in Gold Canyon. It would be heaven for a hiking enthusiast to live in say Gold Canyon or AJ and go there whenever they want. I've done alot of hiking and was glad to have seen what I did, but now I'm a little bored with dry, empty landscapes.

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

Most of us use common sense, and avoid the I-17 on Weekend Afternoons. I have no problem getting from my house to Prescott in under 2 hours, I can reach Corde Junction within an hour usually.

Rocky Point is only a 4 hour drive, San Diego is a 5 hour drive, and those aren't very long drives, and definetly offer a change of scenery.

I personlly enjoy the fact that it's only a 2 hour drive to go Snowboarding, and it doesn't require me to live somewhere where it actually snows.

Even when I live in Michigan, I had to drive an hour to get to a good snowboarding park comparable to Snowbowl, otherwise it's little hills that are only good for kids sledding.

How the heck are you getting from Phoenix to snowboarding in 2 hours??? I go every winter and I've never made it in less than 3 from city to snowboarding destination, please, share your drive with me, I can use it this winter!

[cmist]

Originally Posted by twiggy

How the heck are you getting from Phoenix to snowboarding in 2 hours??? I go every winter and I've never made it in less than 3 from city to snowboarding destination, please, share your drive with me, I can use it this winter!

Very True! It takes about 30-45 to zig up the mountain on top of the supposed 2 hr drive. This is what I mean about fluffing it up needlessly.

[fcorrales80]

I live downtown and have family in Flagstaff. Takes between 1 hr 45 min to 1 hr and 50 minutes to get there without weather issues, that is. Getting to Snow Bowl can take 25 minutes to so much longer depending on traffic, weather, etc. But does it really matter? It can still be a day trip and it is a COMPLETELY different environment from Phoenix is one wants to get away. I think the point of the destinations from Phoenix are that in almost no other place in the country can you be in such DRASTICALLY different environments that in Phoenix. You can be wearing shorts and flip-flops in one hour, and 1, 2, or 3 hours away be in the middle of the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world amongst the aspens and the snowcapped mountains. Drive 1, 2, 3 hours away from most other American cities and you won't experience anything different other than NOT being in the city...