Cross-Country Drive to Tucson: Best Routes? (hotel, tornadoes, move to)

[danhanshan]

Hi, my wife and I are about to move to Tucson from NC and are trying to plan our driving route. Any advice? Our options seem to be:

85 to 20 in atlanta, to 10 in texas until Tucson;
40 to 30 in Little Rock, to 20 in Dallas, to 10;
40 all the way to Albuquerque, then 25 to 10.

I'm curious about scenery, temperature differences, and any experiences anyone might have had that could be of interest. We have a dog and a cat too, if any of you have done this with pets. We're planning a 3 day trip with 2 hotel stops on the way. Thanks!

[odinloki1]

the I-40 is really dull and boring in NM and the panhandle of Texas, and only slightly more interesting in OK. I don't know how the I-10 is east of Las Cruces, but not much could be worse than the I-40 in texas, horrible roads and no scenery.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by odinloki1

the I-40 is really dull and boring in NM and the panhandle of Texas, and only slightly more interesting in OK. I don't know how the I-10 is east of Las Cruces, but not much could be worse than the I-40 in texas, horrible roads and no scenery.

I haven't been on I-40 in TX, but I'll second it in NM. The most boring drive ever!

[mdtoaz]

We came from Baltimore last year and took I-70 from Baltimore to Colorado Springs, CO. Then we dropped south through NM and eventually hit I-10. We chose that route since we had 3 cats w/us... tried to stay a little farther north to avoid some heat (no such luck) and also tornadoes.

Pretty much, it's going to be a boring drive. Yes, some days, states, cities were better than others (I vowed to never set tire in Missouri ever again). But when you're talking about driving 3000+ miles, you kinda have to create your own entertainment along the way.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by mdtoaz

i Vowed To Never Set Tire in Missouri Ever Again

http://www.emofaces.com/en/emoticons...n-emoticon.gif

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by danhanshan

Hi, my wife and I are about to move to Tucson from NC and are trying to plan our driving route. Any advice? Our options seem to be:

85 to 20 in atlanta, to 10 in texas until Tucson;
40 to 30 in Little Rock, to 20 in Dallas, to 10;
40 all the way to Albuquerque, then 25 to 10.

I'm curious about scenery, temperature differences, and any experiences anyone might have had that could be of interest. We have a dog and a cat too, if any of you have done this with pets. We're planning a 3 day trip with 2 hotel stops on the way. Thanks!

Although not very exciting, considering the Dog and Cat, the route via Atlanta taking I-20 all the way to the big interchange which connects to I-10 a little East of El Paso gets my vote.

Good Luck

[psulions2007]

I would do 40/30/20/10. The Ozarks in AR are beautiful (though you'll turn off before you see the main Ozarks, you'll still see the foothills on 30)

But don't let these people scare you away from I-40 in NM. At least there is a large city on that route. I-10 between El Paso and San Antonio is probably longer than I-40 in NM and is by far the most boring drive available to you.

Also consider taking I-40 to OKC, then I-44 down to Wichita Falls, TX...then use US 82 and 83 to connect you to I-20 in Abilene. You will get to see the Ozarks, different states, and bypass the mess that is DFW.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by psulions2007

But don't let these people scare you away from I-40 in NM. At least there is a large city on that route. I-10 between El Paso and San Antonio is probably longer than I-40 in NM and is by far the most boring drive available to you.

Hey, I'm not saying there aren't degrees of boredom... I just try to not see them all. You may very well be right. I've only been on I-10 to El Paso once, but I've heard from other people that driving in TX is a hair-pulling experience.

[roadrunner1]

How about the best route for towing a 28' cargo trailer (less hills and mountains)?

[psulions2007]

Originally Posted by roadrunner1

How about the best route for towing a 28' cargo trailer (less hills and mountains)?

Coming from Maryland...stay away from I-68. Take I-81 south to I-64 west (you'll have to cross the Apps eventually, and better on I-64 than other places). Follow I-64 through KY.

From there, it depends on what you are more adverse to:

Route 1: 64 W to 44 W. Take I-44 through MO and OK all the way until 44 ends at Wichita Falls. Navigate US 82 and 83 until you get to I-20 in Abilene. Follow 20 W....turn into 10 W. Follow 10 to Tucson.
Pros: Avoids DFW, less of the Rocky Mountains to cross.
Cons: Tolled out the butt in OK, may encounter Ozarks in MO, also have to leave interstate system.

Route 2: 64 W to I-255 S or W. Bypass St. Louis by using I-255 and I-270 to I-64 W. Follow I-64 W (it will become US 40 before hitting I -70) to I-70 W. Follow 70 W to 435 around Kansas City. Bypass Kansas City to get to I-35 S. Follow I-35 S to US 50 W. Follow US 50 to I-135 S. Follow I-135 S to Wichita and US 54 W. Follow US 54 W through KS, OK, TX, and NM to I-40 W. Follow I-40 W to I-25 S. Follow I-25 S to I-10 W. Follow I-10 to Tucson.
Pros: Avoids all tolls, Ozarks, most large cities. Saves gas by requiring you to drive slower on US 54.
Cons: US 54 from about 50 miles west of Wichita is a straight two-lane road throughout the remainder of Kansas. It turns into a 4-lane through OK and some of TX/NM. Hilliness of I-25 S is unknown...ask someone (I'm sure at least 1 person on this board has driven to Albuquerque.)

Route 3: In Lexington, get off of I-64 W and follow signs that will take you to the Marth Layne Collins Blue Grass Parkway. Take this state freeway through to I-65 S. Take I-65 S to the Wendell H Ford Western KY Parkway. Follow this other state freeway until it hits I-24 W. Follow I-24 W to US 51 S. Stay on US 51 S (mostly freeway)...and it will become I-155 W. Pass I-55 to where I-155 becomes US 412 W. Follow US 412 to US 67 S. Follow US 67 S to Newport, AR...where it will become a freeway. Take this freeway to I-440 S in Little Rock. Follow I-440 S until it merges with I-30 W. Follow I-30 W to I-20 W in Dallas. Follow I-20 W to I-10 W. Follow I-10 W to Tucson.
Pros: Avoids tolls, vast majority of the Ozarks, and there are less Rocky Mountains to cross.
Cons: KY Freeway system is complicated. Roads in MO/AR may be 2 lane in places between I-55 and US 67 in Newport. Must pass through DFW.


Choose your poison.