Driving Route Albuquerque to Phoenix (Gallup: buy, construction, camp)

[Skyszlimit]

Hi Y'all.

We considering visiting Phoenix over Turkey Weekend, and making our first driving trip from ABQ to Phoenix, and wondered who of you have done the trip and suggestions pro/cons on either of these suggested treks. Frankly, we would be looking for fastest, safest routes and considering the time of year/weather wise.. Sometime later, we'll plan a more leisurely trek, but for now... Fastest, safest...

1) 1-40 West to 1- 17 South into Phoenix

2) 1-40 to Holbrook, to AZ 77 South/ to AZ 377 to AZ 277 to Heber, then AZ 260 west to Payson and AZ 87 south to the Valley.

3) Or Any other suggested routes?

Thoughts? Thanks!

Skysz

[Poncho_NM]

I have used and would reccomend I-40 West to 1- 17 South into Phoenix which is the most direct fastest route. Even according to Google. 465 miles...

I have gone I -25 South to I-10, but it adds 100 miles to the trip, but I had to go to Tucson.

I would not take your "2)" route.



Rich

[Billygoat the Kid]

Originally Posted by Skyszlimit

Hi Y'all.

We considering visiting Phoenix over Turkey Weekend, and making our first driving trip from ABQ to Phoenix, and wondered who of you have done the trip and suggestions pro/cons on either of these suggested treks. Frankly, we would be looking for fastest, safest routes and considering the time of year/weather wise.. Sometime later, we'll plan a more leisurely trek, but for now... Fastest, safest...

1) 1-40 West to 1- 17 South into Phoenix

Having just driven to Phoenix from the Burque, I can attest that this is the best way to go. It's shorter and quicker, plus you do not have the added headache of traffic that you would get when traveling the smaller highways.

Oh... be sure to gas up in Flagstaff, as it's a loooooong way to go before you see another gas station. As beautiful as Sedona is, I don't want you to go of track to gas up there like we did.

Enjoy the drive, as there is a lot of natural beauty around between here and there. You can always play Highway Alphabet to pass the time, which should be only 6 hours.


--BtK

[Skyszlimit]

Hi Thanks Poncho and Billygoat!

Suggestions well taken!! Appreciate it!

[JDTH]

If you want scenery nothing beats the Salt River Canyon drive. Lots of beautiful, twisty and downhill roads.

[b9ev]

Originally Posted by JDTH

If you want scenery nothing beats the Salt River Canyon drive. Lots of beautiful, twisty and downhill roads.

This is a fantastic drive. If you have an hour or two more to spend driving this is a far nicer way to go.

Edit: if you do take 40 to 17 watch for speedtraps. It is easy to go a few over the limit on those open stretches and Arizona parks camera vans along the way. They do have signs to notify you but sometimes the signs are just a couple of hundred feet away from the van.

[Zoidberg]

I third (fourth?) the I-40 to I-17 route. Watch weather reports though. Getting stuck on I-40 is a real possibility, and far more likely than the southern route. The way through Flagstaff tends to have a bit more construction too, but it's overall not bad.

DO NOT gas up in Flagstaff. At least, don't gas up if you don't want to spend extra money. It's very difficult to get gas up the hill to Flagstaff so prices tend to be higher. (Gasbuddy.com is your friend). I always gas up at the Love's in Joseph City; for hassle factor, prices, and location, it ends up being the best for me.

One minor diversion that is worth it if you've never tried it is diverting to the 89A south of Flagstaff and going through Sedona (adds about 1 hr). The scenery is amazing (but watch out for the 20mph squiggle about 15 min south of the turnoff.. it's fun to take until you get stuck behind somebody going slower).

If you still have time, get your brakes checked, particularly if going through Flagstaff, and especially if diverting through Sedona. They'll get a workout and they need to be able to stop you.

Happy motoring!

[Bear's Mom]

I-40 to I-17....................not very scenic - but if you don't have a lot of time for travel...........that is the way I always go if it is just to get from point A to P .....especially as winter season approaches!
JDTh is right - Salt River Canyon is a great scenic way = but moslty 2-lane.
Lots of curves . Save it for a trip when you have lots of time for explorations!
Looks like 70 degrees is the prediction for T-day right now here in the Valley of the Sun.

Have a safe trip!

[mortimer]

Absolutely, positively go through Payson and don't go through Flagstaff.

(2) I've compared times using (1) above and (2) and there is not
a significant difference between the two. Your average speed
is higher with (1), but the hassle factor is less with (2).

I value being able to cruise at a more liesurely 65-70 rather than the
75-80 of the interstate with left lane hogs and bumper-riders who don't
appreciate that you are trying to pass, but the left-lane hog is blocking.
Route (2) is less miles at a slower speed than (1) so that's why it's a wash.

Also, there are more places to stop along the way with (2).
I've been trapped out on I-40 between Holbrook and Winslow
or Winslow and Flagstaff. You can get stuck on the freeway
with no way to know what is going on or when it will end.

(2) has many many miles of new 4-lane freeway-grade roads that have
been put in from Payson to Show Low. What used to be a long stretch
of 2-lane trapped behind trailers is now quite easy and almost all 4-lane!

The Beeline Highway between Payson and Phoenis is all 4-lane now.

You can get off the road at a convenience store or gas station by just
pulling off - using 260/87. From the interstate - you have to mess with
exits. If you pass a likely spot, you cannot just turn around and re-visit it.

(1) through Flagstaff is best ONLY if you are hauling stuff since
it is all interstate

There is a lot of truck traffic on I-40 and I-17 and almost none on
377/260/87. Those trucks are a huge pain on the uphill/downhill parts
of I-17. You often get one truck going 57 passing the slower truck
going 56 in the right lane. Naturally, the passing truck will wait until
you are just about to overtake before pulling out in front of you to
make you wait for an hour while he negotiates the passing maneuver.

I made many many trips in 2004 and 2005 comparing times and hassle factor
between the two and there is no comparison. I take (2) every time now.

My experience in comparing the two is that there is far less traffic on
the state routes 377 & 260 and 87 than there is on the Interstate.

Also note that it is entirely possible to have to come to a dead
stop on I-17 miles North of Phoenix for no apparent reason.
This is another reason I just gave up on that route. Again, you
are trapped on a freeway and cannot get off or turn around.

I'm willing to guarantee that you will get stopped on I-17 making
the drive just before Thanksgiving. "I gare-on-tee."

Note that Phoenix is geographically huge. It takes an hour to drive across
it from the bottom of Chandler/Gilbert to the outer edge of the 101 loop.
If you are going to Goodyear/Peoria, it might be slightly better to take I-17.
I'd still take the Beeline and go across Rt-101 the North bypass.

I've never ever been stopped for anything taking the Beeline.

If the weather is not clear as can be, then I would not hesitate
to take the South route through Tucson via I-25/I-10. What can
be an "overcast" in Albuquerque can be horizontal snow from Gallup
all the way to Flagstaff. Check the weather reports a couple days
before departing and check again every morning and evening since
weather systems can 'dip' down and change the outlook a great deal.

You can buy gas in Heber - just near the 377/260 junction.
There is a convenience store near where 260 just gets up
on the Rim and, naturally, Payson is a full-service town.

If you are going to ignore my correct advice and take the wrong, but
well-meaning advice of Poncho-NM, Billygoat the Kid, and Zoidberg:
On I-17, there is a good place to stop at Camp Verde with lots of
gasoline selections.

I can't imagine making a trip like that and being concerned about the price
of gasoline. For one thing, it's basically a one-tank trip, so if you think
you are getting ripped off, put 5 gallons in and move on. You should
stop a couple of times anyway and not make it some sort of marathon.

[karmathecat]

I'm not sure that anyone's discussed the route we take...I-40 W to Winslow, 87 S to 260 and then over to I-17 at Camp Verde ( and take General Crook's Trail up to I-17 )
What I don't like about Payson-Show Low is that you wind up approaching the PHX metro area from the east...excellent if you are going to Snottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, etc. but since we are headed to far West PHX ( actually Glendale ) , we like coming in as far west as we can, and I-17 is about it.
The other reason we chose this route, is that it affords us a valid excuse for eating at the Turquoise Room in Winslow.