Rural Routes Through Arizona in December (Prescott, Kingman: camp, moving, food)

[Transitory]

Hi Arizonians,

My wife and I will be taking a drive from California to Texas in late December and we're both fans of avoiding the freeways and taking the more interesting routes to see the scenery and small towns of the southwest. We know that winter weather can be tricky in northern parts of Arizona and so the plan is thus:

(A) If winter weather is threatening easy passage, we'll go south on I-10 and take the southern route through the state.

(B) If weather isn't an issue, we'd rather go through the rural routes through the state, and that's where we need advice. Where would be some of, in your opinions, the neatest routes to take across the state in terms of scenery and less traveled 2 lane roads. We're not opposed to windy, though paved is a must. We're also not opposed to taking a few stretches of Interstate to get to the most unique parts.

Also, we're coming from Northern California, so we'll likely enter AZ near Needles, but we can adjust.

Your thoughts appreciated

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by Transitory

Hi Arizonians,

My wife and I will be taking a drive from California to Texas in late December and we're both fans of avoiding the freeways and taking the more interesting routes to see the scenery and small towns of the southwest. We know that winter weather can be tricky in northern parts of Arizona and so the plan is thus:

(A) If winter weather is threatening easy passage, we'll go south on I-10 and take the southern route through the state.

(B) If weather isn't an issue, we'd rather go through the rural routes through the state, and that's where we need advice. Where would be some of, in your opinions, the neatest routes to take across the state in terms of scenery and less traveled 2 lane roads. We're not opposed to windy, though paved is a must.

Your thoughts appreciated

Well, basically, if you want to go through AZ non-interstate, start by taking CA 62 to the state line between Vidal, CA and Parker, AZ. CA 62 becomes AZ 72, keep going until US 60. Take US 60 all the way to Globe. Then take US 70 the rest of the way through the state. The only problem area will be on US 60 between Superior and Globe. The road goes through the mountains up to 4,600 ft, so could see snow. The rest is below 3,000 ft and is usually below the snow line.

[Transitory]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Well, basically, if you want to go through AZ non-interstate, start by taking CA 62 to the state line between Vidal, CA and Parker, AZ. CA 62 becomes AZ 72, keep going until US 60. Take US 60 all the way to Globe. Then take US 70 the rest of the way through the state. The only problem area will be on US 60 between Superior and Globe. The road goes through the mountains up to 4,600 ft, so could see snow. The rest is below 3,000 ft and is usually below the snow line.

Thanks for that idea! I should mention we're not opposed to sections of Interstate, but we'd like the majority to be rural 2 lane roads.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Well, basically, if you want to go through AZ non-interstate, start by taking CA 62 to the state line between Vidal, CA and Parker, AZ. CA 62 becomes AZ 72, keep going until US 60. Take US 60 all the way to Globe. Then take US 70 the rest of the way through the state. The only problem area will be on US 60 between Superior and Globe. The road goes through the mountains up to 4,600 ft, so could see snow. The rest is below 3,000 ft and is usually below the snow line.

Not a bad idea. The road between Superior and Globe rarely if ever has snow. And it's a very pretty drive indeed, through Queen Creek Canyon (there's even a tunnel!)

[unit731]

Done all above. Nice rides.


You don't state where in Texas that you are going. Fredericksburg Texas is a neat little town. Took Route 290 across that part of the state.

[jamies]

Cut off the 10 in Commiefornia on whatever the road is to Parker. Then take 95 north through Havasu, join Rte 66 through Oatman, Kingman and Seligman, then take the road from Seligman through the pinion pines to Sedona and or Prescott. From there drive up to Payson through Heber to Show Low, on to Snoflake and Alpine, then south past the enourmous Morinci copper mine on a road with a thousand (it seems)turns and eventually back to the 10.

From there it's just a couple hours to El Paso.

Or you could go through Globe too then cut east to Morinci.

Shouldn't take over a week!

[adriver]

Originally Posted by jamies

Cut off the 10 in Commiefornia on whatever the road is to Parker. Then take 95 north through Havasu, join Rte 66 through Oatman, Kingman and Seligman, then take the road from Seligman through the pinion pines to Sedona and or Prescott. From there drive up to Payson through Heber to Show Low, on to Snoflake and Alpine, then south past the enourmous Morinci copper mine on a road with a thousand (it seems)turns and eventually back to the 10.

From there it's just a couple hours to El Paso.

Or you could go through Globe too then cut east to Morinci.

Shouldn't take over a week!

I guarantee there will be snow through half that route in December. You start getting up in the mountains here THERE WILL BE SNOW. I will never forget about 15 years ago driving through camp verde ON THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND. It was 60 degrees outside and SNOWING. We had to pull over, not because of the snow, but because as soon as it hit the ground it turned to steam/fog/cloudy and we couldn't see. Camp Verde is only about 3,000 feet.

You're talking 5,000-6,000 ft. If OP is playing it by ear, that's one thing, but If trying to plan it out to avoid the snow, that's way too questionable to be trying to avoid in December. Your warning would be the news or less.



OP, I only take I-10, but if you end up on I-10 just east of the 1-10/I-20 split is a little state park/camp site (with rooms too) Balmorhea, TX.
world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool. It really is kind of right in the middle of that long stretch between el paso and Kerrville.
http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/balmorhea


Also, last year, I was coming from TX to AZ just before new year. There was a surprise rain storm, that got so cold at night it froze on the road and caused about 2 inches of ice. I had been driving for several hours by the time I got to this point and ended up getting stuck behind a 1/2 mile long line of cars. After a couple hours we started moving faster than a crawl. When we got to the front of the line, we saw there were two semi trucks that stopped and parked right in the middle of the lanes completely blocking traffic. Over the next 5 miles or so I ended up seeing about a dozen cars that had spun out over night, and behind us was the first fire truck that was checking on people. When I later got to my first stop to get gas and food I saw the news how they had shut down the highway right behind us. Everyone who was heading the other direction couldn't get through because for them the ice was covering the highway uphill, and NOBODY could get through. After sitting there for several hours, they closed the highway and made em turn around. The nearest town was 2 hours back the way they came. I'm just saying I couldn't imagine how bad that could have been for people if they were on a road that was barely traveled, especially when everyone was trying to stay off the roads.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by adriver

I guarantee there will be snow through half that route in December. You start getting up in the mountains here THERE WILL BE SNOW. I will never forget about 15 years ago driving through camp verde ON THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND. It was 60 degrees outside and SNOWING. We had to pull over, not because of the snow, but because as soon as it hit the ground it turned to steam/fog/cloudy and we couldn't see. Camp Verde is only about 3,000 feet.

You're talking 5,000-6,000 ft. If OP is playing it by ear, that's one thing, but If trying to plan it out to avoid the snow, that's way too questionable to be trying to avoid in December. Your warning would be the news or less.



OP, I only take I-10, but if you end up on I-10 just east of the 1-10/I-40 split is a little state park/camp site (with rooms too) Balmorhea, TX.
world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool. It really is kind of right in the middle of that long stretch between el paso and Kerrville.
Balmorhea State Park


Also, last year, I was coming from TX to AZ just before new year. There was a surprise rain storm, that got so cold at night it froze on the road and caused about 2 inches of ice. I had been driving for several hours by the time I got to this point and ended up getting stuck behind a 1/2 mile long line of cars. After a couple hours we started moving faster than a crawl. When we got to the front of the line, we saw there were two semi trucks that stopped and parked right in the middle of the lanes completely blocking traffic. Over the next 5 miles or so I ended up seeing about a dozen cars that had spun out over night, and behind us was the first fire truck that was checking on people. When I later got to my first stop to get gas and food I saw the news how they had shut down the highway right behind us. Everyone who was heading the other direction couldn't get through because for them the ice was covering the highway uphill, and NOBODY could get through. After sitting there for several hours, they closed the highway and made em turn around. The nearest town was 2 hours back the way they came. I'm just saying I couldn't imagine how bad that could have been for people if they were on a road that was barely traveled, especially when everyone was trying to stay off the roads.

I think you meant the 10/20 split, 10 and 40 don't meet

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by jamies

Cut off the 10 in Commiefornia on whatever the road is to Parker. Then take 95 north through Havasu, join Rte 66 through Oatman, Kingman and Seligman, then take the road from Seligman through the pinion pines to Sedona and or Prescott. From there drive up to Payson through Heber to Show Low, on to Snoflake and Alpine, then south past the enourmous Morinci copper mine on a road with a thousand (it seems)turns and eventually back to the 10.

From there it's just a couple hours to El Paso.

Or you could go through Globe too then cut east to Morinci.

Shouldn't take over a week!

This route would be HORRIBLE in winter. Especially in December, which can be volitile weather wise in the high country. Alpine is at 8,000 ft and that road (191) between Alpine and Clifton goes over 10,000 ft crossing the White Mountains. That road isn't even recommended between Nov and Apr!!!

[adriver]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

I think you meant the 10/20 split, 10 and 40 don't meet

Yes that's it. I knew it was the split to dallas/san Antonio. Thanks.

I just edited it in case.