Driving from Pontiac Michigan to Phoenix Az (crime, to buy)

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by WaldosMom

Thank you everybody for all the advice. How are the mountains? I was told that driving thru New Mexico is the hottest part of the trip with the fewest gas stations and places to stop. That that is the area I should be the most concerned about. Did any of you have any problems. I drive a 2011 GMC Terrain, front wheel drive with only 33,000 miles on it so I'm comfortable my car should be able to do it.

How much did it cost for the toll roads?

Thanks again! I am really looking forward to this trip next year. I had originally planned on doing it in April buy my nephew's wife is a teacher in Arizona and will be done with school by the end of April so they wanted us to come in May so she can spend more time with us.

I don't recall any real mountains or toll roads. There IS that one very looooong 'hill' west of Abq that can be a killer sometimes if you're hauling a heavy load. Found that out when I helped my parents move to Arkansas and back! Both times in summer...August! I don't recall any problems with heat and I made my trip in early May. I think you'll be just fine. Fill your gas tank and eat in the larger towns/cities.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by WaldosMom

Thank you everybody for all the advice. How are the mountawas told that driving thru New Mexico is the hottest part of the trip with the fewest gas stations and places to stop. That that is the area I should be the most concerned about. Did any of you have any problems. I drive a 2011 GMC Terrain, front wheel drive with only 33,000 miles on it so I'm comfortable my car should be able to do it.

How much did it cost for the toll roads?

Thanks again! I am really looking forward to this trip next year. I had originally planned on doing it in April buy my nephew's wife is a teacher in Arizona and will be done with school by the end of April so they wanted us to come in May so she can spend more time with us.

If you get routed through chicago, there's a toll there, (maybe $2?) - my gps always wants to route me through chicago, but I over-ride it and set my first waypoint as Indianapolis - Chicago traffic can be murder, as I'm sure you can imagine. Other than that, the only tolls are at the oklahoma border & tulsa-to-oklahoma city - about $4 each.. it's worth paying the tolls in Oklahoma, because the toll-roads are indian land & have a higher speed limit (75 I think?) ..

There aren't really many "mountains" - a few big hills in eastern missouri, but nothing that would pop a radiator if your car is in good shape. As you cross new mexico, your elevation climbs - Albuquerque is actually "high desert" - it's generally 20-30 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with lots of breezes.. I've actually been caught in snow in Abq in april, so heat shouldn't be a problem in may.. I would suggest running I-40 to I-17 (flagstaff, Az), and then heading south. You could go south @ Holbrook, but that can be a bit too much "excitement" if you're not interested in a slow, scenic drive. The biggest hills/mountains of the trip are in that last couple hours of the drive from flag to phoenix. If you're awake & driving a good car, it's just scenic & fun - if you're tired, you'll have a death-grip on the wheel the whole time. Flagstaff is also "high desert" ( cool, because of the altitude) - you won't feel any heat until you're almost in the valley.. (texas & oklahoma are hot, but mostly flat, so it isn't hard on your car).

One more suggestion, if you haven't had your fill of them - either a dedicated gps (like a garmin), or a gps app for your phone (I use navigon) with a "lane assist" feature - there are a few cities like St. Louis where you need to get to the left, stay in the middle lane, etc. to stay on course. The navigon app I use gives you a "picture" of what an upcoming interchange will look like, so you know to stay in (for example) the two left lanes - to stay on course.. just takes alot of stress out of the equation if you happen to hit a major city during rush hour.

As for gas in New Mexico - it "feels" kinda remote when you're 50+ miles between cities, and if you were unaware, you might run out of gas, but I always top off whenever I stop for restroom breaks anyway, so there isn't much danger of running out, as long as you keep it full at some pre-determined set-point - if you burn a half-tank of gas, it's a good time to take a fuel/restroom break anyway.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Zippyman

If you get routed through chicago, there's a toll there, (maybe $2?) - my gps always wants to route me through chicago, but I over-ride it and set my first waypoint as Indianapolis - Chicago traffic can be murder, as I'm sure you can imagine. Other than that, the only tolls are at the oklahoma border & tulsa-to-oklahoma city - about $4 each.. it's worth paying the tolls in Oklahoma, because the toll-roads are indian land & have a higher speed limit (75 I think?) ..

There aren't really many "mountains" - a few big hills in eastern missouri, but nothing that would pop a radiator if your car is in good shape. As you cross new mexico, your elevation climbs - Albuquerque is actually "high desert" - it's generally 20-30 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with lots of breezes.. I've actually been caught in snow in Abq in april, so heat shouldn't be a problem in may.. I would suggest running I-40 to I-17 (flagstaff, Az), and then heading south. You could go south @ Holbrook, but that can be a bit too much "excitement" if you're not interested in a slow, scenic drive. The biggest hills/mountains of the trip are in that last couple hours of the drive from flag to phoenix. If you're awake & driving a good car, it's just scenic & fun - if you're tired, you'll have a death-grip on the wheel the whole time. Flagstaff is also "high desert" ( cool, because of the altitude) - you won't feel any heat until you're almost in the valley.. (texas & oklahoma are hot, but mostly flat, so it isn't hard on your car).

One more suggestion, if you haven't had your fill of them - either a dedicated gps (like a garmin), or a gps app for your phone (I use navigon) with a "lane assist" feature - there are a few cities like St. Louis where you need to get to the left, stay in the middle lane, etc. to stay on course. The navigon app I use gives you a "picture" of what an upcoming interchange will look like, so you know to stay in (for example) the two left lanes - to stay on course.. just takes alot of strees out of the equation if you happen to hit a major city during rush hour.

I don't remember any tolls in Oklahoma but have to admit it's been a lot of years since I did that trip so I could very well have forgotten. I've driven in Chicago a few times and it was awful!

[BlueCat1105]

There are tolls in OK.

[Steve-o]

Everyones making a big deal out of driving it seems. Its not that hard. Sleep well before you hit the road, and when you feel tired, pull over for a bit and take a cat nap, or drink some 5 Hour Energy. That crap works great for road trips. Crank some good tunes and enjoy the drive! I drove from Chicago to Amarillo in one stint. I couldve gone farther, but it was getting late, and there was a monster thunderstorm up ahead west of Amarillo that we didnt feel like fighting, so we called it a night.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Everyones making a big deal out of driving it seems. Its not that hard. Sleep well before you hit the road, and when you feel tired, pull over for a bit and take a cat nap, or drink some 5 Hour Energy. That crap works great for road trips. Crank some good tunes and enjoy the drive! I drove from Chicago to Amarillo in one stint. I couldve gone farther, but it was getting late, and there was a monster thunderstorm up ahead west of Amarillo that we didnt feel like fighting, so we called it a night.

Many years ago I remember driving from Oregon to Arizona and took No Doz. Good grief was I wired! lol When I got to Phoenix I ended up sleeping for about 14 hours straight! Your advice is perfect though and that's, pretty much, how I do things. Although I've noticed that the older I get the less I really want to do that marathon driving no matter how much I enjoy it!

[43north87west]

The drive is great after you get west of the Mississippi. You'll probably come down through Indiana then over to St. Louis to link up to the 44 and the 40 in Oklahoma City. I have to go through Illinois the long way (not good), but you'll go through Indiana, which isn't much better.

Missouri is really nice, and the drive from Tulsa to Oklahoma City is not bad. The most interesting thing for me is watching the scenery gradually change from rolling hills to high plains as you go through Texas, New Mexico, and up to Flagstaff. I think that eastern NM is around 4500' (don't quote me) but you will gradually climb to 7000, drop a bit into Albuquerque, then it's back to 7000' until just before Flagstaff, where you suddenly pop into a pine forest with mountains in the background. Then down to Phoenix on the 17.

In May the temperature shouldn't be bad because of the elevation in NM and AZ. It might be hot as you come down into Phoenix, though.

[WaldosMom]

I am so excited for this trip after hearing from all of you. My Sister will be with me so I might let her drive when we are in areas that don't have as much heavy traffic (she does not do that well and would not handle being with the semi's well). I have driven several years ago quite a bit but never this trip. So I really wanted to hear from people who have made that trip and I appreciate everyone's advice.

I was thinking about going: Pontiac Mi thru Illinois to St. Louis then thru Missouri to Oklahoma thru Texas thru New Mexico into Flagstaff and then to Phoenix with my first stop for the night possibly just before Missouri or Past St. Louis for the 1st night. And maybe a stop in Oklahoma for the 2nd night and then as close to the New Mexico border as possible to stop for a 3rd night and arrive in Arizona the 4th day because I understand just going thru New Mexico is a long drive. I'm not sure how well my Sister is going to do in the car for so long. I know I won't have a problem, gas stops are also potty breaks, food breaks, etc.... but she has back problems and some issues with her legs so it will be interesting I would like to do it in 3 days each way for her benefit. If it was just me and her health issues were better I think 2 days would be ok.

But, I am looking forward to the sights.





Thank You All!

[Steve-o]

If you make it past St. Louis, stay in Pacifica, MO. Its right off the highway, and a nice little town. I wouldnt recommend staying in St. Louis, there are some high crime areas.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

If you make it past St. Louis, stay in Pacifica, MO. Its right off the highway, and a nice little town. I wouldnt recommend staying in St. Louis, there are some high crime areas.

Better avoid the whole city just to be safe.