Driving from Fort Collins to Phoenix in the winter (Flagstaff: to live in, safe)

[squishy506]

We're moving from Chicago to Phoenix next year in early February, and we're stopping in Fort Collins, CO to spend some time at my father-in-law's house. Google Maps has us going through Moab to get down here, but my boss today told me that the mountains might cause us problems in the winter.


What's the best route you recommend, even if Google doesn't think it's the fastest?

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by squishy506

We're moving from Chicago to Phoenix next year in early February, and we're stopping in Fort Collins, CO to spend some time at my father-in-law's house. Google Maps has us going through Moab to get down here, but my boss today told me that the mountains might cause us problems in the winter.


What's the best route you recommend, even if Google doesn't think it's the fastest?

Are you driving a moving truck, or your own personal vehicle? I drove a moving truck from Denver area to Phoenix in January, a few years ago. South on I-25, west on I-40, south on I-17. I wouldn't take any other route if driving a truck in the winter.

If driving your own vehicle you could go either way, depending on the weather. If you're driving it straight through you could decide at the last minute. West from Denver is more scenic. Read up on the traction requirements if you take this route, however, and try to avoid the worst of the ski traffic (mainly weekend mornings leaving Denver).

[squishy506]

Originally Posted by hikernut

Are you driving a moving truck, or your own personal vehicle? I drove a moving truck from Denver area to Phoenix in January, a few years ago. South on I-25, west on I-40, south on I-17. I wouldn't take any other route if driving a truck in the winter.

If driving your own vehicle you could go either way, depending on the weather. If you're driving it straight through you could decide at the last minute. West from Denver is more scenic. Read up on the traction requirements if you take this route, however, and try to avoid the worst of the ski traffic (mainly weekend mornings leaving Denver).

We're going to be driving a Honda Insight with no snow tires. I didn't actually say anything about having a moving truck when I was discussing it with my boss, so maybe he assumed we'd be driving our own truck.


It sounds like you went through Albuquerque, which was my second guess as to how we'd come down here. I don't know the topography of this part of the country. Are there a bunch of wild mountain inclines or heavy snow in this part of NM and CO?

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by squishy506

We're going to be driving a Honda Insight with no snow tires. I didn't actually say anything about having a moving truck when I was discussing it with my boss, so maybe he assumed we'd be driving our own truck.


It sounds like you went through Albuquerque, which was my second guess as to how we'd come down here. I don't know the topography of this part of the country. Are there a bunch of wild mountain inclines or heavy snow in this part of NM and CO?

Yes, through Albuquerque. Raton Pass at the CO/NM border is the steepest climb, but it's nothing like the climbs on I-70 west of Denver. The other exciting part is I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix, which you'd likely follow with either of the two routes.

I'll guess that the Albuquerque route is less likely to give problems with snow, but you could certainly still run into problems. Just monitor the weather forecast. If you book a room somewhere enroute it's probably wise to make a reservation that can be cancelled, just in case you need to delay for weather reasons.

[pbenjamin]

I have a son who lives in Broomfield and he (or I) have made the drive several times. There are 3 basic possibilities

• The New Mexico route - south to Albuquerque, west to Flagstaff, south to Phoenix
• The Colorado route - across Colorado diagonally to Cortez, on to Flagstaff, south to Phoenix
• The Utah route - west on 70 to 191 in Utah, south past Moab to Flagstaff, south to Phoenix

A variant of the New Mexico route has you getting of I-40 in Jerome, AZ and heading southwest to Phoenix through Payson.

All three (3.5?) of them are reasonable drives in nice weather and all three can be troublesome with snow and ice. We typically decide which way to go based on current and forecast weather conditions. The Colorado route, although scenic, is my least favorite due to limited options for food or rest stops.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

A variant of the New Mexico route has you getting of I-40 in Jerome, AZ and heading southwest to Phoenix through Payson.

I think you mean Holbrook.

[pbenjamin]

Yes, that would make more sense. (Not sure how that happened...)

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by hikernut

Yes, through Albuquerque. Raton Pass at the CO/NM border is the steepest climb, but it's nothing like the climbs on I-70 west of Denver. The other exciting part is I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix, which you'd likely follow with either of the two routes.

I'll guess that the Albuquerque route is less likely to give problems with snow, but you could certainly still run into problems. Just monitor the weather forecast. If you book a room somewhere enroute it's probably wise to make a reservation that can be cancelled, just in case you need to delay for weather reasons.

In a snow storm, Raton Pass can be a real problem, mostly due to the elevation (7,835 feet), and sometimes closes down for a while. In normal weather, it's a beautiful drive.

[rtloucks]

I used to live in Denver and drove to Phoenix a handful of time. It was a solid 12.5hours from the south Denver area. I've only driven the the i25 south way, but it was smooth sailing the whole way and no mountain driving. I cant speak to the other routes, but i am one to take the path of least resistance... and to me that seems like i25 south thru Denver/Albuquerque/then west...

Drive safe and have a nice trip. Congrats on your move

[wase4711]

Originally Posted by squishy506

We're going to be driving a Honda Insight with no snow tires. I didn't actually say anything about having a moving truck when I was discussing it with my boss, so maybe he assumed we'd be driving our own truck.


It sounds like you went through Albuquerque, which was my second guess as to how we'd come down here. I don't know the topography of this part of the country. Are there a bunch of wild mountain inclines or heavy snow in this part of NM and CO?

as a former Chicagoan who drove out here(in the nice weather though) I am sure you can handle the drive without any issues, if you've lived through driving in Chicago winters.
now, not saying there couldn't be a storm when you are passing through, but no way to know that ahead of time.


The scariest part of driving out here begins once you move here and see more traffic dystopia than you ever could have imagined in Illinois; prepare to NEVER see a turn signal, left turns being made from the right lane, people drifting into your lane regularly for no reason, and, most importantly understand almost EVERYONE speeds freely and regularly everywhere in Arizona, so adjust your mindset for that


we took the Albuquerque to Flagstaff route, BTW