I will be traveling from Wichita, KS to Flaggstaf, Az to Las Vegas, NV to San Diego, CA in May and like many others prefer to avoid the interstate but want decent pavement. Any suggestions?
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Do you have Google maps or perhaps Bing? If so, they are the best way to get maps for the route you want to take. If you don't have these, I would suggest them if you are going to be traveling much in the future.
BTW Supercharged, looking at your profile, do you hang out at the slabs?
A few years back we took a trip that way and really enjoyed it. We took HWY 54 over to Dodge City to 400 to 56 to 160. Then we took 160 into Colorado and stayed at Trinidad State Park. (saw our first Bobcat and had a bear in the campground.) We have also taken 400-50 all the way to La Junta and then took 10 to Wasselburg (gas up that's a long stretch with nothing) then went up to Wasselburg to the Great White Sands. We loved it! We stayed at the San Luas St. Park and it was OK, but we found out that there was a park at White Sands that looked really nice. From there we took 160 to Durango and on to Mesa Verda. Beautiful drive.
We stayed at Mesa Verde campground. Lots of deer. We stayed on 160 through the four corners(where you can stand in all four states at one time. Not much there, but it was interesting,) you might miss it if your not looking for it. It was Fun for the Kids.
From there we stayed on 160 to Tuba City. Right past Tuba City we went south on 89 and then west on 64 to see the Grand Canyon. We stayed at the campgrounds in The Grand Canyon Village. Very nice. Elk come walking through.
From there drop south to Flagstaff and hit I-40. (Be sure your fluids are topped off before heading into California, we had a radiator get low on water and spent a day getting it flushed out and ready to go again.) on into San Diego.
This is a trip I would make again, and of course you cant go by all those wonderful places without seeing them ! HAVE FUN ON YOUR TRIP!
Stop at Walmart and pick up an Atlas or some travel maps. NOTHING is any better than a good old paper map for looking at different routes. I travel the back roads much of the time and usually just fine one that's going where I want to go. Lots of good scenery if you go through southern Colorado, four corners and through monument valley (for starters).
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it would help if you told us what kind of vehicle you'll be in.
some roads have mountain passes, others don't.
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We go all over the United States and stay off the interstates as much as possible. We found that most U.S. Highways are most always good, as are most paved state roads. But, when you go over the Rockies I would look for a U.S. Highway that is well known. Some roads, even U.S. Highways, in the Rockies, where the road is winding up or down a grade, can be difficult to negotiate.
Since you live in Kansas you will find most roads in Kansas and Nebraska are good. We find that even paved county roads in the midwestern states, east of the Rockies, to be most pleasant driving with very little traffic.
It has gotten that we just pick a road that is going in the general direction we want to go and have very seldom been dissapointed. We have also found the most small towns have a campground of some sort. Most have full hookups. You just have to stop and ask as they aren't listed in the campground books.
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okay, I see two routes that are scenic.
you can take 56 down to Clayton, NM and get on 64 and go all the way into AZ to the junction of 160 and go on to Flagstaff from there.
there are two passes on 64, with 6 percent grades up and down, and looks like a couple switchback turns. we have not driven this part, so maybe someone else will chip in and tell about it.
From Flagstaff, take 40 on to 93 and up to Vegas. The new bridge is fine. They have you use the inside lane on it.
The other route, less stressful, is 56 to I 25 and south to Albuquerque on I 40. there really isn't much of 66 left, just some turn offs that go through the little bitty towns.
but 40 is pretty scenic and there are things to see and do along the way.
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