traveling to Arizona Grand Canyon and was wondering the best route from South Florida. Considered taking the Florida Turnpike into Georgia and shooting over I82 at Tifton and reaching Memphis by night fall. From there catch I40 all the way into Grand Canyon. Is this possible and short or should I stay to a bigger interstate trying to reach Memphis? How many days can the trip be done traveling approx 500 miles per day.
I can only speak to the portion of your trip beginning at Memphis and going west. I-40 is the way to go. It will be two long days getting to the Grand Canyon from Memphis. I have made the trip across I-40 probably 75-80 times since 1982. There are tons of services on this route with lots of spacious fuel islands to fill up. At Flagstaff, I would take hwy 180 connecting to hwy 64 to the canyon. It is a good highway with lots of scenery. While in Arizona, you might want to considering visiting Sedona (Red Rock country)and the Verde Valley. It is a beautiful part of the world and located just south of Flagstaff.
IMO, you best route from boca is , turnpike to 75 to I-10 to I-49 at Lafayette to I-20 at Shvpt to highway 69 at Lindale Tx north to Hwy82 at Bells Tx , west on 82 to WFalls, north on 289 to Amar west on I-40.
I don't think I would get off in Tifton. If you are trying to avoid Atlanta, I would get of on State Road (SR) 16 to Griffin and Newnan, and then take US 27 to Carrolton and on to I -20. I live 80 miles north of Tifton and that is the way we take.
I would also suggest that if you have time to take US 89 out of Flagstaff and visit Sunset Crater N.M and Wupatki N.M. It was suggested to us and we really enjoyed the parks.
Have a great trip.
Jim & Junnie
2005 Sunline Solaris T-2553 Our Web Site
Your route is a good one, and one which I have driven a few times. From Memphis-to-Oklahoma City is reasonable (with good parks in each area), then on to Albuquerque (also with a nice selection), then to Williams/Grand Canyon. The worst section of road will be on the west side of OK City, and the section coming into Albuquerque can be crowded/twisty/downhill if you get there too late in the day.
Very nice campground at Sunset Crater, and reasonably close to Flagstaff if you need to head into town for supplies, or just want a sit-down restaurant before heading up to the canyon (after two or three days of driving, we treat ourselves to a night of no-cleanup...).
It's an easy drive from there to Grand Canyon Village via the east entrance (approx 110 miles with stops). Leave early enough, you still have time to drive thru Waputki, stop once or twice, and still be in Mather CG before the campground fills up.
* This post was
edited 08/06/08 03:11pm by lane hog *
2005 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C (was a three-time Jayco owner)
junmy3 wrote: I don't think I would get off in Tifton. If you are trying to avoid Atlanta, I would get of on State Road (SR) 16 to Griffin and Newnan, and then take US 27 to Carrolton and on to I -20. I live 80 miles north of Tifton and that is the way we take.
I would also suggest that if you have time to take US 89 out of Flagstaff and visit Sunset Crater N.M and Wupatki N.M. It was suggested to us and we really enjoyed the parks.
Have a great trip.
Question? How is the ride getting thru I16 and US 27, is there a lot of lights? or is it a major route, like an interstate? I would like to get to memphis on the second day. I am driving to Lake City, Florida in the evening and plan to make it up to Memphis on the first full day of driving. ONce I reach I40, I'll feel safe on taking it all the way in. I looked at 16 and 27 on a map and wasn't sure if there would be a lot of stops or major intersections?
Thank you for all the input so far. this website is phenomenal (spelling sorry?) Thanks for any information to make a quick and easy route to Grand Canyon. I was considering Sedona and will definitely try and visit as well now. Can one see the Grand Canyon in 3-4 days or is it like yellowstone, where you could stay for two weeks and find so much more to visit?
If it's your first time, you could probably spend three or four days exploring the south rim. Be sure to take the tram out to Hermit's Rest. We live close enough that spending two full days is usually enough. But we also get up there three times a year, so leave yourself enough time to see the sights. Since the same view of the canyon will look totally different depending on where the sun is in the sky, allow time to see them twice. Or three times.
If you're in good shape, consider going down one of the trails from the rim (bring lots of water, and remember that it takes 2x as long to get out as it does to climb in... Let me stress the "good shape" comment. In my 20's, I was in pain after going down 4 miles into the canyon and back in one day.
Even on the rim trails, you need to be extremely careful... People die every year at the canyon -- this year there have four deaths -- two bodies were recovered from apparent falls off the rim, one hiker collapsed and died on a trail, and one drowning in a rafting accident. There were also two deaths from a carjacking and a firefighter, pilot, and flight nurse were killed in a helicopter accident in Flagstaff after the firefighter was medivac'd from the Canyon... Last year, there were 11 deaths in the park, seven of them from falls or other causes below the rim, including a four year old girl who got too close to the edge...
If you decide to go to Sedona, beware of 89A from Flagstaff. It goes down and thru Oak Creek Canyon, which if you're in the tow vehicle or toad, is a beautiful drive/ But it's a bit tight for towing a trailer or driving a longer Class A or C.
* This post was
edited 08/06/08 10:04pm by lane hog *
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