I-40 NC to Ca, any "Must See"?

[billsmax]

We leave Monday heading out I-40 from NC to California. I've traveled this route several times in the past but was wondering if any of you can recommend some "must see" areas along the way, that we might have missed in the past.
Thanks

[GaryKD]

Hi billsmax,
I'm not listing everything (forget the big names), you probably have done them. Here goes:
1. Nashville - Grand Olde Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame
2. Memphis - See where Elvis lived
3. Hot Springs NP, in South West Arkansas - See how the rich relaxed. If you want, you can be treated the same way.
4. Petrified Forest & Painted Desert in AZ
5. Meteor Crater, in AZ
6. Amboy, CA Exit 78. Go south about 12 miles and then west about 8 miles. Don't worry you can not get lost, there are no other roads. The town is a diner and a gas station. Everything is the original 50s/60s.
7. Amboy Crater - A couple of miles west of Amboy. This is a little known National Natural Site. It is an extinct volcano cinder cone. One is allowed to walk (about a mile), climb the cinder cone and go into the crater. Take water. I think 29 Palms is the closest CG.
8. If you stay at 29 Palms, Joshua Tree National Park is only a couple of miles away.

Happy miles,

[Ernie Ekberg]

If you get to Flagstaff- don't stay at the KOA there. It is the old style campground and is not big rig friendly. In fact the attendant said the usual " we get those big rigs in all the time" They may do but there is no swing room if you have a toad. My coach and toad is 65 feet. Just barely got out of there on their roads- not even trying to get into a space. I went further down the road west and had a better place. FYI

[George Schweikle]

I think that I-40 is still closed near Sevierville due to the the big rock slide. Check the Tennessee DOT website.

[RVThere]

The KOA in Kingman AZ has room for big rigs but it is in a residential neighborhood.

How about trying to eat the 72 oz steak in Amarillo?

[billsmax]

Yes to Grand ole opry, yes to Amboy....NO to 72 oz steak & no to small space campgrounds.
Overall, with my toad, I'm about 74 ft, I'll have to really caution about where I try to park or camp.
I-40 at Tn is scheduled to open the day after I've taken the detour to Knoxville

[Ernie Ekberg]

The railhead rv park in Williams is a good place for big rigs.

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

Side trip to Santa Fe NM with daytrips to Bandalier Nat'l Park, Taos, and Los Alamos. Flaggstaff Az with sidetrips to Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Jerome. Turn off I 40 in Seligman Az and travel old Hwy 66 to Kingman sidetrips to Bullhead City AZ, Laughlin Nv, Topock AZ (pickup Hwy 66 back to Kingman), and Oatman Az.
(sidetrips in toad)

[V8Square]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD Hi billsmax, I'm not listing everything (forget the big names), you probably have done them. Here goes: 1. Nashville - Grand Olde Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame 2. Memphis - See where Elvis lived 3. Hot Springs NP, in South West Arkansas - See how the rich relaxed. If you want, you can be treated the same way. 4. Petrified Forest & Painted Desert in AZ 5. Meteor Crater, in AZ 6. Amboy, CA Exit 78. Go south about 12 miles and then west about 8 miles. Don't worry you can not get lost, there are no other roads. The town is a diner and a gas station. Everything is the original 50s/60s. 7. Amboy Crater - A couple of miles west of Amboy. This is a little known National Natural Site. It is an extinct volcano cinder cone. One is allowed to walk (about a mile), climb the cinder cone and go into the crater. Take water. I think 29 Palms is the closest CG. 8. If you stay at 29 Palms, Joshua Tree National Park is only a couple of miles away. Happy miles,

We just got back to Missouri last night. Came back I-40 from Williams Arizona. Advise checking weather conditions before you leave. We got stranded at the Williams KOA, I-40 and Hwy 64 due to weather. Had it all, wind,hail,rain,ice and snow. Got down to 19 degrees our last night there. As far as aMeteror Crater goes, I really feel it's a little pricey, $15.00 per person. Cheaper to go to the Grand Canyon. Good place to eat in Williams Arizona is the Cruisin 66 Diner. Dynamite 1/2 pound burgers.Hopefully, these pics come through of I-40 between Flagstaff and Williams. We went into Flagstaff for awhile and headed back to the KOA in Williams, when I had to pull over and put my truck in 4WD. This was Monday, the 21st at 3:45 in the afternoon heading West. The highway was shut down a little later.

[V8Square]

Quote:

Originally Posted by billsmax We leave Monday heading out I-40 from NC to California. I've traveled this route several times in the past but was wondering if any of you can recommend some "must see" areas along the way, that we might have missed in the past. Thanks

If you head to the San Diego area, we recommend staying at the Ma-Tar-Awa RV Park. It is 0n I-8 in Alpine, 37 miles west of Old Town San Diego. Cost is $32.00 per night for full hookups. Clean, quiet and friendly staff. Tell Lynn, Gayle, Betty, Sandy, Barb and Daniel that Tom and Judy recommended them. You will like it there. One mile away is the Viejas Casino and Outlet Mall.