I 40 OK to AZ. vs. Southern root. Dallas- El Paso- AZ

[DGBPokes]

We are headed from S.E. OK to Sun City for the Fiesta Bowl. It looks like the southern route is 150 miles longer. However, it appears that the elevation at Gallop and cold winter weather are a risk. I have driven I 40 to Clines Corner N.M. several times, and Albuquerque a few but never further west. If we follow our plan we would have a night in Amarillo, the second in Gallup. That looks like a real cold night. What about snowy and ice issues? Looking at the elevation it looks like mountainous roads as well. Any comments and advice will be appreciated.

[skigramp]

Flagstaff, AZ is almost 7000 feet ...

There are several possible routes ... one I have travelled is I-40 to albuqurque south on I-25 to NM 26 .... west on I-10 to Phoenix.

NM 26 is a two lane road that has been resurfaced and has wide shoulders ... there are plentiful RV parks in Deming.

[jfran304]

Personally during this time of year and as crazy as the weather has been out west I would drop down to I-20 and go across to I-10.

I-40 has already been closed west of Amarillo due to ice and snow a couple of times this year.

Good Luck Sooners and Cowboys,

Jon

[jhs1881]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfran304 Personally during this time of year and as crazy as the weather has been out west I would drop down to I-20 and go across to I-10. I-40 has already been closed west of Amarillo due to ice and snow a couple of times this year. Good Luck Sooners and Cowboys, Jon

I'd have to agree....our neighbor has a sister who lives in Flag and she reports the've already had over 50 inches of snow this year.

[itdave]

We live in Northern Arizona and I would recommend not coming further West than Albuquerque on I 40 unless you are sure there was no chance of snow in Gallup or Flagstaff. If you take the I-40 route and then you have to go south at Albuquerque because of weather and follow Skigramp suggested route it will only add about 125 miles to your trip.