leaving for I-10 on 12-01

[comealong]

I need help. we are planning a trip from chicago to phoenix. it looks like we can pick up I-10 in new orleans, which is nice, and go west from there. we plan to be gone for 2 mo. this is our very first trip. what should we plan to do as far as things to take and roads to take. we are hoping to leave 12-01. i have joined pa and have started looking at routing for campsites. are there atms' at them. we have emergency info ready.
all suggestions are welcome.
comealong

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

I have not seen ATMs in any camp grounds and I have traveled cross country twice and been RV'ing since 1978.
If you are doing the Interstates, why not take I 40 in Nashville all the way to Flagstaff AZ and then I 17 to Phoenix. I think that is a shorter route. I 40 would take you through Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, OK City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, and Flagstaff. If you have a toad many side trips to take on this route.

[golden]

Ronnie's suggestion is MUCH better plus I-10 through LA and eastern Texas is not fun.

[Pigman1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden Ronnie's suggestion is MUCH better plus I-10 through LA and eastern Texas is not fun.

I drove it twice last year and didn't find it bad. Some construction, but definitely better than I-40, and I-20. I-10 is a good choice depending on the weather. I've seen temps in western Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle go from the teens and snow to the low 70's and back to the teens and road closing blizzard conditions in the space of 4-5 days. Snow around Flagstaff is just about a given, and the Interstate may close 2-3 times a year.

[rebelone]

Had a RVer suggest to go Holbrook south to Heber to avoid Flagstaff on way to Apache Junction. Think I will try that? Any other options? Leaving Ontario Canada Nov.20
Rebel

[Elkhartjim]

You said this will be your very first trip; I hope you mean your very first long trip.

You may need to bring along chains for New Mexico and Arizona. Last year they were needed in most of north Texas around Christmas.

I 10 from NO to Houston will be in and out of construction but its a 100X's better than I 40. Make sure you plan your travel across Houston and San Antonio at non rush hoursssss.

[Davdeb1]

That time of year, I-10 is you best bet 5 mos later try the I-40 thing. We just took I-10 back from Tucson in October. Most of the const is done, and roads are great, and probably no snow.

[Wayne M]

If you are not going to stop in New Orleans, do not take I-10 through it. Take the I-12 and by-pass it. If you go into New Orleans, the Eastern entrance on I-10 was like a roller coaster the last time we took it. I was towing a 5er at the time and I had to slow down to 25 MPH to keep all the tires on the ground at the same time.

We have stayed at KOA West and we had no problems staying there. Others can tell you of different CG's in NO.

Happy trails.

[Arch Hoagland]

Wayne M said.

"If you go into New Orleans, the Eastern entrance on I-10 was like a roller coaster the last time we took it."

I agree. We went through there last February and it was bad. However they were working on it. Other than that 10 is in pretty good shape to California. There are lots of campgrounds along 10 so that won't be a problem.

There are also lots of Walmarts along the way so if you forget something don't fret.

[DAN L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by comealong I need help. we are planning a trip from chicago to phoenix. it looks like we can pick up I-10 in new orleans, which is nice, and go west from there. we plan to be gone for 2 mo. this is our very first trip. what should we plan to do as far as things to take and roads to take. we are hoping to leave 12-01. i have joined pa and have started looking at routing for campsites. are there atms' at them. we have emergency info ready. all suggestions are welcome. comealong

here is a free guide for places to park overnight. walmart is the most popular place for overnight free parking. do a search on this forum for walmart parking etiquette.

Walmart Store Locations Map - Wal-Mart Guide

[comealong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim You said this will be your very first trip; I hope you mean your very first long trip. You may need to bring along chains for New Mexico and Arizona. Last year they were needed in most of north Texas around Christmas. I 10 from NO to Houston will be in and out of construction but its a 100X's better than I 40. Make sure you plan your travel across Houston and San Antonio at non rush hoursssss.

When we got our rig we went from chicago to mn for 3 days. other then that this is our first real trip.

[comealong]

i have joined pa but some of their cg are far off the main roads, some are good. i have been using google map to route the trip but how can i find other cg closer to where we want to go. it seems like google map is like ms streets and trips.
comealong

[TW]

You can plan long-term, but You have to plan short-term, because of the weather. Just be flexible on the route... It's no fun to drive on snow and ice

Have a safe trip
TW

[Bill Adams]

The most direct route would take you S. to St. Louis and then W. to OK. City, OK and then 40W and 17S into Phoenix.
If the weather in December looks like it might be iffy in the Albuquerque or Flagstaff area then you could take the S. route. The most direct would be straight S on 57 into Memphis and then 30W into Dallas which runs into 20W which runs into 10W and on into Phoenix. This only adds about 200 miles to the trip if you are looking to avoid the mountains.
Should you choose the I-10 route the entire way you will not have any issues. We made the trip from AZ to FL earlier this year and there are a few sections of rough road along the entire trip but not any sections worth avoiding.