Community Forums

John_Canfield · 05-30-2008, 05:15 AM

Any suggestions for playing tourist along I-40 in Arizona (Flagstaff, etc.) and New Mexico (Albuquerque, etc.)? Favorite campgrounds, favorite attractions, things to avoid?

We will have about three weeks to kill, so time is our friend in this case.

John_Canfield · 05-30-2008, 05:15 AM

Any suggestions for playing tourist along I-40 in Arizona (Flagstaff, etc.) and New Mexico (Albuquerque, etc.)? Favorite campgrounds, favorite attractions, things to avoid?

We will have about three weeks to kill, so time is our friend in this case.

Kent & Peggy · 05-30-2008, 08:20 AM

Grand Canyon
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Sunset Crater National Monument
Sedona - and Oak Creek Canyon
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Meteor Crater
Petrified Forest/Painted Desert
Canyon de Chelly
Acoma/Sky City
Albuquerque Old Town

That's a Few - all information about them can be found with an internet search.

chicken legs · 05-30-2008, 08:40 AM

I'd also take in Lake Powell as long you are in the area. Monument Valley will bring back lot's of memeories if you ever watched the early westerns with John Wayne. If your into trains you might want to hang out in Williams and ride the train to the canyon. Not sure you can fit it all into 3 weeks but hey that just means a return trip!!!!!

UFO Pilot · 05-30-2008, 08:44 AM

We enjoyed the Indian Pueblo Center in Albuquerque, they have a great restaurant also. A trip to Sante Fe is also a nice day trip.

Duner · 05-30-2008, 06:21 PM

Hey John,
Some of those places in AZ are going to be rather warm this time of year. I'd suggest picking a CG around Flagstaff as home base for some day trips in the toad. At 7000 ft the weather is nice and cool. Sedona/Cottonwood/ Jerome/Prescott is very scenic.

When I was at a AAA office a while back, saw a brochure for a new rv park at Williams, Az Go to TheTrain.com. For $79 ea, you get 3 days/two nights camping and a steam engine train ride to Grand Canyon (60 miles ea way).
Seems like a fun thing to do for a very reasonable price.

Last summer coming back from the IRV2 Rally, we stopped at Gallop, NM, left the mh at Wal-Mart, and drove up to Canyon de Chelly in AZ. Very impressive canyon and the civilizations that have lived there for many 10's of thousands of years – and still do. Also on the way back we visited Window Rock, sacred ground for the Navajo's – interesting memorial to the "Code Talkers" of WWII.

Father down the road, when you get to Oklahoma City, visit the OK National Memorial Park that honors those killed in the bombing – it's quite a moving experience and see first hand just how immense the blast was.

Have fun and we'll see you and Jane in Forest City,

UFO Pilot · 05-30-2008, 06:45 PM

We spent 1 night at the train RV park in Williams in March. We intended to spend 3 nights and take the train ride to the Grand Canyon. Cold temps and illness changed our plans. It is a very nice park in the heart of town. We plan on returning in the fall.

John_Canfield · 05-31-2008, 03:47 AM

The train sounds like a great deal - we love trains and that sounds like an easy and fun way to see the Grand Canyon.

Thanks very much for the great tips

Hi Bill!

Ding-a-ling · 05-31-2008, 05:21 AM

Only three weeks?!?! Wow, so much to see and do!

Do stop in Flagstaff. We stayed at Black Bart's. They had a great show in the steakhouse.

While staying in Flagstaff, look into the Lowell Observatory - neat place dedicated to Percival Lowell, discoverer of the planet(?) Pluto.

While in that area you must drive down US 89A thru Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. Believe me, you will not be disappointed. Drive up to the airport for an overall look at the surroundings and go out to the west end of town. Stop at the Coffeepot Cafe, just below Coffepot Rock, for lunch or late breakfast. They have a Zillion b'fast entrees.

Then there is Sunset Crater Nat'l Mon. Golly, it seems I could go on and on.

Sorry I didn't get to look at this yesterday.

Enjoy it all and safe miles.

John_Canfield · 05-31-2008, 09:28 AM

Wow Frank - lots of ideas! We should have a little over three weeks but it sounds like we need to make a must-see list, and then a nice-to-see list.

Duner · 05-31-2008, 09:46 AM

One thing more about Canyon de Chelly....

Marie just reminded me that you can get an Indian guide to take you around & in the canyon for a very interesting tour of the area. To drive in the canyon, I think you need 4x4 and I know you have to hire a guide. We spoke to some folks later and they said it was well worth the money.

LindaH · 05-31-2008, 10:33 AM

New Mexico has some great state parks! Those near the I-40 corridor are:

Blue Water Lake
Manzano Mountains
Villanueva
Santa Rosa Lake
Sumner Lake
Conchas Lake
Ute Lake

You can find out about these parks and others at the New Mexico State Park website.

John_Canfield · 05-31-2008, 01:10 PM

Bill - thanks!

Linda- we love state parks (and COE), at least the ones we can fit into

I'll do some surfing. Thanks very much.

Ding-a-ling · 05-31-2008, 03:05 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Duner:
Father down the road, when you get to Oklahoma City, visit the OK National Memorial Park that honors those killed in the bombing... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don't know if your route will take you back to OKC, but if so - would recommend staying two nights at Rockwell RV Park. OKC bombing memorial is a "must see". Second half of the day go to the Cowboy Museum. You'll find good eats at Brick Town, too.