We will be traveling from Albuquerque to Drango in late June, any suggestions on the best RV route, then from Durango to Williams AZ
36" DP with toad
Luvglass said
01:13 PM May 17, 2009
I just Google mapped it and it doesn't look like you have a lot of choices. There aren't a lot of options in that neck of the woods.
bjoyce said
01:25 PM May 17, 2009
US550 is a really nice road and 4-lane (at least much of it is) from I-25 to US64. We took it a few years ago from Farmington to Albuquerque. I don't know about how good a road it is further north, but that gets you most of the way.
travelinbob said
03:53 PM May 17, 2009
Fred and Bill has it right. US 550 is a great road and you'll enjoy the ride. Right now we are staying near Hwy 84 and that takes you into Pagosa Springs which is another neat little town.
Bob
travelinbob said
03:58 PM May 17, 2009
I forgot about the second part of your trip. Route 160 to Tuba City and 89 south is a good road. No steep climbs and not much between point a and point b but still a good road.
Bob
Camper_Boy said
04:59 AM May 8, 2013
Hi all,
Just wanted to pick your brain's on route from Albuquerque,NM off I40 up to Mancos, Co...I'm thinking about taking I40 west to NM371 up to Farmington or US491 out of Gallop to Cortez, Co to get to Mancos,Co. Any advise on better routes for large 5th wheel rig? Thanks...
AlovesRV said
04:35 PM May 8, 2013
I would add that the 550 route is great. If you are then heading west, consider Hovenweep National Monument as a great stop that not many people know about. Nice little campground (no see-um bugs can be bad in June though), ruins, visitor center and hikes. The roads in can be bumpy rough at times.
bjoyce said
05:50 PM May 8, 2013
Camper_Boy wrote:
Hi all,
Just wanted to pick your brain's on route from Albuquerque,NM off I40 up to Mancos, Co...I'm thinking about taking I40 west to NM371 up to Farmington or US491 out of Gallop to Cortez, Co to get to Mancos,Co. Any advise on better routes for large 5th wheel rig? Thanks...
Why do you want to stay on I-40 to Gallup? MN550 is shorter and a great road. We have taken 491 from Shiprock to Moab multiple times and it goes through Cortez, it is a good road. What are you worried about with a large 5th wheel? Grades, narrow road, etc? These are routes all manner of RVs take all the time, plus semi trucks.
Camper_Boy said
02:07 AM May 9, 2013
Thanks, Bill! Basically, I'm concerned about all of the above. This is our first experience with mountain grades, and I just don't want to get into any situation that will be risky if it can be avoided. I thought I had heard that NM550 was pretty curvy, and possibly had some bigger grades. I have the Mountain Guide West, and it does not list NM550 at all. I've also heard mixed reviews on CO160, so not sure if it would be better to approach Mancos from the East (Durango) or the west (Cortez).
Steve and Kate said
05:47 AM May 9, 2013
Check on 89 highway, a section of it is closed due to landslide. We drove the route from Tuba City to Pagosa Springs two years ago. Roads were good then. If we can get the go ahead on our recalled awning we will be coming in from Winslow AZ and headed up 89 as far as we can go--it is clear to Cameron AZ. 89A is open but 89 from the junction of 89A and 89 to Page is closed. Good luck, happy travels. You will really enjoy Wiliams and if you haven't been through Marble Canyon it is a great spot and nice drive.
Steve and Kate
Aspenridge
folivier said
02:44 PM May 9, 2013
We drove that route last year and it was a nice road except for when you hit the Colorado state line. The road has a lot of "waves" for a few miles. Surprised me but just slowed down a bit and it was ok. Isn't that the old hwy 666?
Camper_Boy said
04:10 PM May 9, 2013
Thanks for great information on this route to Mancos, Co. We've been on the road fulltime since 10/2012 but have not had much driving in the mountains. Our truck is capable F450, I just am concerned about down grades and controlling speed. I recall the trouble Howard and Linda had in overspeeding engine. I to have a big axle size 4:88 and RPM's get up there fast as transmission downshifts. Just trying to avoid a road if their is alternate route.
Sounds like I'm just overly concerned and NM550 will be fine...Thanks for the support.
bjoyce said
08:06 PM May 9, 2013
The grades and curves on NM550 were not memorable, which is probably why it is not mentioned in the Mountain Directory. I find word of mouth very unreliable on this kind of thing, people get mixed up and tell you things third hand without real experience. We have done NM550 at least three times and taken 491 (old 666) from Shiprock to Moab a couple times. There are many much worse roads in NM and CO for an RV, these are not them. But if you are going to travel in the West, you will take grades, it comes with the territory. Same with some Eastern spots like West Virginia. Howard and Linda just took one of the worst, Monarch Pass going east, and survived by going slow.
Travelin Duo said
02:28 PM May 11, 2013
We Agree with Bill as we've taken those exact roads and had no problem at all With our 40 foot motorhome towing our vehicle.
Camper_Boy said
04:40 PM May 14, 2013
We made the trip on Sunday from Albuquerque to Mancos, and I must say that NM550 was a pleasure to travel . . . the road was great, and the scenery was spectacular! Thanks for all the messages of support!
Gone in a flash said
03:33 PM May 27, 2013
bjoyce wrote:
The grades and curves on NM550 were not memorable, which is probably why it is not mentioned in the Mountain Directory. I find word of mouth very unreliable on this kind of thing, people get mixed up and tell you things third hand without real experience. We have done NM550 at least three times and taken 491 (old 666) from Shiprock to Moab a couple times. There are many much worse roads in NM and CO for an RV, these are not them. But if you are going to travel in the West, you will take grades, it comes with the territory. Same with some Eastern spots like West Virginia. Howard and Linda just took one of the worst, Monarch Pass going east, and survived by going slow.
BJoyce thanks for this site Mountain Directory I've never heard it.
I also worried about getting in a bind but it hasn't happened yet..
36" DP with toad
Just wanted to pick your brain's on route from Albuquerque,NM off I40 up to Mancos, Co...I'm thinking about taking I40 west to NM371 up to Farmington or US491 out of Gallop to Cortez, Co to get to Mancos,Co. Any advise on better routes for large 5th wheel rig? Thanks...
Why do you want to stay on I-40 to Gallup? MN550 is shorter and a great road. We have taken 491 from Shiprock to Moab multiple times and it goes through Cortez, it is a good road. What are you worried about with a large 5th wheel? Grades, narrow road, etc? These are routes all manner of RVs take all the time, plus semi trucks.
Check on 89 highway, a section of it is closed due to landslide. We drove the route from Tuba City to Pagosa Springs two years ago. Roads were good then. If we can get the go ahead on our recalled awning we will be coming in from Winslow AZ and headed up 89 as far as we can go--it is clear to Cameron AZ. 89A is open but 89 from the junction of 89A and 89 to Page is closed. Good luck, happy travels. You will really enjoy Wiliams and if you haven't been through Marble Canyon it is a great spot and nice drive.
Steve and Kate
Aspenridge
Isn't that the old hwy 666?
Sounds like I'm just overly concerned and NM550 will be fine...Thanks for the support.
We Agree with Bill as we've taken those exact roads and had no problem at all With our 40 foot motorhome towing our vehicle.
BJoyce thanks for this site Mountain Directory I've never heard it.
I also worried about getting in a bind but it hasn't happened yet..
http://www.mountaindirectory.com/ is the site. Ours are paper copies, bought at Camping World.