Leaving Saturday July 11 to August 6. We know this is a long trip with a short amount of time. We both drive so we will share the driving.
Will drive 6 to 7 hours a day it will really depend on how we feel changing driver ever 2 1/2 hours. Plan on starting out at 7:00 each morning.
Have loosely planned the trip for nightly stops but just looking for general conversation about your travel in this area.
We have driven I40 as far as Oklahoma. Been to Nevada, California, Oregon before flying but not driving.
This is our 3rd RV 2005 Holiday Rambler Ambassador DP. We have been RVing 15 years. We always take a long trip in the summer.
Any tips about I-40, sights to see, campgrounds, just anything you would like to share would be greatly appreciated.
I've been following Howard and Linda since Day 1 of their journey. Met them at a rally outside Atlanta.
PW Destiny(Pat)
NWescapee said
10:34 PM Jul 6, 2015
You might want to try a different route in northern AZ, I-40 has rightly been nominated the Interstate from Hell, here's a recent post with a few comments!! I'd suggest you head south on I-17 in Flagstaff and either pick up I-10 or I-8 to continue your westward journey. The section of I-40 between Williams and Kingman has 2 different hub caps from our truck from 2 different trips, we're avoiding it at all costs in the future.
I can't speak for many states, but I lived in Oklahoma for most of my life. Without knowing what you want to see or do along the way, I'll just throw out some information at random.
On further west of Oklahoma City is the town of Hinton, OK that is just a few miles south of I-40. On the south side of Hinton is the entrance to Red Rock Canyon State Park. (The link is to a TripAdvisor review page.) It is a beautiful park that is down in a canyon, thus less susceptible to experiencing some of Oklahoma's winds. Hookups there are primarily water and electric, with a dump station down in the park and another, more accessible dump station as one leaves the park and gets back up on the "flats." Back in April of 2011, we spent almost a week in the park in our Mobile Suites. There are hiking trails and lots of beauty if everything is still green. (If that one happens to interest you, let me know and I'll provide links to my blog where I described our stay and posted pictures that I took. Driving down into Red Rock Canyon requires one to do a double switch-back on the road (think tight S-curves) to reach the bottom. You may need to swing wide at each curve, so be sure and watch the traffic going in and out.
It used to be that I-40 was horrible just west of Oklahoma City, but in the last few years, they have fixed a lot of those roads. Now, there are extra lanes and they are a lot smoother.
If you happen to wonder about other places in Oklahoma, let me know
As you are going through Texas and are near Amarillo, you might be interested in Palo Duro State Park. However, during July and August, it can get awfully hot down in that canyon. Palo Duro is similar to Red Rock Canyon in that you don't know it is there until you are almost ready to descend into the park.
Terry
The Bear II said
11:40 AM Jul 7, 2015
We did a similar trip in the opposite direction. Always had luck finding a campground close to I-40 to stop at night...not always the best place to stay but they were good for an overnighter. We didn't stop too often to sight see, but did occasionally stop at some of the roadside tourist traps/gift shops mostly to stretch our legs or eat.
Be sure to spend a few hours at:
Grand Canyon
Petrified Forest
Hoover Dam
An alternate route would be to come across I-20 to I-10 to I-8 to go to San Diego and then take I-15 up to Las Vegas then down to I-40 to head home. Nice loop with lots to see in both directions.
pwdestiny said
11:50 AM Jul 8, 2015
Thanks everyone that replied we are looking at what we can do to reroute around I-40 Flagstaff to Kingman.
Time at the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas was the only reservations that was made. We made reservations at a campground in
Williams AZ to ride the train to Grand Canyon. Reservations was made at Sam's Town in Las Vegas.
We have our own horror stories with I-10 on two different trips cracked front windshield, and a huge bolt in one of the tires.
So if we can avoid that area on I40 or now that we are aware we can make sure my husband is driving.
We are taking 2 of our grandchildren (16 & 12) they have camped with us a lot and know the routines and their duties when we are
in the RV and campground. While we are in Las Vegas we may stay a night or two in one of the hotels since it is so hot. That is one of the reason we chose
Sams Town we can still keep the RV close by and on electrical power. My stay in a hotel was many years ago,so this remand to be seen.
My birthday is July 13th so I made plans to get my senior pass in Albuquerque New Mexico.(bucket list item)
Our set Up: 2005 Holiday Rambler Ambassador 4 slides floor plan has a sitting room area with a computer desk.
Tow vehicle: 2013 GMC Terrain
This is our 3rd RV in 15 years all have been Holiday Ramblers 2 Vacationers and now Ambassador.
This RV is 10 years old but my husband is on point with maintenance.
This trip is two items off of my bucket list.
Thanks again for your help it is greatly appreciated. My husband says thanks also.
PWDestiny (Pat)
sissys said
06:21 PM Jul 13, 2015
We can agree, I40 kingman to Flaggstaff is horrible, we just made that trip on sat, whew..... I hated it, poor truck and trailer took a beating. with deep pot holes, and the meadow winds, not fun. Wish I knew a alternate route for ya, bet someone more traveled than I will have some hints. Good luck, and have a great trip!! Michele
Leaving Saturday July 11 to August 6. We know this is a long trip with a short amount of time. We both drive so we will share the driving.
Will drive 6 to 7 hours a day it will really depend on how we feel changing driver ever 2 1/2 hours. Plan on starting out at 7:00 each morning.
Have loosely planned the trip for nightly stops but just looking for general conversation about your travel in this area.
We have driven I40 as far as Oklahoma. Been to Nevada, California, Oregon before flying but not driving.
This is our 3rd RV 2005 Holiday Rambler Ambassador DP. We have been RVing 15 years. We always take a long trip in the summer.
Any tips about I-40, sights to see, campgrounds, just anything you would like to share would be greatly appreciated.
I've been following Howard and Linda since Day 1 of their journey. Met them at a rally outside Atlanta.
PW Destiny(Pat)
rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t60141650/nomination-to-the-interstate-from-hell-list/
Pat,
I can't speak for many states, but I lived in Oklahoma for most of my life. Without knowing what you want to see or do along the way, I'll just throw out some information at random.
In Oklahoma City, there are numerous museums to see, but none right along I-40. One would have to travel a few miles to get to them. Now, if you were to stay at Twin Fountains RV Park on the NE side of Oklahoma City (just a few miles north of I-40), you'd be within a couple of miles of the Oklahoma City Zoo, the Science Museum of Oklahoma, the 45th Infantry Division Museum, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and the Oklahoma State Firefighter's Museum.
On further west of Oklahoma City is the town of Hinton, OK that is just a few miles south of I-40. On the south side of Hinton is the entrance to Red Rock Canyon State Park. (The link is to a TripAdvisor review page.) It is a beautiful park that is down in a canyon, thus less susceptible to experiencing some of Oklahoma's winds. Hookups there are primarily water and electric, with a dump station down in the park and another, more accessible dump station as one leaves the park and gets back up on the "flats." Back in April of 2011, we spent almost a week in the park in our Mobile Suites. There are hiking trails and lots of beauty if everything is still green. (If that one happens to interest you, let me know and I'll provide links to my blog where I described our stay and posted pictures that I took. Driving down into Red Rock Canyon requires one to do a double switch-back on the road (think tight S-curves) to reach the bottom. You may need to swing wide at each curve, so be sure and watch the traffic going in and out.
It used to be that I-40 was horrible just west of Oklahoma City, but in the last few years, they have fixed a lot of those roads. Now, there are extra lanes and they are a lot smoother.
If you happen to wonder about other places in Oklahoma, let me know
As you are going through Texas and are near Amarillo, you might be interested in Palo Duro State Park. However, during July and August, it can get awfully hot down in that canyon. Palo Duro is similar to Red Rock Canyon in that you don't know it is there until you are almost ready to descend into the park.
Terry
Be sure to spend a few hours at:
Grand Canyon
Petrified Forest
Hoover Dam
An alternate route would be to come across I-20 to I-10 to I-8 to go to San Diego and then take I-15 up to Las Vegas then down to I-40 to head home. Nice loop with lots to see in both directions.
Thanks everyone that replied we are looking at what we can do to reroute around I-40 Flagstaff to Kingman.
Time at the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas was the only reservations that was made. We made reservations at a campground in
Williams AZ to ride the train to Grand Canyon. Reservations was made at Sam's Town in Las Vegas.
We have our own horror stories with I-10 on two different trips cracked front windshield, and a huge bolt in one of the tires.
So if we can avoid that area on I40 or now that we are aware we can make sure my husband is driving.
We are taking 2 of our grandchildren (16 & 12) they have camped with us a lot and know the routines and their duties when we are
in the RV and campground. While we are in Las Vegas we may stay a night or two in one of the hotels since it is so hot. That is one of the reason we chose
Sams Town we can still keep the RV close by and on electrical power. My stay in a hotel was many years ago,so this remand to be seen.
My birthday is July 13th so I made plans to get my senior pass in Albuquerque New Mexico.(bucket list item)
Our set Up: 2005 Holiday Rambler Ambassador 4 slides floor plan has a sitting room area with a computer desk.
Tow vehicle: 2013 GMC Terrain
This is our 3rd RV in 15 years all have been Holiday Ramblers 2 Vacationers and now Ambassador.
This RV is 10 years old but my husband is on point with maintenance.
This trip is two items off of my bucket list.
Thanks again for your help it is greatly appreciated. My husband says thanks also.
PWDestiny (Pat)