Best route to Mesa

[Simpson9508]

We are leaving for Mesa on January 2. Leaving from Illinois. When we went 3 years ago we went to DesMoines, south on I 35 to Oklahoma City then West on I 40 to Amarillo. We then headed southwest to Clovis N.M., Roswell and picked up I 10 at Las Cruces then to Phoenix on I 10. It seemed like we went a long ways south. Is there a better route staying on I40 west and then heading southwest thru Arizona. I do not want to go to Flagstaff and south on I 17

[AZ Traveler]

You can jump off I40 at Holbrook to AZ77 and work your way down via the White Mountains. Decent roads that way through Snowflake and Payson. If you have snow on I40 you may want to cut south to I10 earlier.

[Beau2010]

You also can jump off I-40 at Windslow onto AZ 87 which takes you thru Payson directly into Mesa.

[scottz]

I-40 to Flagstaff, I-17 to Deer Valley, 101 loop to the 202 (Red Mtn Freeway) will take you right into Mesa. This is the quickest route on the best roads. However, if you are set against the Flagstaff route you can go through Payson; a more scenic route but mostly 2-lane.

Heading south to I-10 is the long way.

[twindman]

During the warmer months I always take the 2nd map above. However, to be safe, I would take I35 all the way south and catch I20 (I think it is) in Texas and eventually on to I10. This is best if there is any chance of snow, in my opinion.

[Beau2010]

I-35 to DFW, I-20 West joins I-10 thru El Paso. Would rather take a beating than go thru El Paso again unless all Northern roads are snowed in.

[scottz]

Zero snow now, and no storms predicted. Last year at this time, I had 22" in my yard (SW Colorado).

[twindman]

Originally Posted by Beau2010

I-35 to DFW, I-20 West joins I-10 thru El Paso. Would rather take a beating than go thru El Paso again unless all Northern roads are snowed in.

There is a very good bypass around El Paso if you head that way. I believe it goes thru the army base. Just checked. SH 375 thru to US54. Then North on state highway in Tx and NM and west toward Anthony. It is a very good road all the way.
And I agree about driving thru El Paso. Horrible. I even hated it with just a car. They had one 4-6 lane section that has a N 54 sign over the left or center lanes, but it exits on the right in about 1/4 mile. And lanes are narrow and not the smoothest.

[scottz]

Originally Posted by twindman

driving thru El Paso. Horrible.

Agreed, I have to spend a week there every year. This is the bypass:

[twindman]

I thnk going North on 3225 to the Anthony cutoff is maybe slightly better. The road over the mountain West of US54 is a bit steep, whereas 3225 and then the cutoff to Anthony is pretty gentle and you miss any more traffic from town.