Route from Kansa City to just south of Phoenix

[Simpson9508]

We are headed to Casa Grande Az the middle of January. We will be going thru Kansas City. What is the best route to pull the 5er to Casa Grande (just south of Phoenix) from Kansas City?

[DQDick]

We use I-35 to I-44 at OK City and then I-44 to Flagstaff then I-17 to Phoenix then I-10 south to I-8 then west to Casa Grande. We do try to avoid OK City, Albuquerque and Phoenix at rush hours, other than that a decent trip. We normally stay at Pilot/Flying J's or Cracker Barrels on that route and a casino in Albuquerque. If you do stay at those type of places send me a PM and I'll suggest some.

[rohrmann]

Waiting that late in the season, weather and road conditions will probably dictate which route you take. We left Kansas City last December and went through Wichita, Amarillo, Clovis, Las Cruces and on into Phoenix. The roads were very good. If there is bad weather from Albuquerque to Flagstaff and down to Phoenix, you will wish you took the southern route.

[BB_TX]

I agree with checking the weather forecasts and hopefully you are flexible on timing. I was in Phoenix one year in December on an extended business trip and planning a trip to the Grand Canyon on the weekend. It snowed 19" in Flagstaff on Friday! I went anyway on Sunday thinking the roads would be plowed and fine. WRONG!

There can be ice/snow storms that time of year anywhere between your two points on any route, even as far south as I-20 and beyond in Texas. Depending on weather forecasts you may take I-40 all the way to Flag and then south and be OK. Or you may drop south at Albuquerque on I-25 to I-10. Or maybe south from Amarillo thru Lubbuck to I-20. Or maybe south from OKC to I-20 at Ft Worth. Lots of options depending on weather.

[Ozz]

Dick, do you mean I-40 to Flag?

[Neil.M]

Setting in Casa Grande right now. We always take the southern route and even with that we were stranded for 4 days last year in Abilene with ice. I wouldn't travel I40 after Nov. because of the unpredictable weather.

[Arizonacouple]

I live just NW of Phoenix and this will not be a helpful post but it goes to the weather previously mentioned. I bought my 3402RL last January from a guy in Bristol, VA. I didn't tow it until June. There is another consideration. If there is an accident southbound on the I-17 from Flag (there's usually a few each month), it can back you up for hours as there is no other way down. On the plus side, it is really pretty until you get to Phoenix. And if you have the time and want to visit we would love the company. They just completed a freeway from I-17 all the way to about 2 miles from my house.

[DQDick]

quote:Originally posted by Ozz

Dick, do you mean I-40 to Flag?

Yup, it's tough getting old.

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

The app MyRadar will be your best friend.

The weather is rather frightful right now, forecast for Flagstaff is anywhere from 4 to ?????????? inches of snow on New Years Eve and New Years Day. They are saying we may even get snow down to 3,000 feet in Tucson. CountryGuy and I are sitting at 2,575.

You may have two choices,

1.) Southern route.

2.) Honker down where ever Mother Nature wacks you with snow and ice.

Good luck and enjoy Casa Grande.

[Simpson9508]

Thanks for all the great responses. I guess I need to do some more homework over the next week. I'm leaning towards the southern route.

Again thanks everyone foe your input.

[DQDick]

When we travel I use an app called Trip Weather that gives me the forecast for the day at regular stops along my route at the time we should arrive there. Not only helps with winter weather, but summer storms as well. The southern route is a good option this time of year. Plenty of overnight stops available there also. A friendly Escapee park in Deming and if you stop in Deming go across the border to the Pink Store. They meet you at the door with a real Margarita and the shopping gets more fun after that.

[BB_TX]

Today gives a good reason for checking ahead on weather forecast before hitting the road. I-20 is iced over west of Ft Worth out toward Abilene. Will probably be OK by Saturday, but not today and probably not tomorrow.

[Bill and Jan]

Bill and I are in Casa Grande and have lived here 20 years. The best way once you reach New Mexico is to come down to Clovis from Amarillo and take 70 down through Las Cruces to I 10. The other choice if you take US 54 Santa Rosa down to Las Cruces. The road is excellent, not much traffic and much quicker than the interstate. You can park the rig most anywhere you want to stop. Deming is a good choice for RV parks, we stay at the Escapees Dreamcathers and it's an easy drive from there to Casa Grande. I highly highly suggest not to take I 40 to I 17. It will take you much longer and closures on those roads happen often. Let me know where you are staying and I can help you with information on the area. We are a stones throw away from Casa Grande RV Resort. I have a broken heel so can't walk and had to cancel Quartzite so we'll be here for awhile if you need anything.

[Recumbent]

During warm months we cut off IH40 at Holbrook and go through Payson, but sure would check weather first during January. Flagg has gotten 7+ inches of snow yesterday and today, but it may all be melted in two weeks. We took the southern route to say out of possible snow, but are currently iced-in at Odessa, TX and hope to leave tomorrow headed for Casa Grande. Hope you have better weather than we have.