Need help planning trip for wife and myself from Tx to Ca

**Redfox0099** · 09-05-2006, 10:49 PM

So I convinced the wife to drive out to California for the SRT Track experience in December but now which way to go....

I will be leaving Abilene, Tx and driving to Sacramento, CA where we will be staying with a friend before track day.

So starting on I-20, which way to go????:

I-40 thru Albuquerque/ Flagstaff/ Barstow 1573.4 miles 24 hours 38 mins
http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result?newa...y=us&terr=3005

Or I-10 thru El Paso/ Tucson/ Phoenix/ LA/ Fresno: 1631.5 24 hours 45 minutes
http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result?newa...tx&tcountry=us

http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result?newa...ca&tcountry=us

I can read the map but I don't know the roads...not caring about seeing anything along the way just which way is best...less cops, best highways, less construction

Any places to avoid along the way?

Thanks in advance

**lafrad** · 09-05-2006, 10:59 PM

you should take the blazer.

**Redfox0099** · 09-05-2006, 11:00 PM

...at 10 MPG and no A/C I don't think so buddy Boy

**GoofyTimL** · 09-06-2006, 12:30 AM

Basically, we took the second route from Dallas to Riverside, CA in April/May. The only side trip was to Carlsbad from Pecos and then back to El Paso (some nice twisties and some wide open two-lane cruising at triple digits). Wasn't really into construction season at that time, so I'm probably no help in that regard.

There were some police and radar traps around El Paso (headed west), but other than that didn't see much fuzz along the way... basic traffic was over the limit by at least 5 mph most of the time.

Som pretty choppy roadway, however, between Phoenix and Riverside and lots of construction coming out of the mountains on I-60 into the LA basin.

**BillyDsl** · 09-06-2006, 01:03 AM

We drove to Vegas a few years back and made a 3 day trip out of it by first going to Carlsbad Caverns, making a night there and doing the cave early morn, then on to the GRAND CANYON with room waiting when we arrived, and again early morn visit to Rim, WOW.. just awesome.
Then headed on to Vegas and rolled in there late evening..

That's a great trip for wife and kids if they have never been.

All really nice driving except once you leave the highway towards the Canyon, at night, on basically a dead end road, man lookout for the moose. Those things are huge and all over.

If that interest you let me know and I'll see if best friend Danae still has routes, motel #s, etc..
She did a lot of checking and such and it all worked out just purfecto.

BillyD..

**thewagon** · 09-06-2006, 01:05 AM

Try to take the 395 North from southern California up to the Sacramento area....beautiful scenery and fast traveling

**ZMagnum** · 09-06-2006, 01:07 AM

If you end up coming through Tucson give me a shout.

**SRT8AZ** · 09-06-2006, 01:08 AM

go second route or you will be snowed in when youi get to flagstaff

**wbornio** · 09-06-2006, 01:09 AM

my guess is go WEST...

look out for the rockies.

I thought your car was in the shop geeting 426'ed?

Or are you just drivin' there piddly little 6.1L's?

**ManWagon** · 09-06-2006, 01:21 AM

Take I10 to I8 to gila bend, take az sr85 back to i10 stay on i10 to destination.

Don't forget your clubs.

**Redfox0099** · 09-06-2006, 10:01 AM

Yeah, this needs to be a 2 day drive....no site seeing involved

So right now I am taking I-10 thru El Paso/Tuscon/Gila Bend/to where

When I hit Cali which way to go?

**Jina's Embroidery** · 09-06-2006, 11:09 AM

I've made that haul to Dallas many times, if your going to Fresno stick with the I40 route. Avoid LA at all costs if your trying to make time. Your going to run into Hwy patrol thru Texas as you know, WOT thru NM stay on speedlimit thru Albuquerque then WOT to California. California speed limit is 65, take the 7mph over they give you but not much more. We went thru Flagstaff last December, it was cold but no snow, maggie loved it. Have fun and drive safely

**quarky42** · 09-06-2006, 11:27 AM

When you hit Las Cruces, you should get some good Mexican food. Roberto's is a bit touristy but easy to find if you take the Lohman exit, take a left onto Lohman and go a few blocks it'll be on the right hand side. I love their stuffed sopapillas con green chile. (shredded chicken and shredded beef. Damn now I'm hungry!)

No WOT on I10 between El Paso and Las Cruces...and be careful going west from Las Cruces... It's a bit fuzzy in those places and between EP and LC you have a "fines doubled" zone. They do enforce it.

Another good place to stop in Las Cruces is Caliche's. That's the other direction on Lohman, a few blocks the other way, take a left on Roadrunner and it's immediately on the left. It's a great place for a frozen treat before you hit the road again. Be sure to ask for Chocolate Custard instead of the plain ol vanilla. mmmm chocolate.

**FOHN_JARGO** · 09-06-2006, 11:29 AM

Take the second route. It will give you an extra 7 minutes of drive time in the SRT.

**BobF's 6POINT1** · 09-06-2006, 11:36 AM

Looks like the second route brings you through a lot more big cities which are prone to traffic and construction. If you said you were going to stop and visit, I'd say take that one, but if not go the first.