New Mexico road question

[moparguy]

Little Bro has asked if I'd make a run to Tucson AZ and bring a Bronco back to Arkansas. Map quest suggest taking I-30 to Dallas, then I-20 to I-10 on into Tucson. About 1,257 miles.



In checking the old road atlas, an alternative route would be I-40 to Santa Rosa just west of Tucumcari in NM, then take state hwy 54 down to Alamogordo to 70 and hook up to I-10 into Tucson.

Mileage appears to be about the same and hopefully the drive would be a lot more interesting once I left the superslab.



So, can anyone that knows the Santa Rosa to Las Cruces Hwy 54 drive comment. Good drive, fuel availability, road conditions, do it, don't?



Always looking for the side roads rather than the interstates, but time is an issue on this trip since Bro has to take off work. Just trying to spice things up a bit.



Thanks, Ronnie

 

[Gray Ghost]

I once lived in Phoenix. There was a highway that took off from I40 down thru Strawberry and on into Phoenix. I camped at Bear Lake many a time. Beautiful country.

 

[wcaldwell]

Moparguy,



I live just south of Albuquerque and make the trip to Sherman/Dallas area at least twice a year. If you are going to be going through Dallas, I would suggest the I20/I10 route because going to Santa Rosa means you are going in a North-West direction and then having to go back South again. Lots of wasted time, miles and go-juice taking the Santa Rosa route.



Been there, done that, got the t-shirt with the logo, too.





Wayne

 

[DennyDay]

Texas-Tucson

You were on the money with your first route. Arkansas I-30 is lousy, but the rest is good running. From Dallas pick up I-635 south to I-20. Take I-20 all the way to I-10. Midland is the last GOOD fuel stop east of ElPaso, but there is fuel at Pecos, but from there to ElPaso there isn't much. Take I-10 west thru NM, and on to Tucson. Fuel on south side of Tucson on I-10.

I-10 is good in Texas, fair to good in NM & AZ. Plenty of motels and restaurants whole way except the section from Pecos to ElPaso.

The other route you had listed is a great SLOW trip. Its a pretty ride, but I'd not chance it in the winter. Also I-40 from Texas line to Albq. rough.

It's a 14 hour trip from Dallas to Tucson, if you hurry.

Have a safe trip!

Denny

 

[GeneA]

What Denny said. I came up 70-54 about three weeks ago and it is very iffy in the winter. I crossed the pass at night in snow and it makes for some puckering as it is a two lane road.

 

[Ross]

Scenic NM

Well, you're talkin about my neck of the woods...



I-20 to I-10 through El Paso, then to Las Cruces and on to AZ is the "best" route, but if you want a diversion and some greatly contrasting scenery, rangning from plains to mountains, to pines, to desert, desert, desert, then the hiway 54 trek would be ok. I travel this stretch regularly. From Santa Rosa south to Roswell, NM, it's pretty much decent two lane to Roswell (some intermittent divided hiway). From there, you go to Ruidoso which is in the mountains. It's beautiful. After you top out near Mescalero, NM, you go to Tularosa and Alamogordo, and then across the White sands (white sands missle range), over the Organ Mountains (Organ Pass is tall and steep, but you'll be going down, not up) to Las Cruces, NM. There you get back on I-10.



It's worth doing if you're not in a big hurry, but it's not as quick as the I-20 to I-10 route.