So, my Mom is moving to Alabama next month, which means the movers pick up all her stuff, and then I drop her off at the airport so she can fly out (and meet my sister, who lives there), and then I drive her car out there and fly back.
So based on my tentative plan-of-attack, it’s 2700 miles over 7 days. Here’s how I expect the days to roughly break down:
Fri: Oakland, CA - Joshua Tree, CA (484 mi)
Sat: Joshua Tree, CA - Holbrook, AZ (445 mi)
Sun: Holbrook, AZ - Taos, NM (362 mi)
Mon: Taos, NM - Amarillo, TX (291 mi)
Tue: Amarillo, TX - Sulphur, OK (308 mi)
Wed: Sulphur, OK - Memphis, TN (485 mi)
Thur: Memphis, TN - Montgomery, AL (327 mi)
So without deviating too far off-track (a mild digression is fine) and keeping in account the fact that anywhere I visit will have to be on the brief side (especially for the higher mileage days), where should I go? I’m most interested in:
National parks. I know these might be tough because of the time allowance, but any must-sees? (I’ve already been to the Grand Canyon, ftr)
Small/obscure museums. For example, Pauls Valley, OK has the Toy and Action Figure Museum. If there’s an art or historical museum of particular note, let me know–but stranger collections or curatorial weirdness is the preference.
Great places to eat. Obviously, timing will have a lot to do with this one. Keep in mind I’m a very early riser so will probably be leaving on the early side to maximize the daylight and minimize night driving.
Anything else of particular note. Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo, for example.
Yeah, I’m being conservative. One thing is I want to (a) exercise in the morning, and (b) eat at places besides fast food, so I need to budget for that, too. Plus I’m sure I’ll be stopping for vistas and photo ops, so I’m just hedging my bets, though I’m giving myself the most leeway for the areas I’m least familiar with.
Both cool suggestions! I’ve been to the Imperial War Museum (London) and the Nuclear Atomic Testing Museum (Las Vegas) and enjoyed both, so I’ll keep these in mind. Thanks!
Here’s my input (I can only comment on the western part):
Joshua Tree is one of my favorite places. It’s a little off the freeway (from either entrance), but well worth the time. Unfortunately, the town is pretty small, so not much for restaurants. For more selection, you need to head over to Yucca Valley. If you want really nice places, across the interstate (I-10) is Palm Springs where there are plenty.
Not sure which route you were planning to take to Holbrook: either 95 up to the I-40, or I-10 into Phoenix and then up I-17 to Flagstaff. I would recommend the I-17 route (even though it does mean driving though Phoenix). It’s very scenic through there, and you could even swing through Sedona to see the red rocks.
If you’re feeling adventurous, there is a “back way” from Yucca Valley up to Victorville (I-15). From there you could catch I-40 at Barstow. But it’s not the most pleasant drive.
Either way I figure you’ll end up in Flagstaff. Just east of the city, on I-40, is a small state park called Walnut Canyon. Very cool place (small, narrow canyon). You can easily do a short hike if you want to stretch your legs. I’ve recommended this place to a number of friends who have all loved it.
Just before Winslow, if you haven’t been before, hit the Meteor Crater ! It’s just a little ways off the interstate, and very cool to see in person. The museum is well done as well.
Taos. Seems you’ll be on I-40 into Albuquerque. And then you’ll be back on the I-40 to head into Amarillo. Taos is a cool town and all, but that is quite an out-and-back detour. From ABQ to Santa Fe is easy enough - maybe 40 minutes. But from Santa Fe up to Taos is a good, somewhat slow, 1 1/2+ hours or so (depending on traffic through the gorge).
I would recommend hitting Santa Fe and some of the cool places around there - like Bandelier National Park, and/or Los Alamos (if you’re that into nuclear bomb history), instead. There are also really good restaurants in Santa Fe.
If you do decide to make the detour out to Taos, I’d recommend going over to the bridge over the Rio Grande gorge - very impressive. As to approach Taos, you’ll be in the gorge, and just before you get to Taos, you’ll climb up to the plateau. The view once you reach that plateau is spectacular ! The plaza downtown is nice enough, but I like the plaza in Santa Fe a bit more.
I’d suggest the NO interstate route through Congress, Prescott, Camp Verde, and Payson. It’s a short driving day anyway, and an opportunity to hit Jerome and/or Sedona.
Or if the OP can stop in Flagstaff rather than Holbrook, he can then take the monument valley/4 corners route through the Navajo Reservation and have a couple of northern NM routes to get to Taos.
If you want to see the country, get off the interstates.
If you had the time (it would add several hours), I’d take the 10 from Joshua Tree to the 60, up to Wickenburg, then 89 to Prescott, then on into Flagstaff and over to Holbrook.
WAY more scenic than 10 all the way into Phoenix.
Flagstaff is really nice, and if you arrange to be there at night, you can go to the Lowell Observatory.
Are you sure you don’t want a major deviation right off the bat? You mentioned the Grand Canyon…have you ever been to the north rim? Death Valley, Zion NP, Monument Valley are also on that route to Taos.
Feel free to totally disregard the above!!
As for your planned route, do you have any particular interest in the Civil War? I could totally set you up on the last couple of days.
You will be driving with CA plates, yes? Be very careful in TX. Do not speed and follow all traffic rules. I got seriously harassed in Kansas several years ago by the cops, and I suspect TX might be similar.
Yeah. I recently moved from ABQ to the East Coast, but I still had CA plates and license. I was pulled over for speeding in TX (which I was) and the cop told me with a CA license I would have to follow him back to the station and pay in cash–either for the fine or as deposit for coming back for traffic court.
WTF? Felt like a shakedown. No checks or credit/debit cards? I can’t mail the fine in? The explanation was that there was no reciprocity between CA and TX, which could be true for all I know, but why only cash?
Never been so looking forward to it. I’m pretty no frills so am not worried about finding something nearby. I’d camp it if I had my gear with me.
Walnut Canyon and Meteor Crater sound perfect. Been to Red Rocks before (I drove through the southwest a few years ago) so don’t feel the need to revisit.
I have a friend who lives in Taos so that’s why I’m heading out there. Thanks for the tips on traffic and access. Approaches with the best views are always preferable. Thanks!
I totally agree on this last point. But while the Navajo reservation/4-corners thing sounds very promising, this isn’t my car, and the map shows big long stretches of nothing so would prefer to keep to slightly more busy freeways in case something goes wrong.
Have been to Prescott (as part of a previous Grand Canyon trip) and did enjoy that.
Oh yes, I did a CA-OH round-trip drive once and the plates are a magnet even when the car is nondescript. Another reason I’m giving myself plenty of buffer in that middle section, because I’ll try not to go as fast as I would ordinarily.
