IH 10 through El Paso

Johnrich · 10-27-2016, 07:52 PM

Any issues towing a 39 foot fifth wheel through El Paso on IH-10? Never driven through there but may try it this winter.

PhoneDude 8289 · 10-27-2016, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnrich

Any issues towing a 39 foot fifth wheel through El Paso on IH-10? Never driven through there but may try it this winter.

Should not be a problem. I was through there last year, it was good all the way to Phoenix. Some expansion joints let you know they are there.

tuckerdog1 · 10-27-2016, 08:16 PM

It's been 5 months ( who knows what may have changed ), but we towed a 35 footer with a 22 foot truck through there. No issues I can recall.

hbillsmith · 10-27-2016, 10:19 PM

Did on the way to Quartzite in January this year. Rush hour was a little slow but it was a pretty easy go.

Bluepill · 10-27-2016, 11:31 PM

Like all metro areas, it's best to avoid rush hours. Get fuel before you reach that city. I would not want to stop there - It's a hell hole along I 10. Breath a sigh of relief when you get to the NM welcome station.

NMWildcat · 10-28-2016, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnrich

Any issues towing a 39 foot fifth wheel through El Paso on IH-10? Never driven through there but may try it this winter.

We always take the bypass route to avoid I-10 through El Paso. From your direction you would take I-10 to State Loop 375 (north), north for a bit on US 54, then north on 3255 (Martin Luther King BLVD) which turns into NM State Highway 213. Then west on 404 (East Ohara Road). Then you run into I-10 again. Sounds complicated but once you map it out it's not bad at all and traffic is always light. The 2 lane section of the road is very nice and signage is good.

You could stay on 375 all the way to I-10 but it takes you over Trans-Mountain which is a pretty steep little pass, but not terrible. Then your course would be I-10 to 375 to I-10.

We think I-10 through El Paso is probably better than I-10 through Phoenix, but we always bypass both when we can. Not worth the frustration!! LOL!! Good luck on your trip!

aspengirl · 10-28-2016, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluepill

Like all metro areas, it's best to avoid rush hours. Get fuel before you reach that city. I would not want to stop there - It's a hell hole along I 10. Breath a sigh of relief when you get to the NM welcome station.

We fueled at a convenience store just on the east end of the city on I-10 and it was fine. And the New Mexico welcome center is a nice one!

bmaggin1 · 10-28-2016, 01:49 PM

I agree with NMWildcat.. I-10 on the West Side of El Paso is under construction and will be slllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooowwww going and crowed.. "Best way is the way NMWildcat recommeded.

You can get gas or fuel at the Flying J at exit 32 on the east side of El Paso.

Enjoy you drive.

mdstudey · 10-28-2016, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluepill

Like all metro areas, it's best to avoid rush hours. Get fuel before you reach that city. I would not want to stop there - It's a hell hole along I 10. Breath a sigh of relief when you get to the NM welcome station.

X2

If you are living Amarillo take 60 W and then head South on I-25. We just did that on in Aug. If you are heading west of Deming, N.M. take the road, for get the highway number west to Deming. It will cut off some miles. No problems with the road that I can remember. Anything to by-pass El Paso. I would rather drive through Austin. It was pretty bouncy going through there. Not a lot of traffic on Highway 60 either.

DrLewie · 10-28-2016, 02:28 PM

We did it a couple of years ago, at rush hour (great planning!) but other than slow traffic, no problem. However, we couldn't find a decent RV park in El Paso. A couple of the parks had the worst reviews we'd ever seen. We kept going to Las Cruces and stayed at Hacienda RV Park which is convenient and also a high-end resort. There are other choices in Las Cruces as well, but we really like Hacienda.

Ian Walker · 10-28-2016, 02:29 PM

No issues with El Paso however watch the wind for the next 40 miles to
Las Cruces, NM. The I-10 turns north on that stretch & the winds can
be extreme.

BamaBob · 10-28-2016, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

We always take the bypass route to avoid I-10 through El Paso. From your direction you would take I-10 to State Loop 375 (north), north for a bit on US 54, then north on 3255 (Martin Luther King BLVD) which turns into NM State Highway 213. Then west on 404 (East Ohara Road). Then you run into I-10 again. Sounds complicated but once you map it out it's not bad at all and traffic is always light. The 2 lane section of the road is very nice and signage is good.

You could stay on 375 all the way to I-10 but it takes you over Trans-Mountain which is a pretty steep little pass, but not terrible. Then your course would be I-10 to 375 to I-10.

We think I-10 through El Paso is probably better than I-10 through Phoenix, but we always bypass both when we can. Not worth the frustration!! LOL!! Good luck on your trip!

X2 this is the way we always went transiting ELP when we lived in NM. It is also a much flatter, easier going than the potential madness of I10 (traffic can spring up at any time - especially around the spaghetti bowl)

BTW, if the winds are calm and your engine has the torque to do it, I HIGHLY recommend taking Trans-Mountain - the scenery is GORGEOUS - especially if you are going East-West (a North-South transit over the TMH. There are a couple of pull-outs after you crest the top. Take 10, pull over and enjoy the scenery!

Edmund · 10-28-2016, 04:08 PM

"You could stay on 375 all the way to I-10 but it takes you over Trans-Mountain which is a pretty steep little pass, but not terrible. Then your course would be I-10 to 375 to I-10."
We have been through El Paso quite often and always take this route. Just a little longer and there is a good climb on the east side but there is a nice stop on the downhill side (heading west) in the Franklin Mountains SP that gives you a beautiful view of El Paso and Juarez. There is very little traffic and you miss all downtown traffic. You come out on I-10 @ 6 miles from NM.We have taken I-10 through town and much prefer 375. Good luck.

Vince and Charlette · 10-29-2016, 12:48 AM

Just went through there yesterday with no problems. The Flying J on the east side of the Interstate at exit 0 is RV friendly with a separate RV island, propane and dump station. Gas was $1.89 with Flying J credit card.

bmaggin1 · 10-29-2016, 10:00 AM

The flying j at exit 0 is on the west side of El Paso. And yes it has all the rv amenities.

CedarCreekWoody · 10-29-2016, 08:39 PM

Depending on the timd of day my trucker friends say to take the bypass described above.

knot-my-fault · 11-01-2016, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

We always take the bypass route to avoid I-10 through El Paso. From your direction you would take I-10 to State Loop 375 (north), north for a bit on US 54, then north on 3255 (Martin Luther King BLVD) which turns into NM State Highway 213. Then west on 404 (East Ohara Road). Then you run into I-10 again. Sounds complicated but once you map it out it's not bad at all and traffic is always light. The 2 lane section of the road is very nice and signage is good.

You could stay on 375 all the way to I-10 but it takes you over Trans-Mountain which is a pretty steep little pass, but not terrible. Then your course would be I-10 to 375 to I-10.

We think I-10 through El Paso is probably better than I-10 through Phoenix, but we always bypass both when we can. Not worth the frustration!! LOL!! Good luck on your trip!

Are your direction for heading west? I am going through this area headed to Abiline from California. I was wondering what taking 70 from Las Cruces to 82 would be like, or should I just take 375 around the North side of El Paso

NMWildcat · 11-01-2016, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knot-my-fault

Are your direction for heading west? I am going through this area headed to Abiline from California. I was wondering what taking 70 from Las Cruces to 82 would be like, or should I just take 375 around the North side of El Paso

Yep, directions are from the West. If you have lots of time, 70 to 82 is a gorgeous drive. Lots of steep, slow climbs around Cloudcroft. When you get out of the mountains you are back in the desert and oil fields. If time is important, I-10 is probably your best bet taking either bypass around El Paso. Have fun!!

Johnrich · 12-17-2016, 03:30 PM

Thanks for all of the input. I think we will go the way NMWildcat suggested.....

NMWildcat · 12-17-2016, 04:15 PM

Just a note for anyone thinking of travelling I-10 through El Paso in the next few months. Pay close attention to your traffic/travel apps as they have been shutting down various sections of I-10 for construction with little notice causing HUGE traffic backups. The bypass routes mentioned early should also bypass these construction areas.

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