Michigan to New Mexico

[boo798]

We are leaving Sarnia Ontario Dec 30 and would like to know if anyone has suggestions about good highways or routes to take to Las Cruces New Mexico. No hurry for us so nice easy travel is what we are looking for if anyone has any suggestions.
Thanks Bruce

[waiter21]

We travel this route several times a year from Toledo, OH on our way to Pheoniz, AZ. During the Winter, I-40 is a mess in New Mexico. so we get off of I-40 in Santa Rosa and take a southern detour and pick up I-10 in Las Cruces.

There are plenty of Rest Areas, and RV parks along the route. This is the basic route we follow from Toledo, through Las Cruces, heading toward Pheonix AZ.

US-24 to Ft Wayne, IN
I-69 to Indianapolis, IN
I-70 to St Louis, MO
I-44 to OK City, OK
I-40 to Santa Rosa, NM
US-54 to Alamogordo, NM
US-70 to Las Cruces, NM
I-10 to Pheonix, AZ

You need a little more detail that a good map will provide, i.e. bypassing cities.

To pick up US-24, you'll need to follow I-75 to Toledo, then take I-475 around the west side of Toledo. I-475 will intersect US-24 in Maumee, OH. US 24 is a good four lane freeway all the way to I-69.

We usually bypass St Louis by taking the southern bypass. From I-70, to I-55, I-255, I-270 to I-44

The Oklahoma section of I-44 is a toll road between the MO border, Tulsa, and OK City.There are two toll booths at midway points, cost is $10 at each booth for the RV and a toad.

US-54 in NM is 2 lane, but a very nice ride and lightly traveled.

US-70 crosses the desert past White Sands, there is a long climb uphill just before you get to Las Cruces.

We really love this part of the country, I was stationed at Holloman AFB and found that New Mexico truly is a "Land of Enchantment"

[Offagain]

Wow! Those are some informative directions. Nice!👍


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[boo798]

Thank you so much for the route .....your information is more than helpful. Taking the time to respond in that detail is time consuming and we can't thank you enough

[mike.t]

It still amazes me the info one can glean from this forum.

[juice5]

Originally Posted by waiter21

We travel this route several times a year from Toledo, OH on our way to Pheoniz, AZ. During the Winter, I-40 is a mess in New Mexico. so we get off of I-40 in Santa Rosa and take a southern detour and pick up I-10 in Las Cruces.

There are plenty of Rest Areas, and RV parks along the route. This is the basic route we follow from Toledo, through Las Cruces, heading toward Pheonix AZ.

US-24 to Ft Wayne, IN
I-69 to Indianapolis, IN
I-70 to St Louis, MO
I-44 to OK City, OK
I-40 to Santa Rosa, NM
US-54 to Alamogordo, NM
US-70 to Las Cruces, NM
I-10 to Pheonix, AZ

You need a little more detail that a good map will provide, i.e. bypassing cities.

To pick up US-24, you'll need to follow I-75 to Toledo, then take I-475 around the west side of Toledo. I-475 will intersect US-24 in Maumee, OH. US 24 is a good four lane freeway all the way to I-69.

We usually bypass St Louis by taking the southern bypass. From I-70, to I-55, I-255, I-270 to I-44

The Oklahoma section of I-44 is a toll road between the MO border, Tulsa, and OK City.There are two toll booths at midway points, cost is $10 at each booth for the RV and a toad.

US-54 in NM is 2 lane, but a very nice ride and lightly traveled.

US-70 crosses the desert past White Sands, there is a long climb uphill just before you get to Las Cruces.

We really love this part of the country, I was stationed at Holloman AFB and found that New Mexico truly is a "Land of Enchantment"

Get on highway 2 michigan to Wisconsin then across from rhinlander to 35 w...35 w to Kansas city n witchitaw pick up 54 south into new mexico...plug your nose when ya go by the bigg cattle opps....(one public toilet near texas} New Mexico is beautiful....Space museums in Alamogordo....I was Stationed at Holloman AFB 66 to 68....when ya get to Las Cruces take a right to Arizona.....safe driving bruce harten

[Canadiancrew]

Originally Posted by juice5

Get on highway 2 michigan to Wisconsin then across from rhinlander to 35 w...35 w to Kansas city n witchitaw pick up 54 south into new mexico...plug your nose when ya go by the bigg cattle opps....(one public toilet near texas} New Mexico is beautiful....Space museums in Alamogordo....I was Stationed at Holloman AFB 66 to 68....when ya get to Las Cruces take a right to Arizona.....safe driving bruce harten

Highway 2 to Wissconsin is way north. The first directions offered make more sense. They need to head south and west. Also I hate pulling a trailer through Chicago so dropping down into Indiana like the first directions makes sense. Also much less chance of hitting snow and ice.

[elind]

Originally Posted by juice5

Get on highway 2 michigan to Wisconsin then across from rhinlander to 35 w...35 w to Kansas city n witchitaw pick up 54 south into new mexico...plug your nose when ya go by the bigg cattle opps....(one public toilet near texas} New Mexico is beautiful....Space museums in Alamogordo....I was Stationed at Holloman AFB 66 to 68....when ya get to Las Cruces take a right to Arizona.....safe driving bruce harten

If your on US 2 take it to Duluth then 35 south to KC . But then we stop off at Lebanon Hills CG, Apple valley. Our next favorite in a water park / campground in KC. Another favorite is Albuquerque then down 25 to I-10 and across to Tucson.

[Chuckinca]

Bite the Bullet - take I-80 to Cheyenne, WY and I-25 to Las Cruces.

(don't be tempted to take I-76 from I-80 in Neb to I-25 to Denver - it's a very bumpy road in many places)(there's a nice RV park at the top of Raton Pass on the east side of the Hwy)

.

[poppagary]

Set your sights on linking up with I-25, it goes from Montana to El Paso TX. Las Cruces is on I-25 about 40 miles north of El Paso. You will go through Raton Pass to Santa Fe (the oldest capitol in the United States) through Albuquerque down to Las Cruces. I don't know what you are wanting to see. Santa Fe has a lot of museums and art galleries. There are lots to see in Albuquerque. About 70 miles south on I-25 there is the Bosque Del Apache National Monument which is a bird sanctuary where many species of birds fly into for the winter. It's quite a sight to see thousands of birds floating on the lakes and wetlands, especially when they get spooked and lift off together. Las Cruces is about 130 miles south of there. Enjoy your trip.

[ToniandSal]

Originally Posted by mike.t

It still amazes me the info one can glean from this forum.

I agree. I have learned a lot, and gotten more courage!


2016 Forester 2291S Class C
2016 Jeep Wrangler

Dana Point, CA

[Ian Walker]

Hello waiter21,
This November my wife & I will be coming from Ottawa but
following much the same route as you on our way to Mesa, AZ for the
winter. Could you describe what you mean by: In the winter the I-40
is a mess in NM?
Thanks
Ian

[DKRITTER]

That section is part of the Plains and storms can blow through and wreck havoc from OKC to ABQ.

We spend Christmas with the family in Lubbock Texas and I always go to the Amarillo area to goose hunt while we are up there. The last 2 years we have canceled the New Years hunt due to weather.

I might suggest planning a few different routes and letting the weather tell you which to take.

[Ian Walker]

Dear DKRitter,
Thanks for the heads up.
Ian

[elind]

Our first winter in Az. we took I-40 across from OKC to Flagstaff in February. It was during a major storm north of us and the crosswinds were pushing us around. We shut it down for three days in Amarillo because we were tired of the winds and white knuckles. I've heard there are times I-40 gets shut down. It's a major truck route cross-country and it is taken care by the hwy dept. Just watch the weather and plan for options.

[NMWildcat]

I would stick to I-25 and I-40. Winters are mild in NM, so storms are usually short lived and the major freeways get cleared first. I would not use 54 to Alamogordo. If there is something specific you want to see on 54 do it on a day trip after you get to Las Cruces. 54 is narrow, not well maintained, and rather rough. Enjoy Las Cruces!!

[Tampajohn]

We do this every year leaving Florida to Michigan and then to Los Angeles. 3 years ago we hit black ice in Dallas are and stuck for 10 days. We left Thanksgiving and I thought we were going to die. Last year we hit snow on I-10 in New Mexico. Accumulation about 1 inch. Still dangerous pulling a 30ft trailer with crosswinds. I purchased a Hensley hitch which stopped all sway. This year we are leaving next week for Lansing and heading to Dayton, Ohio to see the other kids and I will monitor the weather everyday watching the weather coming from the west. I do not care how many miles extra I put on to get to I 10, I will drive out of our way. Plans now is to go through Oklahoma city, but that can change in a minute. I know we will not stay until Thanksgiving even though I would love to spend time with my family. We usually come up in the summer, Florida to Michigan, but we postponed due to the leaf change. We also had renters wanting to come in early, (snowbirds) renting the house until April. Bottom line is be safe and let weather dictate when you leave and what route you take. BTW we hit crosswinds on I 10 in April heading home to Tampa and I was all over the road south of Austin, TX. 40 and 50 mph crosswinds. Did not have the Hensley on yet and I have drove in 40 MPH crosswinds with the Hensley since then and it tracked straight as could be. Be careful and flexible.

[elchilero53]

Originally Posted by elind

Our first winter in Az. we took I-40 across from OKC to Flagstaff in February. It was during a major storm north of us and the crosswinds were pushing us around. We shut it down for three days in Amarillo because we were tired of the winds and white knuckles. I've heard there are times I-40 gets shut down. It's a major truck route cross-country and it is taken care by the hwy dept. Just watch the weather and plan for options.

I've been across I-40 in the winter and it is usually clear. Watch the weather because a strong winter storm centered south of Albuquerque produces up-slope winds on the east side of the mountains that will bury I-40 between Tucumcari and Tijeras Pass east of Albuquerque. The I-25/I-40 Spaghetti Bowl can be a bit daunting getting onto I-25 southbound as the traffic will be very heavy. If you go that route, the Bosque Del Apache NWR is something to see but RV park facilities at Socorro are a bit limited and can fill up fast. Also, be sure to try the Owl Bar and Cafe in San Antonio for a green chile cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. There is a burger war with the Buckhorn Bar up the road to the west as to who has the best green chile cheeseburger. My vote is always the Owl.

An alternative route is to take US 54 south from Santa Rosa to Vaughn then down US 285 to Roswell. That will allow you to avoid US 54 through Carrizozo, which wasn't rough the last time we drove through there in 2013. At Roswell, turn west on US 70/380 to Ruidoso, across Apache Summit down to Tularosa to Alamogordo and Las Cruces. Of course, if there is a storm over eastern New Mexico along I-40, you might consider turning south at Amarillo to Lubbock, then angle southwest to Brownwood to US 380 to Roswell, then US 70 to Ruidoso, Alamogordo and Las Cruces. That is a very easy pull with gentle grades and very scenic west of Roswell.

Safe travels and enjoy your trip!! Watch the weather and be ready to re-route if necessary.