BajaNomad

I-80 versus I-40

pauldavidmena - 8-30-2015 at 08:25 AM

Given that we only visit Baja for a week or so at a time, we've always flown, but in the longer term we are already planning on staying for a longer stretch - and ultimately permanently - and therefore are beginning to plan a cross-country drive. On paper it looks like the northern route of I-80 from east to west is nearly the same in terms of mileage as the more southerly route of I-40 (about 2400 miles from Traverse City, MI, our projected starting point). I-80 will take us through Iowa, Nebraska, Denver and Vega. I-40 will take us through Missouri, Oklahoma, Albuquerque and Tucson. Are there any other things that might make one route preferable over the other?

David K - 8-30-2015 at 08:31 AM

Depends what you want to see along the way... America has lot's of sites to see too! The time of year you drive may also affect the north route vs. the south route?

Trip info

bajaguy - 8-30-2015 at 08:42 AM

Depends on the time of year and weather

pauldavidmena - 8-30-2015 at 08:47 AM

Good points. We'll have our dog with us, so our sight-seeing will be limited to a scenic drive versus stopping at museums, casinos, etc. We won't have a camper, so it will be strictly hotels for us.

As for what time of year, we haven't pinned that down just yet, but I suspect it will be during the winter, as we start becoming restless after the third or fourth blizzard.

David K - 8-30-2015 at 08:54 AM

Google Maps should give you routes, and options... The meteor crater east of Flagstaff is cool, and the painted desert and petrified forest is close by too.

Down on the southern route, east of Tucson is THE THING!

bajaguy - 8-30-2015 at 09:07 AM

I'm not an expert, but you might run into less weather along the southern route

When we travel from Ensenada to visit the G-kids in Denver we look at long range (two week) weather forecasts for cities along a couple of routes, and plan from there

You also might want to look at picking up the I-10 in Texas which "should" avoid some of the severe weather during the winter

Regarding your pet, we have always used La Quinta Inns as they are all pet friendly and selected Choice hotel properties that allow pets

We did the I-8 to I-10 route from Tecate to San Antonio, Texas in September last year, it was pretty painless..........If you want some suggestions on that route, PM me

PS: When we travel with our two Labs, we usually plan on about 6 hours of driving (not including food, fuel and potty stops) per day.

[Edited on 8-30-2015 by bajaguy]

DianaT - 8-30-2015 at 09:10 AM

I-80 can be quite tricky in the winter because at least through Wyoming, when a storm comes, they just shut down the highway and you have to return to the last town you passed which becomes really overcrowded quickly. When those gates go down, you are stuck. And it has been declared one of the most deadly highways in the country.

However, when we are in hurry we just watch the weather report and use I-80. I really detest those triple wiggle big rigs.

While we usually avoid interstates, the prettiest interstate is I-70 unless there is a major storm.

Which ever way you go, it is all about the weather. We have been on I-40 driving in a snow storm near Albuquerque. But shoot, you live in snow weather, so you are used to it.







[Edited on 8-30-2015 by DianaT]

Lee - 8-30-2015 at 09:11 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pauldavidmena  
I-80 will take us through Iowa, Nebraska, Denver and Vega. I-40 will take us through Missouri, Oklahoma, Albuquerque and Tucson. Are there any other things that might make one route preferable over the other?


I-80 West won't take you to Denver but in Cheyenne, WY, you can go left (South) on I-25 to Denver (1.5 hours), then take I-70 West into the Rockies. This is my preferred route. I-70 ends at I-15 (in the middle of Utah). 15 runs North/South. Head South and Vegas is about 3-4 hours away. You can stay on I-15 all the way to San Diego -- assuming you are headed to Baja.

I-70 from Denver is a spectacular road all the way to Vegas (about 14 hours).

I-40 (from Albuerqueque to Barstow where it ends) has lots of traffic and every other vehicle will be a semi headed West (avoiding the mountain passes on I-70).

If you are headed West on I-80 in the Winter, definitely head South on I-25 out of Cheyenne. 80 between Cheyenne and Salt Lake is not a fun road when it's windy or snowing! And like I-40, it's a boring highway. High rolling plains and truck stops.

Before taking I-70 though (in the Winter), know the weather forecast before heading into the mountains. Vail Pass and Eisenhower Tunnel (Loveland Pass) at 10k elevation can be treacherous. You don't want to be in these mountains without snow tires or 4WD. I've hit snow in the Winter all the way to the San Gabriel Mountains (LA).

vandenberg - 8-30-2015 at 09:11 AM

Have driven both.First time in 64 when I 80 used to still be I 40,

In your case, if driving in winter, definitely I 40, since I 80 can be a bear with snowy and icy conditions requiring chains, 4 wheel drive or snow tires.

durrelllrobert - 8-30-2015 at 09:12 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pauldavidmena  
Good points. We'll have our dog with us, so our sight-seeing will be limited to a scenic drive versus stopping at museums, casinos, etc. We won't have a camper, so it will be strictly hotels for us.

As for what time of year, we haven't pinned that down just yet, but I suspect it will be during the winter, as we start becoming restless after the third or fourth blizzard.


Plenty of snow on the I-80 route but only some snow on the I-40 route. Be sure to bring us all some cherries from Traverse City.:light:

mtnpop - 8-30-2015 at 09:15 AM

I40 will not take you through Tucson... more like flagstaff and further west... to CA. To go to Tucson you have to drop down I25 to I10..
winter around Flagstaff can also be hazardous driving...
I80 through Wyoming in the winter can be really nasty....as can be I70 through the Colorado Mtns...
Not much to see between N.M. and Flagstaff on 40... same way if you drop to 10 as the far south route... turns to 8 south of Phoenix..
But not like northern MI. in the winter....
Good luck and safe travels...

Tire chains

bajaguy - 8-30-2015 at 09:32 AM

Drive south until they don't sell tire chains, then head west

Sweetwater - 8-30-2015 at 10:00 AM

I can't think of a good reason to use the northern routes other than some bad weather systems to the south. There can be times when the monsoons and twisters can be avoided by staying north but Lee posted some very accurate descriptions.....

pauldavidmena - 8-30-2015 at 10:58 AM

Thank you for some very helpful responses! It won't be this coming winter that we make this trek, but maybe in 2017?

For traveling with a dog, we have found Bring Fido to be extremely valuable for finding pet-friendly hotels and restaurants. For booking through its website, the Comfort Inn in Port Huron, MI gave us a bag of biscuits and a toy for the dog. My wife and I got plastic room keys. :?:

DianaT - 8-30-2015 at 12:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pauldavidmena  
Thank you for some very helpful responses! It won't be this coming winter that we make this trek, but maybe in 2017?

For traveling with a dog, we have found Bring Fido to be extremely valuable for finding pet-friendly hotels and restaurants. For booking through its website, the Comfort Inn in Port Huron, MI gave us a bag of biscuits and a toy for the dog. My wife and I got plastic room keys. :?:


Hey, if you become a member of the La Quinta Rewards system and spend enough money to become an elite member, you get cookies and a bottle of water when you sign in. :lol::lol:

I would rather have the treats for my fur baby. The good thing about La Quinta is they don't have a dog fee, and since we have to travel to Reno often, we stay there and pay because it is usually cheap. We save our points to use for free nights at the expensive ones.

Bring Fido is a good site.

4Cata - 8-31-2015 at 11:36 PM

Be sure to check what kind of door knob the room at LaQuinta has before leaving Fido free of his kennel. I didn't and returned to find that Jazzy had learned to open the lever kind of knob and was roaming the corridors with a couple of other bright dogs who had discovered freedom was at hand, er paw. Not all LaQ's have that kind, or didn't a couple of years ago. Maybe they have learned their lesson.

bajabuddha - 9-1-2015 at 07:46 AM

There's also the I-10 / I-8 corridor. You can drop down east of the Rocky's and Continental Divide on I-25, then west from southern NM (Hatch to Deming cut-off) then I-10 west through Tucson to the I-8 Jct. south of Phoenix, on to Yuma. Lots of open spaces, just have to worry about Albajerky and Tucson traffic. Motels in large and small towns abound.

Key to winter traffic to Baja is to keep your nose into the breeze; watch the weather closely, and give yourself a few extra days' travel time just in case you get faced with bad conditions.... keep a 'lay-over day' possible. Don't make an airtight itinerary. Happy trails. If you're curious of stopover towns, u2u me, i'll be glad to help.