Albuquerque, NM to Flordia

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DonTom

DonTom

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Tomorrow morning I leave Kingman, AZ and do the 460 miles (~7 hours) to get to Albuquerque, NM. That should be an easy drive and I can do that on a single tank of gas in this RV (80 gallon fuel tank). It's full and ready to go.

I will be in Albuquerque for a few nights, I have never been there before.

But from Albuquerque to Florida, just way too many choices. Which would be the best way for this 30' 12.5" high motorhome to get to Florida? I don't really care what part of Florida as I want to see much of it, but I want to be more in the less populated areas.

I like to avoid all large cities as much as possible. But often not so easy to do when on the major roads got to major cities.

How bad is driving through Oklahoma City? Or are there better ways?

-Don- Kingman, AZ
 
In general Oklahoma has the worst highways in the region. If I were going to do the drive I would take I-40 to Amarillo, then US 287 to Wichita Falls, 82 across to Texarkana, I-49 down to Shreveport, LA, I-20 to Jackson, MS, and US-49 down to I-10 near Biloxi. All good roads except for maybe 15-20 miles of I-20 east of Shreveport, or at least were the last time I drove them. I have driven much of this route in bits and pieces, some of it multiple times, in the last 5-7 years. Most recently the section from Amarillo to Cline Corner, NM on I-40 in Oct 2019, also the section from just west of Texarkana to Amarillo in 2017.

p.s. US287 is near interstate grade divided highway for the most part and US 82 is a mix of 4 lane and 2 lane with wide paved shoulders. (speed limit on most 2 lane highways in Texas is 70-75 mph)
 
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Isaac-1 said:
In general Oklahoma has the worst highways in the region. If I were going to do the drive I would take I-40 to Amarillo, then US 287 to Wichita Falls, 82 across to Texarkana, I-49 down to Shreveport, LA, I-20 to Jackson, MS, and US-49 down to I-10 near Biloxi. All good roads except for maybe 15-20 miles of I-20 east of Shreveport, or at least were the last time I drove them. I have driven much of this route in bits and pieces, some of it multiple times, in the last 5-7 years. Most recently the section from Amarillo to Cline Corner, NM on I-40 in Oct 2019, also the section from just west of Texarkana to Amarillo in 2017.

p.s. US287 is near interstate grade divided highway for the most part and US 82 is a mix of 4 lane and 2 lane with wide paved shoulders. (speed limit on most 2 lane highways in Texas is 70-75 mph)
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Thanks for that info! That will be the way I will go. I will be seeing a lot of new places, I think the entire drive to Florida from Albuquerque on.

-Don- Kingman, AZ
 
If you follow that route, you will end up in the Florida Panhandle on I-10, which is a pretty good road. Just past Pensacola, you might want to drop down to Gulf Islands National Seashore. Fort Pickens is on the end of the long peninsula in this national park and has sites available most of November, other than a few weekend days. The beach is incredible white sand, and it is very isolated--no crowds. You will have a lot of beach to yourself if you want to walk.

And while Florida is beginning to get busy, the big crowds have not yet come. However, I recommend driving along the coast until you get to Panama City. You will not like driving through Destin, because of the big highrise hotels, but it is not forever. I am in Henderson SP, but it is across the highway from a shopping center, although the sites are very private and I cannot hear road noise, but I suspect it is not your thing.

Grayton Beach SP is about 30 miles east of there and is the least busy of the coastal state parks and very quiet because it is away from the highway a bit. (The nearby village of Seaside will drive you crazy, so you may not want to drive through it! Think of year round Spring Break. Luckily, it looks like you have a fairly small motorhome because it is a bit tight.) St. Andrews SP near Pensacola is also a bit out of the way and directly on a gorgeous, uncrowded beach with white sand.

If you decide to stay on I-10 and ignore the coast, East Bank Recreation area is just over the boarder in Georgia, but is nice and quiet. It is also COE, so cheap for seniors, but with water and electric and on a lake.

Then if you are anxious to get to southern Florida, you can take I-75 from Lake City. Not sure what else in FLorida you want to see, but northern Florida is very much like Georgia--lots of live oaks hanging with moss, etc. There are several state parks and a couple of federal non-hookup places in that area, but depends where you want to go. By the way, Florida State Parks advertise themselves as "The Real Florida."
 
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A lot depends on what you want to see. I find Arkansas and more interesting than Texas, and there are horror tales of the bad roads in Louisiana. I would stay on 40 until Memphis, wander around there, then drop south. We are a bit ahead of you, but making shorter days on the road. We won’t be in Albuquerque until Thursday, and we will just be driving through. As for road quality, the OK stretch of I-40 is no worse than the stretch west of Flagstaff. Not great, but better than Louisiana.
 
460 miles in 7 hours is very ambitious in my life. When we've done that trip the past few times it's max 200 miles per day with every other day a two nighter - but we don't have limited time as I'm sure you must.

You'll enjoy Albuquerque - we find them to be nice folks - the Sandia Tramway can be an adventure and, if the winds are right a balloon ride would be fun and psyche you up to attend the Balloon Fiesta next year (get your reservations in very early as on-site boondocking fills up quickly). Eat breakfast burrittos!

Safe travels
 
Louisiana gets a bad reputation for roads, but is much better than it was just a few years ago. Also most of the bad roads are in south Louisiana due to soil conditions, I-20 is not bad, except for about 20 miles east of Shreveport that is awful.
 
Sounds like a fun trip. Are you on a tight schedule? I like Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post. 1-505-831-6317. Great location off I-40 on the west side of ABQ. Old town is a must see.
I would take a few days and go just up the road to Santa Fe. I like Santa Fe Skies RV Park. Santa Fe Skies RV Park - Santa Fe, New Mexico 1-505-473-5946
Same hearer old town and many interesting places.
Going east my next stop is usually Amarillo, Oasis RV Resort Amarillo, 1-806-356-8408. I was out that way in June.
We will be going in reverse from you in Dec. we are going to Las Vegas then on to LA for a few days.
Bill
 
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Domo reminded me about Albuquerque. We lived there about 5 years, and we still go back occasionally. Note New Mexico in general still takes COVID seriously, so keep a mask with you at all times. The tram to Sandia Peakis a great ride, but wearable heavy coat; it is windy at cold up there. Old Territorial House in the valley is a nice place for a meal. Heavy on tradition with great architecture. Visit Old Town and wander through the shops and the church. Eat lots and lots of green chili. It comes on everything from Mexican food to cheeseburgers. Buy more to take with you on your trip. The museums near Old Town are enjoyable too. We generally stay at American RV Park on the west side of town, but you would fit at the KOA in Bernalillo (just north of town), and it is an interesting place in a very traditional neighborhood. We always stayed there when we had a smaller rig. Visit the balloon grounds to see what they are like. I think the Sandia casino on the north end of town has free overnight parking.
 
UTTransplant said:
Eat lots and lots of green chili. It comes on everything from Mexican food to cheeseburgers. Buy more to take with you on your trip.
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New Mexico style Mexican food is different from most places and (IMO) better than most -- I got spoiled after living there for 11 years. And Old Town is a must see. And most places that I've eaten in NM include sopapillas and honey with the meal, unlike most other areas where sopapilla is considered a dessert, if offered at all.

The 505 brand green chili sauce is NM-style, is delicious, and seems to be available in grocery stores in many areas, as well as online. We use it often, finding it at Costco and at King Soopers (Kroger).

One hint, if HOT is a problem, many places have more than one grade available, so ask -- also ask whether the green or red is hotter (it varies), though I think the green has better flavor.

UTTransplant said:
but you would fit at the KOA in Bernalillo (just north of town)
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That's a decent place -- we've stayed there several times, and it's convenient to much or the area, including the Sandia Tram and the balloon fiesta park.

WILDEBILL308 said:
I like Santa Fe Skies RV Park
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We often stop there on our way south, especially in winter, since it's one of the few in the area that is open year 'round. And yes, Old Town Santa Fe is a treat, including the The Palace of the Governors.
 
I agree about New Mexican, Mexican food being very different than the Mexican food served in Texas and Louisiana, for one thing even the mild stuff is hot, it also all has Hatch peppers in it, and lot of green chili sauce poured over the top.
 
Isaac-1 said:
and lot of green chili sauce poured over the top.
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Actually, though I prefer green chili, and many places serve it by default, many places do offer a choice of red or green, and you often have to ask which is hotter, the red or green -- many places even offer several "grades" of hot.

Hatch chilis (red OR green) do have a lot of hype about being "the best," but IMO they ARE the best. Granted, though, that there are some folks who disagree.
 
Isaac-1 said:
In general Oklahoma has the worst highways in the region. If I were going to do the drive I would take I-40 to Amarillo, then US 287 to Wichita Falls, 82 across to Texarkana, I-49 down to Shreveport, LA, I-20 to Jackson, MS, and US-49 down to I-10 near Biloxi. All good roads except for maybe 15-20 miles of I-20 east of Shreveport, or at least were the last time I drove them. I have driven much of this route in bits and pieces, some of it multiple times, in the last 5-7 years. Most recently the section from Amarillo to Cline Corner, NM on I-40 in Oct 2019, also the section from just west of Texarkana to Amarillo in 2017.

p.s. US287 is near interstate grade divided highway for the most part and US 82 is a mix of 4 lane and 2 lane with wide paved shoulders. (speed limit on most 2 lane highways in Texas is 70-75 mph)
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This is great route. I would only add that when you get to Hattiesburg, MS, you can take US-98 to Mobile, unless you actually want to go down to the Gulfport/Biloxi area. US-98 is a good clean 4-lane all the way to Mobile.
And, when you come out of the Tunnel in Mobile, take US-90 (Battleship Parkway) across the bay. There are some good seafood restaurants along the Parkway. Felix's Fish Camp, or Original Oyster House are worth a stop.
 
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I would agree with the US98 alternative, I drove it from Hattiesburg MS, to Natchez MS a few years ago, as I recall it was mostly good divided 4 lane highway
 
Larry N. said:
many places do offer a choice of red or green, and you often have to ask which is hotter, the red or green -- many places even offer several "grades" of hot.
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LOL Lary that is the state question "Red or Green" not "do you want chili" But do you want Red or Green because you are going to get chili on everything.
Bill
 
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