Traveling in January: RV campgrounds open along main roads?

[CookieMonster]

We are new to RVing... planning to pull our Jayco 5th Wheel to Arizona... from the "heartland USA" area... leaving in early January. Likely will go more or less straight south, then west... get out of the cold as quickly as possible.

Question is: Are the RV campgrounds open along the main roads during January, on the road to AZ? Anyone with experiences along Route 40 (old Route 66) west from Oklahoma City, during January?

Thanks!

[bad99ram]

We leave after Christmas from Upper Michigan to Corpus Christi Texas. What we do is check both Good Sam Club directory and Woodalls directory. They both list the campgrounds that are open all year. Also, in the listing is a phone # fot the campground, so we also call and check. Plan your stops and with a little research you will do fine. Safe Travels.

[maromeo]

We just traveled from AZ to MN and back at the end of Oct early Nov. There was not much of a problem at that time. We used our Trailer Life Directory also to check where there are campgrounds ahead. Don't forget Casino Camping. They are always opened. We camped at Sky City Casino west of Albuquerque for 17.10 per night with full hookups with Good Sam Discount.

Found this site to be helpful for the casino campgrounds.

http://www.casinocampgrounds.com/dir...irectory.shtml

Hope this helps.

[Diesel Donnie]

You are likely to travel through some snow due to the elevation on that route- Flagstaff, Az really has SNOW- I-40 is closed from time to time in that area- Where in Az. are you headed? There are alternate roads dependent on your destination- We can suggest other routes if we knew your destination? JMHO- DD

Originally Posted by CookieMonster

We are new to RVing... planning to pull our Jayco 5th Wheel to Arizona... from the "heartland USA" area... leaving in early January. Likely will go more or less straight south, then west... get out of the cold as quickly as possible.

Question is: Are the RV campgrounds open along the main roads during January, on the road to AZ? Anyone with experiences along Route 40 (old Route 66) west from Oklahoma City, during January?

Thanks!

[Denise]

We did a car trip that included heading west from OK to Az on the I-40 a couple of years ago. Our experience that January:

Cold enough to snow in Flagstaff the night we went through, so we arranged to drive that leg through Flagstaff during the day.

From just east of Albuquerque to Az, you might experience some strong head winds. Hope this helps

[CookieMonster]

Originally Posted by Diesel Donnie

You are likely to travel through some snow due to the elevation on that route- Flagstaff, Az really has SNOW- I-40 is closed from time to time in that area- Where in Az. are you headed? There are alternate roads dependent on your destination- We can suggest other routes if we knew your destination? JMHO- DD

We are headed for Mesa... during first couple of weeks in January, thereabouts....

[CookieMonster]

Originally Posted by bad99ram

We leave after Christmas from Upper Michigan to Corpus Christi Texas. What we do is check both Good Sam Club directory and Woodalls directory. They both list the campgrounds that are open all year. Also, in the listing is a phone # fot the campground, so we also call and check. Plan your stops and with a little research you will do fine. Safe Travels.

We did join the Good Sam club... so, good, will check out the Directories. Thanks!

[CookieMonster]

Originally Posted by maromeo

We just traveled from AZ to MN and back at the end of Oct early Nov. There was not much of a problem at that time. We used our Trailer Life Directory also to check where there are campgrounds ahead. Don't forget Casino Camping. They are always opened. We camped at Sky City Casino west of Albuquerque for 17.10 per night with full hookups with Good Sam Discount.

Found this site to be helpful for the casino campgrounds.

http://www.casinocampgrounds.com/dir...irectory.shtml

Hope this helps.

Had not thought of the Casino Campgrounds... great suggestion.. in that the wife likes the Casinos! And, they probably have security, too...

[CookieMonster]

Originally Posted by Diesel Donnie

You are likely to travel through some snow due to the elevation on that route- Flagstaff, Az really has SNOW- I-40 is closed from time to time in that area- Where in Az. are you headed? There are alternate roads dependent on your destination- We can suggest other routes if we knew your destination? JMHO- DD

How about that Payson, south to Mesa road (looking on the map)? I imagine it is steep in there... and, with a 20,000# rig (truck and trailer), I suppose exciting!

[maromeo]

CookieMonster,

The Casino campgrounds do have security. We camped at several on this past trip. Don't forget to ask about the Good Sam discount at any campground or casino campground. It all adds up.

Highway 77 to 260 to 87 can get a little scary with snow. There is a ridge that is 7700 feet between Show Low and Payson that gets pretty risky in the snow. But highway 60 has way too many bends and turns down through Salt River Canyon.
As you get closer to Holbrook, check the weather reports and make your decision which route to take.

[dzwiss]

We have traveled from Northern Illinois to AZ in Dec and January many times. We have gone straight south to Memphis, diagonally across Arkansas, picked up I20 in Dallas, on to I10 to AZ. Never had a problem with open campgrounds. I40 can be dicey in winter and don't know about campgrounds. I would drop south at Oklahoma City or farther east, depending on where you are coming from, and pick up I20 as soon as possible. There is lots to see and do on I20 and I10 and a much reduced chance of foul weather.

[CookieMonster]

Originally Posted by dzwiss

We have traveled from Northern Illinois to AZ in Dec and January many times. We have gone straight south to Memphis, diagonally across Arkansas, picked up I20 in Dallas, on to I10 to AZ. Never had a problem with open campgrounds. I40 can be dicey in winter and don't know about campgrounds. I would drop south at Oklahoma City or farther east, depending on where you are coming from, and pick up I20 as soon as possible. There is lots to see and do on I20 and I10 and a much reduced chance of foul weather.

Good advice.....I was wondering about I40.....

[Diesel Donnie]

If you hit snowy conditions, take the interstate 25 south at Albuquerque and west on I-10- JMHO- DD

Originally Posted by CookieMonster

We are headed for Mesa... during first couple of weeks in January, thereabouts....

[iowahank]

Having done a similar trip last year (Denver to Mesa) and following the shortest route as mapped by both GPS and
software, I would recommend you head south from Albuquerque on I-25 to Hatch and cut across on Hwy 26 to I-10.
While it may be cold, a lot less chance of snow rather than going I-40 to Payson and Show Low. Plus it is a much easier drive
than the mountains.

[Diesel Donnie]

There are 2 EZ in,n,out campgrounds just west of Albuquerque and a whole host of campgrounds in Deming, NM which is on I-10- We have stayed at both locations- JMHO- DD

[poohbear]

Originally Posted by dzwiss

We have traveled from Northern Illinois to AZ in Dec and January many times. We have gone straight south to Memphis, diagonally across Arkansas, picked up I20 in Dallas, on to I10 to AZ. Never had a problem with open campgrounds. I40 can be dicey in winter and don't know about campgrounds. I would drop south at Oklahoma City or farther east, depending on where you are coming from, and pick up I20 as soon as possible. There is lots to see and do on I20 and I10 and a much reduced chance of foul weather.

When you get south of the RED RIVER here in Tx snow is very rare but up in the panhandle around Amarillo its another story.Lots of open campgrounds along I20/I10 but check with them if west of FtWorth as the oil/gas boom has a lot of em full with workers.

[Diesel Donnie]

Before you start out, be sure to acquire at least one of the campground guides that are available- Perhaps join Good Sam and/or Passport America- We have both and find them to be indispensable- JMHO- DD

Originally Posted by CookieMonster

We are new to RVing... planning to pull our Jayco 5th Wheel to Arizona... from the "heartland USA" area... leaving in early January. Likely will go more or less straight south, then west... get out of the cold as quickly as possible.

Question is: Are the RV campgrounds open along the main roads during January, on the road to AZ? Anyone with experiences along Route 40 (old Route 66) west from Oklahoma City, during January?

Thanks!

[SandsOrrell]

Originally Posted by poohbear

When you get south of the RED RIVER here in Tx snow is very rare but up in the panhandle around Amarillo its another story.Lots of open campgrounds along I20/I10 but check with them if west of FtWorth as the oil/gas boom has a lot of em full with workers.

This is good advice. I have been on ice/snow and sometimes black ice across the TX panhandle on I40. I'd stay away from that route in the winter unless you just like driving with OTR truckers on ice!

[CookieMonster]

Originally Posted by maromeo

CookieMonster,

The Casino campgrounds do have security. We camped at several on this past trip. Don't forget to ask about the Good Sam discount at any campground or casino campground. It all adds up.

Highway 77 to 260 to 87 can get a little scary with snow. There is a ridge that is 7700 feet between Show Low and Payson that gets pretty risky in the snow. But highway 60 has way too many bends and turns down through Salt River Canyon.
As you get closer to Holbrook, check the weather reports and make your decision which route to take.

In a campground in Dodge City, KS, right now... 14 degrees, 4-5 inches snow on the ground!! This is RVing!!! On the way toward to Holbrook, probably day after tomorrow... will probably drive around, stay on Interstate.....

[Seann45]

Hurry up it is +69 today out here in the Imperial Valley of Ca..