Southwest April - Route 20 or 40

[jtwilber]

We will be traveling West in April across Southwest for first time. Any opinions on which route is more enjoyable between Route 20 or Route 40 ?
Thanks.

[livinthelife]

We will be traveling West in April across Southwest for first time. Any opinions on which route is more enjoyable between Route 20 or Route 40 ?
Thanks.

Can't answer about 20, but I40 in Arizona is pretty rough.

[Second Chance]

You realize that I-20 ends when it merges with I-10 in west Texas? I-20 through that point, and I-10 on through to California aren't too bad. There are some rough patches Odessa and Van Horn due to heavy oil field (heavy trucks and equipment) and traffic. Traffic in El Paso can be heavy, but no worse than other very large cities. The last time we traveled I-10 all the way to/from California (fall of 2019), there was some construction in Arizona, but not too bad. As @livinthelife said, I-40 can get rough - pretty much all along its route. This is because it's one of the two most-travelled east-west routes for commercial trucks. On I-40 in New Mexico and Arizona, you could also fall prey to a late winter storm, even in April. They usually move through pretty quickly, though. I'm partial to the I-20/I-10 route because my home town sits on it, but there's more fun stuff to see on the I-40 route.

Rob

[offtohavasu]

Can't answer about 20, but I40 in Arizona is pretty rough.

I drove to Williams and back to So Cal the week before Christmas (did the Polar Express). 40 wasn't that bad at all. Started getting rough just West (south) of Kingman, but they were already doing road repair through there.

[livinthelife]

I drove to Williams and back to So Cal the week before Christmas (did the Polar Express). 40 wasn't that bad at all. Started getting rough just West (south) of Kingman, but they were already doing road repair through there.

It's getting better, in spots. But, overall, still pretty rough. They've been "working on it" since, at least, when we started RVing.

[traveldawg]

We will be traveling West in April across Southwest for first time. Any opinions on which route is more enjoyable between Route 20 or Route 40 ?
Thanks.

"...more enjoyable..." ?? As in better roads, or more "attractions", or fewer large cities, or most direct/fastest? Lots of unknowns still so you are mostly getting feedback on road conditions.

First - it kind of depends on where you are starting. The gap between 20 and 40 is pretty big in the east. So maybe you start on the one closest to you then change depending on what your goals are.

And it kind of depends on where you want to end up.... Southern or Central California.

Personally, since we enjoy the journey as much as the destination so a lot depends on what each route has to offer. Either interstate seems OK to me based on my travels and what our primary goal is. When just going from point A to point B quickly we choose the shortest route. When wanting to see specific things then it is dependent on the attractions we're drawn to that determines the route.

[John612]

Hit the back roads when you can, don't miss Alpine, TX, amazing little town.
There's a Prada store nearby, you'll earn points with the wife visiting it.

[Second Chance]

Hit the back roads when you can, don't miss Alpine, TX, amazing little town.
There's a Prada store nearby, you'll earn points with the wife visiting it.

It's not a real store - it's a permanent art installation. Don't get her hopes up about buying anything...

Rob

[John612]

Don't be a spoil sport Rob, maybe his wife loves art.

And if you're really into artful stores there is a similar Target store not too far from the Prada.

[Refclown]

We will be traveling West in April across Southwest for first time. Any opinions on which route is more enjoyable between Route 20 or Route 40 ?
Thanks.

We are planning a trip in April as well. Heading from Central CA to TN. Planning on taking I40 across, getting on it just west of Williams AZ I assume it should not be a problem with road conditions and weather....but we shall see...