Folks Of Interest SoCal to Austin.....Interstate 10 or 40??

I'm getting ready for the trip to Austin, and most likely I'll be going solo, so i was wondering which interstate i should take??

The 40 is only 100 miles more to Austin and it seems a little less sketchy if things were to go wrong , out of gas, etc...... I've driven to Albuquerque before and the road was awesome!!!

What freeway do you prefer?????

Thanx in advance!!!

 

IAN, I HAVE DONE THIS trip many times man and the 10 is your safest bet , more stops and cool little towns to see. Go to triple " A" and get a trip kit ....... FRANCO......

 

If you take the 10 you will be going right past me and we here all can make sure that if something does happen we got you covered from az to the nm border. I would take the 10.

 

Ahh man yea take 10....

 

Ian, I just got back yesterday from picking up my 51 from Dallas (Check out link) and took I10 from Phoenix, but when I moved out here in the fall I came all the way across I40......I would def go I40 out..you can always roll 10 back. That 10 was a long ways thru TX bro. 630miles in TX only to dallas, come in from above plus route 66 is kinda cool to follow too! Good luck if I dont see ya before then brotha!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=570961

 

Ok..... I kinda heard some shit about some areas on the 10 that made me think?!?!?!
I can take care of business, But when you're solo it's a different deal !!!!

VF, What's a trip kit?? I have AAA, NEVER HEARD OF IT!!!

 

REMEMBER that there is a checkpoint when you come into Texas on I 10 ..leave your green tobacco at home.. Come on I 10 GO HOME ON I 40 ..........

 

HAHA!!! I don't smoke weed!!! Is there a check point on I-40/ 84 ???

Thanx Eric!! congrats on the truck!!

 

I've made that drive probably 20 times! I can't think of any dangerous spots other than right around ElPaso because of Juarez but stick to well lit areas and you'll be fine. If you have to stop for the night do it in New Mexico and just sleep in the car 10 is like WAY less miles than 40. 40 has some real scenic shit through NM and AZ though..

 

I think he meant "trip tik", Ian. It's a plotted out really handy map in a small spiral-bound "book". It's free, and they are AWESOME. Don't leave home without it. They even give warnings on speedtraps and current construction zones....
By the way, I took I-40 through there last fall. I like the road, the sites, and the fact it is/was the "mother road (66)"...

 

You guys are awesome!!! Stories i heard were about EL PASO area, that's why i might be taking the 40.... and the scenic route too!! I'd hate for some stupid fucks to mess with my shit and ruin my trip!!!!

NOT WORTH IT TO ME!!

Thanx for all the advice and it might help other folks on here too!!

 

That 5-600 mile stretch from El Paso to San Antonio is boring and lonely. Once I had a starter go bad in the middle of it and the nearest auto parts store was 150 miles.

 

I have taken the 40 many times and the 10 one time, the 10 seemed soo boring, long hauls and hilly. but try one way and the other going home then you will know. I am getting some info ready for you, neat stops cool shit to see.

 

I would take 40.

 

No check point on I40

E. bound I10 the check point is E. of El Paso.
W. bound I10 the check point is W. of Los Cruses

 

x 2

 

If you come down I10 I wouldn't stay the night in El Paso with all the stuff going on in Juarez. Might wake up the next morning without a ride.

 

Good look homie.... Ill be in Texas in a few weeks....

 

I always go the shortest way. i have driven from central Texas to LA many times. I take I-10 to Lordsburg and then 60 to Phoenix and then I-10 to LA. That way is shorter, cooler, and prettier. There is little or no gas between Ft. Stockton and Ozona. Always fill up before making that leg. Pick up 290 into Austin just before Kerrville. Call me if you have trouble near Kerrville. I may be ahead of you as I love Reggie's party on Thurs. PM me for the number if you will be thru on Wens.

I stay in Los Cruces going and coming. Lots of nice motels right off the freeway. Great mexican food. I just leave the car under a cover in the parking lot at the motel.

 

i have done the drive 23 times in 7 years....40 is scenic but takes a little longer and takes you to the northern part of Texas...which you still have to drive straight down to Austin on the death trap known as I35. 10 is the most direct route 1 day from SoCal to Las Cruces or El Paso, 1 more day to Austin. Below is a printout that I send everyone who drives to visit us;

Take 91 EAST to I10 EAST. You will be on I10 for over 1100 miles just fyi
What I have done below is listed major cities and the mileage and time between them. I have also included when you may need gas but that will all depend on your mileage and usage. When in doubt if you need gas or not, get it. You don't want to chance it. Before you leave make sure to fill up.

*Buena Park, CA to Blythe, CA (right on the border of AZ) 212 miles, 3hrs, 14 min
*Blythe, CA to Quartzite, AZ 24 miles, 29min
Get gas at the Luv's gas station in Quartzite. Great place for stretching, food, whatever
*Quartzite, AZ to Phoenix, AZ 128 miles, 1hr, 56min
Use extra caution driving from Phoenix to Tucson. Horrible drivers on this stretch of freeway
*Phoenix, AZ to Tucson, AZ 116.23 miles, 1hr, 51min
Get gas in Tucson if you haven't already.
*Tucson, AZ to Wilcox, AZ 82.57 miles, 1hr,19min
*Wilcox, AZ to Lordsburg, NM 74.23 miles, 1hr, 7min
*Lordsburg, NM to Deming, NM 60.62 miles, 53 min
Deming has a Walmart, plenty of gas stations and places to eat. Run down old town so just do what you need to do and get back on the road.
*Deming, NM to Las Cruces, NM 59.67 miles, 55 min
*Las Cruces, NM to El Paso, TX 44.64 miles, 48 min
If you need gas, a hotel, food, etc, get off at Exit 13/Paisano Dr/Sunland Park Dr. Turn right if you need a hotel, there are 3. We usually stay at the Sleep Inn. Turn left if you need gas, food, Target, etc.
*El Paso, TX to Van Horn, TX 121.40 miles, 1hr, 43 min
*Van Horn, TX to Fort Stockton, TX 120.25 miles, 1hr, 36 min
Walmart, food, gas...get gas! Again, this is the armpit of all armpit cities. Do your business, and get back on the road.
*Fort Stockton, TX to Sonora, TX 143.23 miles, 1hr, 54 min
I usually top off the tank in Sonora. If you need a little stretch, there is a Dairy Queen as well as a Pizza Hut near the Chevron
*Sonora, TX to HWY 290
From I10, exit when you see signs saying US 290 towards Harper/Fredericksburg. Offramp will go under I10 and take you straight onto US 290. US 290 is a country road so watch for cops as well as deer/sheep. You are now in the Texas Hill Country or as some call it God's Country
*You will go thru a small town called Harper, watch your speed/signs/cops
*Harper, TX to Fredericksbug, TX 23.57 miles, 28 min
Get gas in Fredericksburg. This is an old German town and very cool.Follow the signs that Say to Austin and 290 will take you straight thru downtown Fredericksburg. Gas stations are after the downtown section.
*Fredericksburg, TX to Johnson City, TX 30.18 miles, 38 min
290 "deadends" at Hwy 281 in Johnson City. Take 281 south (make a right and go 5.5 miles)
281 is technically 290 just head south until you see a sign that says Austin (again, about 5.5 miles south of the "deadend"
turn left and stay on 290 all the way into south Austin.
290 to Congress Ave, turn left.
Drive north until you see the action

 

40 Bro. done it many times Solo, last time was in a 61 porsche, NY. to Monterey, and then back... Love 66/40 Cafe is in Tucumcari Nm. Best rancho nuevos ever! always stop in there going through...

 

Do one of each. We live in a beautiful country. Go see it.

 

I love you guys!!!!



I have made up my mind and I am , without a doubt taking the 40!!!

Too much to lose taking the 10 and the few extra miles will be all worth it!!!

Thank you very much everyone for the very useful advice!!!

SEE YA'LL IN AUSTIN!!!

Ian

 

Love the pics!!!!

 

Ian, maybe a shoutout to some El Paso HAMB'er may make your trip a bit safer, maybe some tips, some phone numbers just in case? looking forward to seeing your car in person, BTW I am not near El Paso, but in the Austin area, I know you will have several people looking out for you, but just in case you need help in teh austin area,,,here is my number 512-680-2433 I have a hauler, a truck, tools and a large backyard if you need help or storage (for whatever reason).

 

I wouldnt take the 10 with a pink car either

 

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
this just the info that I needed since my coupe goes about 120miles and then out of gas so the jerry can will be in the trunk. Can't wait for roadtrip. thank you so much for this info. I will be printing this out and taking it with me.

 

The only time I've ever fallen asleep at the wheel (in the daytime no less) was on the Interstate-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Thank goodness for those ripple sticks on the side of the road. They saved me from heading off into the desert at 70+MPH.

 

awesome, great stuff. Need to make this trip someday

 

Hey just thought Id give some info on El Paso because thats where I live. It is not nearly as bad as people portray it to be with all that is going on in Juarez. I think I have a pretty good say in this being that my house is about 500 ft. from the border. People are friendly, food is damn good, and the car scene is pretty big to. El Paso was actually just named the safest US city! Ironic huh? Im not trying to persuade you to take the 10, but im just putting this out there to try and clear the bad rep its been getting lately. I pretty much agree with everything else though, the 10 is faster but kind of boring. I make the trip from El Paso to Houston frequently.