Please Help me on Region 2

[hooger158]

This is my trip so far

http://g.co/maps/yc3gr

I'm heading from Seattle to L.A. and then to NJ (via Lawton OK).  I'm thinking I'll do North Rim, but I'm really confused on what to do after.  I don't have a lot of time, but is there an interesting and semi-speedy road I'm missing?  Thanks

Vate

[soonerstan56]

My only suggestion would be if you are going through Lawton to go across southen Ok. to Talihina.
Take the Skyline drive to Mena Ark., and then head North through Eastern Arkansas.

Stan

[yotes65]

Your route looks great... IMHO the North Rim is better then the South RIM. The North Rim is nowhere near as cowarded as the South Rim tends to be. Have a Safe Trip!

[expatbrit]

Across NM -- I'd probably head south from Chama on 84 and take 64 thru' the Carson in Taos.

You've already got the heinous straight stretch, and the other side is definitely worth the ride IMO.

[hooger158]

Thanks.  Very helpful.

Vate

[JavaD]

I rode I5 from Seattle to Stockton, CA.  Ran the PCH and realized I needed to have a lot of gas to make the run from Montery to San Louis Obispo. Hit up the Mulholland Freeway and the Rock Store as you're that close and may not return anytime soon.
Watch out for the Santa Anna winds, 80-90 mph and it feels like the finger of God pushing you off the road.
Take extra water and fill up everytime there's a gas station between China Lake and Las Vegas, there aren't a lot of gas stations on that route.
Northern AZ and NM has few stations, and desolate roads.  Might want to have a stop-n-go tire plugger ready.  Not as desolate as China Lake - Las Vegas, but still WAY out there.
From Raton NM, to Dalhart TX is roughly a 125 miles, no gas station last time I rode it, fill up.
Hwy 62 is boring in Oklahoma, I know as I live on it.  Lawton is hell, watch your 6 and try to avoid Old Cache Road.
*You may want to change plans and ride from Lawton to Talhinia, take Hwy 71 to Paris AR, then to Harrision AR, and finish at Memphis, TN about a week later*  
That's as far as I got from a few years ago when I did the same route.  I stayed on RTE 66 and I40 myself for nostalgia.

[jay547]

*You may want to change plans and ride from Lawton to Talhinia, take Hwy 71 to Paris AR, then to Harrision AR, and finish at Memphis, TN about a week later*  

do this.

don't waste arkansas by riding I-40.

[Morgan Buchanan]

I agree 100% with the east Oklahoma/Arkansas advice.

[cruisin]

My only suggestion would be if you are going through Lawton to go across southen Ok. to Talihina.
Take the Skyline drive to Mena Ark., and then head North through Eastern Arkansas.

Stan

dingdingding -- Talihina to Mena is a must do; IMHO.

Also in the dreaded Tx Panhandle, after you leave Dalhart, bear to the right in Hartley on US385 until you reach FM1061 into Amarillo; it's a much more pleasnt ride than US287 and about 4 miles shorter with a lot more twisty roads.

If time allows; as you leave Amarillo, take FM1258 (Pullman Rd) to SR207 and Silverton then head east on SR86 to the fork at SR256 (7 miles out of Silverton).  Take 256 to near the state line and pick up US62 that will take you into Lawton. This is 1000% more fun than the 287 slab.

[hooger158]

Great advice, I'm definitely going to rework NM OK and AR

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