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I am starting to plan out my route back to MN. I have 3 ways I can go from Big Bear:

1) #15 thru Las Vegas to #70 thru Colorado, #80 across Nebraska, to #35 up from Des Moines, IA. I have taken that route before and it is beautiful up until Denver, then is very boring the rest of the way. However, I have a friend I can stop to see near Vail, if I go this way.

2) #40 (Route 66) thru Kingman, Flagstaff, to Albuquerque, #25 thru Santa Fe to Denver, then west from there. That way I would get to see some of Route 66.

3) #40 all the way to Oklahoma City, #35 north to Minneapolis. I'd see more of Route 66 before heading north.

Things I need to consider is the heat and mountain driving, and having Lola in the car with me. I won't be able to do much, if any sightseeing along the way. I plan to stay at Motel 6's since they allow pets for free and are pretty much in every town.

Since a lot of you have traveled these routes, can you give me some feedback on the pros and cons of each one, so I can make a more informed decision on which one to take?

I'm absolutely no help with this question. However, I want to wish you a fun and safe trip whatever route you choose. Please post pictures as you go, if you can.

If you are worried about the heat, I would probably forego the last two this time of year, especially into OKC - they are going through a heat wave right now. And I say that with the Santa Fe/Albuquerque being one of my favorite areas.

I'm not sure that you can find a route that the heat won't be an issue...it's hot every where!!! you could always throw a dart and see what part of the map
it takes you too...I think I'd go to CO though it might be a tab bit cooler
sheila

#1) Going I70 east into Denver is gonna be mountainous. But as long as you've went that way before you already know that.

#2) Thru AZ, NM is gonna be HOT.

#3) I40 to I35 is gonna be quicker.

It all depends on how quick you want to make the trip, the heat and how badly you want to travel RT66. From the sounds of it no matter which way you go you are gonna have the heat to deal with. I take it your car does not have A/C???

You can also get up before the chickens and drive the early hours and get off the road and into a cool motel in the worst of the day. Depends on how much your body can take the shift in sleeping hours and how much you want to see the countryside go by.....

My car does have AC but still don't want to push it with driving in the heat, for the sake of the extra gas mileage (with the air on) and the tires on the hot pavement. I have a 4 cylindar engine, so running the AC really bogs my car down too. I plan to leave very early each morning and get to my next destination by noon or 1pm so I won't be driving in the worst of the heat each day. If this heatwave continues for another week or two, I guess it won't matter which way I go. 100 degree heat is the same in AZ/NM as it is in UT/CO (except thru the Rockies of course).

I won't be able to avoid mountains but the less, the better, if possible. I've never driven thru Arizona or east of there, so don't know exactly what the terrain is like along there. I know Flagstaff is in the mountains.

Barbie,

I would choose option #1.
Let's face it, part of this trip will not be very pretty.
But, no matter what you do you really can't avoid it
I love Flagstaff and if you go this way you HAVE to visit Sedona.

Where is your final destination in Minnesota?

Leslie

I am going to Lake Minnetonka, about 25 miles west of Minneapolis.

I would love to see Sedona, but with the cat, I can't stop to see/do things with her in the car. I am also leaning towards the first route. I do love the Rockies, and can stop to visit my friend (and her ferrets) along that way. May have to do the Route 66 thing some other time when I can take time to see the sights along the way.

Barbie,

Believe me, just driving through Sedona will be spectacular!

I lived in Minnesota for a year up north in Park Rapids.
I also have a cousin who lives in St. Paul.
Coming from Poway, you had better get used to some cold weather.
Or do what my cousin does when she is tired of winter and goes to the
Mall of America for the day. It is summer all year long.

Leslie

I actually grew up back there and have only been out here in California for 2 years. Believe me, I am NOT looking forward to the winters there again! Already planning my hybernation projects! (and the trip to FL in January).

If you've posted it? I sure don't remember it, but when was the last time you checked all your fluids and had an oil change on the car? With the trip your gonna be doing if you haven't had an oil change in a while you really should get one. Son has changed my oil since I got home at the end of March. Plus he just changed it again a couple of weeks ago cause he knew I was going to be doing my trip to TX and back. I know that it will be an added expense but better that 'smaller' expense than the alternative. Especially driving in the heat. Sure would want to see you and Lola broke down somewhere in the heat.

I've done all three routes except on across to Illinois not MN. I vote 15 to 70 as it is so beautiful but yes it does get boring after Denver. Still it might be a bit cooler. I'd get up and leave by 4 or 4:30 and stop early. Take a nap and then leave Lola in the room and go out to eat some place fun in the evening. Coming back from the Arkansas GTG I went to this cool place for dinner and ended up staying at their bar four hours chatting with several people.
Oh, and almost forgot, when I moved back from San Diego I met up with a cowboy who was on his way to Denver where I was going to spend a few days with a friend. We had a fab time and if the job I was heading to hadn't worked out I had left my truck packed with the intention of heading back to Denver! Ah the good old days!

Be sure to pack at least an extra quart of oil and a gallon of water just in case the car needs it in all that heat.

I would choose the shortest route under the circumstances. You can't do much sightseeing with the cat anyway.

There is construction on I80 through Nebraska but overall the road was good.