travel route advice in New Mexico?

[BarbaraRose]

I am planning to go from Phoenix thru Tucson on I-10 and over to Las Cruses, NM. Thought I would take I-25 north from there to Albuquerque and hit 40 East. Google Maps has my route, tho, from Las Cruses northeast on 70 to Alamogordo and then 54 up to 40 just before Tucumcari.

Do any of you who are familiar with that area, recommend one way or the other? The less mountains and better road conditions, the better for me.

Thanks!

[JudyJB]

That should be fine, but you should go onto weather.com and check the current national temperature map the morning you leave. Here is a link: https://weather.com/maps/ustemperaturemap

Even though it is longer, you probably want to drive east as far as you can before heading north. However, as long as you are not going through mountains and rain or snow is not expected, you will be fine even if the temps drop below freezing. And of course if the weather changes, you can always stop somewhere for the night.

[BarbaraRose]

Thanks Judy, I plan to take 40 east to 35 and then north from there. I do plan to watch the weather as I go and reroute accordingly. Just wasn't sure if there was a preferred way to go between those two routes thru NM. I think I remember a mountain pass just to the east of ABQ but not a big one.

[retiredhappy]

I 25 North through Albuquerque is a gradual climb. Be careful of 70 in the winter as it can be tricky.