Hello All, need a little help, I have my route from the bay area to Fayetteville all mapped out thanks to some input from forum members. I will be mostly using a northern route through NV, Colorado and route 70 to get there.

I now need input for the return trip, I think I want to swing a bit more southward, but I have been on I40 a number of times and if possible I would like to take state hwys and secondary roads returning, any suggestions? This will be during the month of July, I know it will be hot (used to heat, SoCal native and many excursions with the military) I am looking for natural beauty and I have about 5 to 6 days for the return.

Thanks in advance!

 

Look at going south to Mena, AR and ride the Talimena Scenic Drive from Mena to Talihina, OK. (AR88 and OK1) Nice ride.

Work your way to TX and take US82 to St Jo then head down to US380 west. Pretty nice ride on 380. Takes you to Roswell and the Ruidoso area.

At San Antonio, NM stop at the Owl Bar and have a green chili cheeseburger!

North on I25 for a few miles then take US60 west. You'll see the VLA between Magdalena and Datil. At Springerville, AZ take US191 and US180 up to Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. Then I-40 west. Meteor Crater is near Winslow, AZ

Just past Ash Fork, AZ you can get on old US66 to Kingman and Oatman. Nice ride especially from Kingman to Oatman. Steep and twisty.

Back on I40 at Needles (or take more of 66 through Goffs, Amboy, and Ludlow). then north on US395.

Couple of options there - continue north to Lee Vining and CA120 or at Inyokern, take CA178 and CA155 west to Delano. Nice ride.

Many ways to get to CA from AR! It's gonna be toasty!

And thank you for your service to our country!

 

Awesome input, thank you so much!

 

If you would like a slightly more northerly route and you have time, work your way to Tucumcari, NM.

NM104 to Las Vegas (no, not that one), then NM518 to Taos. The loop around Wheeler Peak is really nice (US64, NM38, NM522).

Then US64 and US84 to Pagosa Springs, CO. US160 to Cortez then to CO41 which turns into UT162. Then US191 to US163 which takes you to Monument Valley and Kayenta, AZ. From there you go back into UT for more sights like Zion Natl Park, or head down to I40 and old US66 to Kingman.

I would still try to work the Talimena Scenic Drive in there since you are so close.

So many roads, so little time...