Help - driving from So Cal - Az
 

Which is the better route to take to reach Tucson from Temecula area, I-8 or I-10, during July? Is 79 a good choice? We are concerned about the heat and the stress of the elevation on the car A/C. Anyone have any tips about the trip? Info greatly appreciated.

Going to Tucson, I would use I-8. It should be quite a bit shorter. However, going from Tucson to Temecula, I would use I-10 as I don't like driving up the grade out of the Califorinia desert. I have never had any trouble, but my sister has had problems twice.

If your car is relatively new and well-maintained, then you won't have any problems on any route in the continental US that I can think of. And if it's old and have had overheating problems all the time, then you can always just turn off the A/C on the long climbs.

In a way, it really doesn't matter what kind of car you have, I would suggest not driving either route from about 10am/noon on through dusk. In addition, personally, I wouldn't travel through the desert with no A/C!

The best thing to do is to start out really early. Bring lots of water. And get good sunscreen.

Once, a long long time ago (in a galaxy far far away), a friend and I drove across the US in an open-top convertible. Never again! At least not in the desert! We had a squirt bottle with us and we kept squirting each other with the water in the squirt bottle. The water evaporated almost the moment it hit our skin - no kidding, it was that hot! You have to be young and brainless, as we were, to do a stupid thing like that.

Start out from Temecula at daylight and drive as far and as fast as you can in the cool of the morning.

Oh, yes, bring a hat if you are going to leave the car for any period of time.

If you have to stop, sometimes the only shade is under an overpass. So, if you have to stop out in the middle of the desert, find an overpass.

That said, the desert can be quite beautiful. Enjoy your drive!

Thanks for the suggestions. We will be in a new, well running vehicle. We'll also have a cat with us...that is really the major cause for concern - don't want the trip to be too hard on the kitty should we need to turn the A/C off on inclines.

Any new car will be able to handle a grade on I-8 or I-10. Don't worry about it.

The only additional suggestion I'll make is to start before daybreak, at maybe 4am. Then most, if not all, of your drive is over before it gets too hot.

Hi babs,

I drive 8 from Imperial Valley to San Diego in one day to go shopping or the Dr.'s. Some of my friends drive it twice a week. In fact, San Diego housing has gotten so over the top expensive, that many people from SD are buying homes in our area and commuting on 8 every day.

It is a very doable drive. There are gas stations, casinos, and rest stops along the way. Yes, have your car checked and make sure you have plenty of water, but other than that you should be fine. 10 is OK also.

It isn't like the old days when you would have to drive 200 miles before you could find the old, dusty gas station with the Nehi pop machine. If you have Triple A card, even better.

Note, there is no cell phone service from Alpine to Ocatillo that I know of, and as far as I know on 10 there is no break in cell phone service, if that makes any difference to you.

Take some good CD's and have a fun trip. The dessert is pretty cool, really.

Heavens,

Hi! How were the fireworks?

Thanks again. I feel alot more confident now than I did before!

Hey Barbara. Saw lots of fireworks. Got back to hotel and stood behind the Marriott and saw four shows at the same time. That was awesome. Then about 20 minutes later saw the Pops, then from our balcony of our room, saw the Seaworld show. Wow. Never seen so many!!! REally fun and thanks for the heads up on the bay info. Will post trip report soon.