[nvrblu]

I wouldn't take any vehicle across the border into Mexico...

I just did a round trip AZ-MO over the holidays (in my Landcruiser). The "southern" route was from Mesa (Phoenix area) through Tucson, El Paso, Abilene, Wichita Falls, Oklahoma City, and then to Springfield, MO. It was interstate most of the way. I chose this route bacuse of bad weather along I40 (US 66 replacement). West Texas is really boring along I10 and I20.

For the return, I decided to take my usual "northern" route with the hopes that I40 would be clear... big mistake. I40 was closed at Amarillo where the trees, grass, highway, and everything else was covered with ice from and ice storm. We tried to go around the closure by taking I27 about 25 miles south to US 60 and rejoining I40 at Santa Rosa, NM. I40 was open for about 20 miles before we hit another closure and were routed north to I25 near Las Vegas, NM, then through Sante Fe and Albuquerque. The moon was bright and the snow was deep... the road from I40 to Las Vegas, NM, however, appeared to be a nice scenic route for fair weather.

Traveling through the high country in NM and AZ is risky this time of year.

Some other roads through AZ that are worthy of consideration include US 191 (formerly US 666 -- most apropriate) between I10 and I40. US 60 also has some nice stretches... Salt River Canyon being one of them.