Ozark, MO to Red River NM best route

[Alan L.]

There'a a turnpike from Tulsa West to 177; so it should be good. HW 64 West to Enid is a fairly new 4 lane, and it is an excellent road all the way to Meno. I haven't been on the road from Meno to Woodward in a long time, but I would have no qualms about taking it. Lots of oilfield and farm traffic in that area, so keep that in mind. Be careful, and have a good trip.

Thanks for that info. Will be on Sunday so hopefully not much traffic.

 

[Ken]

From Ozark Mo. unless in a hurry. Go South to Harrison Ark.and take Hwy. 412 to Tulsa and stay on 412 to Western Okla. unless the older vehicle your using is a gas burner there is frequent service stations. I travel this with cattle truck. less vehicles and miles between other drivers. The roads are as good as any interstae in Okla. less traffic and good scenic travel.
I-40 in summer time is loaded with orange cones to let you know it being rebuilt. So single lane
In Arkansas the orange cones let you know it is Spring time.
The map quest is designed to lure traveler to resturants and service stations. shopping centers.
ken

 

[TripleR]

I whole heartily understand. It's been several years since I.ve been to St. Louis, but I hate driving around Atlanta, even when I take the by-passes.

Three of my kids lived in Florida and we have been through Atlanta way too many times. We once left to go through in the early morning hours and it was better, but not good. We figured out the bypass about the third time through, but still...

 

[Alan L.]

From Ozark Mo. unless in a hurry. Go South to Harrison Ark.and take Hwy. 412 to Tulsa and stay on 412 to Western Okla. unless the older vehicle your using is a gas burner there is frequent service stations. I travel this with cattle truck. less vehicles and miles between other drivers. The roads are as good as any interstae in Okla. less traffic and good scenic travel.
I-40 in summer time is loaded with orange cones to let you know it being rebuilt. So single lane
In Arkansas the orange cones let you know it is Spring time.
The map quest is designed to lure traveler to resturants and service stations. shopping centers.
ken

That is a scenic route (beautiful state Arkansas is), however we will be making the drive in one day and it figures to already be 13+ hours. Long day because of the available nights for vacation and the birthday party in Missouri not much time to spare between venues.

 

[creekbend]

Three of my kids lived in Florida and we have been through Atlanta way too many times. We once left to go through in the early morning hours and it was better, but not good. We figured out the bypass about the third time through, but still...

Before we moved to North Carolina, I lived and worked in Bradenton, Florida for many years. Most of my relatives live in East Tennessee. I would take I-75 North. Once part of the by pass was closed due to an accident, and traffic was diverted through another route via Downtown Atlanta. I was very glad to get back on I-75 North again. What a mess. I have visited NYC three times, but I found it less difficult in NYC traffic than Downtown Atlanta. And I was raised in the South.

 

[Ken]

Taking a trip to see my wife's dad for his 75th birthday next weekend - he lives just outside Ozark, Missouri but we are staying in a motel in Ozark. After a couple of days we plan to leave there and go to Red River, New Mexico, more than 700 miles. Yahoo maps recommends a route off the interstate across northern Oklahoma and the Oklahoma panhandle that goes through quite a few towns. Google maps recommends a southern Kansas route, part of it is on US 166. I am thinking of just coming down I44 from Joplin all the way to OK City and hitting I40 there and to Amarillo followed by our normal route that goes Boys Ranch and Dalhart/Texline in the Texas panhandle, then Clayton and Springer, NM. This route would be about 70 miles further but since we are driving a high mileage vehicle (see 2001 GMC Yukon XL thread) it seems there might be less chance of being stranded in the middle of nowhere plus a better chance of a good cell signal all the way. Not to mention higher speed limit and not near as many stops.

If any of you find playing around with the maps entertaining I'd like to get your opinions on which way you would go.

Any information on the quality of the highways running east and west across northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas would be appreciated.

Had suggested a sceinic route but if in a hurry. Springfield Mo. to Springer N.Mex. 792 miles and 15 hours. more for potty stops.
To Okla city take I-40 West to San Jon N.Mex. I-25 N to Springer.N.Mex.
Springfield Mo. to Springer to Tulsa Enid on 412 then hwy 64 to Springer N.Mex. 705 miles and 14:50 hours. close to 90 miles closer.

 

[Alan L.]

Gonna be a long drive. Looks more like Enid/Woodward or bust. Besides I might out of the way to the interstate and then find construction as has been mentioned here. Thinking now about driving from Ozark a couple hours to Joplin to get a head start on the next day.

 

[NativeSon]

Gonna be a long drive. Looks more like Enid/Woodward or bust. Besides I might out of the way to the interstate and then find construction as has been mentioned here. Thinking now about driving from Ozark a couple hours to Joplin to get a head start on the next day.

Alan....Hope you have a great trip. We have a cabin in RR but I haven't been there in years. With all the heat here in Texas at this time of years I keep trying to find a way to sneak off to the mountains. Temps in RR mid 40's in the morning and mid 70's in the afternoon and about a 40 % chance of rain. What am I still doing here?

Charlie

 

[GGB]

I was going to suggest 412. That's how my brother who lives in Broken Arrow, OK (SE corner of Tulsa) came out to meet us at our condo in Red River. Not a bad drive, and that's how I was going to come from my Dad's place near Mountain Home, AR until our plans changed.

A lot of our neighbors in our condo association are from Texas. They probably outnumber all the rest of us from everywhere else. RR is a great place to relax and slow down, or take a drive up the trails, or rent an offroad vehicle to go on the more rustic trails. Then take a run down to Taos for a change of pace. Great places to eat in RR and in Taos. I'll be back out in September, but wish I'd been able to go last month to escape our heatwave.

Good luck with the trip.

GGB

 

[Alan L.]

Alan....Hope you have a great trip. We have a cabin in RR but I haven't been there in years. With all the heat here in Texas at this time of years I keep trying to find a way to sneak off to the mountains. Temps in RR mid 40's in the morning and mid 70's in the afternoon and about a 40 % chance of rain. What am I still doing here?

Charlie

If I had a cabin there I would go 3 or 4 times a year. Just not financially able to own homes in both locations.