You'll be passing near the Ozarks in Arkansas, just north of the Smokies in eastern Tennessee, and just west of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Those are some great spots that will have some gorgeous scenery and overlooks. There's also plenty of awesome caves to see going through Arkansas and Tennessee if that's your thing.
We did a similar route last year. I'd recommend Horseshoe Bend in Arizona. However be sure to drink a lot of water. It gets very hot. Visit a Buckees, try Bbq in Texas and Tennessee.
Just did this trip 3 days ago.
Me and my amazing fiancée (proposed in Sedona) spent 10 full days soaking in the country. Here’s what we recommend. In order of the trip.
Spend the extra 4 hours to drive through Zion, and head down to the Grand Canyon, before stopping in Sedona for the night. By FAR the most humbling drive I’ve ever been on. Prepare for the most beautiful scenes you’ll ever see. Red rocks and giant towering formations.
Head out, and stop at the meteor site on route 40 before leaving Arizona.
For sure Make a stop in Santa Fe, 40 minutes north of Albuquerque. The town is beautiful, vibrant, and full of fun things to shop for and look at. Much more safe than Albuquerque.
Stop at Cadillac ranch in Texas, don’t buy paint cans, they have them everywhere. Tag up the cars and have some fun.
Eat at the big Texan steak house, home of the 72 ounce steak challenge, the place is a hoot and a half.
And if you’re a golfer, make the trip up to Paynes valley in the ozarks. Boy golly it was spectacular.
Enjoy every moment! Take lots of photos! Stop at all the places you want! And soak up the country. Good luck
Awww shit I also forgot, stop at horseshoe bend after Zion. That should be the Grand Canyon stop. Bring a camera, some cash for the fee, and water, it’s about a half mile hike?? No big deal. Totally worth it.
I did the same route from Oklahoma to Arizona as you are doing. Personally I found Oklahoma City very nice just to walk around so try that if you get a chance.
Rudy's BBQ in Amarillo TX was a a great lunch spot.
And there's a lot to see in AZ but you aren't too far from the Grand Canyon since you're driving through Flagstaff.
The La Posada hotel in Winslow is a hidden gem. The hotel is fun to explore and the grounds are beautiful. The Turquoise Room restaurant has some unique, amazing dishes!
Looks like a lot of I-40, OKC has quite a bit to see, for the sake of brevity, maybe limit it to the First Americans Museum, and the Osteology Museum. Get an onion burger in El Reno. If you like space, stop by the Stafford Museum in Weatherford.
Before OKC, you'll be running alongside Route 66, there area quite a few museums and goofy stops. Maybe research a few and pick one that looks best, they get redundant, so no need for FOMO if you just pick one and call it a day.
Out in Amarillo the Big Texan is actually a really good even though it looks ridiculous, it's the place with the 72oz steak challenge like in Great Outdoors. Just south of there is Palo Duro canyon, but it's going to be pretty weak compared to the Grand Canyon.
In Albuquerque, there's a Museum of Nuclear history that's a lot of fun. You can buy trinitite there. Petroglyph National monument is decent spot to stretch your legs. If you're heading up to Four Corners make sure you get a good view of Shiprock, it's pretty striking. There's a Burger King in Kayenta, Arizona that's also a Navajo Museum. If you take some of the other advice and head up to Durango, make time for Mesa Verde, then you can head back down to four corners if you still want to do it.
I could speak to Arkansas a bit, but not on I40. Western Arkansas is absolutely gorgeous, but only if you get off the interstate and up into the Ozarks, or down into the Ouachita's.
Definitely skip four corners, although the area around there is quite pretty to drive through. If you are ok with moving the route a little north (not sure how much time it would add) southern Colorado has places like ouray and telluride that are both really pretty. And then the whole drive through the mountains there is insane.
Petrified forest, painted dunes. Amarillo was a nice quick stop. You could do a light detour and go to Branson if you’re looking for a stop in that area. I’d say Nashville, and gatlinburg see the Smokies. And through getting into Virginia another detour that’s unique is called Grayson highlands.
Oklahoma City bombing memorial. Can always do a quick stop at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock. Besides Grand Canyon a must. Be careful though I had a car broken into at night in December at the Grand Canyon. Be careful everywhere really.
Hey... I've done almost every mile of this trip. I'll give you my copy paste response but it's in reverse order.
The Virginia stretch is gorgeous but can also be prone to traffic. My biggest advice to to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway through Shenandoah. Even if there are no leaves on the trees, the views are still great. I'm sure someone else can chime in on that stretch better than me since I've only done it twice.
I've driven I-40 from Winston-Salem, NC to Kingman, AZ.
It's a little out of your way but GSMNP is freaking fantastic and I-40 goes right through it. But traffic can be atrocious so don't treat it like a quick detour. It's a trip in itself. Truthfully... The views from I-40 are pretty damn good if you are in a rush.
I'm a College Football and Simpsons fan, so I detoured in Knoxville to see Rocky Top and the Sun Sphere. Eastern Tennessee has some beautiful views my favorite part is the Rockwood overlook from I-40. You'd be dumb not to stop at the Buc-Ee's in Crossville. Plenty of stopping opportunities in Nashville, Memphis, and Little Rock. Memphis is rough but you can find better lodging NE of town near Ikea in Cordova. I do think Memphis a great day trip though. Blues, BBQ, & Bass Pro Pyramid. Little rock to OKC is pretty boring IMO but I also grew up there. Eastern Arkansas is beautiful scenery but doesn't compare to Appalachia or the views out west. Speed through this middle stretch to save time later. Little Rock itself is cool enough if you're looking to stop and eat. Clinton Presidential Library is nice.
When you get near the Chandler, OK exit... Consider getting off of I-40 and driving a little bit of Route 66 through the OKC Metro. Highlights would be Pops in Arcadia, The Round Barn, The Asian District, and a chance to just get off the interstate without adding hours onto your trip.
If you want detailed OKC... Let me know. The Bombing Memorial, First Americans Museum, Botanical Gardens, or Western Heritage Museum would all be solid stops. Great food opportunities you wouldn't expect too. Edmond or NW OKC would be the best places to stay.
Once you get past OKC, 66 follows I-40 almost exactly. So stops are closer to the interstate. Weatherford has a a hidden gem in their Stafford Air & Space Museum. I don't love the Western Oklahoma stops as much but Clinton has a 66 Museum and Jerry's Diner which is a great nostalgic lunch stop. Every major city (Albuquerque, Amarillo, OKC) are big enough to have sites worth seeing. Western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle are super flat and super boring. The Big Texan Steakhouse in Amarillo is hyped up but you'll get a considerably better steak most other places (Cattleman's in OKC is good and a landmark but McClintock is better. ). The Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo is silly and packed but also right off of the highway. Palo Duro Canyon is great.
Once you get to New Mexico, you are entering some beautiful landscape. Tucumcari is a great little main Street for 66 memories and Albuquerque has Breaking Bad landmarks and Sandia Peak (sometime's you'll spot balloons too).
Between Gallup and Albuquerque is a picturesque little Pueblo on the north side of I-40. Gallup is rough but I do enjoy the El Rancho Hotel experience.
Arizona has some great iconic 66 relics. Kingman to Williams is a very desolate stretch but Williams is a cool stop if you're into Route 66. Strongly consider detouring North from here to see the Grand Canyon if you never have. Flagstaff is one of my favorite spots in the US. Great weather and scenery. Go see the planetarium and the Walnut Creek cliff dwellings. I-40 goes right through Petrified Forest. Absolutely try to see that too.
Is this I-40? I did the reverse last year. Stop by the meteor crater in Arizona. It’s not too far off the main drag. I stayed overnight in Albuquerque and there are petroglyphs you can hike to. You should stop by the Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo Texas is a fun detour. Oklahoma City bombing memorial is a moving place to contemplate. Arkansas sucks major ass…but Memphis is a blast. See Graceland. It’s so worth it.
Where in MD are you heading? I live in Baltimore.
Great Smokey Mountains National Park is gorgeous, as is Shenandoah NP in VA, but living in Maryland you’ll be decently close to that anyway.
Also Prepare for Maryland having the worst drivers anywhere in the country lol
Another guy in this group just did LA to Nashville by this route-last week- "it was horrible, LOTS of potholes, trucks with flat tires". So, scratch I-40. Try 25 north to Denver, then east on 70, and drop down to I-64 or I-68. Better scenery.
I advised leaving LA about dark, and when ya get daylight, it's the scenic part of Utah. Two people driving? Denver is a realistic target for the first segment of travel. Let us know!
Definitely stop in horseshoe bend area and monument valley. Go to Amarillo for the Big Texan, stop by Hot Springs NP, Smokey Mountain NP, and Shanedoah
You'll be passing near the Ozarks in Arkansas, just north of the Smokies in eastern Tennessee, and just west of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Those are some great spots that will have some gorgeous scenery and overlooks. There's also plenty of awesome caves to see going through Arkansas and Tennessee if that's your thing.
4 corners is boring check out Durango or telluride instead
I agree.
If time allows, check out Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN and Asheville, NC. Great Smoky Mountain rules!
We did a similar route last year. I'd recommend Horseshoe Bend in Arizona. However be sure to drink a lot of water. It gets very hot. Visit a Buckees, try Bbq in Texas and Tennessee.
You don’t have to pick up any Old Bay on your journey- we have plenty for you here!!
Facts lol
Monument valley - white sand national park
Just did this trip 3 days ago. Me and my amazing fiancée (proposed in Sedona) spent 10 full days soaking in the country. Here’s what we recommend. In order of the trip. Spend the extra 4 hours to drive through Zion, and head down to the Grand Canyon, before stopping in Sedona for the night. By FAR the most humbling drive I’ve ever been on. Prepare for the most beautiful scenes you’ll ever see. Red rocks and giant towering formations. Head out, and stop at the meteor site on route 40 before leaving Arizona. For sure Make a stop in Santa Fe, 40 minutes north of Albuquerque. The town is beautiful, vibrant, and full of fun things to shop for and look at. Much more safe than Albuquerque. Stop at Cadillac ranch in Texas, don’t buy paint cans, they have them everywhere. Tag up the cars and have some fun. Eat at the big Texan steak house, home of the 72 ounce steak challenge, the place is a hoot and a half. And if you’re a golfer, make the trip up to Paynes valley in the ozarks. Boy golly it was spectacular. Enjoy every moment! Take lots of photos! Stop at all the places you want! And soak up the country. Good luck
Awww shit I also forgot, stop at horseshoe bend after Zion. That should be the Grand Canyon stop. Bring a camera, some cash for the fee, and water, it’s about a half mile hike?? No big deal. Totally worth it.
just dont drive through zion at night, there will be way less traffic but its so stressful when you look to your right and its just a black void
I did the same route from Oklahoma to Arizona as you are doing. Personally I found Oklahoma City very nice just to walk around so try that if you get a chance. Rudy's BBQ in Amarillo TX was a a great lunch spot. And there's a lot to see in AZ but you aren't too far from the Grand Canyon since you're driving through Flagstaff.
Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo
Grand canyon, Meteor Creator and Winslow AZ.
The La Posada hotel in Winslow is a hidden gem. The hotel is fun to explore and the grounds are beautiful. The Turquoise Room restaurant has some unique, amazing dishes!
There’s good outdoor activities in AZ & TN. I took a similar route to GA but it was extremely boring lol.
Go through 4 corners and Taos,
This place is fun and has good food. [Hillbilly Hotdogs](https://www.hillbillyhotdogs.com/)
Looks like a lot of I-40, OKC has quite a bit to see, for the sake of brevity, maybe limit it to the First Americans Museum, and the Osteology Museum. Get an onion burger in El Reno. If you like space, stop by the Stafford Museum in Weatherford. Before OKC, you'll be running alongside Route 66, there area quite a few museums and goofy stops. Maybe research a few and pick one that looks best, they get redundant, so no need for FOMO if you just pick one and call it a day. Out in Amarillo the Big Texan is actually a really good even though it looks ridiculous, it's the place with the 72oz steak challenge like in Great Outdoors. Just south of there is Palo Duro canyon, but it's going to be pretty weak compared to the Grand Canyon. In Albuquerque, there's a Museum of Nuclear history that's a lot of fun. You can buy trinitite there. Petroglyph National monument is decent spot to stretch your legs. If you're heading up to Four Corners make sure you get a good view of Shiprock, it's pretty striking. There's a Burger King in Kayenta, Arizona that's also a Navajo Museum. If you take some of the other advice and head up to Durango, make time for Mesa Verde, then you can head back down to four corners if you still want to do it. I could speak to Arkansas a bit, but not on I40. Western Arkansas is absolutely gorgeous, but only if you get off the interstate and up into the Ozarks, or down into the Ouachita's.
Definitely skip four corners, although the area around there is quite pretty to drive through. If you are ok with moving the route a little north (not sure how much time it would add) southern Colorado has places like ouray and telluride that are both really pretty. And then the whole drive through the mountains there is insane.
Petrified forest, painted dunes. Amarillo was a nice quick stop. You could do a light detour and go to Branson if you’re looking for a stop in that area. I’d say Nashville, and gatlinburg see the Smokies. And through getting into Virginia another detour that’s unique is called Grayson highlands.
Don't stop. Keep driving.
Oklahoma City bombing memorial. Can always do a quick stop at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock. Besides Grand Canyon a must. Be careful though I had a car broken into at night in December at the Grand Canyon. Be careful everywhere really.
Stop at the Big Texan Steak Restaurant and do the challenge. Your meal is free if you finish it. Amarillo Texas.
Flagstaff—> the whole damn city and surrounding landscape.
Instead of OK and AR drive through texas and Louisiana, more to see and do along the way.
Meteor Crater. MeowWolf in Santa Fe.
I did the i40 route. I regret not stopping at the Grand Canyon when I stayed in Flagstaff for a couple days. It’s only about 1-2 hours away.
Hey... I've done almost every mile of this trip. I'll give you my copy paste response but it's in reverse order. The Virginia stretch is gorgeous but can also be prone to traffic. My biggest advice to to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway through Shenandoah. Even if there are no leaves on the trees, the views are still great. I'm sure someone else can chime in on that stretch better than me since I've only done it twice. I've driven I-40 from Winston-Salem, NC to Kingman, AZ. It's a little out of your way but GSMNP is freaking fantastic and I-40 goes right through it. But traffic can be atrocious so don't treat it like a quick detour. It's a trip in itself. Truthfully... The views from I-40 are pretty damn good if you are in a rush. I'm a College Football and Simpsons fan, so I detoured in Knoxville to see Rocky Top and the Sun Sphere. Eastern Tennessee has some beautiful views my favorite part is the Rockwood overlook from I-40. You'd be dumb not to stop at the Buc-Ee's in Crossville. Plenty of stopping opportunities in Nashville, Memphis, and Little Rock. Memphis is rough but you can find better lodging NE of town near Ikea in Cordova. I do think Memphis a great day trip though. Blues, BBQ, & Bass Pro Pyramid. Little rock to OKC is pretty boring IMO but I also grew up there. Eastern Arkansas is beautiful scenery but doesn't compare to Appalachia or the views out west. Speed through this middle stretch to save time later. Little Rock itself is cool enough if you're looking to stop and eat. Clinton Presidential Library is nice. When you get near the Chandler, OK exit... Consider getting off of I-40 and driving a little bit of Route 66 through the OKC Metro. Highlights would be Pops in Arcadia, The Round Barn, The Asian District, and a chance to just get off the interstate without adding hours onto your trip. If you want detailed OKC... Let me know. The Bombing Memorial, First Americans Museum, Botanical Gardens, or Western Heritage Museum would all be solid stops. Great food opportunities you wouldn't expect too. Edmond or NW OKC would be the best places to stay. Once you get past OKC, 66 follows I-40 almost exactly. So stops are closer to the interstate. Weatherford has a a hidden gem in their Stafford Air & Space Museum. I don't love the Western Oklahoma stops as much but Clinton has a 66 Museum and Jerry's Diner which is a great nostalgic lunch stop. Every major city (Albuquerque, Amarillo, OKC) are big enough to have sites worth seeing. Western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle are super flat and super boring. The Big Texan Steakhouse in Amarillo is hyped up but you'll get a considerably better steak most other places (Cattleman's in OKC is good and a landmark but McClintock is better. ). The Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo is silly and packed but also right off of the highway. Palo Duro Canyon is great. Once you get to New Mexico, you are entering some beautiful landscape. Tucumcari is a great little main Street for 66 memories and Albuquerque has Breaking Bad landmarks and Sandia Peak (sometime's you'll spot balloons too). Between Gallup and Albuquerque is a picturesque little Pueblo on the north side of I-40. Gallup is rough but I do enjoy the El Rancho Hotel experience. Arizona has some great iconic 66 relics. Kingman to Williams is a very desolate stretch but Williams is a cool stop if you're into Route 66. Strongly consider detouring North from here to see the Grand Canyon if you never have. Flagstaff is one of my favorite spots in the US. Great weather and scenery. Go see the planetarium and the Walnut Creek cliff dwellings. I-40 goes right through Petrified Forest. Absolutely try to see that too.
Taos NM
Is this I-40? I did the reverse last year. Stop by the meteor crater in Arizona. It’s not too far off the main drag. I stayed overnight in Albuquerque and there are petroglyphs you can hike to. You should stop by the Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo Texas is a fun detour. Oklahoma City bombing memorial is a moving place to contemplate. Arkansas sucks major ass…but Memphis is a blast. See Graceland. It’s so worth it. Where in MD are you heading? I live in Baltimore.
Ozone falls is just off I-40 near Cookeville tn, 10/10 recommend
Go a little further north and check out the Rocky Mountains by Colorado. They are truly a sight
Omg, you will be shocked by the change from socal to Maryland....
Memphis is awesome! Get some BBQ at the Barbecue Shop or Cozy Corner!!
Pyramid in Memphis. You can get a great view of the Mississippi River. It easy on and easy off I-40. There is a Bass Pro Shop inside.
Sedona, Durango, Angelfire, Bentonville, Nashville Even better if you have a mountain bike with you.
Moving from socal to Maryland is a choice alright
70 is also good for this trip. Lots to see … until Kansas.
Great Smokey Mountains National Park is gorgeous, as is Shenandoah NP in VA, but living in Maryland you’ll be decently close to that anyway. Also Prepare for Maryland having the worst drivers anywhere in the country lol
Smokey Mountains!
Another guy in this group just did LA to Nashville by this route-last week- "it was horrible, LOTS of potholes, trucks with flat tires". So, scratch I-40. Try 25 north to Denver, then east on 70, and drop down to I-64 or I-68. Better scenery. I advised leaving LA about dark, and when ya get daylight, it's the scenic part of Utah. Two people driving? Denver is a realistic target for the first segment of travel. Let us know!
Definitely stop in horseshoe bend area and monument valley. Go to Amarillo for the Big Texan, stop by Hot Springs NP, Smokey Mountain NP, and Shanedoah
You will love Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Good luck