[toys4dlr]

Thanks Vince and Tim,

Funny, but the Mapquest going past Winslow on E 40 has the milage at 237 miles, but the travel time at 3 hours 31 mins.  Maybe because it is bigger, faster more open freeways??

Unfortunately, I have to wait for  the boys to get out of school on Friday before we leave.  So I won't be on the road until 4 pm.  Maybe we can have the kids out of school by noon at lunch.  I really try to stress that school come before fun.

[VisionQuest220]

I agree that school comes before fun but there are also times when it just makes sense to get an earlier start and I think that Friday of Labor Day weekend is one of those days.  If you pick up the kids at school on the way out of town around Noon on Friday you'll have a much better jump on the traffic and you'll likely get to Taylor long before dark and be able to set up before the sun goes down.  Also, you'll have an easier time travelling the smaller Arizona two lane highways in your toy hauler in daylight.

That having been said, we're going up on Thursday and the kids will miss part of Thursday and all of Friday.  They'll nominate us for Parents of the Year for sure!

[toys4dlr]

Vince,

Those are all valid points and I will have to consider them.  Maybe at noon, get there by 4 or so and set up in daylight.  It is a tough call.  I will have to speak with the general to see what her opinion might be. 

[Aaron]

You dont want to leave that late on Friday. Even if it wasnt a holiday weekend by the time you get to the site on Friday you are going to be to burned out to cook.

I dont know where Anthem is but if you are out by New River all the advice that I can give you is that its probably alot faster to go through Flagstaff or Winslow than through Payson. Its two lane interstate the whole way to Holbrook and its about 25 minutes south of Holbrook. The road between Holbrook and Taylor is 65mph most of the way too. You are kind of in a strange area and either way is going to have its positives and negatives. I know that it sucks to go to Payson from up in Pine ect.

[VisionQuest220]

David, I ran the Anthem to Flagstaff to Winslow to Holbrook to Taylor route and it comes up with an estimate of just under 4 hours and 232 miles.  Although a greater distance, it might be best to take that route.  As Aaron said, it is Interstate for all but the Holbrook to Taylor portion and that's a very good thing.

Aaron, Anthem is a huge master planned community that is just off I-17 about 5 miles south of New River.

[toys4dlr]

Thanks Guys,

We are going to discuss it further tonight, but I might be leaving in the morning and Karyn and the boys will come up later in the car.  Ryan has a couple of tests in the later classes, so I don't want to mess that up.

We took a camping trip a little east of Winslow and other than being all uphill, it is an easy drive. 

[kimwalton]

Good luck to all. Wish we could be there but we are staying in California this week for the contest in Imperial Beach. Jay say hi to Monica for me.

[Mike (AZBarbeque)]

Good Luck everyone, wish we could be there with you..