Jeffwilson34

So I have a friend in Las Vegas that has some shows and is having a special event at the Millennium Fandom in Vegas and I am thinking of driving from TN to Vegas. I will be on I-40 and some portions of old Route 66 most the trip. Anyone got any suggestion of things to stop and do along the way. I will be alone because the wife cant get off work. I am planning on driving my Vette. I plan on driving there straight through staying in Vegas a couple nights and then heading back. I do plan on getting the oil changed and a couple new tires for the front before I leave.

When I take a long trip I like to be prepared with a small tool kit, extra oil, couple gallons of coolant, small compressor, bottle of tore slime and a few other things, I am considering taking a spare tire with me just in case, I have a couple old 17 inch wagon wheels but this car has 19 inch wheels. It has 275/35/19 on rear and 245/35/19 on the front. Anyone know if it would be safe to drive with a 17" on one corner and 19"s on the other 3 if I had a flat.

knewblewkorvette

Sounds like it will be a great trip.
It also sounds like you are prepared to take the trip. Personally, I'd leave the 17" wheels at home. It would be a heavy missile to your head if you rear end someone. That and I'm guessing the overall diameter of the 17" wheel might be off a little from the diameter of the 19" wheel. I'd get out a tape measure and see if they are close in diameter. But still, I would not take a spare. I like my AAA card and you said you have a can of tire slime. I think you are good to go. Enjoy the trip.

Jeffwilson34

Thanks, you are right about the tire being dangerous, my worry was finding a 19" tire should I hit something that damaged the tire beyond repair. I know there are some long stretches of road along the way with nothing around. But I was not even thinking, I would also have to take a jack along with me as well if I wanted to change it myself. I do not have AAA but I do have State Farm roadside Assistance.

leadfoot4

It's not the diameter of the wheel that's the concern, it's the OD of the tire, ESPECIALLY with a car that has a limited slip rear axle, such as a Corvette. Having tires of different ODs will burn up the clutches in a "posi" unit in pretty short order. You need to be VERY aware of that......

mstromquist

Sounds like you're in for a very cool and long trip. If you plan on driving straight through then make sure you have plenty of adrenalin activating material with you. You will be very tired if not insane after that long being in the car, not to mention your legs might go numb. I've driven a few trips that were about 24 hours and it is pretty taxing on the body. Best of luck to you and pray it all goes well for you. Sounds like you have a good plan.

1999corvettels1

If you watched Breaking Bad or Better call Saul, in Albuquerque, NM there are lots of places to check out.

Last month took my girlfriend there and also Amarillo, TX, she had never been to New Mexico or Texas.

We went to the ice cream store that's shown in Better call Saul, Hector Salamanca's front for smuggling in drugs from Mexico, next day ate breakfast at Loyola's cafe where Mike Ermantraut ate often, then ran the car (not Corvette) through the carwash that Walter White worked at and later owned to launder money, by the way it's a huge building.

She wanted to spray paint the 10 buried Cadillac's just outside Amarillo, they have so many layers of paint, people have been painting on them since 1974.

Way back home to Phoenix area while in Albuquerque again, we stopped at the Candy lady shop, this place made the blue fake meth for Breaking Bad, lots of Breaking Bad and Better call Saul stuff and amazing candy and fudge, got sample of banana fudge.

A few feet away is the Breaking Bad store, between the 2 stores we spent close to $200.00 on shirts, coffee mugs, posters, other stuff from both shows.

On I-40 in New Mexico right near Arizona State line we stopped and saw native American stuff, teepee's and a large wall of stone with paintings on it, can't remember what the area was called.

1999corvettels1

It's actually Lupton, AZ but it's not a town. It's worth pulling over to see the big rock and old paintings on it, and the area of little shops. Crossed over to south side of I40 to see a really old shop/store that is really in decay, interesting seeing what happens to buildings as time moves on.

1999corvettels1

Cadillac ranch on I-40 west of Amarillo, TX

c5arlen

Check with the Auto Club, (or Tow service) Are you paid-up?).. That's all that's required for that simple drive... No spare tire needed, just have the "save my ***" club card and a motel finder cellphone sorta thing... You're good to go...... remember the Techron!

flyingmfrc

When you going through Arizona on I-40, if you get off the interstate at any of the towns such as Holbrook, Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams, Seligman or Kingman you will see parts of old RT66 through those towns. I'm in Flagstaff. If you are able to make any side trips along the way, the Grand Canyon is the one to make if you haven't been there before. You can get there from Flagstaff or Williams. Living in the U.S. and not seeing the Grand Canyon is like living in Egypt and not seeing the Pyramids. Another side trip worth your while is 89A to Sedona from Flagstaff. You will pretty much be traveling in Desert most of the time until you hit Flagstaff ay 7,000 feet with 13,000 foot mountains. Then it's desert the rest of the way to Vegas.
Have a safe trip and enjoy the scenery.

1wholikescars

Things to visit on the drive:

1 - Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo.
2 - Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico/Texas border area I believe)
3 - Petrified National Forest and Painted Desert (Arizona)
4 - Meteor Hole (Arizona)
5 - Grand Canyon (come in the East Entrance, go out the west entrance)
6 - Petroglyphs National Monument and the Smithsonian's Nuclear museum (Albuquerque)
7 - Oatman Ghost Town (oatman Arizona)
8 - Titan Missile Museum
9 - Roswell (see the museums)
10 - Dinosaur national Park (Texas)

Since I am not sure which roads you might get onto, I thought I would just give a few areas.

jcgunn

I wouldn't stop in Gallup, not even for gas.

old stingray

I would definitely get AAA for that trip,if you use it one time it’s paid for itself.

old stingray

... hope you have a fun,safe trip.

CorvetteBrent

If you decide to take a spare tire on your trip, the best option might be a 19 inch wheel with tire. Just try to find some way to secure it. In 2015, I drove my supercharged 2000 C5 on an 8-state, 4400 mile odyssey with a spare tire/rim providing peace of mind the whole way. As for AAA or anything similar, one is in for a rude awakening if you think a tow truck will arrive in anything less than 2 to 4 hours. I speak from experience, having endured long waits both times that I needed AAA towing service.