So I have been thinking and based on enthusiasm on the boards it seems that people would be down to do a large group drive. I just saw that this year was the 9th running of Wake the Dragon in Tenn. I know we have some great roads here in AZ, and having only lived here for two years, there are a lot of areas I have yet to see. I dug up an old post and saw some people mentioned HWY 191. Looks amazing. So here are my thoughts. Do the drive early fall, or wait until next spring.

All weekend trip - Friday - Sunday
Leave Friday afternoon. Find a decent hotel with restaurants near bye and spend the night. Lots of drinking and partying!
Wake up Saturday morning, have breakfast, then hit the road. Maybe find a park in a National Forest to have a picnic lunch. Then drive to the next hotel and restaurants, again, more drinking and partying and hanging out!

I am posting this up now because Jenn and I are willing to organize this drive. I will discuss and reserve hotel rooms, and do a lot of the research. I need to see if people are interested, and more specifically, if people have driven those areas, I need to know what its like. What options exist for fuel, food, and lodging?


I now have two plans

Plan A is to leave Friday from Phoenix, drive and spend the night in Safford, drive north up HWY 191 Saturday morning, and stay in Greer Saturday night, then come home Sunday. This is more of a straight through approach. What is mapped out is 555 miles and 12 hours. This trip we would be eating at more fast food type of places, and staying in Motel 8's and Quality Inn. Different type of look/feel vacation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41071623@N03/5683494827/http://www.flickr.com/photos/41071623@N03/5683494827/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/41071623@N03/, on Flickr


Plan B which is new. Leave Friday from Phoenix, drive to Greer and spend two nights in Greer. Greer is looking like a much cooler town to visit/stay. I have been given some insight into previous drives, and this was what they did. Saturday morning we head south on HWY 191, turn off onto 180 thru N.M. then head back into AZ at Morenci. From there we head North up Devils HWY back to Greer for the night. This is more mileage, but its a more focused drive/trip. I like the idea of one hotel. That way we can unpack and unload the cars, maybe leave the hardtops behind, and just spend 1 full day doing a massive drive! Greer looks like a safer town as well. Also looking at a really cool log cabin resort, that has an award winning restaurant and bar on the premises. This is more like how the Dragon is done. One location, and you drive out from there. This trip is 741 miles and 17 hrs of driving.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41071623@N03/5690505068/http://www.flickr.com/photos/41071623@N03/5690505068/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/41071623@N03/, on Flickr

Links to the town of Greer, and to one of the Hotel ideas I have. Also looking for activities for the women, who I have learned really may not enjoy this drive/ride. Hoping to find stuff for them to stay behind in Greer and do as a group, if they don't want to ride shotgun during Saturday's drive.
http://greerarizona.com/
http://www.mollybutlerlodge.com/


I believe this video is Tuscons very own Nate!

Here is a good site that describes the drive http://www.azride.com/route666run.html

 

I have torn up the 191 a few years back. The best road in Arizona IMO. I wish it was still called Highway 666

 

I was just up there last weekend and I have probably done this a dozen times, awesome experience every time. I prefer to run it going north, it's a lot easier on the brakes. As for some side roads, you can take 180 east out of Alpine and take a small loop through New Mexico and tie back in at 3 way between Safford/Clifton. There are some nice sections there although it isn't quite as tight as most of 191. Also, just south of Safford is the road to Mt. Graham. It isn't very long but is a blast and very tight.

 

love the idea, count me in. I'm a fan of the first idea; covering a couple of different roads instead of finding one stretch of twisties to keep going back over. There's a lot of incredible roads out here; a mass road trip sounds like fun.

 

The Devil's Highway = AWESOME!

When we used to do it I think we stayed Friday and Saturday nights in Greer. It worked out nicely and gave plenty of time to play. Karie said next time she wants to stay at the lodge and ride horses or something while I'm on the devil run lol. I think there is only one restaurant/bar in stumbling distance but it is a good one.

 

Let me get this straight, 191 is the devils highway?

 

I remember seeing your videos..Those were awesome and the reason that I finally did a run on that highway.

Mt Graham is also cool but too much debris and crappy roads once you get closer to Riggs Lake.

 

Yup, it used to actually be route 666.

 

Ok cool. I will look into it some more.

 

El Diablo???