I am moving from San Diego to NC soonand have some travel questions thread

[ARMOURERERIC]

So, in 31 days I am leaving California for good and going to my new farm in Morganton NC.  Since I live about 3/4 mile from I-8 exit 65, I will be taking I-8 to 10 to 20 to 85 to 321.  As the moive get closer I will have many questions and any informational aid will be greatly appreciated.

First big question:  I will be driving a 24' budget rental truck with a dog.  I have obtained USDA travel papers for the dog.  What is the protocol for stopping at truck weigh stations starting with Arizona, New Mexico and Texas?

My first stop overnight will be Demming NM on a Wednesday night.  What time of day should I avoid I-10 east through El Paso?

How completely dead is I-10/20 between El Paso and Midland/Odessa?

Thanks.

[oscar]

How completely dead is I-10/20 between El Paso and Midland/Odessa?

Heavy truck traffic between El Paso and the I-10/20 split -- often hard to take full advantage of the 80mph speed limit much of the way (not that you'd want to do that in a rental truck, anyway). Not so bad east of the split.

Traveler services are limited on that stretch. Van Horn west of the split is the big watering hole there, but services available in Pecos (east of the split) and some in Sierra Blanca (west of Van Horn). Pretty desolate territory, overall.

[briantroutman]

Your situation is not radically different from mine a few months ago. I moved from San Francisco to Tampa and took a slightly smaller Penske truck across nearly the entire length of I-10. Here's a thread I had started in Road Trips which may have some relevant information for you.

As far as weigh stations are concerned, the only states on my route that required rented box trucks to pass through the scales were California and Florida. So you're off the hook for AZ, NM, and TX. The GVWR of your truck will most likely be under 21,000 lbs. so many "truck"  regulations of all kinds don't apply to you.

My major worry along the route was the border control checkpoint at Sierra Blanca–just east of El Paso. Even though you stay solely within the United States at all times, there's an inspection station as if you had just crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico. Given the "let's try to trip you up"  attitude that I've gotten from US border agents driving back from Canada in a car, I assumed passing this checkpoint in a box truck would be worse, but it was no trouble at all. Other than being in a long line of trucks crawling at 5-10 MPH through the station, there was no drama–in fact, I was just waved through without being questioned whatsoever. What did strike me about the experience was the absolutely insane number of cameras pointed at you from all directions as you enter the station. My guess is that they're using facial and plate recognition to flag wanted criminals and relying on dogs to harass petty drug possessors.

I stayed in El Paso on a Saturday night, so I can't comment on typical weekday traffic troubles, but on the weekend, there was hardly any traffic at all. I-10 traffic was reasonably low from El Paso to the I-20 junction but perhaps not as desolate as you might expect. There was enough of a mix of cars and trucks that I had to remain fairly alert the entire time–planning passing maneuvers of slower trucks while not blocking faster moving vehicles. There's a pretty wide speed differential between large fleet tractor trailers that are governed at 65, the speed limit, which is 80, and many people just trying to eat up the miles at 90 or 100.

[jeffandnicole]

Most truck weigh stations are for commercial vehicles.  Commercial vehicles are driven by those with CDL licenses.  A rental truck isn't a commercial vehicle...otherwise you wouldn't be permitted to drive it with a regular license!

That said, pay attention to signs. If the weigh station says ALL trucks or Including Rental Trucks, you probably should pull in. If it says Commercial Vehicles only, you can pass by it.  If you enter by accident you will generally be green-lighted thru. 

Using NJ has an example, they say All Trucks...but that means trucks with a GVW of 10,001 lbs and over. If that's not written on the side of the truck, how does one know? Again, probably better just to pull in..unless your stuff is so incredibly heavy it's overweighing the truck, you'll just be directed back into the highway.

This website has a general list of the states and if you need to stop, although use it as guidence, not as bible.  http://blog.upack.com/posts/do-rental-trucks-have-to-stop-at-weigh-stations

[ARMOURERERIC]

The next state I will cross into are LA, MS, AL, GA, SC and NC.  How about those weigh stations?

[Max Rockatansky]

You'll be fine on the truck stuff since you aren't commercial.  I-20 is definitely milder than than I-10 but I think that I have better route for you.  Instead of Taking I-10 all the way to El Paso take AZ 85 up to I-10 in Buckeye, AZ.  Take I-10 to AZ 202 and up to AZ 87/Beeline Highway.  Follow AZ 87 to AZ 260 which you'll cut north on AZ 277 and finally AZ 377.  This will short cut you to I-40 in Arizona which you can take all the way across to Morganton, it doesn't add any time to your trip  AZ 87 and AZ 260 are mostly four lane divided and you'll avoid all the big cities in Texas by taking I-40....if not you'll have a bad time either with San Antonio/Houston or Dallas/Fort Worth.  The terrain on AZ 87 is a quick climb but if you are taking I-8 out of San Diego you'll be already dealing with similar conditions there heading east.  Besides you are swinging way out of your way on I-85 and US 321 which will put you a good bit east of Morganton. 

[hbelkins]

So, in 31 days I am leaving California for good and going to my new farm in Morganton NC.  Since I live about 3/4 mile from I-8 exit 65, I will be taking I-8 to 10 to 20 to 85 to 321.

Is that route better than 8-10-20-30-40, since Morganton is on I-40?

[WashuOtaku]

So, in 31 days I am leaving California for good and going to my new farm in Morganton NC.  Since I live about 3/4 mile from I-8 exit 65, I will be taking I-8 to 10 to 20 to 85 to 321.

Is that route better than 8-10-20-30-40, since Morganton is on I-40?

Not a bad idea to skip most of I-40, the stretch between Knoxville and Marion and mountainous and he he's hauling a lot, may not want to deal with that.  Also, everyone enjoys being stuck in traffic in Atlanta.... it's just a thing. 

[ARMOURERERIC]

So, in 31 days I am leaving California for good and going to my new farm in Morganton NC.  Since I live about 3/4 mile from I-8 exit 65, I will be taking I-8 to 10 to 20 to 85 to 321.

Is that route better than 8-10-20-30-40, since Morganton is on I-40?

Not a bad idea to skip most of I-40, the stretch between Knoxville and Marion and mountainous and he he's hauling a lot, may not want to deal with that.  Also, everyone enjoys being stuck in traffic in Atlanta.... it's just a thing. 

that is the reason: I don't want to deal with the decent into Asheville.  As of now, I get to deal with Atlanta about 10 AM on a Saturday.  I am actually a good hour east of San Diego and don't want to backtrack.

Thank for all the replies.

[Katavia]

What about I-8 to I-10 to I-95 to I-40 to US 321? That gets around most of the Appalachians and Atlanta as well, but still with E Continental Divide, but is a bit backtracky...

[US 41]

I don't know if you have a passport or not, but there are internal border patrol checkpoints on I-10 where they'll ask you if your a US citizen. Of course you don't really need a passport, but I always show mine when going trough them just so they can see that I'm truly an American citizen.

[Zzonkmiles]

What about I-8 to I-10 to I-95 to I-40 to US 321? That gets around most of the Appalachians and Atlanta as well, but still with E Continental Divide, but is a bit backtracky...

I would also consider 8/10/20/US 321 because I-85's traffic northeast of Atlanta is much heavier much longer than I-20's traffic east of Atlanta. I-20 is also less hilly.

[Mapmikey]

What about I-8 to I-10 to I-95 to I-40 to US 321? That gets around most of the Appalachians and Atlanta as well, but still with E Continental Divide, but is a bit backtracky...

I would also consider 8/10/20/US 321 because I-85's traffic northeast of Atlanta is much heavier much longer than I-20's traffic east of Atlanta. I-20 is also less hilly.

If avoiding Greenville-Spartanburg-Gastonia traffic is a goal then a potential route would be SC 11 to Chesnee (very modern for the most part); US 221 to Rutherfordton and US 64 to Morganton.  Chesnee to Morganton has no mountainous sections.

Mike

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I don't know if you have a passport or not, but there are internal border patrol checkpoints on I-10 where they'll ask you if your a US citizen. Of course you don't really need a passport, but I always show mine when going trough them just so they can see that I'm truly an American citizen.

I had a conversation that went like this this past October at a checkpoint on US 59 northeast of Laredo:

Officer: "Are you a US citizen?"
Me: "Yes sir."
Officer: "Travelling alone?" as he peered into my back seat.
Me: "Yep."
"OK, have a good day."

[ARMOURERERIC]

I arrived safely on Sunday night around midnight.  Still a bit worried about navigating back to I-40 to return the truck.  The local roads were much more windy and narrower than expected.

[WashuOtaku]

But you made it, that what counts.

[jeffandnicole]

I arrived safely on Sunday night around midnight.  Still a bit worried about navigating back to I-40 to return the truck.  The local roads were much more windy and narrower than expected.

Try to stick to the US routes to get back to I-40, even if it takes a few extra miles.

Or, as long as you do it in the daytime, you'll be able to see where you're going.  Just take it slow and you'll make it back.

[HazMatt]

I arrived safely on Sunday night around midnight.  Still a bit worried about navigating back to I-40 to return the truck.  The local roads were much more windy and narrower than expected.

Welcome to the foothills!  I grew up in Lenoir and the roads weren't any better there.  Just take it slow and go when there's not too much traffic and you'll be fine.

[texaskdog]

So, in 31 days I am leaving California for good and going to my new farm in Morganton NC.  Since I live about 3/4 mile from I-8 exit 65, I will be taking I-8 to 10 to 20 to 85 to 321.  As the moive get closer I will have many questions and any informational aid will be greatly appreciated.

First big question:  I will be driving a 24' budget rental truck with a dog.  I have obtained USDA travel papers for the dog.  What is the protocol for stopping at truck weigh stations starting with Arizona, New Mexico and Texas?

My first stop overnight will be Demming NM on a Wednesday night.  What time of day should I avoid I-10 east through El Paso?

How completely dead is I-10/20 between El Paso and Midland/Odessa?

Thanks.

My wife would say you were crazy.  She loves SD.

[ARMOURERERIC]

I arrived safely on Sunday night around midnight.  Still a bit worried about navigating back to I-40 to return the truck.  The local roads were much more windy and narrower than expected.

Welcome to the foothills!  I grew up in Lenoir and the roads weren't any better there.  Just take it slow and go when there's not too much traffic and you'll be fine.

I am in the hills overlooking Enola

[slorydn1]

I arrived safely on Sunday night around midnight.  Still a bit worried about navigating back to I-40 to return the truck.  The local roads were much more windy and narrower than expected.

Welcome to the foothills!  I grew up in Lenoir and the roads weren't any better there.  Just take it slow and go when there's not too much traffic and you'll be fine.

I am in the hills overlooking Enola

Welcome to NC!

It's pretty up there. My wife and I are looking move up that way when we retire. I'm thinking a little farther west, closer to Asheville though.