Overland Expo West 2015

[TravelinLight]

Sarah,

I will be heading down Thursday afternoon/ night from Denver area and taking the back roads in my Dormobile. I should arrive to the lake before 12 noon local time if all goes well. I'll PM you when things get closer to see if our routes and times overlap as I'll be in the Dormobile.

 

[Sleam]

Sarah,

I will be heading down Thursday afternoon/ night from Denver area and taking the back roads in my Dormobile. I should arrive to the lake before 12 noon local time if all goes well. I'll PM you when things get closer to see if our routes and times overlap as I'll be in the Dormobile.

Yes, please do, that's the perfect way to travel, a couple of slow and steady oldies on the back roads. I'd thought to go through Socorro and then across on Hwy 60 to Payson but let me know (here or pm) of another route. I drove to the Arizona Land Rovers Rally a few years ago in Cottonwood and that was a sweet trip, easy on us, you know?
Stay in touch!

 

[Watt maker]

I have a question for those familiar with the Mormon Lake/ Flagstaff area.

Long story short, I'm planning on attending this years Expo. Originally it was just me going so I was just going to camp. My wife and kiddos also want to go now which is great except, my wife is not much for camping ( I'm working on her but it's baby steps). That means we will be staying in a hotel. I was looking at staying at Twin Arrows Casino which leads to my question.

Looking at Google maps, I see they show about an hourlong drive to Mormon Lake from Twin Arrows, using the highway by which we would go west to Flagstaff then SE to the Expo. By excluding the highway, it shortens the mileage to around 30 miles by heading directly South from Twin Arrows and going through some wilderness (I'm assuming all dirt/gravel roads) but it claims it to be a 2 hour drive. Is this really a 2 hour drive? How are the roads going this way? Should I just stick to the highway? Should I look for a closer room?

 

[dcoy]

I have a question for those familiar with the Mormon Lake/ Flagstaff area.

Long story short, I'm planning on attending this years Expo. Originally it was just me going so I was just going to camp. My wife and kiddos also want to go now which is great except, my wife is not much for camping ( I'm working on her but it's baby steps). That means we will be staying in a hotel. I was looking at staying at Twin Arrows Casino which leads to my question.

Looking at Google maps, I see they show about an hourlong drive to Mormon Lake from Twin Arrows, using the highway by which we would go west to Flagstaff then SE to the Expo. By excluding the highway, it shortens the mileage to around 30 miles by heading directly South from Twin Arrows and going through some wilderness (I'm assuming all dirt/gravel roads) but it claims it to be a 2 hour drive. Is this really a 2 hour drive? How are the roads going this way? Should I just stick to the highway? Should I look for a closer room?

I live in FLG and I've gone to all the Expos at Mormon Lake, driving from home. (this year got shafted by work and won't be able to make it). Personally, I would stay in FLG (or camp at the Expo). Although I haven't taken the "shortcut" you mention, I think a 2 hour drive would be totally plausible knowing the quality of the terrain around here. Nevertheless, it's interesting that Google Map is giving you off highway (offroad) time estimates. I wouldn't be surprised if that function is pretty much a random number generator.

 

[Sleam]

There are various hotels and lodges nearer than 2hrs. In Flag, Cottonwood or Sedona area perhaps? Or go to Airbnb.com and find a bed and breakfast in the area - thats a pretty good resource for good and affordable places.

 

[dcoy]

There are various hotels and lodges nearer than 2hrs. In Flag, Cottonwood or Sedona area perhaps? Or go to Airbnb.com and find a bed and breakfast in the area - thats a pretty good resource for good and affordable places.

Yeah. Tons of lodging in Flg. Can't imagine it being sold out yet.

 

[AZ67]

I have a question for those familiar with the Mormon Lake/ Flagstaff area.

Long story short, I'm planning on attending this years Expo. Originally it was just me going so I was just going to camp. My wife and kiddos also want to go now which is great except, my wife is not much for camping ( I'm working on her but it's baby steps). That means we will be staying in a hotel. I was looking at staying at Twin Arrows Casino which leads to my question.

Looking at Google maps, I see they show about an hourlong drive to Mormon Lake from Twin Arrows, using the highway by which we would go west to Flagstaff then SE to the Expo. By excluding the highway, it shortens the mileage to around 30 miles by heading directly South from Twin Arrows and going through some wilderness (I'm assuming all dirt/gravel roads) but it claims it to be a 2 hour drive. Is this really a 2 hour drive? How are the roads going this way? Should I just stick to the highway? Should I look for a closer room?

It has been about eight years since I last drove that route. It is a mix of maintained and unmaintained dirt roads and with the rains we received this last winter, I would say that two hours is realistic. The questionable section is the climb up to Anderson Mesa. This has me curious and may lead to a motorcycle excursion to see what it's like. If I do the ride, I'll post an update with road conditions. Either way, it certainly is a beautiful route and worth driving slow to take it all in.

 

[Watt maker]

It has been about eight years since I last drove that route. It is a mix of maintained and unmaintained dirt roads and with the rains we received this last winter, I would say that two hours is realistic. The questionable section is the climb up to Anderson Mesa. This has me curious and may lead to a motorcycle excursion to see what it's like. If I do the ride, I'll post an update with road conditions. Either way, it certainly is a beautiful route and worth driving slow to take it all in.

Thank you.

I Went ahead and just booked a room in Flagstaff. If it were just my wife and I, we would probably stay at that casino but with the kiddos it seems we always "need" something so I'd rather be close to stores. I may do that road (Mormon lake to Twin Arrows Casino) just to do it while we are there though. Looking forward to the Expo!

 

[Source3]

Coming in from Durango, CO. Will leave on Thursday morning sometime. I will me monitoring 146.46, 146.40, and CB Channel 4.

 

[Sleam]

Thank you.

I Went ahead and just booked a room in Flagstaff. If it were just my wife and I, we would probably stay at that casino but with the kiddos it seems we always "need" something so I'd rather be close to stores. I may do that road (Mormon lake to Twin Arrows Casino) just to do it while we are there though. Looking forward to the Expo!

Glad you found somewhere closer! Have fun in Flagstaff - I love visiting there.

 

[WildRig]

We'll be heading down from the Denver area, on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Looking forward to it!

-Matt

 

[onebuilder]

Thank you.

I Went ahead and just booked a room in Flagstaff. If it were just my wife and I, we would probably stay at that casino but with the kiddos it seems we always "need" something so I'd rather be close to stores. I may do that road (Mormon lake to Twin Arrows Casino) just to do it while we are there though. Looking forward to the Expo!

If you want to take a nice scenic drive. I suggest heading west from Mormon Lake on Munds Park Rd to I17, i17 to Schnebly Hill Rd into Sedona. Have lunch in Sedona then head up Oak Creek Canyon back to Flagstaff. It's probably the most scenic drive in AZ and can be done in half a day, but plan all day with all the stops for pictures!

 

[Watt maker]

If you want to take a nice scenic drive. I suggest heading west from Mormon Lake on Munds Park Rd to I17, i17 to Schnebly Hill Rd into Sedona. Have lunch in Sedona then head up Oak Creek Canyon back to Flagstaff. It's probably the most scenic drive in AZ and can be done in half a day, but plan all day with all the stops for pictures!

Thanks! I'll have to check that out.

 

[1stDeuce]

Coming in from Durango, CO. Will leave on Thursday morning sometime. I will me monitoring 146.46, 146.40, and CB Channel 4.

Wife and I are heading out from Farmington Thursday morning. We'll be dragging the motorcycle trailer, so we'll probably mostly just take the highway... Gotta get there early enough to claim a good campsite in the NF. (Lots of open places to camp last year!)
Chris

 

[Sleam]

So I won't be in the Series - it's at the mechanic and there's no clean bill of health in sight. Steering, axle, leafsprings and who knows what else needs to be taken care of after a case of the Death Wobble. My mechanic doesn't want me driving it until we know what's really going on. See you at Expo in the 4Runner then, s