Toward the end of 2023, I flew to Colorado Springs and then drove 1,180 miles back to Los Angeles via the southern route; my first true “road trip” in many years. The Southwest road trip was actually a lot of fun, though I was quite exhausted by the time I reached home about 30 hours later.
Southwest Road Trip
Why a road trip, especially with so much going on in my life right now? I had a meeting in Colorado Springs and clients in Albuquerque, NM Flagstaff, AZ, and Palm Springs, CA who wanted to meet (Award Expert has become so boutique that I will make “house calls” for long-term clients). It made little sense to fly to each one, so I opted to drive instead. And what an adventure it was!
First, I flew from Los Angeles to Denver then to Colorado Springs on United. I took early morning flights so I could get a head start on my drive. The flights were unmemorable, but thankfully on time.
At Colorado Springs Airport, I picked up my rental car from Hertz. When I rent cars, I don’t want a fancy one and I certainly did not want an electric car or a gas guzzler for the journey home across Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
Despite all the preexisting scratches and dents, this was a trip I paid for the full insurance coverage just so I would not have to worry or deal with my credit card company in case of an accident or damage.
Like an idiot, I promptly locked myself out of the car (left the key in the trunk). It has been years now since I’ve had to carry a car key since my Tesla just uses my mobile phone. My wife drives a Toyota at home and her trunk will not close if it senses the key fob. But apparently not so on the Corolla…thankfully Hertz had a locksmith on staff who was quickly able to “break into” the car and get the key back.
I took care of business in Colorado Springs, then hit the road by 4:00 pm. My drive was not bad the first day: just to Albuquerque via I-25.
The drive was…boring…and I was thankful for that. I stopped in Raton, New Mexico for a stretch and bathroom break then made it to dinner in Albuquerque at Cocina Azul, as recommended by road trip expert Sriram from Travel Codex. I did not make it in time for the original Cocina Azul, but quite enjoyed the enchiladas, though both the Hatch green chile and red salsas were quite spicy!
I slept at the Hyatt Place adjacent to Albuquerque Airport. The following morning, I had an early meeting and then was on my way.
I reached Flagstaff, had a productive meeting there, and was soon on my way again for the long stretch to Palm Springs, California. On this leg of the trip, I just stopped in Mayer, AZ to use the bathroom.
After my meeting in Palm Springs, I was famished…and made a beeline for the Taco Bell in Cabazon, part of the Morongo reservation. I also got tax-free gas there.
I hit traffic and did not make it back to LAX Airport until nearly 3:00 am to drop off the car. I walked back through from the Hertz drop-off to my car and drove home, arriving home just before 4:00 am with my alarm set to go off for church at 6:45 am.
CONCLUSION
A 1,180-mile drive with three meetings was taxing, but it was a very productive two days. And while I far prefer to fly than drive, I will take my family on a cross-country road trip at some point in the future (and probably in one direction on this same Southwest route). My wife Heidi has seen so little of this country and we all know that Los Angeles is hardly indicative of the rest of the nation.
This week I’ll also add a full review of the Hyatt Place Albuquerque Airport and of a couple great coffee shops I found in Colorado Springs and in Flagstaff.
Some nice pics. I liked the one with the planes lined up looking through the window and the one with the orange Sun dipping behind the mountains.
Thanks for the photos! I’ve traveled all of those roads (though not in one go), and it’s been decades since I last traveled any of it! My friend and I got a spectacular view of Comet Hyakutake from just outside of Raton on one road trip. Road trips are so fun … and SO time-consuming.
I also didn’t realize that United still runs service between DEN and COS.
I did a road trip from Northern to Southern California return trip; when I just don’t want to deal with airports. It’s kind of fun and you see different places and things. And being in my new car just to put some miles on it since I don’t drive it anywhere else. The fast food is unhealthy, however. And renting a car from Hertz? Be careful, they still accuse people of stealing their cars!
A most efficient journey! Will be interested in the coffee that fueled it.
Thanks for the shout-out. Glad you made it to Cocina Azul; those enchiladas look good. FYI, “red or green chili” is the New Mexico equivalent of the old “which exit” joke at the expense of New Jersey.
Too bad you didn’t have the time to check out the wild burros in Oatman, Arizona. That’s worth taking your kids to see if you have a long weekend.
Well never mind – you took I-17 to I-10. Still, check out Oatman the next time you have a reason to head up that way.
Why Hertz and not National? National is the only rental car company I use in the US. They are the best in my opinion. Regarding insurance, are you aware that your own car insurance would cover any damage, theft, etc in a rental car? No need to give free money to the car rental unless you got full insurance pretty cheap which I doubt it. With National, those scratches and dents are usually never looked since they are seen as cosmetic and I never had a single issue in documenting those in 20 years of renting from National.
It was an extra $36 which I considered a very reasonable insurance policy against hassle.
Hertz was much cheaper than the others.
Wow! At $36 it is a non brainer for sure. I usually decline everything but always take full insurance while renting in Europe.
Claiming rental car damage on your personal policy is a guaranteed increase in your premium when it renews, possibly up to 40%, which stays on for three years (unless you have accident forgiveness or something similar). Whatever you pay the car rental company is almost certainly less than your premium increase. If you don’t want to pay the rental company, buy a third-party rental policy, buy it from Amex, or rely on your credit card, but using your personal policy should be an absolute last resort.
Yeah, I thought Matt’s comment about not wanting to deal with the credit card company to be interesting. I have, unfortunately, had to do that, but it was relatively painless.
My brother-in-law did red-green chili for Christmas Eve this year. 😉
Hertz? You’ll be arrested
Very nice to see a new type of report here – I particularly liked the photography for this one. Reminded me of a lot of the same roads I was on when I moved (via car) from New Jersey to L.A. Feels like yesterday but was…(checks notes)….20 years ago ?!? Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Great work.
Was the tax free gas from the Taco Bell?
How bad was the drop off charge for the one way rental? I have yet to find a fairly reliable way to mitigate drop charges.
Taco Bell is in the same parking lot (casino is too…and an In-N-Out).
Did you see my email?
No. Nothing in my spam folder either. I figured you just brushed me off and thought I’d deal with it. If you email me, can you make sure there’s no space after the email address? Otherwise I can figure some other way to reach you or v.v.
Resent. I was missing one letter…
Great photos, thanks. I love road trips out west as the beauty of that part of the country cannot, in my opinion be over stated. I keep a motorcycle in the southwest and fly out multiple times a year to explore that part or the country.
National free rental days cover one-way rentals, and also get you cars with less than 60K miles. Looks like a great drive nonetheless; the SW is made for long drives. When you drive with your family in the future, make sure to listen to “Snowing on Raton” as you cross the state line on I-25.
That must be the only public toilet in Mayer. That’s a really small town. Check out Prescott, AZ sometime.
I no longer do business with Hertz because of recent scandals involving false theft reports. However, that’s a heck of a deal. I’m currently road tripping around the country to see friends and family, making the journey in my Mercedes convertible.
I’m in Palm Springs now but it looks like much of the midwest, plains, and north have finally succumbed to snow. Have a great trip.