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| Thatcher to Marana : the Long Way, AZ | | -
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| | Thatcher to Marana : the Long Way, AZ | | | |
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Thatcher to Marana : the Long Way, AZ
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| Scenic Drive | 205.00 Miles |
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| | Scenic Drive | 205.00 Miles | 6 Hrs | | 34.17 mph |
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| no partners | | After hiking the Gila Box River Trail (serious) on Thursday, and the east end of Aravaipa on Friday, I took the circuitous route from Thatcher to Marana on Saturday. Why? Because my Mom lives in Marana, and Sunday is her day. I drove US 191 south from Safford. Took AZ 266 west through the Coronado National Forest / Pinaleno Mountains to Ft. Grant. Then Ft. Grant Rd. south across Sulphur Spring Valley to Willcox. I-10 west to Benson. Then Cascabel Rd / San Pedro River Rd north to San Manuel. Webb Rd (the 35 mph "back way") to Oracle, and then AZ-77 etc. to Marana.
AZ 266 is a beautiful drive.
There is nothing in Ft. Grant but a ADOC prison. Literally nothing. Not sure where the guards come from.
There's a few farms scattered along Ft. Grant Rd., and one nearly two mile long complex of green houses. (It's a tomato farm.)
I don't think I saw even a half dozen moving vehicles from the time I got on AZ 266 until I got to the outskirts of Willcox. No services either. Seems like every home in Willcox is either a trailer or manufactured home. No built homes.
Cascabel Rd is paved for maybe a dozen miles, before turning to dirt. Mostly a very good surface, though a few decent sized rocks, and occasional sandy areas. Still, car drivable. It's very twisty, and gets narrow in spots, so keeping the speed down, and staying right, is important. You probably won't see another car all day until you get close to San Manuel, but if you do, and it is going the other way, it would be ugly. Also, watch out for stray dogs. They may belong to a ranch, but they are free range, and may chase you down the road.
AZ 77 through Oro Valley is under construction. Judging from the scrapping to the side of the road, looks like an extra lane being put in each way. Makes for slow going, so I decided to take I-10 back to Phoenix today. I was hoping it was three lanes the whole way, but it chokes to two lanes just south of Eloy, again either side of the I-8 interchange, and of course the final 20 miles into Phoenix. Should be three lanes the whole way, but I actually made good time. Still, will stick to taking the back road through Florence to Marana again in the future. |
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Route Editor
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