Suggestions for road trip to Yuma AZ area,

We would be leaving from Northern Mo by mid March, taking hwy 40 at Tucumcari over to hwy 25 at Albuquerque to Las Cruces than hwy 10 to Yuma AZ. Interested in Landscapes and Wildlife suggestions for areas along this route. Would have 3 to 4 days in Southern AZ.
Thanks, Grizz1

Lots around Albuquerque up to Santa Fe and Taos, if you can modify your route slightly. Also, several missions and ruins along I-25 south of Alb, plus some good back roads. Bosque del Apache is a great spot for bird photography. Elephant Butte SP is near I-25. Be sure to visit La Mesilla just outside Las Cruces. Around Tucson, there are two sections of Saguaro NP, the Desert Museum, Sabino Canyon, Mt Lemmon, Mission San Xavier, etc, etc. In Yuma, we enjoyed the Old Territorial Prison tour.

You need to Google some of these and make tough choices. Far more than you have time for. On your return, you must drive by and visit White Sands NM.

Thanks sparker1, will look in to all of these areas. The plan is leave March 9, drive hard to the NM border than slow down for the scenery. Should have time to see several of these places, looking forward to the trip. Had White Sands and Saguaro NP on my list but no others that you have mentioned. I appreciate the advice, Grizz1

You should really check out Chiricahua National Monument and Kartchner Caverns if you can squeeze them in. I'll be posting shots from my trip to Chiricahua later.

Just west of Yuma in California is one of the dune areas frequented by off-roaders. That could make for some interesting shots in the early morning or late afternoon.

Also, around Tucson is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the Pima Air and Space Museum, the Titan Missile Museum and AMARG (the aircraft boneyard...) AMARG is on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the tours are handled through the Pima Museum...

Thanks JWright, I will look into those areas. Good chance we will make it to the dunes. My list is getting l-o-n-g already. Looks like I need to spend a lot of time around Tucson before reaching Yuma. Want to visit the Chiricahua NM area, after seeing pics from irishman, Saguaro NP is high on the list.
The suggestions are very much appreciated, I've been researching them and would like to make them all but know it will be impossible.

Dragoon Mountains. A very early AM hike from http://g.co/maps/ngg4e is gorgeous.
Windy Point, high above Tucson, makes a nice sunset vantage. http://g.co/maps/zfk6v
Bisbee has some fun buildings. Tombstone is a sad, cheap Touron Trap - avoid at all costs.
Lots of birds and good (if steep) hiking in Madera Canyon. Sabino Canyon is also very nice.

Unless you have to go all the way to Yuma, stopping at Tucson is not a bad idea.

Thanks Stan for the link, awesome! My plan, which is subject to change at any time, is to drive with few stops until we reach Tucumcari. Will slow at that point and begin to look for points of interest. As of now I'm wanting to spend at least two days from Alb to Tucson. I want to go to Saguaro NP, maybe both parts, Sabino, Chiricahua NM.
Been wondering if going to Organ Pipe is worth the drive since I'll be that close?
The advice has been very helpful and truly enjoy the links that have been provided.

Geonerd wrote in post #14032668
Dragoon Mountains. A very early AM hike from http://g.co/maps/ngg4e is gorgeous.
Windy Point, high above Tucson, makes a nice sunset vantage. http://g.co/maps/zfk6v
Bisbee has some fun buildings. Tombstone is a sad, cheap Touron Trap - avoid at all costs.
Lots of birds and good (if steep) hiking in Madera Canyon. Sabino Canyon is also very nice.

Windy Point is great, I used to go there all the time when I lived in Tucson. But watch out for the western diamond backs, theres a ton in that area. Organ Pipe is cool too, Id go if I were you.

I wish I was into photography when I lived out there, Id have a ton of great photos.

Finalizing plans, will be leaving very early morning Mar 9,about 14 hours from now.
From the advice, research and links my plan thus far is: stop at Alb, down to Bosque del Apache, Chiricahua near Willcox AZ , over to the Dragoon Mtns, then up to Saguro NP East of Tucson and while there will probably go to Sabino Canyon. From there we will go on to Yuma, the dunes in Cal. After these stops will start home and I have no idea which highway we will take, may go up to 40 East through Phoenix if not we will try to catch White Sands on our return.