Actually, I have, in the late 80's. Took that route to Tuscon with some college friends , then took the scenic drive up Mt. Lemmon to Summerhaven. Next day took I-19 to Nogales, got gas at a big retirement community called Sun City, IIRC, spent a few hours in Nogales, bought a poncho and a couple of bottles of Sauza tequila, went back to Tuscon, stayed the night, then back to Phoenix, and then caught a plane to Vegas and stayed there a couple of nights, before I went back east.
The drive between Phoenix and Tuscon was uneventful, and the desert scenery was different but it became boring after a while.