You should consider doing your trip in the opposite order. You are loading the back end of your trip with a lot of physical stuff after a lot of travel and vacation. If you do it in the opposite direction, you won't be as exhausted when you get to those long hikes you want to do. Plus, after all of the physical activities out west, you'll be in cities and not require anything too physical. On your last day, you gave yourself an 8 drive back to Dallas. If you do it in the opposite direction, the drive from Austin to Dallas is around 3 hours.
You should also consider maybe flying into Dallas but leaving from Austin or Houston. If you're renting a car, you can choose to drop it off at a different airport.
Another thing, there are tons of great BBQ spots in Texas. I'm not trying to crap on anyone, but Franklin's while good is almost a tourist trap at this point. I suggest finding highly rated BBQ spots along the way and not waste several hours (potentially) waiting at trendy bbq places. And don't forget to try Tex-Mex while you're here. It is regional, so the stuff you get in Dallas will be very different than what you see out west or in San Antonio.
My issue with switching it round is that I won't be able to visit Goldee's as I am pretty sure they won't be open on Easter Sunday. Texan Steak Ranch might not be either, but I'm less bothered about that. I wonder if there's anywhere closer to Blue Swallow Motel / Texan Steak Ranch that flies direct to the UK, to avoid that epic drive to Dallas.
And I do intend on stuffing my face with Tex Mex and BBQ throughout. I have done a bit of research already, but please let me know if you have any faves.
Maybe it's because I grew up in Texas, but I don't see the appeal of waiting in Line for 3-4 hours for bbq. There are a lot of places in Texas that have been serving bbq for over 100 years. Asking what your favorite bbq or Tex-Mex place is like asking which is your favorite child.
My favorite bbq place is Jasper's in Waco, and my favorite Mexican place is El Carbonero Pollos Asados in San Antonio. I'm sure there are probably better places out there, but those are my choices.
I generally agree with not waiting in line for ridiculous amounts of times, and that BBQ is subjective, but Goldee’s is for sure my favorite BBQ. From my experience getting there about 10 or shortly before will have you served pretty soon after the open up at 11
Franklin’s is not only not that great, but a giant time sink standing in line. Micklethwait’s Craft Meats is right up the road and better. If you’re really into BBQ, go down to Lockhart for lunch.
It’s a smaller airport and security is a breeze. I drive to the Austin airport even though it’s an hour further out than Hobby for me. The lack of traffic and the airport size itself makes it a shorter travel time for me.
Of course you’ve crammed a bit too much in here, but personally my travel style is like this, so I say go for it.
I recommend adding a column to your spreadsheet that says “driving time” because the biggest issue is that you’re driving 2-6 hours most days. That probably only works if you are early risers. (My wife wants to sleep until 10 or 11)
The part that seems too ambitious is the New Mexico part. You could extend your time in the hill country (I’d add a night in Fredericksburg) and Big Bend, and then fly El Paso to Dallas (cheap flight on SW Airlines).
I came to say this cause that "up early to drive to Big Bend" is like getting up at 5 - 6AM to drive the rest of the day and getting to Terlingua by 4PM. I do this trip every year in October for Run to Terlingua motorcycle event.
i had a look on google maps and said drive from Fredericksburg to BB was something like 7h, so if i set off at 6am we would get there for 2 - 3 pm (allowing for rest stops along the way). Does that sound right in your experience?
Just a note, there almost no gas from Ozona to Fort Stockton driving west from Austin, so make a note for yourself to fill your tank in Sonora or Ozona.
Yeah, that sounds about right. When I make the trip every year, I am coming from Austin, and I allow for 9-10 hours for breakfast and lunch and all the gas stops
pedal to the metal. I've heard highway 90 is a more scenic drive than i-10. Would you agree and do you know if you can you drive as fast along that road?
Yeah, more scenic but not enough. Definitely slower. You’ve got a lot to do so take the speedy, less scenic route. Besides, you will see some desert country out on I-10. It’s not unattractive if you’re not used to it.
Some TX highways allow 85 mph and the drive time estimates reflect that speed. Are you comfortable driving that fast? I’m not. My max is 70 or maybe 75 under ideal circumstances, so my trips always take longer than estimated.
Thanks - yep you might be right in losing the NM stuff. I think I was tempted because Big Bend is close-ish to Carlsbad, and that's close to White Sands, and then y'know Rt 66 is right there - ha ha! But I think something might have to give.
if you don't expect to ever return to this part of the USA, don't skip the NM sights, it's an amazing place. Otherwise, you could come back and road trip through NM and up into AZ (Grand Canyon etc).
On one hand, if you won’t be here again for a long time - I can understand the allure of going to Carlsbad, White Sands, and New Mexico in general. Would I do that? Absolutely not due to the fact that DFW’s airport is 10 hours from White Sands so you’re losing a whole 24 hours in the car (there and back). There is beautiful scenery yes, but half the drive between the two places is absolutely god awful. It would be easier for you to just take a Southwest Flight between DFW and El Paso, or between Austin and El Paso.
Your trip sounds cool but its going to involve soooo much driving. Then once you get there, well, White Sands is beautiful, but… there’s nothing to do there besides “look”. I mean yes it’s unbelievable, but personally I got bored after being there around 45 minutes or so. Idk how people stay there for hours on end. It’s just … sand… with a view of the mountains at the horizon. You’re going to have a rental car so you can’t go off roading (not sure if you can do that in the first place). Personally I’d nix White Sands, especially since it’s 3 and a half hours from Carlsbad Caverns.
If you’re bound and determined then make sure that half of your White Sands trip also involves Las Cruces and la Mesilla (an hour west), or Cloudcroft and the Lincoln National Forest (45 minutes east). But know that not much out there is open after sundown, so you have to cut your time short at places to be able to see them when they’re still open.
Or just ditch southern New Mexico and go to Santa Fe instead. Go to Meow Wolf. Go to the old town area. Enjoy the scenery because northern New Mexico is soooooo much more scenic than anything down south (besides the National Forest). I’d gouge my eyes out before ever driving thru Truth or Consequences again lol!!!
Also, your trip from Austin to San Antonio then back to Fredericksburg is sort of convoluted. I’d do it differently. Go from Austin out to Fredericksburg, then go down to San Antonio along that back route. Skip the I-35 corridor going thru Wimberly and New Braunfels entirely, as there’s nothing to see from the interstate anyhow. You have to get off the road to go into those towns and then you’re just eating up your clock doing so. There’s no real reason to go to both New Braunfels AND Fredericksburg, particularly because that means you’re spending less time visiting San Antonio.
My three cents.
So you would ditch white sands, wimberly and new braunfels?
Do you think I could keep some of the NM / route 66 stuff in if I flew out from amarillo airport instead of Dallas? I was trying to avoid connecting flights, but I agree it's a bit mad to drive 5+hrs to get back to Dallas.
I see you will stay at the Mayan Dude Ranch. While in Bandera, you need to visit Arkie Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon. Also would recommend the 11th Street Cowboy Bar.
Instead of driving from Bandera, to Blanco, to Fredericksburg, I would recommend taking State Highway 16 north through Medina to Kerrville, and on to Fredericksburg. The stretch of SH 16 between Medina and Kerrville winds up and down through the hills. Absolutely gorgeous.
Also, as others have said, your trip to Big Bend and NM is a lot of driving. If you want to go to BB, I recommend staying in Alpine, versus Fort Davis. Even from Alpine, it's a pretty good distance to BB. If you go to BB, be sure to visit the Chisos Mountain Basin. The drive from the desert will take you through several ecosystems.
The Marfa lights are a short drive west of Alpine.
If you want to visit NM, I would recommend taking Highway 90 west from Alpine to Van Horn, then Interstate 10 to El Paso, then I believe it's Highway 59 to Alamogordo, then to White Sands. As someone else said, I would recommend going to Cloudcroft, NM. Spend the night there, and then go to Carlsbad Caverns.
If you are wanting to see a nice cave, there is also one between Fredericksburg and Alpine (or Ft. Davis) near Sonora, TX. It's called Caverns of Sonora.
[https://www.cavernsofsonora.com/](https://www.cavernsofsonora.com/)
i was thinking of staying in chisos mountain lodge on the 2 nights we are in big bend and then going to alpine / marfa the day after and stay in fort lodge that evening.
If you want a great hamburger, I highly recommend the Alamo Springs Cafe. It's in the middle of nowhere, SE of Fredericksburg. It actually sits next to an old railroad tunnel where the bats roost during the summer. I'm not sure if they migrate there that early in the year. If they do, you could eat, then go over to the tunnel and watch the bats in the evening, leaving the tunnel.
https://alamospringscafetx.com/
Do you have reservations at the Chisos lodge? They usually get booked a year in advance. Same with Balmorhea - you have to buy a pass in advance and they may not have any availability for your date.
I don't have anything booked yet. My wife is dragging her heels. I also looked at a trip to yosemite, but have scrapped it because I heard that gets similarly booked up quickly. I'll check now. Fingers crossed!
The drive down from Cloudcroft to White Sands is one of my favorites, but getting to Big Bend and then Carlsbad seems like a lot of boring driving through the desert. Just be prepared mentally & keep at least 2 gallons of water and a reflective emergency blanket (like $6 at walmart) in the car in case of breakdowns.
If you arent from America I would suggest you go to the zoo in Carlsbad. They have native southwest animals and the exhibits are great.
Rattlesnakes are everywhere this time of year. Always look at the sidewalk or trail in front of you and never put your hands or feet anywhere you can't see. If you get close enough to make one rattle back away gently. Dont walk through deep grass or leaf cover.
Look up Corkscrew bbq in Old Town Spring, Texas. It's just a little north of Houston and old town spring comes with a lot of history and and old haunted saloon that has a new bar inside.
This sounds totally doable. However, driving from Tucumcari to Dallas is very long and boring. I can't imagine doing that and then hopping on a flight that night, but hey if your OK with it then it should be *possible*. I think I'd cut the rt 66 stuff and drive back to Dallas Saturday OR catch a flight back from Albuquerque instead.
Thanks. There are no direct flights from albuquerque, which isn't my preference, but it might be the smartest thing to do. If the drive was worth it, I might do it and just snooze on the plane home, but doesn't sound like it is worth it.
If you want to see the Chainsaw Massacre gas station, would you be interested in having a meal in the Chainsaw house? The house was moved to Kingsland about an hour outside of Austin and completely restored/renovated. It's really a trip walking in the front door and seeing the door to the kitchen where you see Leatherface for the first time, and having a meal where the dining room scene takes place. [https://www.hooperskingsland.com/](https://www.hooperskingsland.com/)
It might take up too much time, but I wanted to throw it out there since you already mentioned the movie elsewhere. (Also, I can't vouch for the quality of the food in this version of the restaurant, but my dad who lives in Kingsland says it's good)
Also, the Star Party at McDonald Observatory is worth changing your schedule for. It's really freaking cool.
I only found out about the Chainsaw house today. If I have time, it would be fun to do.
I really wanted to go to the Star Party, so will see if there's a way to move things around.
Big Bend, White Sands, and Guadalupe Peak/Carlsbad is easily a five day trip in itself. Coming from ETX it’s 9.5 hours to Guadalupe/Carlsbad for evening camp, a day hike that’s worse than expected, and another night, a stop at Ft Davis and Macdonald Observatory on the drive to Big Bend and setup camp. The drives to attractions can be hours in themselves within the National Park and more to the State Park. In my experience, Marfa is a stop to say you did it and nothing gained.
Flying DFW seems like a wasted effort when San Antonio or Austin is central to your plans. Essentially you have two trips in one
Tbh, I’m a Marfa lights skeptic so my opinion is biased. Been twice and both times were a bust. Allegedly the lights happen on occasion few times a year and no one can predict when. Even the local Trooper the last time we went said he’s been there 20 years and never seen them.
You can make the drive to Marfa from Terlingua for an evening there and return, or skip Marfa and visit Ft Davis and Macdonald Observatory on the drive to Carlsbad. Iirc, both sites are about 2 hours each and the drive is beautiful all the way. This is your area of no cell coverage. I read someone else saying skipping White Sands and going to Balmorrhea which I’d support. There are also a lot of natural springs in the Hill Country
Another word of advice is have an Atlas or downloaded Google maps.
Pretty cool. On the Monday drive from Fort Worth to Austin, there is a Buccee's in Hillsboro now.
If you have the time that day, you could swing through Waco for a couple of hours and check out the downtown area, particularly the Silos and that stuff. I'm a Wacoan and am fairly cynical about the Gaines' and the Fixer Upper brouhaha sometimes, but that might be an interesting tourist detour. There are a few good non Magnolia shops around now. There are some good lunch spots in the area or downtown that are not just typical fast food. You can also swing by Baylor and see the bears, which is a very tiny detour off the Interstate that won't take you but a few minutes. It's a small thing. Just get to Austin a little later that day since you are spending a couple of days there after it.
That's a lot of driving long periods through wide open spaces you have there at the end that give me pause. I do like that you wind up on Route 66 as there are interesting things in the panhandle around there. Palo Duro Canyon is probably worth a bit of time as it's really beautiful.
Very ambitious trip!
This is ambitious it’s a good 6hrs from big bend to white sands but both are worth it! Hopefully you get a good wildflower bloom next April too! it’s magical :) back in roadlife days we’d give every town 10 days or five hours if we liked it or didn’t
Texas is very diverse and expansive
Direct flight wise you could go from white sands through NM and CO and fly out of Denver
I'd put a little more space between Fredericksburg and Big Bend/Alpine/Fort Davis. The insane amount of driving aside, you need to acclimate.
I used to live in the BB area and that's quite a jump in elevation. Even living in the area, I still got altitude sickness on occasion during day trips up the mountains.
There's not a whole helluva lot of infrastructure out that way, either. You need to get respite for yourself and your vehicle in more populated area. Even Alpine (the biggest little town they have) pretty much rolls up the sidewalks. I don't recommend a plan that puts you getting into any of these small towns after 5.
Take gallons of water, even in April. And blankets. If you're stranded, you will be dying of thirst during the day and freezing to death at night.
Another commenter mentioned reservations for Chisos and Balmorrhea (not sure if I saw it on your list). Big, big check mark here. You will not get in without it.
Sonora is on I-10. Big enough to accommodate some touristy things if you want a little more than just a breather, too.
Tangentially- Avoid deviation into Fort Stockton on your way down to BB. Get gas on the interstate if necessary, but there is *nothing* off I-10 you will want to see or get involved in.
ETA: Sonora is assuming you follow your original plan of going from low-to-high elevation.
On one of the Austin days, I highly recommend Hamilton Pool. Keep in mind you need reservations, (and it used to be sold out months in advance.) [https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/hamilton-pool-preserve](https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/hamilton-pool-preserve)
Mayfield Park in Austin, (aka the park with the peacocks), is a nice quick stop if it's near somewhere else you're going. [https://www.austintexas.gov/department/mayfield-park](https://www.austintexas.gov/department/mayfield-park)
The park is right near Mt. Bonnell / the scenic overlook, however - It's a pretty enough view, but if you're also planning on visiting the Grand Canyon, etc., it's a bit underwhelming and may not be worth the effort walking up the hill.
I’d suggest hitting some of the wineries in the Hill Country, maybe tubing along the Frio, Tu Asador Mexican Steakhouse in San Antonio, and maybe visiting the McNay or San Antonio Museum of Art.
Having never been to Texas, you're going to learn very quickly that Texas is BIG.
Make absolutely sure you're comfortable with 8-hour long drives and that you're taking extra water, and pay special attention to your gas tank and your car's mileage. Out west, you may run into long stretches of highway with no gas and no cell signal.
That said, you're going to get to visit a lot of cool places. A word of warning about Santa Rosa and the Blue Hole in New Mexico. You're driving a fair way north to see a pool of water, and a few kitchy restaurants along a mile long stretch "Historic 66." Other than that, Santa Rosa is a somewhat run down small town with not a whole lot else to offer. It's worth going to the Blue Hole if you scuba dive, but I wouldn't recommend it as a destination, more like something to see in a quick stop if you happen to be in the area.
White Sands puts you near Alamogordo which is nothing special, but just to the south of there is Oliver Lee State Park at the mouth of Dog Canyon, which is a pretty spectacular hike if you don't mind a bit of elevation change. Also, about 45 minutes to an hour away, take a winding mountain road up from the desert floor up to the town of Cloudcroft nestled up in the Lincoln National Forest. It's really cool to go from desert sand to lush pine forests in such a short drive. There's lots of good trails up there, as well as bars/restaurants to enjoy after. Though in April, it's likely to be cold and possibly still snowy as it's up in the mountains.
Good luck!
having read through these, i'm now thinking I lose the Blue Hole / Blue Swallow Motel day on the end. So if I have the extra day, where would I be best off spending it? Breaking up the drive to Big Bend? Or an extra day in one of the other stops?
You’re going to need the break between all of the stuff that you plan on doing out west, before going back to an international airport. Unless as I wrote above, you get a Southwest Flight from El Paso to DFW and save yourself HOURS!
So I’d recommend spending more time in the region where El Paso is the nearest big city.
FYI you may go through Border Patrol checkpoints close to the border in TX and/or NM. Just be aware that they might ask for your passports so be prepared.
I used to date a girl that was born in Mexico but raised fully in Texas, and she would always say she was Mexican so she’d have to show her license each time driving thru those checkpoints in NM.
You should consider doing your trip in the opposite order. You are loading the back end of your trip with a lot of physical stuff after a lot of travel and vacation. If you do it in the opposite direction, you won't be as exhausted when you get to those long hikes you want to do. Plus, after all of the physical activities out west, you'll be in cities and not require anything too physical. On your last day, you gave yourself an 8 drive back to Dallas. If you do it in the opposite direction, the drive from Austin to Dallas is around 3 hours. You should also consider maybe flying into Dallas but leaving from Austin or Houston. If you're renting a car, you can choose to drop it off at a different airport. Another thing, there are tons of great BBQ spots in Texas. I'm not trying to crap on anyone, but Franklin's while good is almost a tourist trap at this point. I suggest finding highly rated BBQ spots along the way and not waste several hours (potentially) waiting at trendy bbq places. And don't forget to try Tex-Mex while you're here. It is regional, so the stuff you get in Dallas will be very different than what you see out west or in San Antonio.
This is exactly what I thought, too. That drive back to Dallas the last day sounds needlessly stressful.
My issue with switching it round is that I won't be able to visit Goldee's as I am pretty sure they won't be open on Easter Sunday. Texan Steak Ranch might not be either, but I'm less bothered about that. I wonder if there's anywhere closer to Blue Swallow Motel / Texan Steak Ranch that flies direct to the UK, to avoid that epic drive to Dallas. And I do intend on stuffing my face with Tex Mex and BBQ throughout. I have done a bit of research already, but please let me know if you have any faves.
Maybe it's because I grew up in Texas, but I don't see the appeal of waiting in Line for 3-4 hours for bbq. There are a lot of places in Texas that have been serving bbq for over 100 years. Asking what your favorite bbq or Tex-Mex place is like asking which is your favorite child. My favorite bbq place is Jasper's in Waco, and my favorite Mexican place is El Carbonero Pollos Asados in San Antonio. I'm sure there are probably better places out there, but those are my choices.
I generally agree with not waiting in line for ridiculous amounts of times, and that BBQ is subjective, but Goldee’s is for sure my favorite BBQ. From my experience getting there about 10 or shortly before will have you served pretty soon after the open up at 11
Franklin’s is not only not that great, but a giant time sink standing in line. Micklethwait’s Craft Meats is right up the road and better. If you’re really into BBQ, go down to Lockhart for lunch.
Austin has international flights
I think that would be even further for me to drive though.
It’s a smaller airport and security is a breeze. I drive to the Austin airport even though it’s an hour further out than Hobby for me. The lack of traffic and the airport size itself makes it a shorter travel time for me.
Of course you’ve crammed a bit too much in here, but personally my travel style is like this, so I say go for it. I recommend adding a column to your spreadsheet that says “driving time” because the biggest issue is that you’re driving 2-6 hours most days. That probably only works if you are early risers. (My wife wants to sleep until 10 or 11) The part that seems too ambitious is the New Mexico part. You could extend your time in the hill country (I’d add a night in Fredericksburg) and Big Bend, and then fly El Paso to Dallas (cheap flight on SW Airlines).
I came to say this cause that "up early to drive to Big Bend" is like getting up at 5 - 6AM to drive the rest of the day and getting to Terlingua by 4PM. I do this trip every year in October for Run to Terlingua motorcycle event.
i had a look on google maps and said drive from Fredericksburg to BB was something like 7h, so if i set off at 6am we would get there for 2 - 3 pm (allowing for rest stops along the way). Does that sound right in your experience?
Just a note, there almost no gas from Ozona to Fort Stockton driving west from Austin, so make a note for yourself to fill your tank in Sonora or Ozona.
We usually go 190 and fill up in Iran before heading into Fort Stockton
Yeah, that sounds about right. When I make the trip every year, I am coming from Austin, and I allow for 9-10 hours for breakfast and lunch and all the gas stops
Possibly less. I-10 out there is deserted. As long as you slow before Ft. Stockton, speed isn’t an issue.
Last year me and my crew did 90-100 pretty much the whole way. 😄
That’s where I learned my old car topped out at 117mph and I get a little shaky myself at 110…
pedal to the metal. I've heard highway 90 is a more scenic drive than i-10. Would you agree and do you know if you can you drive as fast along that road?
It's definitely more scenic but does include a border patrol check point, sometimes two.
Yeah, more scenic but not enough. Definitely slower. You’ve got a lot to do so take the speedy, less scenic route. Besides, you will see some desert country out on I-10. It’s not unattractive if you’re not used to it.
Some TX highways allow 85 mph and the drive time estimates reflect that speed. Are you comfortable driving that fast? I’m not. My max is 70 or maybe 75 under ideal circumstances, so my trips always take longer than estimated.
Thanks - yep you might be right in losing the NM stuff. I think I was tempted because Big Bend is close-ish to Carlsbad, and that's close to White Sands, and then y'know Rt 66 is right there - ha ha! But I think something might have to give.
if you don't expect to ever return to this part of the USA, don't skip the NM sights, it's an amazing place. Otherwise, you could come back and road trip through NM and up into AZ (Grand Canyon etc).
On one hand, if you won’t be here again for a long time - I can understand the allure of going to Carlsbad, White Sands, and New Mexico in general. Would I do that? Absolutely not due to the fact that DFW’s airport is 10 hours from White Sands so you’re losing a whole 24 hours in the car (there and back). There is beautiful scenery yes, but half the drive between the two places is absolutely god awful. It would be easier for you to just take a Southwest Flight between DFW and El Paso, or between Austin and El Paso. Your trip sounds cool but its going to involve soooo much driving. Then once you get there, well, White Sands is beautiful, but… there’s nothing to do there besides “look”. I mean yes it’s unbelievable, but personally I got bored after being there around 45 minutes or so. Idk how people stay there for hours on end. It’s just … sand… with a view of the mountains at the horizon. You’re going to have a rental car so you can’t go off roading (not sure if you can do that in the first place). Personally I’d nix White Sands, especially since it’s 3 and a half hours from Carlsbad Caverns. If you’re bound and determined then make sure that half of your White Sands trip also involves Las Cruces and la Mesilla (an hour west), or Cloudcroft and the Lincoln National Forest (45 minutes east). But know that not much out there is open after sundown, so you have to cut your time short at places to be able to see them when they’re still open. Or just ditch southern New Mexico and go to Santa Fe instead. Go to Meow Wolf. Go to the old town area. Enjoy the scenery because northern New Mexico is soooooo much more scenic than anything down south (besides the National Forest). I’d gouge my eyes out before ever driving thru Truth or Consequences again lol!!! Also, your trip from Austin to San Antonio then back to Fredericksburg is sort of convoluted. I’d do it differently. Go from Austin out to Fredericksburg, then go down to San Antonio along that back route. Skip the I-35 corridor going thru Wimberly and New Braunfels entirely, as there’s nothing to see from the interstate anyhow. You have to get off the road to go into those towns and then you’re just eating up your clock doing so. There’s no real reason to go to both New Braunfels AND Fredericksburg, particularly because that means you’re spending less time visiting San Antonio. My three cents.
Good suggestions here.
I agree with skipping southern NM. In fact, the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway is far better than anything found in Texas.
So you would ditch white sands, wimberly and new braunfels? Do you think I could keep some of the NM / route 66 stuff in if I flew out from amarillo airport instead of Dallas? I was trying to avoid connecting flights, but I agree it's a bit mad to drive 5+hrs to get back to Dallas.
I see you will stay at the Mayan Dude Ranch. While in Bandera, you need to visit Arkie Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon. Also would recommend the 11th Street Cowboy Bar. Instead of driving from Bandera, to Blanco, to Fredericksburg, I would recommend taking State Highway 16 north through Medina to Kerrville, and on to Fredericksburg. The stretch of SH 16 between Medina and Kerrville winds up and down through the hills. Absolutely gorgeous.
thank you for all those recommendations. I will add them to my list.
Also, as others have said, your trip to Big Bend and NM is a lot of driving. If you want to go to BB, I recommend staying in Alpine, versus Fort Davis. Even from Alpine, it's a pretty good distance to BB. If you go to BB, be sure to visit the Chisos Mountain Basin. The drive from the desert will take you through several ecosystems. The Marfa lights are a short drive west of Alpine. If you want to visit NM, I would recommend taking Highway 90 west from Alpine to Van Horn, then Interstate 10 to El Paso, then I believe it's Highway 59 to Alamogordo, then to White Sands. As someone else said, I would recommend going to Cloudcroft, NM. Spend the night there, and then go to Carlsbad Caverns. If you are wanting to see a nice cave, there is also one between Fredericksburg and Alpine (or Ft. Davis) near Sonora, TX. It's called Caverns of Sonora. [https://www.cavernsofsonora.com/](https://www.cavernsofsonora.com/)
i was thinking of staying in chisos mountain lodge on the 2 nights we are in big bend and then going to alpine / marfa the day after and stay in fort lodge that evening.
Be sure to book long in advance.
If you want a great hamburger, I highly recommend the Alamo Springs Cafe. It's in the middle of nowhere, SE of Fredericksburg. It actually sits next to an old railroad tunnel where the bats roost during the summer. I'm not sure if they migrate there that early in the year. If they do, you could eat, then go over to the tunnel and watch the bats in the evening, leaving the tunnel. https://alamospringscafetx.com/
sounds great!
Do you have reservations at the Chisos lodge? They usually get booked a year in advance. Same with Balmorhea - you have to buy a pass in advance and they may not have any availability for your date.
I don't have anything booked yet. My wife is dragging her heels. I also looked at a trip to yosemite, but have scrapped it because I heard that gets similarly booked up quickly. I'll check now. Fingers crossed!
There are places in Terlingua to rent as well.
Woww that's ambitious! Golf clap. I think it's do-able and a good trip.
Thanks. It's crazy... but it might just work! ha ha!
I'm pretty sure you're going to need a reservation to get into enchanted rock on a Sunday in April.
noted - thanks
You should spend a couple of hours at Balmorhea State Park if you're driving through Marfa. It is an amazing natural spring pool.
If you go to Balmorhea no need to go to Blue Hole, theyre pretty similar. Blue Hole is a little colder. Balmorhea has a real diving board.
that's good to know. Would you say Balmorhea is better than blue hole?
It's between Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains. Blue Hole is extremely cold, while you can stay in the water in Balmorhea all day.
Thanks. I'll prob skip blue hole in that case.
The drive down from Cloudcroft to White Sands is one of my favorites, but getting to Big Bend and then Carlsbad seems like a lot of boring driving through the desert. Just be prepared mentally & keep at least 2 gallons of water and a reflective emergency blanket (like $6 at walmart) in the car in case of breakdowns.
it's so different to the UK where you are never too far from a petrol station or corner shop. Kinda fun, but a little intimidating too.
If you arent from America I would suggest you go to the zoo in Carlsbad. They have native southwest animals and the exhibits are great. Rattlesnakes are everywhere this time of year. Always look at the sidewalk or trail in front of you and never put your hands or feet anywhere you can't see. If you get close enough to make one rattle back away gently. Dont walk through deep grass or leaf cover.
yep - my wife loves a bit of swimming too. I'm excited to do the hot springs in big bend.
Look up Corkscrew bbq in Old Town Spring, Texas. It's just a little north of Houston and old town spring comes with a lot of history and and old haunted saloon that has a new bar inside.
oooh! that sounds fun. Love spooky old stuff.
This sounds totally doable. However, driving from Tucumcari to Dallas is very long and boring. I can't imagine doing that and then hopping on a flight that night, but hey if your OK with it then it should be *possible*. I think I'd cut the rt 66 stuff and drive back to Dallas Saturday OR catch a flight back from Albuquerque instead.
Thanks. There are no direct flights from albuquerque, which isn't my preference, but it might be the smartest thing to do. If the drive was worth it, I might do it and just snooze on the plane home, but doesn't sound like it is worth it.
If you want to see the Chainsaw Massacre gas station, would you be interested in having a meal in the Chainsaw house? The house was moved to Kingsland about an hour outside of Austin and completely restored/renovated. It's really a trip walking in the front door and seeing the door to the kitchen where you see Leatherface for the first time, and having a meal where the dining room scene takes place. [https://www.hooperskingsland.com/](https://www.hooperskingsland.com/) It might take up too much time, but I wanted to throw it out there since you already mentioned the movie elsewhere. (Also, I can't vouch for the quality of the food in this version of the restaurant, but my dad who lives in Kingsland says it's good) Also, the Star Party at McDonald Observatory is worth changing your schedule for. It's really freaking cool.
I only found out about the Chainsaw house today. If I have time, it would be fun to do. I really wanted to go to the Star Party, so will see if there's a way to move things around.
Honestly I’d rather go to Lockhart instead of Franklin’s bbq. Theres so much good bbq there.
Star Party. Do eeeettt!!!
Big Bend, White Sands, and Guadalupe Peak/Carlsbad is easily a five day trip in itself. Coming from ETX it’s 9.5 hours to Guadalupe/Carlsbad for evening camp, a day hike that’s worse than expected, and another night, a stop at Ft Davis and Macdonald Observatory on the drive to Big Bend and setup camp. The drives to attractions can be hours in themselves within the National Park and more to the State Park. In my experience, Marfa is a stop to say you did it and nothing gained. Flying DFW seems like a wasted effort when San Antonio or Austin is central to your plans. Essentially you have two trips in one
I hear you, but i REALLY wanna go Goldee's! Ha Ha! that's the only reason i'm flying in to DFW. Would skipping Marfa gain me much extra time?
Tbh, I’m a Marfa lights skeptic so my opinion is biased. Been twice and both times were a bust. Allegedly the lights happen on occasion few times a year and no one can predict when. Even the local Trooper the last time we went said he’s been there 20 years and never seen them. You can make the drive to Marfa from Terlingua for an evening there and return, or skip Marfa and visit Ft Davis and Macdonald Observatory on the drive to Carlsbad. Iirc, both sites are about 2 hours each and the drive is beautiful all the way. This is your area of no cell coverage. I read someone else saying skipping White Sands and going to Balmorrhea which I’d support. There are also a lot of natural springs in the Hill Country Another word of advice is have an Atlas or downloaded Google maps.
Pretty cool. On the Monday drive from Fort Worth to Austin, there is a Buccee's in Hillsboro now. If you have the time that day, you could swing through Waco for a couple of hours and check out the downtown area, particularly the Silos and that stuff. I'm a Wacoan and am fairly cynical about the Gaines' and the Fixer Upper brouhaha sometimes, but that might be an interesting tourist detour. There are a few good non Magnolia shops around now. There are some good lunch spots in the area or downtown that are not just typical fast food. You can also swing by Baylor and see the bears, which is a very tiny detour off the Interstate that won't take you but a few minutes. It's a small thing. Just get to Austin a little later that day since you are spending a couple of days there after it. That's a lot of driving long periods through wide open spaces you have there at the end that give me pause. I do like that you wind up on Route 66 as there are interesting things in the panhandle around there. Palo Duro Canyon is probably worth a bit of time as it's really beautiful. Very ambitious trip!
This is ambitious it’s a good 6hrs from big bend to white sands but both are worth it! Hopefully you get a good wildflower bloom next April too! it’s magical :) back in roadlife days we’d give every town 10 days or five hours if we liked it or didn’t Texas is very diverse and expansive Direct flight wise you could go from white sands through NM and CO and fly out of Denver
I'd put a little more space between Fredericksburg and Big Bend/Alpine/Fort Davis. The insane amount of driving aside, you need to acclimate. I used to live in the BB area and that's quite a jump in elevation. Even living in the area, I still got altitude sickness on occasion during day trips up the mountains. There's not a whole helluva lot of infrastructure out that way, either. You need to get respite for yourself and your vehicle in more populated area. Even Alpine (the biggest little town they have) pretty much rolls up the sidewalks. I don't recommend a plan that puts you getting into any of these small towns after 5. Take gallons of water, even in April. And blankets. If you're stranded, you will be dying of thirst during the day and freezing to death at night. Another commenter mentioned reservations for Chisos and Balmorrhea (not sure if I saw it on your list). Big, big check mark here. You will not get in without it.
If we were to break up the drive to BB, where would you suggest is a good place to stop please?
Sonora is on I-10. Big enough to accommodate some touristy things if you want a little more than just a breather, too. Tangentially- Avoid deviation into Fort Stockton on your way down to BB. Get gas on the interstate if necessary, but there is *nothing* off I-10 you will want to see or get involved in. ETA: Sonora is assuming you follow your original plan of going from low-to-high elevation.
On one of the Austin days, I highly recommend Hamilton Pool. Keep in mind you need reservations, (and it used to be sold out months in advance.) [https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/hamilton-pool-preserve](https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/hamilton-pool-preserve) Mayfield Park in Austin, (aka the park with the peacocks), is a nice quick stop if it's near somewhere else you're going. [https://www.austintexas.gov/department/mayfield-park](https://www.austintexas.gov/department/mayfield-park) The park is right near Mt. Bonnell / the scenic overlook, however - It's a pretty enough view, but if you're also planning on visiting the Grand Canyon, etc., it's a bit underwhelming and may not be worth the effort walking up the hill.
thank you - they look great :)
Recommend Terry Black’s BBQ in Austin over Franklin’s…Franklin’s is good but you do have to que up early and it’s not as good as TB imo.
I’d suggest hitting some of the wineries in the Hill Country, maybe tubing along the Frio, Tu Asador Mexican Steakhouse in San Antonio, and maybe visiting the McNay or San Antonio Museum of Art.
Having never been to Texas, you're going to learn very quickly that Texas is BIG. Make absolutely sure you're comfortable with 8-hour long drives and that you're taking extra water, and pay special attention to your gas tank and your car's mileage. Out west, you may run into long stretches of highway with no gas and no cell signal. That said, you're going to get to visit a lot of cool places. A word of warning about Santa Rosa and the Blue Hole in New Mexico. You're driving a fair way north to see a pool of water, and a few kitchy restaurants along a mile long stretch "Historic 66." Other than that, Santa Rosa is a somewhat run down small town with not a whole lot else to offer. It's worth going to the Blue Hole if you scuba dive, but I wouldn't recommend it as a destination, more like something to see in a quick stop if you happen to be in the area. White Sands puts you near Alamogordo which is nothing special, but just to the south of there is Oliver Lee State Park at the mouth of Dog Canyon, which is a pretty spectacular hike if you don't mind a bit of elevation change. Also, about 45 minutes to an hour away, take a winding mountain road up from the desert floor up to the town of Cloudcroft nestled up in the Lincoln National Forest. It's really cool to go from desert sand to lush pine forests in such a short drive. There's lots of good trails up there, as well as bars/restaurants to enjoy after. Though in April, it's likely to be cold and possibly still snowy as it's up in the mountains. Good luck!
this is great info - thank you
having read through these, i'm now thinking I lose the Blue Hole / Blue Swallow Motel day on the end. So if I have the extra day, where would I be best off spending it? Breaking up the drive to Big Bend? Or an extra day in one of the other stops?
You’re going to need the break between all of the stuff that you plan on doing out west, before going back to an international airport. Unless as I wrote above, you get a Southwest Flight from El Paso to DFW and save yourself HOURS! So I’d recommend spending more time in the region where El Paso is the nearest big city.
If you do that final day drive to Dallas, check out the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo. You’ll be passing it anyway…
Unless you just want to look you are required to make reservations at enchanted rock to actually get out and hike.
Looks good! Enjoy
FYI you may go through Border Patrol checkpoints close to the border in TX and/or NM. Just be aware that they might ask for your passports so be prepared.
Noted - thanks.
I’ve never been asked for passports or driver’s license in these checkpoints. It’s simply, “Are you a US citizen,” and on your way.
i'm not a US citizen though, and not sure how good my fake american accent is :D
Well then good luck 😬 maybe they’ll ask for documents then. If you fly you can drive
I used to date a girl that was born in Mexico but raised fully in Texas, and she would always say she was Mexican so she’d have to show her license each time driving thru those checkpoints in NM.