mp413

I'm road-tripping with my folks, and we want to take alternate/scenic roads rather than interstates, where possible. We would like to drive through the Hill Country in TX, we would like to hit Palo Duro, White Sands (either on the way there or the way back). Even if you only have advice for a small leg of the trip, your input is most welcome. Thanks!

ChristieP

When will you be making the drive? I wouldn't advise venturing too far off the beaten path in the summer heat that we're suffering in right now. You never know if there could be car trouble, etc., western Texas can be a desolate pace! Once the weather cools off, it is a lovely drive!

I'd recommend taking roughly this route: Houston - Bryan/College Station - Llano - San Angelo - Lubock - Clovis, NM - Santa Fe. Without a good atlas at my fingertips, I am not sure of the exact roads.

I have made the drive from San Angelo to Bryan many times, and the roads are good and there is pretty scenery for the most part. Most of the route from San Angelo to Lubbock is scenic, but it gets a bit boring once you go up on the caprock and the land is flat. If you want to see Palo Duro, just detour north from Lubbock on the interstate.

I'd skip White Sands on this trip. It's a long way out of your way.

dg

mp - if you haven't been to Fredericksburg, that would be the direction to explore. then up through Mason and Brady, etc.
also, you'll go through Brenham between Houston and Austin... if your dad likes ice cream like mine does, that's the place to go.
in Lubbock, there's the Ranching Heritage Center that you might find interesting, and don't forget to go to the Depot District. if you spend the night in Lubbock, check-out what's showing at the Cactus Theater in the Depot District - fantastic place!
there's a new production now in the amphitheater in Palo Duro - it hasn't gotten great reviews like "Texas" did, but it might be interesting to see.
have a great trip!
d

whoopi

From Houston to San Antonio take 290. From San Antonio to North Texas take highway 281. It takes you through the hill country and it's beautiful. Many places to see in that area - Banderas, Fredricksburg, Kerville, etc...

Don't forget Austin. A fantastic town.

Jayne1973

Once you get into New Mexico, you can choose to go through Santa Rosa or Roswell. If you are interested in the UFO Museum, take the latter. However, we call the 285 from Roswell "The Highway to Hell" because it's long, sraight desolate and hot. If you take this road and need a break, the little trolley diner in Vaughn is pretty good. Once you get to the interstate, you can stop at Clines Corners for more gift shoppe than you can stand! (But don't eat there.) Continue on 285 to Santa Fe. If you need an emergency rest stop, there's a neat Amtrack train station in Lamy, just a little way off the road.

On the flip side, if you go through Santa Rosa, you can stop at Billy the Kid's grave in Ft. Sumner on the way (won't take much time) and in Santa Rosa you could eat at Joseph's for old Route 66 nostaligia. If you are interested in spending the night in that area and like Route 66 stuff, check out the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari.

I love back roads! Have fun!

dg

absolutely agree with Jayne - do not, i repeat: DO NOT eat at Clines Corners!

tlegray

Last year we drove from Los Angeles to Houston.

If you are at all interest in UFO's do go to Roswell NM. I'm not at all interested in UFO's and I found the UFO museum very interesting and the town was great. Carlsbad Caverns was interesting too, but don't stay in Carlsbad.

In the Texas hill country do see Fredricksburg, Kerrville, and Gruene. If you do take the 290 through Brenham take the Blue Bell ice cream factory tour. The town of Columbus looks interesting, it's along Hwy 71 between Austin and Houston and it's a nice drive too.