Dallas, TX to Amarillo, TX...and beyond!
 

IT'S A ROAD TRIP!!! Our family (hubby, wife, daughter 15 and daughter 11) are having a huge road trip this summer. We live in a suburb of Dallas (we're not originally from Dallas) and have never been to West Texas. We plan to meander and stop anytime we want. Travelling from Dallas, on I-40 to Amarillo and beyond, can anyone tell me what there is to do? Neat places and things to see? Etc.? Thanks in advance.

Do not eat for 2 days and then visit www.bigtexan.com for a FREE 72oz steak if you can eat it all historic66.com from
there innatloretto.com visitsedona.com Grand Canyon must dos
for me perhaps on to Vegas if time. classic.mapquest.com
good route info usuallyjust bidnice cheap priceline.com hotelsday of from $35 works great.

Have fun!

I'm a little confused by your plans--are you going to West Texas or are you going to the Panhandle? I think most folks would consider West Texas to encompass the area west of San Angelo and south of Midland to the border with Mexico.

I am currently planning an upcoming road trip from Austin to Big Bend Country. I found two books in my local library which have been quite helpful in planning this trip. The first is "Off the Beaten Track: Texas" by June Naylor. It has a lot of good ideas of unique places to see, stay and eat. For example, it tells you where to go to look for the Marfa lights and it describes a number of unusual and/or historic hotels in the area. The second book is "Scenic Driving: Texas" by Laurence Parent. Three of the scenic drives described are in the area we are visiting, so we plan to do them all.

Whether you are going to the Panhandle or West Texas, I would recommend you take a look at these books as they cover the entire state.

When in the Amarillo area check out Pala Duro Canyon (it's like a mini "Grand Canyon") - worth driving there for a look-see.


There's a lot of "open space" out in West Texas so be prepared for seeing lots of empty ranch land dotted with oil & gas wells and Windfarms.

By the way, don't confuse the area known as "West Texas" with the town of "West", Texas which is 80 or so miles south of Dallas - two completely different places.

Well don't get your hopes up for to much fun. LOL. That is one giant boring area for the most part.

Big Bend and Guadalupe National Parks are both intersting, but I don't know that I would do either of those in the summer. Carlsbad Caverns, NM is near Guadalupe and is a great national park too. It can be done easily in the summer or winter because the temperature is fairly constant underground. The bats in the summer are amazing there at dawn and dusk. The wild cave tour there you kids would LOVE. I think you have to be 12 years old though for that, so if your daughter is 12 by then, go for it. Make reservations way in advance for that. They only take 8 people per week. I have been 3 times. It's that good.

There are a few state parks in Texas that are decent.

When you say beyond I40 what do you mean? Just Texas area or are you heading on into NM, AZ,NV,CA?

For your "beyond" continue on I-40 to Santa Rosa NM and turn south on US 64. In the small town of Carizozo, turn east on US 380. Visit the Smokey Bear Park and Roswell.
Continue on 380 'till you hit US 84 to get back to Sweetwater on I-20.

I'm trying to remember from your other threads - you are planning to head through Albuquerque, stop at the Grand Canyon, and eventually end up in Vegas, correct?

Lee Ann

Dallas, TX to Amarillo, TX to Albuquerque, NM...after that we head north to Navajo Nation then to Grand Canyon...any beyond. My apologies...it is the Panhandle and not "west" Texas. GREAT suggestions people!!!

After Grand Canyon is Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, San Diego , Los Angeles, San Francisco, Leggett, CA (Redwoods). I'll have questions about all these areas. This is the biggest road trip we've ever taken...probably close to 3 wks...and my Fodors Friends are helping me along the way!

in texas there's cap rock canyon, palo duro canyon, the big texan in amatillo and cadillac ranch also n amarillo. other than that, not much to see. we did that drive to get from houston to santa fe, nm.

I do hope you go a little further north than Leggett. The Redwood National Park/State Parks(3 State Parks comprise the National Park) are just a couple of hours north. James Irvine Trail starting at Prairie Creek Redwood Visitor Center going all the way to the ocean and going thru Fern Canyon is the best hike. It will take you 2.5 hours one-way). The best short hike is Stout Grove, which is Jedediah Smith area. Howland Road is a good drive there. Drury Road is a good drive too. You are likely to see Elk at Prairie Creek.

Patricks Point State Park is really good place for Tidepooling and it is South of the Redwoods.

I've driven thru Amarillo dozens of times. You can't help yourself but to stop at The Big Texan.

It would add a bit extra time to your travels, but stopping at the Bombing Memorial in Oklahoma City is nice. If you do end up doing that, I can list several places to eat in OKC.