Driving from Albuquerque to Austin/Galveston
 

Would like some advice or information about driving from Albuquerque to Austin/Galveston. How long would it take? Is it interesting? What might you see? or is it better to fly from Albuquerque to Houston/Austin and hire a car to see the surrounding area? Have about 12 days, would like to have 2 days in Galveston, 1 San Antonio, 4 days in Austin and then see the surrounding areas.

I drove from Phoenix to Austin years ago and it was LONG and very long...There's nothing to see for long stretches, and the small towns don't really make it worthwhile.

I'm sure you'll get more details from Texas experts, but with that much time you could fly from Albu to Dallas, Austin or Houston and see everything just fine.

Looking at the map I might even be tempted to fly to New Orleans and drive back that way - but I digress!

Thanks. I have been to New Orleans previously, but I might consider flying would prefer to avoid Houston and Dallas

Try this route:

Take I-40 east to Clines Corner, NM. Then head south on U.S. 285 through Roswell (with its UFO museum if you're into that kind of stuff) and then on to Carlsbad. Carlsbad Caverns National Park near there contains one of the most amazing caverns in the world:

www.nps.gov/cave

Continue on U.S. 285 to Fort Stockton, Texas to I-10 East. You might be interested in a short detour off I-10 on Texas state highway 290 to Fort Lancaster State Historic Site and then to a beautiful overlook of the Pecos River Valley:

http://www.thc.state.tx.us/hsites/hs...Site=Lancaster

Stop at Ozona on I-10 for a break and to check out its Art Deco-era statue of Davy Crockett on the courthouse square. Sonora, the next town on I-10, also has an interesting courthouse square. You can stop for a swim at South Llano River State Park in near the beautifully situated town of Junction, then leave I-10 at its junction with U.S. 290, heading east through the interesting German town of Fredericksburg, full of shops, restaurants, and period architecture. You can go a few miles north of Fredericksburg to hike Enchanted Rock, a giant granite dome:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...nchanted_rock/

then stop at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park near Stonewall (great peaches there too) and Johnson City:

www.nps.gov/lyjo

if you want to see the 36th President's ranch and early stomping grounds before you head on in to Austin.

You could do the drive and most of my suggestions in one long day if you started from Albuquerque early in the morning.

Will you be spending any time in ABQ? Lots of things to see there. I can help w/ planning.

Deb

I would consider flying if you're doing this in the summer, but otherwise MRand has given you some interesting suggestions. If you take that advice, I would probably break that up into two days just because I don't enjoy spending hours and hours in the car.

Lee Ann

Thanks MRand, I'm downunder so long driving distances are familiar.

DebitNM ideas for ABQ? would be helpful?

In addition to MRand's good suggestions, you might want to visit the Alpine and Ft Davis areas, south of Pecos. Beautiful desert mountain country. The McDonald Observatory is worth a stop. Only silghtly out of the way.

Outside of San Antonio is the Hill Country.

To answer one of your original questions, Albuquerque to Austin/San Antonio is about 720 miles and takes around 13.5 hrs. straight through.

Also, there is a lot to do in and around San Antonio and I'd give it more than a day - more like 3.

Keep in mind that if you follow MRand's suggestions, it will take more than a day. The route suggested is the one we take and we've driven back and forth dozens of times.

Box - what do you like to do? Outdoors stuff, museums, galleries, shop, eat, native american culture, etc?

Deb

May I ask where you'll be before you come to Albuquerque? Is Albuquerque the start of your trip?

Lee Ann

Thanks to all

Are looking to do some outdoor, a little museum/galleries,architecture, some shops, have to eat (not sure about texmex but looking forward to steak)some native american, but keen on the music scene and some cowboy culture.

Are actually having about 12 days in California. Then plan over 3 weeks to fly to Las Vegas, hire a car and drive some parts of Route 66, Grand Canyon, may do Santa Fe (but it does sound very touristy) but looking forward to Albuquerque then down to Texas. Box

IMO Santa Fe is not touristy in the usual sense. It draws people because of its unique architecture which is preserved by strict building codes, great museums and galleries, some great restaurants, native American culture, etc. It stands alone and really shouldn't be missed.

On the east side of Houston near Galveston: NASA Johnson Space Center
Galveston: Moody Mansion Museum
The Great Storm hurricane museum
great seafood restaurants
Enjoy!

If you have 12 days, you could do what we have done:

Santa Fe - White Sands/Alamogordo - Big Bend Natl. Park (2 full days) - San Antonio - Austin

This route includes some breathtaking scenery.

Just because tourists go to a certain place, doesn't make it touristy or mean that you should pass it by - Grand Canyon would fall into that category and I was stunned by its beauty when I went for the first time a few years ago.

Santa Fe has some wonderful things to see and do and the history makes it a worthwhile destination.

I will put some things together for you, box.

Deb

On your way from the Grand Canyon to Albuquerque, stop at Acoma Pueblo, about 40 minutes west of Albuquerque. The pueblo sits on top of a mesa, and it's really interesting.

Don't skip Santa Fe just because tourists go there. As others have said, it's well worth a visit.

You might want to either make a day trip to Taos from Santa Fe or spend a night up there. Taos Pueblo is unique and interesting.

Lee Ann

I'm trying to drive from Del Rio, TX to Albuquerque, NM and trying to figure out the best route. I think US-90 to 285 would be the fastest (over I-10 to I-25). Thinking that taking 285 would take me about ten hours. I'll be leaving at 4pm and wondering how driving 285 is at night. Is it a 2 lane highway? Are there a lot of small towns along the way? Thanks.

I am also driving from Albuquerque to Austin in November.
We want a fast route with not alot of hangups. No site seeing, just driving for at least 8 or nine hours.
Any sugestions?