Texas and New Mexico in January...
 

Hi all,
I'm going to be going to Texas in January for a competition and me and a friend decided to leave a little early and find something fun to do or see. We are leaving from Arizona. Phoenix or Flagstaff depending on which route we take. That is one dilemma. Should we take the Northern route to Plano through Albuquerque and Oklahoma or should we take the souther route through Tucson and the mexico border. We want to make sure it's safe to drive in the winter and that's why the big dilemma. Also what is there to see along these routes?
Thanks,
Jenna

What kind of safety concerns do you have? Weatherwise, Flagstaff can get lots of snow. Crimewise, Mexican border could be iffy because of the isolation. Either way, you need to have a dependable vehicle.

My safety concerns are exactly the weather and the border. I do have a dependable vehicle. The only problem I've ever had with it was the battery but I just have to replace that once a year. No biggie. I don't have snow chains. I normally get by in Flagstaff just fine. They keep the roads fairly clean in the winter. There's only maybe a 15 minute time difference depending on which way we go so that's not an issue. I don't want to get into an accident because of weather but I don't want border problems either. Either way seems to have it's share of problems so we will probably go with the way that seems over all safe and has more to do.

We're debating on stopping in one of the states to see some sites.

There is no safety problem for taking I-10 via El Paso.

As for I-40, it just depends on your luck. Most of the time it's dry, but you can get your occassional snowstorm.

I would just check the forecast and decide the exact route just prior to the trip.

rkkwan is correct. While there have been some problems across the border, there is no problem on this side.

There is no crime problem that would concern travelers on I-10 on the US side of the Mexican border. My in-laws live in a border town, and we drive down there to visit frequently. Personally, I'd take the southern route to avoid the potential weather problems on the northern route.

There are however, secondary Border Patrol checkpoints on I-10 after passing El Paso. So, if you're an illegal yourself, then stay away from I-10 or you may be sent "home".

rm...I have only done the southern route, Tucson to El Paso on I-10 then about 150 miles east of ElPaso, pick up I-20 straight to Dallas/Plano.We spent the night in Pecos, about 40 miles further east of the interstate split.The highlight of the trip was the donut shop on Main Street in Pecos.A true West Texas town with the best donuts on the planet.The owner gets there about 3.30am and opens at 5am.The giant size "firewheels" are gone by 7.30 or 8.The drive east from Pecos was fairly uneventful except that you get to see what West Texas really looks like.About an hour west of Ft Worth,you can tell you are on the edge of the Metroplex area.Then in Ft Worth, we picked up I-30,to the short cut thru DFW airport, the North Exit to Hwy 121 and then right into Plano north and east of there.Have fun!

BTW, if you take the northern I-40 route, you don't have to drive through OK. At Amarillo, switch to US287. It's a very fast route (except for Wichita Falls) to get down to Fort Worth. Save a lot of miles.

Thanks for your help. I think we might do the South route to get there and the North route to get home since I have to take my friend home to Flagstaff afterwards. What is there to do along the way? Is there a good stopping point between Phoenix/Flagstaff and Plano? We were thinking about staying the night at a hotel in an area where there might be some things to see.

No, there's really nothing to see. Major towns are pretty far apart, so you just have to stop where you have to stop. For example, Pecos, TX is about 640 miles from Phoenix; pass that and you're looking at Odessa 70 miles away.

On the way back, Plano to Santa Rosa, NM is 529 miles. After that, you need to make it to Albuqueque, about 110 miles further. [Unless you make a detour to Santa Fe.]

There is a lot to do in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area - museums, pueblos, hiking (even in January), stuff like that. What are your interests?

I've driven from Dallas to El Paso and I thought we would never get there. If you like flatlands and mesquite, you'll see plenty of it. :-)

Lee Ann

I don't really like flat lands that much when I'm driving long distances. I try to avoid the midwest for that reason. It makes it easier to get bored and doze off at the wheel. Although at the right time of day it can be gorgeous. I like to do outdoors stuff more than museums, but for the right kind of museum I'd go. I don't care that much for air museums as my dad has brought us to one on every vacation since I was a baby. I think I've seen about 50% of the US Air Museums. Depending on the altitude hiking is great. In Flagstaff the altitude kicks my butt. In Phoenix I can hike for hours.

I will admit that the drive from Fort Stockton, TX to Abilene, TX is pretty boring. Yes, the land is flat and there's not much to stop and see. In Midland, there is the Petroleum Museum if you've ever wanted to learn about oil drilling. (I would recommend the Ghost Squadron's air museum, but...) There are several of the Texas Frontier Forts (see the Texas Forts Trail) that are not too far off I-20 in West Ttexas, too. My favorite BBQ place in the whole world, Harold's Pit BBQ, is in Abilene. He's closed on Sundays, though.

What's the weather like there?

Jenna-there are several places you could go hiking along the way, but they're all off the main route. If you have the time and inclination to take some short detours, you could go to White Sands National Monument or Carlsbad Caverns in NM, or Guadalupe Mountains National Park in TX. They're all in the El Paso vicinity (relatively speaking).

If you're really up for taking a detour, Big Bend State Park and Big Bend National Park are about 5-6 hours from El Paso to the southeast. I'm sure there are more state parks in TX that you could explore.

ChristieP, I'd be interested in any other ideas you have for stuff to do between Ft. Stockton and Midland. I've got half a day to spend in that area after I leave Big Bend, and the Petroleum Museum doesn't thrill me.

The petroleum museum doesn't thrill me, either. ;-)

Since you like hiking and outdoors stuff, you MUST go to the sand dunes park in Monahans! It's giant sand dunes, like in the sahara desert, and it's really neat. 8-)

Something else to do that is a little out of your way, but very well worth it, is to go see Fort Davis. It is just beautiful!

ChristieP can you see the dunes from the side of the road or is there a special road I have to take?

It's a State Park. I want to say you can see them from the interstate...it's been a lONG time since I was there.

Thanks for the ideas Christie. I think I'm going to try to do both. I've got half a day on the way down and half a day on the way back so it might work.

Rain monkey: website for Monahans is http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...ans_sandhills/

It looks to be right off I-20. I'm sure you can see them from the interstate, but they have sand surfing, so you have to stop for that.