Roadtrip from Dallas Need Advice Please

[rcrutchley101]

Hi,

I'm New to Roadtrip America and really could do with some help please.

I'm Going to Dallas in September and want to do a Roadtrip. I'm going for 15 days and would like quite a big road trip seeing a range of landscape and National Parks etc I'm open to any suggestions if anyone's got any ideas.

I have been thinking of the following 2 options but really not sure which one to go with.

Option 1

Dallas > Colorado Springs > Santa Fe > Alburqurque > Roswell > Big Bend National Park > San antonio > Dallas

Option 2

Dallas > Austin > San Antonio > Corpus Christ > Galveston > New Orleans > Memphis > Dallas

Thanks looking forward to ideas or suggestions
Thanks
Ross

[DonnaR57]

Welcome to RTA!

Either one would give you the change in landscapes, scenery, and some national parks, if that's what you're seeking. With Option 1, you've got the mountains of Colorado, the beauty of Santa Fe, Petroglyphs National Monument, a chance to see Carlsbad Caverns on your way down to Big Bend, and then back to Dallas. With Option 2, you could still put Big Bend NP on the list (it's on my bucket list), Houston Space Center, and lots of cities but not a lot of national parks.

The other thing to think about is weather. With a summer trip, do you want to try to cool off (easier in places like Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and the mountains of Colorado, to at least TRY) than it is to do so in the southern bayou.

But it all boils down to...what do YOU want to do?


Donna

[rcrutchley101]

Thanks for the reply Donna. I'm leaning towards option 1 but I'm just concerned about the drive from Dallas to Colorado its about 10 hours and I've heard that there's not much to see along the way. Also will there be much to see between Albuquerque and White Sands/Roswell?

Like I said before I'm open to other trip if anyones got any ideas

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

...the drive from Dallas to Colorado its about 10 hours and I've heard that there's not much to see along the way.

I sometimes wonder where people get their information from. First of all, Dallas to Colorado Springs is 725 miles. That is not 10 hours, it's a full day and a half. And as for not much to see, that is only true if you consider a recreation of Wichita Falls, Cadillac Ranch, Capulin Volcano National Monument, and possibly Royal Gorge "not much".

AZBuck

[rcrutchley101]

Sorry, I only asking for advice. It says 12 hours 48 mins on google maps, are you saying I can't drive it in a day? I said I had heard there was not much to see, the reason i'm on here is asking for advice not to get into an argument.

So if there are things to see can anyone suggest stop off points and an area which would be good for an overnight stay between dallas and colorado?

[AZBuck]

As you say, you were only repeating information that you had gotten. And you did the best thing you could with it - you doubted it and went to check it out. My criticism was of the information, not you. Software mapping routines should (but don't) come with a huge, bold, 24-pt warning that their information is only good within the confines of their silicon chip world. They only calculate driving time and only do so while making a number of fantasy world assumptions: You can always drive at or above the speed limit. You will never get tired. You will never need to stop for gas. You will never need to stop for food. You will never need to go to the bathroom. You will never get behind a truck, or an RV, or a 'Sunday driver'. You simply don't care to stop and see anything and will drive mono-maniacally forever. In the real world, 500-550 miles per day is about as much as you can cover safely and enjoyably, especially if you want to do anything at all either on the day of your drive or the next day (other than sleep in and recover). Since much of your drive will be on non-Interstate highways such as US-287, I would recommend that you stay to the lower end of that 500-550 mile range and plan on spending the night around Clayton, NM. I've already given you a number of possible points of interest, but I would also suggest that you pay a visit to each state's Natural Resources or State Parks website and find a few quiet places along your route where you can take a nice short hike to get some exercise as well as a break from driving.

AZBuck

[Southwest Dave]

With 15 days available and your wish to see a range of landscapes and National parks, I would certainly consider the Four Corners region. Much will depend on your travel style and the pace you like to travel at, but you could certainly include some of Colorados Alpine scenery, the Red rocks of Southern Utah and the desert in Arizona and New Mexico. There are also plenty of mountain towns, great driving roads and historic sites to keep you going. Great sand dunes, Garden of the gods, Rocky mountain NP, Black Canyon, Mesa Verde, Arches, Canyonlands,Taos Pueblo and even Monument valley and Grand canyon would be possibilities along with others mentioned in this thread.

Your best bet is to keep researching by searching the RTA forums and road trip planning pages with a good map to hand and as you make your choices and get some dots on the map, we can help fill in the blanks and answer any further questions.

Enjoy the planning !

[rcrutchley101]

Thanks for your replies, my main dilemma at the moment is deciding between whether to go up to colorado and drive west and back around in a loop or to go south from dallas and around to the east past new orleans and around in a loop through memphis.

Out of your opinions which route would be better regarding more things to do and see, weather in September and most enjoyable drive?

Thanks

[Southwest Dave]

It's a dilemma we all face when planning a road trip, but as Donna mentioned in her first reply, it boils down to what you want to do. Afterall, that is the beauty of the road trip, getting to do what you want, how you want and when you want. From a personal point of view, I would head to Colorado for all the reasons mentioned earlier, but you need to do a little research and go with your gut instinct based upon your own preferences. You can't really go wrong and the 'other route' will always be there for another day.

Once you have got some dots on the map, we can certainly assist in the planning and make alternative suggestions, but for now I would open a good map of the USA, do a little reading and make this trip your own.

[rcrutchley101]

Thanks for the reply, I'm going to have another look at it all and make a decision. Just one more question would there be much to see if I decided to drive from colorado south through New Mexico. I'm not sure what there is to see between Alburqurque and White Sands.

I really want to go to San Antonio so driving south through New Mexico might be the best way to go if theres enough to see.