Texas loop from Dallas advice please?

Hi all,

I'm having trouble making a decision on which way to go from dallas. My trip will start in Dallas and end in Dallas. Half the trip I have planed driving south from Dallas down the cattle ranch drive to San Antonio. However from there I can decide out of the following two routes to return to dallas. I have 16 days in total.

Option 1
San Antonio > padre island >corpus christi > rockport > Houston > new Orleans > baton rouge > alexandria > shreveport > Dallas

Option 2
San Antonio > corpus christi >padre island > big bend park > Carlsbad caverns > Odessa > sweetwater > fort worth > Dallas

Im really struggling to decide which one to do I have concerns with both due big chunks of the drive in both looking like there's not much to see. But maybe one of you can help me with some advice and the option you recommend

Thanks you
Ross

With Texas, there's no way to get around the big chunks of the drive with desert to look at. It's Texas, it's one of the biggest states in the lower 48, and you're going to see a lot of space. In many ways, that's what makes Texas (Montana, and Alaska too) so special..."wide open spaces".

What I see in your two choices: Option 1 is a lot of cities and an island or two, with some beaches. Option 2 has a little beaches and islands, but some beauty in Big Bend and Carlsbad. What I'd choose, and what you'd choose, all depends on which way is your favorite. It's your trip.

As far as "looking like there's not much to see", there are probably things you're missing. With 15 days, you'll have time to stop at towns and find out what's interesting there by asking the locals.


Donna

Thanks for the reply Donna.

I'm really not sure which one to go for. Just out of interest which one would you choose and why?

Would there be much to see between Dallas and new Orleans going through louisiana?

I would like to see the natural beauty but just feel option two may be a lot more driving with nothing to see over the drive through louisiana.

What do u think?

If this were me, I'd go with a slightly altered route from your 2nd option. I'd slip down to Houston first, because it's only a 6-hour drive from Dallas and there's Johnson Space Center down there. From there I'd get to Big Bend, Guadalupe Mts NP and then Carlsbad Caverns. I've never done any of those NPs and they've intrigued me. I might take time to get back over to White Sands NM, or spend some time at the lakes down near Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell.

But ... I repeat ... this is your trip, not mine.


Donna