Los Angeles To Dallas

[LA TO DALLS]

Does anyone know the best scenic, leisurely route from Los Angeles to Dallas? I want to spend about a week driving there.

Many thanks!

Tim

[Mark Sedenquist]

Does anyone know the best scenic, leisurely route from Los Angeles to Dallas? I want to spend about a week driving there.

Tim, welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! This is hot time of year to be traveling to Dallas and some of the most scenic places are going to be tad warm. When are you going?

Mark

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America forum.

Mark is correct in noting that the "best" route depends on the time of year. It also depends on your own tastes, what you consider relaxing, and what type of scenery appeals to you. I'm going to assume that since you posted in the Planning Summer Road Trips forum, that you'll be travelling this summer. And then I'm going to tell you what I would do if I had a week to make the trip. Basically, I'd head across southern Utah and Colorado hitting one gorgeous national park after another.

Such a trip would have you start out by heading up to Las Vegas for a day or two, not so much for the shows and gambling as the great parks nearby such as Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire. From there, continue up I-15 into southern Utah where you'd use UT-9 into the Canyon area of Zion National Park. Continue eastbound on 9 to US-89 north for a short jog over to UT-12 east and Bryce Canyon National Park, and then beyond to UT-24 and Capitol Reef National Park. At Hanksville, take UT-95 south to Natural Bridges National Monument. From here take a short detour down UT-261 and US-163 through Monument Valley, then pick up US-160 east through Four Corners to Mesa Verde National Park. If you're of a mind, take a nostalgic ride on an old narrow gauge steam railroad.Continuing east, you'd go up and over the 10450 foot high Wolf Creek pass. Eventually, you join up with I-25 for a short run down to Raton, NM where you pick up US-64 to Capulin Volcano National Monument and a hike around the rim (you can drive to the top of the caldera). Continue on US-64 and US-87 into Amarillo. From there US-287 basically follows the Red River Valley into Dallas. With all those parks to visit, be sure to pick up a National Parks Pass. The most amazing part about this trip is that, at only 1800 miles, it's just a few hundred miles longer than the shortest, direct interstate route between LA and Dallas of about 1450 miles.

AZBuck

[LA TO DALLS]

Wow, many thanks for the itinerary. I really appreciate your keen insight. Will definitely take you up on it!

This is my first roadtrip ever and I'm 40! I think I grew up taking planes all my life and missed out big time on some amazing roadtrips!

All the best,

Tim

[Illmaeo]

word on what AZbuck said. I drove from Dallas to LA last summer on I-20 through the desert, only stopping for gas. It was ridiculous. The sun goes down and you're in the middle of a desert that extends for what seems like days, and then the sun comes up and goes down again and you're still in the same desert. I was just trying to get from here to there as fast as possible, but I would definitely recommend going through utah and colorado if not canada. Be warned!

btw, why Dallas? I've lived here for a couple years and I just don't see the attraction, but more and more people are vacationing here. Maybe you can tell ME what's cool to do in this city!

[Mark Sedenquist]

word on what AZbuck said. I drove from Dallas to LA last summer on I-20 through the desert, only stopping for gas. It was ridiculous. The sun goes down and you're in the middle of a desert that extends for what seems like days, and then the sun comes up and goes down again and you're still in the same desert.

It is hard for me to consider any part of Texas as being desert (altough the Big Bend area comes close) -- but deserts have always felt like home to me. I would much rather drive and explore in the Mojave desert than in the tree-covered northwest. There is much beauty to find and enjoy in the deserts of the world.

Mark

[PNW Judy]

I would much rather drive and explore in the Mojave desert than in the tree-covered northwest.

Pure blasphemy! LOL

Isn't it funny how different people like different things? Personally, I love the green forests and the various types of deserts equally...and rolling plains, and wheatfields, etc. They're all good. Since I'm surrounded by green most of the time, getting into different types of topography and seeing new landscapes is part of the roadtrip appeal to me. I'll never forget my first time driving through desert areas. I was astounded by the variety of colors, types of rock, etc. Amazing.

However, I know quite a few folks who have driven through the southwest, the midwest, etc. once and will never do it again. They hated it. Unfortunately, they don't get the "there are no boring roads" philosophy.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Pure blasphemy!

Yeah, Bambi's home does have some nice features: streams, smell of trees, bears, skunks, well... you get my drift.

Mark

[PNW Judy]

Yeah, Bambi's home does have some nice features: streams, smell of trees, bears, skunks, well... you get my drift.

Mark

In all our hiking and my husband's extended hunting trips, we've never met a skunk yet. (She said while knocking on wood so as to not jinx herself. LOL)

[lhuff]

Originally Posted by Judy
"In all our hiking and my husband's extended hunting trips, we've never met a skunk yet. (She said while knocking on wood so as to not jinx herself. LOL"

It seems lately that I've seen a dead skunk, or armadillo, on the road to my house on a daily basis. Yeah - the smell isn't so great. It's odd since I only live a mile outside of the city limits. But, we've also been hearing coyotes and a neighbors swears he saw a panther the other day.

Who wants to come for a visit? LOL

Laura