Dallas to Lakewood Colorado - Late September 2024

[Fred Jumayao]

The wife and I are planning to visit some friends in Lakewood Colorado in late September this year. We'll probably stop by Lubbock TX on the way there and visit other friends. But from Lubbock to Lakewood what are the best routes to take? We'd like to stick to the major freeways but are there any potential car camping/overnight stays on the way up? How about recommended hotels, safe, clean and not too expensive.
Any notable nature sites along the freeways as we drive up? Thank you so much. This is such a great site and have referred other friends and family to this site for advice and tips.

[glc]

Lubbock to Lakewood is potentially drivable in 1 long day - take I-27 to Amarillo, then US-87 to I-25. However, you would probably want to break it up into a day and a half or 2 days. That's the closest you are going to get to freeways, the stretch from Amarillo to I-25 is a US highway but not a freeway. There are plenty of hotels along the route according to Google Maps.

[AZBuck]

Unfortunately, there is no all-Interstate route between Dallas and Lubbock or between Lubbock and Lakewood, but on the first leg US-84 is a four-lane divided highway between I-20 at Roscoe TX and Lubbock while US-87 is another such highway between I-27 at Amarillo TX and I-25 at Ratron NM. The first leg to Lubbock is 'only' about 350 miles and so could be driven relatively comfortably in a day. At 550 miles, Lubbock to Lakewood could conceivably be driven in a single, albeit hard, day of driving. But if you'd like to stop roughly midway Sugarite State Park is just off I-25, a few miles east of Raton NM. Raton also has the usual collection of moderately priced chain motels as well as a couple of local ones and a KOA.

As for scenic natural stops, Raton also is near Capulin Volcano National Monument, while just outside Colorado Springs is the Garden of the Gods.

AZBuck

[Mark Sedenquist]

This is such a great site and have referred other friends and family to this site for advice and tips.

Fred, thanks for the kudos. As GLC has already shared the most direct route, I thought I would share some of the locations that we've written about on this route -- These aren't exactly natural wonder-type places, but they are interesting. Click on the flag icons to see what other RTA roadtrippers have found on this route.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Fred, I was just in Denver for meetings and ate at Syrup in Edgewater the morning before I left. Edgewater is only about 10 minutes from Lakewood. The food and ambience were really fun.

[Mark Sedenquist]

And we commissioned a number of planned routes in the area. You might just cruise down the list and see if any of them would appeal to you as a side trip?

Rocky Mountains

And a couple in Texas, found in our "Southwest" group.

[howard]

Fred, AZBuck has already pointed out Capulin Volcano and Sugarite State Park in northeastern New Mexico. I'd like to add that this area of the state is home to lots of pronghorn antelope.
I've seen herds of pronghorn along US Highway 64, southwest of Raton near Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge.

[Fred Jumayao]

Yup, that's what we were thinking. Planning to take a break in Lubbock. Thanks

[Fred Jumayao]

Unfortunately, there is no all-Interstate route between Dallas and Lubbock or between Lubbock and Lakewood, but on the first leg US-84 is a four-lane divided highway between I-20 at Roscoe TX and Lubbock while US-87 is another such highway between I-27 at Amarillo TX and I-25 at Ratron NM. The first leg to Lubbock is 'only' about 350 miles and so could be driven relatively comfortably in a day. At 550 miles, Lubbock to Lakewood could conceivably be driven in a single, albeit hard, day of driving. But if you'd like to stop roughly midway Sugarite State Park is just off I-25, a few miles east of Raton NM. Raton also has the usual collection of moderately priced chain motels as well as a couple of local ones and a KOA.

As for scenic natural stops, Raton also is near Capulin Volcano National Monument, while just outside Colorado Springs is the Garden of the Gods.

AZBuck

Thank you, Sugarite State Park looks like a nice place to stop midway. Appreciate the tip!

[Fred Jumayao]

Fred, thanks for the kudos. As GLC has already shared the most direct route, I thought I would share some of the locations that we've written about on this route -- These aren't exactly natural wonder-type places, but they are interesting. Click on the flag icons to see what other RTA roadtrippers have found on this route.

Wow, thanks for those landmarks. I've always heard about Cadillac Ranch, didn't know it was there.

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Fred, AZBuck has already pointed out Capulin Volcano and Sugarite State Park in northeastern New Mexico. I'd like to add that this area of the state is home to lots of pronghorn antelope.
I've seen herds of pronghorn along US Highway 64, southwest of Raton near Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge.

Thank you, some notable stops there to consider.

- - - Updated - - -

Fred, I was just in Denver for meetings and ate at Syrup in Edgewater the morning before I left. Edgewater is only about 10 minutes from Lakewood. The food and ambience were really fun.

No, I have not, but I am a breakfast kinda guy, that looks so good. Thanks for that tip! My wife will love that.