Driving from Austin to Durango, CO..taking our time with two young kids...routes?

[kimmcat]

Hello, We are driving from Austin to Durango, CO in a few weeks and are looking for the best route. We have two young children (4 and 7) and are willing to make several stop and stay overnight once or even twice. We have no real timetable so are looking for the best scenery and most fun. Can anyone recommend a route? Many thanks!!

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

To cover the distance with regular stops you are looking at a minimum of 1 overnight stop and 2 day's travel, adding another night would allow you to spend a little time sight seeing.

You could start out on I 10 to Fort Stockton and US 285 for Carlsbad and head toCarlsbad Caverns for a cave tour. From there you could have an "out of this world experience" at Roswell. You could then continue on 285/84 through Santa Fe to look at, or take a soak in Pagosa hot springs. On route you could take a detour to Taos Pueblo and take US 64 over the Rio Grande gorge bridge and then through Pagosa Springs to Durango.

[glc]

Welcome!

The fastest route will take 2 full days. This would be almost all non-Interstates, it would be via 183/67/84 to Abilene, I-20/84/I-40 through Lubbock and Clovis to Albuquerque, and I-25/550 to Durango. A halfway point for an overnight would be Clovis.

A third day would be a very good idea. I don't know what along that direct route would be scenic or fun (I've never traveled that exact route), but depending on your interests there's things to see and do not too far off that path - perhaps Roswell, Santa Fe, and/or Taos?

Edit: Dave types faster than me!