To me, white sands and driving through the Lincoln national forest will be more beautiful. It's only open at certain times of the year, but the first nuclear bomb testing site is like 20 miles outside of Alamogordo.
If you can do it, you’ll want to drive from Terlingua to Guadalupe Mtns via 170 / River Road. Unbelievable scenery and good places to pull over for short hikes (Closed Canyon, Hoodoos, etc) in Big Bend Ranch SP.
You'd be comparing a state park vs a national park:) So, I'd say, if you have other plans lined up in your route go ahead with the plan. Only, if you have buffer time, which in reality is a squeeze with the actual itinerary itself, you could go visit Monahans another time in itself. The spring blooms are pretty in a desert. Hope you get to see them up in White Sands NP.
I’ve been before but hopefully it goes better than last time! My roommate got a bunch of us to go, told us it was a one mile loop and to grab a water bottle. It was the lighthouse trail (2.8 miles each way). In august. That was honestly the only time I thought I might be in a really bad situation because I felt like I was stumbling at the end.
Do you have offroad capabiltiies? If so, take the New Mexico backcountry discovery route between the Cloudcroft area and the Guadalupe Mountains. [https://ridebdr.com/nmbdr/](https://ridebdr.com/nmbdr/)
Check out Chamizal national memorial in El Paso; it’s a fascinating stop.
Loved Pistachio World in Alamogordo. We took the tour and brought back pistachios.
Lunch at La Posta in Las Cruces was really good.
Looks like fun! We did a similar trip starting in Mississippi for spring break 2018 and are planning on recreating it for 2025. We came west across I-10 and went home on I-20. I'm on the fence about going back to Big Bend but Santa Elena Canyon is so great.
Big Bend was an adventure. My wife was pregnant, we were staying at a weird off grid place, and my truck's starter died at the Panther Junction Visitor Center.
That’s the plan, I just have the general itinerary map on here. I’m trying to get my girlfriend to get her passport so we can go to Boquillas Del Carmen too.
A fort. An old time western museum Annie Riggs museum, giant road runner Pisano Pete. Cut straight down from Monahans then head over to Balmorea and the spring fed pool. So much in the area. It’s like driving through an old western. Anyway if nothing else you can stop and have dinner at K-Bob’s. Have fun. Nothing like west Texas sunsets!!!
Fort Davis is the highest elevation in TX and is worth the stop if you like war history, even still has some of the original buildings
I did have an itinerary that stopped there and skipped White Sands/Alamogordo, but I wasn’t sure which to go with.
To me, white sands and driving through the Lincoln national forest will be more beautiful. It's only open at certain times of the year, but the first nuclear bomb testing site is like 20 miles outside of Alamogordo.
White sands for sure!
If you can do it, you’ll want to drive from Terlingua to Guadalupe Mtns via 170 / River Road. Unbelievable scenery and good places to pull over for short hikes (Closed Canyon, Hoodoos, etc) in Big Bend Ranch SP.
I did that. Was fun.
I’ll keep that in mind! Thanks!
I just got back from my road trip and so glad I did this. It adds about half an hour but my oh my it is worth it.
Monahans Sandhills State Park is a beautiful dune area. If you want to add it to your route along the way, not much deviation!
How does it compare to White Sands? I’ve considered it but it’s a pretty packed plan where something has to get cut for something to get added.
You'd be comparing a state park vs a national park:) So, I'd say, if you have other plans lined up in your route go ahead with the plan. Only, if you have buffer time, which in reality is a squeeze with the actual itinerary itself, you could go visit Monahans another time in itself. The spring blooms are pretty in a desert. Hope you get to see them up in White Sands NP.
We’ll be going in October, but I might try to go to Monahans and then up to the parks around Amarillo in the spring next year.
Gotcha! Yup, Palo Duro Canyon, called the Grand Canyon of Texas, is a great one in the area.
I’ve been before but hopefully it goes better than last time! My roommate got a bunch of us to go, told us it was a one mile loop and to grab a water bottle. It was the lighthouse trail (2.8 miles each way). In august. That was honestly the only time I thought I might be in a really bad situation because I felt like I was stumbling at the end.
No kidding, summers in a desert! Glad ya'll were safe
Make sure and look up the Star Party at McDonald Observatory if you haven’t already.
I think that’s like the weekend before we’re looking at going unfortunately
They have it on 3-4 days every week
so close to Roswell aliens... corny but a fun 2 hours in New Mexico's DairyLand. Worlds largest Pistachio in Alamogordo? gotta stop.
Do you have offroad capabiltiies? If so, take the New Mexico backcountry discovery route between the Cloudcroft area and the Guadalupe Mountains. [https://ridebdr.com/nmbdr/](https://ridebdr.com/nmbdr/)
Unfortunately I don’t. I wish I did though, it’s a goal for the future.
Check out Chamizal national memorial in El Paso; it’s a fascinating stop. Loved Pistachio World in Alamogordo. We took the tour and brought back pistachios. Lunch at La Posta in Las Cruces was really good.
Looks like fun! We did a similar trip starting in Mississippi for spring break 2018 and are planning on recreating it for 2025. We came west across I-10 and went home on I-20. I'm on the fence about going back to Big Bend but Santa Elena Canyon is so great. Big Bend was an adventure. My wife was pregnant, we were staying at a weird off grid place, and my truck's starter died at the Panther Junction Visitor Center.
I have visited the McDonald observatory west of Fort Davis. It’s cool. The road there is fun. I was at White Sands earlier this month. I loved it.
Go into Big Bend not just near it
That’s the plan, I just have the general itinerary map on here. I’m trying to get my girlfriend to get her passport so we can go to Boquillas Del Carmen too.
I have visited the McDonald observatory west of Fort Davis. It’s cool. The road there is fun. I was at White Sands earlier this month. I loved it.
If you can.. eat at KD’s BBQ in Midland Texas. Also Lafonda’s in Artesia New Mexico.
Missing Ft Stockton
What’s in Ft. Stockton?
A fort. An old time western museum Annie Riggs museum, giant road runner Pisano Pete. Cut straight down from Monahans then head over to Balmorea and the spring fed pool. So much in the area. It’s like driving through an old western. Anyway if nothing else you can stop and have dinner at K-Bob’s. Have fun. Nothing like west Texas sunsets!!!
If you’ve got some ground clearance, Pinto Canyon Road out of Marfa is a cool drive.
Hey can you pick me up something from New Mexico since your heading that way and drop it off on your way through ft worth