Summer 2019 – North Texas/New Mexico

When we previously visited Carlsbad Caverns, we inquired with the ranger regarding the best time to visit during the summer months. He recommended coming as soon after school was out as possible to avoid the crowds that build as the summer proceeds.

We planned out trip to leave the Monday following school release.

Our previous trip took us down I-10 West to Fort Stockton and then 285 to Carlsbad. 285 from Ft. Stockton to Carlsbad is a road primarily used by Oil Field traffic, including lots of semi trucks. During our last trip, we found it to be very rough with pieces of tires and other trash plentiful along and in the road. For this trip, we decided to try another route to get to Carlsbad.

Day 1 – Houston to Abilene. Though not the route plotted by Google Maps or GPS, we prefer to take Highway 6 to Waco and then I-35 to Fort Worth to pick up I-20 to Abilene. GPS will route you to continue along Highway 6. This route takes you through many small towns, speed limit changes and additional traffic. Staying on the freeways and interstates adds some miles, but not much time and is much more predictable as far as traffic.

At Abilene, we stayed at the Whistle Stop RV Resort. It is a relatively new RV park, but nicely laid out. We would definitely stay at the Whistle Stop again when our route takes us that direction.

Day 2 – Abilene to Carlsbad – Our route had us continue on I-20 West until we reached Big Spring, TX to TX-176. We stayed on TX-176 until we reached Eunice, TX. GPS (including RV GPS) directs a right turn at Main Street in Eunice. This road is 2 lane with a wide curbed median. A Class A Motorhome can’t make this turn. Instead, continue straight on your current road until you reach the dead end. Turn right and this will take you directly back to TX-176. This is the truck route through town.

NM-8/TX-176 run on top of each other. GPS will direct you to make a left turn to stay on TX-176. This route is RV safe, but it should be noted that there are several miles of rough and narrow roadway with quite a bit of semi traffic.

At Carlsbad, we stayed once again at Carlsbad KOA. As we have found previously, the park is nicely kept and a pleasant, conveniently located place to stay. One thing that was brought to our attention by the park staff on this trip that we were unaware of on our previous stay, the park has very hard water. It is fine to use and drink, but we would not fill our fresh water tanks with it. Also, the rainy season started early this year, so bug spray was required. The mosquitos in Carlsbad are short-lived, but fierce.

On our first evening in Carlsbad, we visited the Caverns to watch the bats exit the cave for their nightly feedings. It is a fascinating sight and certainly worth the time to visit. Be sure to check the the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Bat Program Website regarding the start time of the program. A ranger gives an interesting talk until the bats start to come out the natural entrance. It should be noted that not cell phones or photography is allowed at this event. Also, the crowd is asked to be quiet and not disrupt the bats’ routine. When planning your visit with children, you should consider whether or not the kids are old enough to understand and sit quietly for an hour. Also, if you bring your children and they become disruptive, the rangers will ask you to leave.

Day 3 – We visited Roswell and had some fun at the Alien Zone. Taking photos with their aliens. We also visited the Roswell Museum & Art Center which features an exhibit of Robert Goddard’s workshop and other information regarding his successful and unsuccessful work in rocketry.

Day 4 – Visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park (see link for details) and visit the Big Room through the Natural Entrance. We also booked the Ranger-Guided Left Hand Tunnel Tour. The tour allows visitors to experience a side of the caverns as it was originally discovered because is done by candle lit lanterns. This tour is described as moderately difficult on the National Park website. We did not find it to be difficult, but make sure to read the description on the tours before booking. There are some areas that have uneven footing and a couple of areas that require an elevation change. There is no crawling or bending required. Hiking boots are recommended and are probably a good idea. The tour is interesting and certainly offers a different perspective than the Big Room.

Day 5 – We traveled to Caprock Canyon State Park. The trip is somewhat long and in some areas gas stations are hard to come by, so be sure to plan your gas stops to your itinerary. It was suggested by the Ranger at Caprock that the best route is to pick up I-27 in Lubbock and Hwy 86 in Tulia to FM 1065 in Quitaque. After setting up, we drove around the Scenic Drive and looked around the park.

Day 6 – We drove to a couple of trailheads and did some hiking. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear, bring bug spray and lots of water. There is little shade and no benches. There’s are also no water stations along any of the trails. The views are great and the trails are generally well marked. There are quite a few elevation changes on the trails, so be sure you pace yourself and remember that you must hike out the same distance that you hiked in. Go earlier in the day before the temperatures rise and take drinks and snacks.

Originally, we had reservations for the Ranger-Guided Tour to watch the bats leave the tunnel, but due to a previous day’s rain, the area was flooded and the tour was cancelled.

Day 7 – Our next stop was Oasis RV Resort in Amarillo. Travel time is only a couple of hours from Caprock State Park. Mother Nature decided to add some excitement with a 30 degree drop in temperature 30-40 mph northerly wind. Thankfully we packed a variety of clothing that included jackets.

GPS shows taking a couple of different exits off I-27 to get to Oasis. We decided it would be easier to take I-27 directly to I-40 West. (To force Google Maps to take you to I-40, you can add Caprock Credit as a stop on your map, then remove the stop as you enter I-40).

Since the weather was cold and spitting rain, once we checked in and got set-up, we decided stay inside an relax for the day.

Day 8 – Our day started with a 45 minute drive to Palo Duro State Park and a horseback riding tour with Old West Stables. Old West is located in the State Park, so be ready to pay your admission fee for the state park before going to take your ride. Be sure to read the rules provided before booking your reservation. On another site, I read that people were asked to step on a scale before going to their ride to be sure they were within the weight restrictions. No one was weighed on our tour, but be prepared for the possibility. The ride was enjoyable and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. You actually ride through the bottom of the canyon, so it allows you a different view. Photography is allowed, but it would be difficult to take pictures and hold a camera.

There are limited reservations available, so be sure to book early.

After your ride, be sure to spend the $2 for feed and feed Woodrow. He’s super-friendly and it’s a neat experience. If you aren’t sure how to do it, don’t worry, he’s a professional!

Next, we hiked a couple of miles. Before leaving the RV, we packed a lunch, so we found a covered picnic table and enjoyed our lunch outdoors. While in the picnic area, we were visited by a couple of wild turkeys. We had heard them while hiking, but never could see them.

We drove around the park roads and took in all the spectacular views. Definitely recommend visiting the State Park when in the Amarillo area.

For a complete change of scenery, we left the park and visited Jack Sizemore RV Museum. It is an interesting mix of motorcycles, RV’s of different eras and memorabilia. The museum is free and takes about an hour to tour. You enter through the Jack Sizemore Traveland RV Dealership. There was no pressure to buy anything or even look at any RV’s that were for sale.

Our next stop for the day was Bill’s Backyard Classics car museum. Admission is $10/person and kids 12 and under are free. Be sure to bring cash. They don’t accept credit cards. The museum has an interesting collection of cars. There are two showrooms and they are packed with cars. It is all a private collection. Allow 45 minutes to an hour to walk around and look.

Our final stop is an American Icon…Can’t go to Amarillo without a visit to the Cadillac Ranch. The art installation has been in place since 1974. Over the years, people began spray painting the cars. You can bring your own spray paint or more than likely find a partially used can if you aren’t particular about color. Couple of things to note: Parking is on the shoulder of the two-way feeder road for I-40, so use caution getting in and out of your car. Also, the path out to the cars is dirt. The day we went the path was dry, but after rain, I’m sure it would be very muddy. Also, there is mud and water around several of the cars. Still, it’s a fun experience and a must do!

Day 9 – The first of our 2 day trip home takes us to Northlake Village RV Park in Roanoke, Tx. We have stayed at this park a couple of times in the past. As always, the park is clean and the staff friendly. They have sites at the front of the park that make it very convenient for an overnight stay.

From Amarillo, GPS will take you East on I-40 to US 287 to Fort Worth to TX-114. All of these roads were very RV friendly and easy to drive, so we would certainly use any of them again in the future. As you approach the RV park on TX-114, there will be a Buc-ee’s on the right side if you need to get gas prior to arriving at the RV Park.

Day 10 – We arrive back in the Houston area. The trip is straight down I-35w to I-35 to Hwy 6. The exchange for Hwy 6 is slightly odd, so pay close attention to the GPS. You will exit from 35 onto the feeder and make a left turn at a stop sign to get to Hwy 6. It is not a hard turn to make, just a hard one to understand the first time.

Overall, our trip was enjoyable and allowed us to experience a number of varied activities. We would recommend this itinerary for families of all ages.