Mesa Verde, CO to Hot Springs, AR

Thank you all for great suggestions. I'm changing my travel plans to spend more time in this area so I can check out all the wonderful sites.

If you're going across of I-40:Lake Eufaula



Mount Magazine State Park

Petit Jean State Park

If you take I-30 in Arkansas:
Crater of Diamonds State Park (this is also a good day trip from Hot Springs.

Lake Catherine

When you get to Hot Springs make sure you eat at McClards

RetiredTom2 wrote:
Traveling from Mesa Verde to Hot Springs as part of our western U.S. loop trip and don't see any must see sites along this stretch, but I'm sure there are. Also see potential mountain range to navigate. Any suggestions on routes or places to see would be much appreciated. We are retired and travel in a Class C pulling a toad. We will be in this area in October giving ourselves about 10 days for this stretch. Again, thanks in advance for your suggestions.

While you're in the Mesa Verde area, there's lots to see and do in Cortez and Durango...just walking around in both towns can be fun. There's the Silverton-Durango railroad that's been mentioned, that's an awesome trip unto itself.

If you've got the time, head down into NM to Aztec, there's some ruins down there that's worth the trip.

Wolf Creek Pass, while steep on the west side, is well travelled with a variety of RVs/Trailers, so it's very doable. The east side, IIRC, has finally gotten the construction done, so should be much easier than in the past. Once you're over it, there's the San Luis Valley and there's LOTS to see and do there.

In addition to the Great Sand Dunes NP, there's also, in that same area, an...alligator farm! Yup, alligators in the high desert! You can head south from Alamosa to Antonito and do the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad, which crosses the CO/NM state line multiple times, has awesome scenery, and is well worth the day that it takes to do. There's several options as to where to start, I'd suggest on the Antonito side, with it gradual climb across the high desert to the mountains, and then revel in the drop down in to Chama, NM. Chama is tiny but there's a rustic charm about it. You then take a bus back to Antonito as part of the round trip experience. There's a lot more to see and do in the San Luis Valley, it's worth spending some time there.

La Veta Pass is easy, just a gentle drive up and over compared to others in Colorado. If you decide to go I-25 up and over Raton, the drive down through Clayton NM down to Dalhart and on to Amarillo is a flat easy drive. There used to be a nice KOA in Clayton, but some of the reviews say it's a bit run down now. We stayed there years ago and it was a nice basic overnight location. The Capulin Volcano NM is in the area and definitely worth a stop.

RetiredTom2 wrote:
Traveling from Mesa Verde to Hot Springs as part of our western U.S. loop trip and don't see any must see sites along this stretch, but I'm sure there are.

Early to mid October in SW Colorado is magnificent with the aspens changing. Take your toad north from Durango to Silverton or beyond to Ouray. The Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs well into October and is a "must see" in our book. If you take US 160, Wolf Creek Pass east of Pagosa Springs is bit of a grunt to get up, but magnificent scenery. Of course there the Great Sand Dunes NP north of Alamosa. Just south of Alamosa, another scenic railroad, the Cumbres and Toltec runs through mid October.

Once you hit I-25, head south to US 87 at Raton. Visit Capulin Volcanic NM.

If you take I-40 across OK, consider overnighting at Red Rock Canyon State Park. Interesting setting in a canyon that is rather surprising in the plains of OK. If the winds are blowing, you'll be more protected down in the canyon.

If you do not mind driving in the mountains, then US 160 across to I-25 at Walsenburg is a very good highway. But Wolf Creek Pass is a pretty long and steep climb up the west side. If your C doesn't have much reserve power, you might consider disconnecting the toad until you get to the top and then hook back up. But RVs of all sizes run that highway constantly in the summer.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is an interesting stop not too far off the highway east of Alamosa. Between there and I-25 you will also hit La Veta Pass. Not nearly as bad as Wolf Creek though.
From I-25 you can go south to Raton, then pick up US 87/64 to Amarillo and I-40. You can follow I-40 to Arkansas. OK City has the National Cowboy and Western Heritage museum that is worth a visit. And, of course, the national memorial at the site of the Murrah building bombing.
From I-40 in Arkansas you could take AR 7 to Hot Springs. Somewhat of a narrow and twisting highway, but pretty drive if you are not in a hurry. Otherwise continue on I-40 to Little Rock, I-430 south to I-30, and west to US 70 to Hot Springs.
If you prefer to avoid the mountain passes, then take US 84 at Pagosa Springs down to Santa Fe. An interesting town with lots to see. From Santa Fe take US 285 to I-40 and proceed as noted above.
Amarillo has the National Quarter Horse museum if that is of interest. And Sizemore's RV museum with a collection of old RVs.
An alternate route would be take US 287 at Amarillo southeast down thru Wichita Falls, from US 287 southeast of Wichita Falls take US 82 east all the way to I-30 at New Boston in far east Texas, I-30 up to either AR 7 or US 270 to Hot Springs.
Lots of variations with any of the above if there are any particular areas or sights you might want to see.

OMG - there's a ton of stuff to see here. It's a bit dicey through some of those mountains out of Mesa Verde, but when we did that area, we came out I-40 and up through Gallup to Farmington (where we did some fishing there), course you can do that in Durango too - that area is fabulous for trout fishing - get a guide, it's worth the price.

So if you're coming through I-40, then south of Amarillo, stop at the Palo Duro State Park - beautiful scenery there. Traveling into Oklahoma here are some of my favorite stops:

Red Rock Canyon State Park - this time of year the trees will be turning and it's beautiful - do call ahead, they only have a very few full-hookups but if you're coming through during the week, you can probably get a site. This was a place that was cool and water was always available when the covered wagons came through and you can still see the ruts from the wagon wheels.

Red Rock is close to the city if you want to come into some fun eats and events there. Here's a link to some things to do in Oklahoma City (no I don't work for the chamber, but I should!)

Next - depending upon going north or south into AR, here's some suggestions:

Going North - stop off at Osage Hills State Park and trek to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve and drive around to see buffalo roam the prairie. This time of year, the color will be out, so be prepared for some beautiful color and the bison will be rutting. There are hikes you can take (short) and beautiful countryside through the foothills of the Ozarks.

Going straight East - Stop off at Greenleaf State Park which is a quiet park close to Tenkiller (you can do some pretty good trout fishing below Tenkiller Dam), and some crappie and bass fishing at Greenleaf Lake.

Going South - If you are in the neighborhood and don't stop at this park you should be shot! This is the state's most popular park at Beaver's Bend State Park and they have some pretty spectacular sites. Fern can be a little tricky to get into (with your big rig, I wouldn't recommend that campground). But Buckeye and Cypress are great campgrounds for bigger rigs. Fern is higher from the river's edge and Buckeye and Cypress are almost level with the river's edge. Here's some shots of our trip there last fall, do make reservations as they fill up fast - like reservations now! Buckeye is the only one that takes reservations, but that's OK cause that's where you will want to stay. Here's a map of the campground and although the park looks small, it's really filled with trees and the sites are very private.

BTW, all the links will take you to the sites where you can click on reservation info and maps to help you navigate through.

If you have the time, US 64 eastbound across New Mexico has good scenery -- lots of curves. Or if you take I-25 down to Raton, NM, pick up US 64 and stop at Capulin National Monument, a small volcano. If you want the road less traveled, stay on U S 64 across the panhandle of Oklahoma.

The basic routes out of the southwest corner of CO are:

1) US 160 east to I-25 at Walsenburg
2) US 491 down to I-40 at Gallup
3) US 550 across NM to I-25 at Bernatillo

Each has hills / mountain passes which have to be crossed.

On US 160 there is Wolf Creek Pass east of Pagosa Springs.
On US 491/I-40 you cross the continental divide east of Gallup.
On US 550 - folks say the stretch from Durango to the NM border is not much fun to drive - 2-lane.

Both the southern routes have a steep climb east of Albuquerque for a dozen or so miles.

RV Parks - plenty on I-40. US 491 and 550 are very sparse. Haven't traveled 160. Plenty after you hit I-25

After Walsenburg on I-25 the climb over Raton Pass at the NM stateline can be steep. Taking US 64 east from Raton - I try to time my stop for a night at Capulin - small nice RV park (no restaurants in the town) and a visit to the Capulin Volcano National Monument - well worth the trip. Then an easy drive to Amarillo.

I-40 in Arkansas to Hot Springs

While I personally enjoy driving AR Hwy 7 pulling a 35ft TT - a lot of folks don't like driving the 'most scenic highway in Arkansas' as Hwy 7 is known.

A bit better drive, easier and somewhat scenic is US 71 south from Fort Smith to Y City near Mena and US 280 east to Hot Springs.

Though the easiest/ fastest will be to take I-40 to the I-430 loop west of Little Rock and back track down I-30 to US-70 to Hot Springs.