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Just_Lee's avatar
Just_Lee
Explorer
Aug 08, 2015

Need Info on NM Route 380 and 285

We will be coming out of Houston heading to Albuquerque late Oct.....

We will in in our Signature Vehicle towing a Geo Tracker..

Thanks.......

5 Replies

  • If you are in a hurry, get on 287 and take all the way to Amarillo, the I-40 the rest of the way. Fuel up at Santa Rosa, last reasonable price before Alq. The other route thru the country side is good also and I have Driven both several times. Enjoy your trip.
  • 380 is a good road, but has some stretches of narrow shoulders. Between Roswell and San Antonio, NM 380 passes through Billy the Kid and Smoky the Bear country. Fort Stanton is worth a stop too, if you like history.

    West of Carrizozo you will be traveling along the north end of White Sands Missile Range (Trinity Site 14 mi south of road) and through Valley of Fire (lava beds) Rec area. Some twists and turns with a few grades but nothing significant.

    Fuel up in Roswell and try a Blakes Lota Burger (green chile cheese burger) on Main St in Socorro. Some people like the Owl Cafe in San Antonio for green chile burgers but I prefer Blakes. The Owl is just to greasy for my taste but to each his own.

    Getting into a station in Socorro can be a problem but there is a truck stop at Lemitar, NM, 6 miles or so north of Socorro on I-25.
  • We just came down 285 from northern NM, a flat empty road in good condition. Don't expect cell phone signals. It's been awhile since we traveled 380 but IIRC its about the same as 285. That part of NM is flatish with some hills.