Recommendations for trip Denver to Galveston and return

As others have stated, avoid Houston if at all possible. Traffic is horrible on a good day. And US290 is being completely rebuilt it's entire length in Houston. We were there Feb.25-March 1 to move our son back to Colorado. We traveled US287 much of the trip which is a good road.

Since you only have 10 days I'd suggest you take I-25 south for some cooler temps as long as possible and pick up I-10 east. A must stop is Balmorhea State Park, Texas to cool off in the spring water. Davis State Park is a reasonably cooler place. Texas is extremely HOT in July. Have you considered the mountain areas of New Mexico with your 10 days? You'd make better use of your time and it would be much cooler.

We just came back to Denver from the Houston area last month on our way home from Florida. We have been on most routes you can take between here and there, so if you want some current info on routes and campgrounds, PM me.

Incidentally, we have camped at Palo Duro Canyon SP and it is worth a visit. But when we are just overnighting in Amarillo, PDC SP is too far off the main highways. So we always stay at the Oasis RV Park on I-40 west of town, then drive through town shortly after the morning rush hour.

Like all the others on this thread, we avoid Houston like the plague. And Galveston is flat, so you might take your bikes instead of a toad!

IF you take US 87 out of Raton, stop at Cauplin and mosey up to the Volcano Nat. Monument for a great view of the country around there. Not much else besides a nice view, but it is a point of interest along your way.

Alternative route through Kansas to see Liberal and Dodge City if that is of interest to you.

Texas has some of the best secondary roads in the nation. You can plan on making good time and having a good surface with mostly wide shoulders on even rural roads. Many Texans will pull on to the shoulder to let you pass if they are going slower than other traffic. Obey the speed limit in towns. Many small towns enhance their budget with speed traps. The other main hazard is deer, always watch for deer.

If you like Texas style BBQ there will be lots of opportunities along any route you choose. As you get close to the coast the seafood options increase. Crawdads, crabs and shrimp being featured items on most menus.

Good suggestion to completely avoid Houston. We drove - on a Sunday morning - last May from Galveston northwest toward San Antonio. Traffic going around (not through) Houston was mind-boggling (and we are people who drove for decades all over the Washington, DC area). It is an enormous metroplex that I’ll avoid completely in the future.

OK some thoughts on that route -- once I say that I'd be headed the other way in July!!!

Here we go: I-25 to Raton. There is a great little park at the top of the pass, but probably too close to your starting point for overnight there.

At Raton take US 87 across NM to Clayton and on to Amarillo. A nice stop in July would be at Palo Duro Canyon (state park and other parks nearby). The outdoor drama "Texas" will be playing in the park.

Back to Amarillo and US 287 to Wichita Falls. Of course you could stay on 287 on into Fort Worth, but another possibility is to take US 281 out of Wichita Falls. Many possible routes from there. I'll mention one possibility: Texas 6 to Waco. A really nice COE park (Airport Park) at Waco and the tourist destination of "Magnolia" by fixer uppers, Chip and Joann. Also the Texas Ranger Museum and Baylor University. You could take TX 6 on down to TX 36 and entirely bypass Houston. TX 6 will bring you to Bryan/College Station and Texas A&M and the George Bush Presidential Library.

At Hempstead you will intersect with US 290 which will take you on to Houston or you can pick up TX 99 and bypass Houston to pick up 6 again all the way to Galveston.

There are many, many variations on this route, but at least I have sketched out one.