Route suggestions please!

caysea7254 wrote:
We will be leaving Dec. to travel out west to see sites in Southern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and other states. We fulltime so we do not have a time schedule. Not sure what are the best routes to take to see interesting places along way. Any suggestions are very appreciated. Thank you Tara

Not too familiar with Texas other than getting caught in a hail storm in north
texas----$15K damage to my truck and trailer in 15 min.:( But I would keep an eye on the severe weather currently in Texas and make sure you have a Weather Station Radio that gets National weather in your trailer and in your RV.

caysea7254 wrote:
Thank you everyone!!! We will be leaving from Tennessee heading out west! The suggestions for Texas we will definitely do each. A few we hadn't heard of. Ok we had planned on staying at Organ Pipe NM but not sure now. What would make that any different as far as danger as the rest of the towns and attractions in south Texas a d New Mexico And Arizona. We have talked to people that tell us to stay away from places like Big Bend and places close to the border then we have heard it completely safe!! Thanks everyone good information!

Well I saw a video from the local sheriff (IIRC) in the Organ Pipe Area warning that the park was now a no-go area because of the danger. That was a couple of years ago. But I see this video: Organ Pipe security so it may be safer now. That part at the end was kind of confusing tho, is that the fence at the park or is it the new more secure fence?

But I see this too: Wall construction were it looks like they are replacing that climbable mesh wall with the new version.

Big Bend seemed to be completely safe to us. We drove the entire River Road and the Mexican side seemed to be unpopulated. We did not go by the area where there is a Mexican village on the other side that people visit. We did see some signs of farming activity but that was past the west end of the State Park.

There is no fence and the Rio Grande is ankle deep in most places. But we saw zero Border Patrol units down there either. If someone crossed the border there the area around Big Bend is barren hot desert with zero cities and no big highways for many miles.

BTW stock up before you go down there, there is a small market in the Sturdy Butte area, but as you can imagine prices are high.

You will be ok in Big Bend. I wouldn't hang out around Laredo late at night though.
I lived in Laredo for work for a year. Worked oilfield north of there,actually next to George Straits ranch. Just use common sense. Don't get all compassionate if you see migrants along the road. At most throw them a bottle of water without stopping. Most dangerous areas are isolated ranch roads.

Thank you everyone!!! We will be leaving from Tennessee heading out west! The suggestions for Texas we will definitely do each. A few we hadn't heard of. Ok we had planned on staying at Organ Pipe NM but not sure now. What would make that any different as far as danger as the rest of the towns and attractions in south Texas a d New Mexico And Arizona. We have talked to people that tell us to stay away from places like Big Bend and places close to the border then we have heard it completely safe!! Thanks everyone good information!

A small Alabama Coushatta Indian reservation east of Livingston. Maybe another south of ElPaso.
Texas has no federal land except national forests and grasslands and they were acquired relatively lately.
One of the conditions for Texas coming into the union was that we kept all open lands. Y'all wanted us bad. We're having second thoughts about the whole deal.

Where are you leaving from, South Dakota? I don't see how I-10 fits into this picture?

In southern Texas,
1) Padre Island- major snowbird area
2) San Antonio: River walk, Alamo and the Mission tours
South West TX:
1)Big Bend that would be the perfect time to visit that park and the adjacent state park Big Bend Ranch
2) To the north a bit is Sonoma Caverns-its commercial right off I-10
3) McDonald Observatory if you like astronomy.
4) Ft Stockton-the old fort there.

Various Texas State parks, especially Palo Duro up south of Amarillo. I find their parks are very well kept but most are not spectacular. And for the size of the state they are a bit sparse. Notice that Texas has very little Federal land and I've heard zero Indian Reservations. That last becuase of their history with the Comanches.

Both NM and AZ are packed with State and Federal Parks.
If your rig is small (under 30 ft), we liked Chiricahua National Mon, in SE AZ to be a good spot for a week or so but the CG only takes small RV and we could not find any NF or BLM cg in the area that were not likewise limited. The nearest commercial CG was out on I-10 a long drive off. I suspect that's why you never hear this park mentioned.

Karchner Caverns are supposed to be spectacular but you better have reservations before getting there from what I hear. Organ Pipe NM is said to be hazardous because it is right on the border. Maybe the new fences will return that to usable status. Bisbee is an interesting town.

That's enough from me other will chime in.

Wrong starting point :(

In southern Texas the hill country around Fredericksburg, Kerrville, Bandera (cowboy capital of the world) area is interesting. In Fredericksburg, a neat old German town, there is the National Museum of the Pacific War, a very well done museum. And if you like wine there is the wine country trail with a very large number of wineries.
Then over to San Antonio, and the Riverwalk, Alamo, Spanish mission trail, mercado, Buckhorn Saloon/Texas Ranger museum are worth a visit.
The Sonora Caverns in Sonora, TX are a National Natural Landmark are reputed to be very beautiful but I have not been there, yet.
I live in north Texas so I am sure there are those who live in southern TX that can give you more ideas.

Lucky You, stay south, it is snowing on the high country

You seem to have no choice but to take the I-10 -- and the route is the most boring road travel I've ever taken.:B

Given the choice, since you don't have a timeline, is to go further up north to 40.