Texas Hwy 90 - Safe for Solo Woman? (S.A. - Van Horn)

Hello again -

I must apologize for taking so long to get back here to say Thank You for all of your replies. My travel plans / routes have changed and I won't be going through that area after all. But after hearing what you all had to say, I would take Hwy 90 in the future.

Thanks so much,
Gypsy

If you travel in isolated areas very often or hike any you might want to check out SPOT

There is usually enough traffic that there will be someone along the road at least every five minutes, most of the day. This is an area where the custom is to stop to see if you need help, particularly if you flag for help.

Border patrol will likely be coming by at 30 minute to hourly intervals. If you are stopped for very long, you will be caught by aerial surveillance and someone will definitely be coming to find iut what is going on. All of thiese reponses likely quicker than any road service provider.

Cell coverage is sparse in the American west, doesn't have to be west Texas. I am within 20 minutes of dead zones covering 100-200 sq miles, in NE Oklahoma, southern Kansas, you will find the same across much of the Great Plains, in the mountains, western deserts and high plateau. Wasn't that long ago there was no cell coverage anywhere, we managed our road trips, not just the desolate West. Wife, daughters traveled these empty roads routinely before cell phones, still travel through them where the phones don't work.

If it is a real issue personally, you might consider renting a satellite phone. This is what we do for field work in communications dead zones, not because we are there, but because what we are doing there is physically dangerous, with high risk of injuries needing emergency medical attention and evacuation.

Gypsy
Please come back and report on that section of highway for us. We will be going across there in early March. It is one of the exact reasons that I brought a cell phone antenna booster. Might just give us enough extended cover area if we need it, but I know it will still be extremely limited across that section. And it appears that it doesn't matter which carrier you have. About the best thing to have across that section of road is low frequency Ham radio or satellite phone. But I want to go to Marfa, so it doesn't matter!!!!

I-10 traffic from San Antonio to El Paso is light, if congested interstates is your issue. From the Lousiana/Texas line to San Antonio it is just the opposite though.

I've driven it frequently over the years. I've never even entertained a thought that it might be risky. You're probably more likely to get assistance from good country folks than you would over on I10. Plenty of truckers and RV'ers travel that road that will give you a lift to the next town if necessary.

I,d say go for it, your not in any more danger than any place else,

it's a good way to go and as safe as any other route. there is some traffic, enough that you won't feel all alone in the world :)

Marathon is a nothing little place but it has a decent RV park and a very nice restaurant at the old Gage Hotel.
or Spend the night at the Marfa lights viewing site... a nice rest stop about 6 or 7 miles east of Marfa. You'll have traveling company.

When you leave San Antonio you are about 3-4 hours to Del Rio, from there you are 3-4 hours from Alpine, from there you are 3-4 hours from Van Horn.
You will find I90 a good road but it does have large areas of open road.
It's all about preparation; take the time to research your travel route using Google Maps, set up your fuel and overnight camping, check your RV tires, your tow vehicle oil, fuel mileage, radiator, tires. You shouldn't have any problems getting to Alpine, but after Alpine if you are going on west past Van Horn and on into New Mexico things don't get any less remote.
The upside is you will see some great scenery, meet some of the best people anywhere, and get to visit some historic towns.

Past Del Rio and across Amistad Reservoir there is an hour drive or so stretch with no cell coverage - then spotty coverage across from Sanderson to Marfa - then another no coverage stretch up to Van Horn.