September 2020 Suggestions/Advice

Badlands/Blackhills; Great Sand dunes, Buena Vista area, Mesa Verde Colorado.

I will make a few comments about this choice of routes as I have extensive experience with most of it. I'l give some specific possibilities.

For the first days drive from central Texas you could go to either Caprock Canyon State Park (about 370 miles from Waco) or, if you only want an overnight convenient spot, to Ole Town Cotton Gin RV at Goodlett, Texas (about 290 miles). For the second day you could drive to Raton Pass, NM where there is a very nice overnight now called Raton Pass RV Park (about 350 miles from previous stop).

Great Sand Dunes is only 128 miles from Raton Pass, but I would suggest the possibility that you leave early and make Sand Dunes a day stop and drive on to Buena Vista for a late afternoon arrive the same day. After all it is only 100 miles on from Sand Dunes--a couple of hours.

Now, after Buena Vista I think you have to choose between Black Hills or Mesa Verde. They are opposite directions from Buena Vista. Either way is a good choice. If you choose Black Hills, I would certainly suggest that you make a visit to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. September is an ideal time as someone above has pointed out. Estes Park is an easy day's drive from Buena Vista and I can give you some suggestions about the route as I have made it many times.

From Estes Park to Custer, SD and the Black Hills is just a bit over 300 miles which makes a good day's drive. Many good camping choices in the Custer State Park and surrounding commercial campgrounds. I think the Black Hills could be the terminus of a two week trip.

Let's say 1 night at Ole Town, 1 night at Raton Pass, 3 nights at Buena Vista, 3 nights at Estes Park, 3 nights at Custer as an example, that leaves only 4 or 5 nights for return trip. And any one of those 3 night stays could easily be extended rather than adding any other stops.

Anyway, I hope this will help you in making final plans. You do have to be specific about miles and nights.

I could make just as good a case for going from Buena Vista through Gunnison and Ouray to Mesa Verde and back through Durango and Santa Fe. Just let me know by PM if you wish to see that possibility, or if I might answer any questions about either route.