Hello allThe family and I are heading up to Colorado for Independence day Im looking for some route tips to help us along the way. Our first destination is Colorado Springs so we can unhook and go see pikes peak and garden of the gods. But I want to stop and spend the night on the way there. Anyone have experience with this route that can recommend a good boondocking rest stop or truck stop along the way? Im thinking somewhere around the Texas New Mexico border.EDIT**woops, forgot to add that my plan is to take 287 to 87 to I25 then on up.

287 to 87 to I-25 is a very good route. We do it almost every year. But we typically stay at RV parks in Amarillo (Ft Amarillo RV Resort on the western edge of Amarillo) and/or the Raton KOA (nothing great, but not bad). There is also a small RV park at the very top of Raton Pass. Great view but nothing close by if you want to eat out or shop. I know there is a rest area with large parking area just north of Hartley. And another smaller one just north of Texline. Both in pretty remote areas. But I don't know if they allow overnight parking or not.We typically stay on I-40 west thru Amarillo to US 385 north at Vega to Hartley to hit 87. No towns of much consequence that route. Slightly longer than going north on US 287/87 to Dumas. But, I think, a little faster as you do not slow down thru Amarillo and you do not go thru Dumas. Although Dumas is not much, there are still traffic lights and slow speed limits. But really not much difference either way.If you do go the Dumas route, take Loop 335 north at the eastern edge of Amarillo, loop around the northeast side, and hit 287/87 north of town. Otherwise, you have to go right thru downtown Amarillo, unless you just want to see it. We did once, and saw 3 saddled horses tied outside the Dairy Queen while their riders were have lunch.

In the planning//mapping stage for a 2 month trip to yellowstone next spring. Appreciate this confirmation of my draft route.Will continue to follow.

I dont think there will be much traffic by the time i get to Amarillo so my plan was to just cut right through it. But 385 does look like a pretty easy bypass route. I'll save it in my route planner as a backup thanks!I just found a random rest stop app on my phone and it shows there is a one just shy of Des Moines, NM on 87? cant seem to find it on google maps though

You could consider a stop in Clayton NM. There's a park there that used to be a KOA (stayed there once when it was) and a state park nearby. H E R E is a link to both. Comments from the former KOA CG indicate that folks heading from TX to the Springs use that as a good stop over point. If you have the time, there's also the Capulin Volcano site that you could visit.

Fort Worth to Denver | Good Sam Community

BB_TX
Nomad
Apr 04, 2016
287 to 87 to I-25 is a very good route. We do it almost every year. But we typically stay at RV parks in Amarillo (Ft Amarillo RV Resort on the western edge of Amarillo) and/or the Raton KOA (nothing great, but not bad). There is also a small RV park at the very top of Raton Pass. Great view but nothing close by if you want to eat out or shop.

I know there is a rest area with large parking area just north of Hartley. And another smaller one just north of Texline. Both in pretty remote areas. But I don't know if they allow overnight parking or not.

We typically stay on I-40 west thru Amarillo to US 385 north at Vega to Hartley to hit 87. No towns of much consequence that route. Slightly longer than going north on US 287/87 to Dumas. But, I think, a little faster as you do not slow down thru Amarillo and you do not go thru Dumas. Although Dumas is not much, there are still traffic lights and slow speed limits. But really not much difference either way.

If you do go the Dumas route, take Loop 335 north at the eastern edge of Amarillo, loop around the northeast side, and hit 287/87 north of town. Otherwise, you have to go right thru downtown Amarillo, unless you just want to see it. We did once, and saw 3 saddled horses tied outside the Dairy Queen while their riders were have lunch.
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
BB_TX
BB Tex nailed it
Joe_in_Texas
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
In the planning//mapping stage for a 2 month trip to yellowstone next spring. Appreciate this confirmation of my draft route.
Will continue to follow.
Golfcart
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
I dont think there will be much traffic by the time i get to Amarillo so my plan was to just cut right through it. But 385 does look like a pretty easy bypass route. I'll save it in my route planner as a backup thanks!

I just found a random rest stop app on my phone and it shows there is a one just shy of Des Moines, NM on 87? cant seem to find it on google maps though
Thom02099
Explorer II
Apr 04, 2016
You could consider a stop in Clayton NM. There's a park there that used to be a KOA (stayed there once when it was) and a state park nearby.

H E R E is a link to both. Comments from the former KOA CG indicate that folks heading from TX to the Springs use that as a good stop over point. If you have the time, there's also the Capulin Volcano site that you could visit.
padredw
Nomad
Apr 04, 2016
287 to 87 to I-25 is a very good route

Agree completely. We always try to stay at the Raton Pass RV Park. It is a good place to begin the altitude transition. Easy on in to Colorado Springs from there.

The North bypass around Amarillo allows travel at normal speed. We have never had a slowdown.

Occasionally we will take FM 1061 which joins US 385 near the Cal Farley Boys Ranch. One year we attended the annual Rodeo at the Boys Ranch. It was great. Had a nice place to connect the fifth-wheel.

Usually we stick to the Dumas, Dalhart route because these are often rest stops for us--one or the other. Good Brahms in Dumas for a vanilla Malt!
BB_TX
Nomad
Apr 04, 2016
Golfcart wrote:
..........
I just found a random rest stop app on my phone and it shows there is a one just shy of Des Moines, NM on 87? cant seem to find it on google maps though

Forgot about that one. It is about 3 miles before you reach Des Moines and does have a large parking area.
sealevel_ram
Explorer
Apr 05, 2016
BB_TX wrote:
Golfcart wrote:
..........
I just found a random rest stop app on my phone and it shows there is a one just shy of Des Moines, NM on 87? cant seem to find it on google maps though

Forgot about that one. It is about 3 miles before you reach Des Moines and does have a large parking area.

We have overnighted there a couple of times.
Good place to stop.
egh33
Explorer
Apr 05, 2016
I always take U.S. 287 all the way. free camp ground in Dumas,TX.
Golfcart
Explorer
Apr 05, 2016
padredw wrote:
287 to 87 to I-25 is a very good route

Agree completely. We always try to stay at the Raton Pass RV Park. It is a good place to begin the altitude transition. Easy on in to Colorado Springs from there.

The North bypass around Amarillo allows travel at normal speed. We have never had a slowdown.

Occasionally we will take FM 1061 which joins US 385 near the Cal Farley Boys Ranch. One year we attended the annual Rodeo at the Boys Ranch. It was great. Had a nice place to connect the fifth-wheel.

Usually we stick to the Dumas, Dalhart route because these are often rest stops for us--one or the other. Good Brahms in Dumas for a vanilla Malt!

I did notice 1061 on the map but kinda wrote it off due to it being a farm to market road. I dont normally trust those kind of roads when i'm pulling my trailer lol.

By way of map, it does look like a pretty easy shot through town and up though.