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dreamer
Explorer
Jan 03, 2015

From Rio Grande Valley headed to Quartzsite - along river?

We are leaving La Feria,TX next week and headed to Quartzsite, AZ. We're in no great hurry and prefer to stay off interstates. Is there any reason we shouldn't take 83 to 277 to 90 west? I've been up through there a couple of years ago but don't know if it is a good road or a bad road. We'll have motorhomes with tows and a fifth wheeler. Thanks.

dreamer.
  • Just an update. This was a great choice of a route, good roads and light traffic. It was raining and all of the oilfield trucks coming out of the bush and onto the road with the mud really made a mess. We ran into freezing rain as we neared Alpine and overnighted at the Marfa lights viewing area. Waited until 10 am for the ice to melt and made our way on west. It has been a great trip so far. Thanks again.
  • Today we drove from Fort Davis, Texas to Alpine, TX and picked up US-90 - our day ended at Laughlin AFB FamCamp on US-90 just east of Del Rio, TX.

    240 miles. We counted 19 RVs headed west on US-90 today. Everything from 3 Casita's to two Newmar DPs.

    That was more RVs than big 18 wheeler trucks today.
  • Thanks for all of the replies. It is reassuring to get a little advance information. Thanks again.

    dreamer.
  • we just came up that route from Harlingen to Laredo and now at Seminole Canyon state park near Comstock. Driving was good. Tomorrow off to Big Bend
  • I will drive US-90 to avoid I-10 any time. Only about 50 miles more from El Paso to San Antonio via 90, and a better choice of overnight stops along the route.
  • 83/277/90 is a fairly common route for RV'ers headed northwest from RGV. I've used it twice and it was mostly good roads with light traffic. You do need to plan ahead for your fuel stops, especially if you need diesel stations with clearance for large rigs.
  • it's a great route without heavy traffic. Use the loop at Eagle Pass to avoid the downtown area.
    Del Rio doesn't have a loop, but when you get to 90, just cross over it and continue north on Bedell Ave which is not good, but better than taking 90..stay on it to 17th Street then go left over to 90. Plenty of rv parks on that side of the city.
    There's a state park up the road a few miles north of Comstock. There's a great overlook of the Pecos River canyon a few miles north of the state park and you can overnight there if you want.
    At Langtry, there is a goverment memorial to the infamous Judge Roy Bean, with a museum..good place for a brief rest.
    Distances become longer between good fuel stops, so if you need fuel, Sanderson is best choice. After that, you have to go to Marfa.
    If you are ready to stop, there is a rest stop about 6 miles east of Marfa that offers a viewing site of the famous Marfa mystery lights, and we have seen them and so they do exist. Lots of folks overnight there.
    If you are so inclined, this is a good place to turn north. Go up through Ft. Davis and see the old fort. There is a state park Davis Mountains State Park there. And the McDonald's observatory offers "star parties" (search internet) and then the road from there up to I 10 is scenic... a little twisty for a short way, then smoothing out again.
    That said, be sure and keep a watch on the weather forecast because this area of west TX is subject to sleet storms with plenty of good dry weather in-between. If you run into such a storm, it will likely be done with in a day, so just stop and wait for the road to clear.
  • We took 90 west last week. We came from San Antonio so we were on it from Del Rio until it hooks up with I-10. Good road with light traffic.
  • I've done that route starting just north of Laredo and thought it was a nice drive. It's darn near an interstate after you get past Del Rio.