Raton Pass to Corpus Christi or Galveston

[ggimlick]

Hi all,

Traveling from Denver to the gulf coast and the mapping takes us I-25 to Raton Pass and then across State rte 64 and down to 87 on to Amarillo.

Since it will be January, I'm wondering just what kind of route that is or if I'd be better staying on I-25 to Albuquerque and around that way. It's quite a bit further, but safety is key.

We're in a motorhome towing a car.

Thanks for any suggestions to help

[Heisenberg]

Raton to Amarillo via 87, and to Lubbock via I 27. Then I 27 becomes US 87 again to Junction where you merge onto I 10 to San Antonio. At San Antonio get on I 37 to Corpus Christi. Really nice highways.

[Hank85713]

rucker has a rec center at Destin, we stayed there several years ago. Also there are some at eglin and pensacola

[RckyMtnVia]

Camping On The Gulf RV park in Destin is right on the beach with miles of fine white sand. It is expensive, but worth it to walk out of your rv and be at the beach. We usually stay in the lower area. Lots of shops, outlet mall, Bass Pro Shop etc, close by.

[ggimlick]

RckyMtnVia wrote:
If you can eat a 72oz steak, baked potato, salad and 2 dinner roles in one hour the steak is free.

Ha, not even in my youngest days 🙂 When I was in Alaska back in the 70's they had a "Pipeliner's Special" that was the same thing and being a strapping young army aviator, I was sure I could do it - wrong 🙂 It was fun trying though, but it would kill me now.

We had regular size steaks and one of the best steak dinners we ever had.

Thanks, we are definitely planning to spend a couple days in Amarillo so we will do a regular steak and live to eat another day 🙂

I don't know how you plan to return, but it is worthwhile to get to Diamond Crater State Park in Murfreesboro Arkansas

We don't know either, so we're looking at various options. We want to hit Destin and then over to the Titusville on the way home. We might shoot down to New Orleans for a couple days....very much up in the air right now.

Digging for diamonds sounds like it would be fun though so if not this trip, maybe next time. I love these bits of info to store for later. Thanks.

[RckyMtnVia]

If you can eat a 72oz steak, baked potato, salad and 2 dinner roles in one hour the steak is free. We had regular size steaks and one of the best steak dinners we ever had. I don't know how you plan to return, but it is worthwhile to get to Diamond Crater State Park in Murfreesboro Arkansas and dig for diamonds. Worth a visit at some point. We went once but did not find anything, but a woman beside us found a half carat, brown diamond. We now have the "digging for diamonds" fever, and will return!

[hukillrc]

The Welcome Center on East side of Amarillo on I40 has free overnight parking.
The last time I was there they had a guard on duty when center was not open.

[ggimlick]

Oh, you had me at "steak" and free limo! 🙂

Thanks for this info, it helps with my road concerns. We can be flexible with departure from Denver so will check weather and road conditions and plan accordingly.

Any other campground/route info is appreciated.

[TexasShadow]

that route is fine if there hasn't been a big snow storm or there isn't one in progress or forecast to storm while you're going through there. Just check with the highway conditions before committing yourself.

[RckyMtnVia]

We went from Denver area to Aransas Pass in early November and just after Raton we took US 87 SE to Dalhart, Amarillo. Then 287 to Fort Worth area, then south to Waco and Aransas pass. From Fort Worth it looks like you could take I-45 to Galveston. US 87 and 287 were good roads and speed limit most of the way was 65 mph, with slow down going through small towns. Would use the same route again.

If you need an rv park in Amarillo, stay at the Amarillo Ranch RV park and take the free limo service to the Big Texan Steak Ranch which is about 5 minutes from rv park.

[padredw]

That is exactly the route we have taken many times, and that is certainly the route I would take to go from Denver to Amarillo. We usually try to stay near the summit of Raton Pass at the Cedar Rail RV park.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Drove Raton to Amarillo that way in mid-August. Nice road. Not much traffic - few grades until just north of Amarillo and not really much to bother you.

Long drive - only a couple RV parks along the way. Don't know if they will be open.

Amarillo has several RV parks that should be open.

But check the weather about the time you get to New Mexico - Amarillo can be the coldest place on the planet with strong north winds.

There will be more grades on I-25 to Albuquerque. Not bad.

Are you going to head east and climb the pass out of Albuquerque on I-40 East?

If going through Amarillo anyway - I wouldn't consider going to Albuquerque unless there is known snow/ice on the shorter route.