Traveling thru Texas to Amarillo

[Red_Eagle]

Will be heading west late May/early June. Considering taking I-20 to I-35W(north) to Hwy 287 to Amarillo. Can those of you who have traveled Hwy 287 tell me what gas stations along that route can accommodate RVs ? We are pulling a 31' 5er. We will most likely need to find a campground along that route, probably near Wichita Falls. Appreciate any info.

[AlCar]

Skid Row Joe wrote:

AlCar wrote:
Piece of advice: Be aware that if you have a license plate cover on your vehicle that the State Police around the Amarillo area love to pull over RV's, 5'ers, etc and say they can't read the state you from on your on your plate and love to pull you over for license, insurance, registration, and marriage status. I was issued a warning last summer and this was what we had to produce to their satisfaction.

I hope you reported this to the county attorney's office in Amarillo. Sounds like you weren't treated lawfully, from what you wrote about the stop and search done by LE there.

No, actually it was rather interesting and the LE guys (there were two) were very entertaining and polite. It was a rather unique way to spend about 20 minutes on the side of the Interstate. Afterwards, we had fun discussing what they asked us when we were separated--she in the RV and me in the police car--and decided that they were bored and just needed to liven up their shift a bit. They even gave us some tips on what we would see when they learned of our plans for the area.
The unresolved matter for us was, what were people thinking as they drove by and saw an RV pulled over?

[DRTDEVL]

AlCar wrote:
Piece of advice: Be aware that if you have a license plate cover on your vehicle that the State Police around the Amarillo area love to pull over RV's, 5'ers, etc and say they can't read the state you from on your on your plate and love to pull you over for license, insurance, registration, and marriage status. I was issued a warning last summer and this was what we had to produce to their satisfaction.

I would refuse on the marriage status. Its none of their business.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

padredw wrote:
We go through Amarillo to Colorado several times a year.

We have modified our route to drive north to US 82 at Paris, Texas (if coming from further east, that would be at Texarkana), all the way to the intersection with 287 near Wichita Falls. This way we avoid the congestion of the metraplex (Dallas/Fort Worth) and the suburbs sprawling to the north. US 82 is a pleaant drive with little traffic.

There are two good places for camping besides Wichita Falls: The Rocking A in Vernon, and the Ole Town Cotton Gin at Goodlett, Texas (near Quanah.) In recent years we have stayed almost exclusively at the Ole Town Gin. It is a very good place for overnight--level sites with full hook-ups. WIFI, but not very many TV choices. Still, that's our choice on the way to Amarillo.

There is also a city owned/run park in both Electra and Childress, TX. Both very small, self-service with water and electrical hook ups only at Childress, and a dump at the Electra one. The Childress park has a self-pay strong box, and room/hook ups for two or three units only. Electra offers one night free with one night paid. (8) spaces in Electra with 30 AMP only in both towns.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

AlCar wrote:
Piece of advice: Be aware that if you have a license plate cover on your vehicle that the State Police around the Amarillo area love to pull over RV's, 5'ers, etc and say they can't read the state you from on your on your plate and love to pull you over for license, insurance, registration, and marriage status. I was issued a warning last summer and this was what we had to produce to their satisfaction.

I hope you reported this to the county attorney's office in Amarillo. Sounds like you weren't treated lawfully, from what you wrote about the stop and search done by LE there.

[Kit_Carson]

padredw wrote:
We go through Amarillo to Colorado several times a year.

We have modified our route to drive north to US 82 at Paris, Texas (if coming from further east, that would be at Texarkana), all the way to the intersection with 287 near Wichita Falls. This way we avoid the congestion of the metraplex (Dallas/Fort Worth) and the suburbs sprawling to the north. US 82 is a pleaant drive with little traffic.

There are two good places for camping besides Wichita Falls: The Rocking A in Vernon, and the Ole Town Cotton Gin at Goodlett, Texas (near Quanah.) In recent years we have stayed almost exclusively at the Ole Town Gin. It is a very good place for overnight--level sites with full hook-ups. WIFI, but not very many TV choices. Still, that's our choice on the way to Amarillo.

I agree completely with the Old Town Cotton Gin campground. Real nice place and the two times we were there they served continental breakfast.

[AlCar]

Piece of advice: Be aware that if you have a license plate cover on your vehicle that the State Police around the Amarillo area love to pull over RV's, 5'ers, etc and say they can't read the state you from on your on your plate and love to pull you over for license, insurance, registration, and marriage status. I was issued a warning last summer and this was what we had to produce to their satisfaction.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

Red Eagle wrote:
Again, thanks for the advice. Looks like hwy 69 up to hwy 82 and west to Wichita Falls.

Believe me, this route IS preferable to the Dallas-Fort Worth Interstates!

[Skid_Row_Joe]

Red Eagle wrote:
Will be heading west late May/early June. Considering taking I-20 to I-35W(north) to Hwy 287 to Amarillo. Can those of you who have traveled Hwy 287 tell me what gas stations along that route can accommodate RVs ? We are pulling a 31' 5er. We will most likely need to find a campground along that route, probably near Wichita Falls. Appreciate any info.

Walmart Supercenters have Murphy Oil stations in their parking lots. Best prices on gas and diesel. You can replenish your fresh water tank at Murphy Oil stations too.

[Red_Eagle]

Again, thanks for the advice. Looks like hwy 69 up to hwy 82 and west to Wichita Falls.

[littlemo]

padredw wrote:
We go through Amarillo to Colorado several times a year.

We have modified our route to drive north to US 82 at Paris, Texas (if coming from further east, that would be at Texarkana), all the way to the intersection with 287 near Wichita Falls. This way we avoid the congestion of the metraplex (Dallas/Fort Worth) and the suburbs sprawling to the north. US 82 is a pleaant drive with little traffic.

There are two good places for camping besides Wichita Falls: The Rocking A in Vernon, and the Ole Town Cotton Gin at Goodlett, Texas (near Quanah.) In recent years we have stayed almost exclusively at the Ole Town Gin. It is a very good place for overnight--level sites with full hook-ups. WIFI, but not very many TV choices. Still, that's our choice on the way to Amarillo.

X 2 on this. Don't usually stop near WF because we try to make it to Amarillo and stop for few hours rest at the REst area in Amarillo. (Very nice with 24 hour security and WIFI)

[tatest]

Wichita Falls has a low-cost, short-stay RV park run by the city. Electricity and water hookups, and dump station. Location is north side of the city, on west side of the freeway, where I-44 ends. Follow the signs to the Texas welcome center.

There is a commercial RV park on the Seymour highway, you get off the freeway onto 5th street and go west, I think it is less than a mile. N side of the road, between highway and Wichita River.

I've stayed at both places, recommend the city operated park for overnights, the commercial park is often full of long term residents and transient work crews, overnight spaces are not often available. Some sites are full hookup, and there are some large pull throughs.

There was a third location advertising as RV park last time I was there, turned out to be a mobile home park in the housing area between the air base and I-44. They are looking for longer term residents that happen to have RVs rather than mobile homes.

All of these places are RV parks, not campgrounds. None of them allow camping. If you want a campground, you will find two campgrounds at Lake Arrowhead State Park, just south of Wichita Falls on US-281. The campgrounds permit camping, and also accommodate RVs. RV sites have water and electricity, dump station in the park. Be aware, Texas has per-person daily admission fees in their state parks, on top of campsite and RV site rental fees.

[BB_TX]

Red Eagle wrote:
Appreciate the advice. Now strongly considering hwy 69 either to Greenville or farther north to Bells,Tx and hwy 82. Are there stations on hwy 69, hwy 380 and hwy 82 for easy in & out to fill up? You folks are greatly helping with my route decision making. After reaching Amarillo, the easy part is I-40 to Flagstaff area. Again, thanks for all your advice.

I live just off US 380. It is almost all new 4 lane highway from Greenville to Denton. There is highway construction going on between Denton and Decatur but the highway is good and the construction does not have much effect on traffic flow. BUT. The ~35 mile stretch from the east side of McKinney to the west side of Denton has 40+ traffic lights due to incredible growth over the last 20 years.
Since I live near McKinney I do drive 380 over to 287. But if I were coming up US 69 I would stay on it to US 82 at Bells. A few small towns that way, and mostly 2 lane highway, but no traffic. There are stations on 69 and 82, at least to Gainsville. But can't remember exactly where RV friendly ones are located.

[egh33]

There are a couple of RV parks right in Wichita Falls. Both pretty nice. There is one right on 287 just north of the Ruby overpass. It's run by the city. Right close to the Texas tourist bureau.

[Red_Eagle]

Appreciate the advice. Now strongly considering hwy 69 either to Greenville or farther north to Bells,Tx and hwy 82. Are there stations on hwy 69, hwy 380 and hwy 82 for easy in & out to fill up? You folks are greatly helping with my route decision making. After reaching Amarillo, the easy part is I-40 to Flagstaff area. Again, thanks for all your advice.