Trip to Big Bend NP

[Colo_Native]

Looking for info on the roads to Terlingua TX. We have decided to stay at on of the Rv parks around here as it is close to Big Bend NP. The route I am getting from trip planner is take I25 south to US 84, 219 to 50, then US 285 then at I 10 get on 67, then to US 90 and get onto TX 118. Anybody done any of this route and how are the roads and services? Thanks

[greg121]

If you've got a chance to visit White Sands definitely go - you can't see anything like it anywhere else.

Oilfield traffic out in that part of the world is waaay down, lots of room in RV parks, and on the roads. But, the roads probably haven't been restored yet where they got beaten up badly.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Don't go as far east as Fort Stockton. No need to waste the miles, and there is nothing to see.

US-285 from Carlsbad to Pecos was very crowded and busy in August 2014 from oilfield traffic. The NM part for the road was showing broken pavement due to overweight rig damage. Not bad, but not getting better at that time.

TX-17 is flat as a pool table from Pecos to Balmorhea, then crosses a minor pass enroute to Fort Davis. But a nice road to travel and a bit of a change from the flat desert.

TX-118 south from Alpine is wide and very little traffic. A very good road.

TX-170 from Study Butte/ Terlingua to Lajitas is great. From Lajitas to Persidio is an interesting drive, but a couple of the grades are very steep, not for the fainthearted RV driver, or a rig without a lot of power and good brakes. It's the only road I've seen in my life where I've actually seen falling rocks occur.

Fuel stops - Carlsbad, Pecos, Alpine. Especially Alpine. Fuel prices go up 15-20% south of Alpine and only a few places in Study Butte, Lajitas and Big Bend NP - one near the Panther Junction HQ and the other in Rio Grande Village.

[Colo_Native]

DougE wrote:
Hwy 17 from Pecos down to Alpine is probably a prettier drive than continuing Hwy 285 to Fort Stockton. I'd be sure to fill up in Pecos and top off in Alpine.

I will give that a shot because I know that is pretty barren because of the desert conditions

[Colo_Native]

greg121 wrote:
That takes you through some fairly uninteresting country in Texas. I'd probably go by way of Carlsbad and Guadalupe Mountains picking up 90 in Van Horn. That doesn't put you too far out of the way of Davis Mountains / Ft Davis should you want to stop off and see what all there is to see around there. I didn't run it but I don't think that would put on too many more miles.

That's going to be the trip back and then possibly White sands

[greg121]

That takes you through some fairly uninteresting country in Texas. I'd probably go by way of Carlsbad and Guadalupe Mountains picking up 90 in Van Horn. That doesn't put you too far out of the way of Davis Mountains / Ft Davis should you want to stop off and see what all there is to see around there. I didn't run it but I don't think that would put on too many more miles.

[DougE]

Hwy 17 from Pecos down to Alpine is probably a prettier drive than continuing Hwy 285 to Fort Stockton. I'd be sure to fill up in Pecos and top off in Alpine.