TEXAS east to west on I 10

[kingsransom]

We are traveling from Florida in a class A 35' motorhome. We have never been on a long trip, but hope to make it to Calif, via Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Not sure where we will go from there. When researching the roads across TX, there is an area from San Antonio to Ft Stockton that looks scary. We usually only travel 3-4 hours then stop. This area looks desolate, with not many towns, exits, or places to stay. Would like some feedback from other travelers about this area or any info on TX. We hear that there are long empty roads there that go on forever.

[TexasShadow]

From Sonora to Van Horn....
you will be moving through an area called the Permian Basin. It was once an inland sea. The Comanche tribes wandered the area from Mexico up into OK and NM.
This is where the comacheros did business with the indians.
You will find plenty of places to stay overnight, never fear, and you'll have more
traffic on the highway than you want.

[Charles2222]

Have traveled I 10 a number of times and kinda enjoy it.It's much different than this part of the country.Please stay around San Antonio long enough to do the River Walk.The west is the way to go.

[DesertHawk]

Another option, Texas allows overnighting in there rest stops: Map of Rest Stops

[bgum]

Back in 1974 there was sections out there where one couldn't get a radio station. Nothing but dead deer along the highway.

[Executive45]

"The Sun has riz, The Sun has set...And here we is, in Texas Yet....:S

[2gypsies1]

mockturtle wrote:
I just have to comment on the difference of perception of what is 'scary'. Maybe it's an east coast-west coast thing. To me, scary is going through a major city at rush hour. Desolate, to me, is good rather than scary. That said, I have taken I-10 through TX many times and have always found places to stop and to stay. South Llano River SP, as has been suggested, is a very good choice.

'The sun is riz, the sun is set,
And here I is in Texas yet.'

Excellent! You're coming West so you're going to see many wide open spaces. That's the beauty of the West! 🙂

I'd advise to get yourself off the interstates at times. You'll find much to check out. That's where the real scenery is. Have a good trip and stay out of those big cities.

[pconroy328]

kingsransom wrote:
This area looks desolate

My first trip from Dallas to Taos was many years ago. I remember hitting "Seek" on the radio in West Texas and watching the dial spin, and spin, and spin, and spin...

[eubank]

You know, I sure hope you've given yourselves a LOT of time for this trip. Driving I10 and wanting to see New Mexico and Colorado along your trip to California means that you're going to spend a bunch of your time just driving. This is just basic geography.

If your plan is to do New Mexico and Colorado (and, obviously, Arizona -- and possibly some of Utah and Nevada, depending on your route), then do yourselves a favor and do I40 instead. You'll be a lot closer to the things you want to see all the way around.

🙂
Lynn

[mockturtle]

I just have to comment on the difference of perception of what is 'scary'. Maybe it's an east coast-west coast thing. To me, scary is going through a major city at rush hour. Desolate, to me, is good rather than scary. That said, I have taken I-10 through TX many times and have always found places to stop and to stay. South Llano River SP, as has been suggested, is a very good choice.

'The sun is riz, the sun is set,
And here I is in Texas yet.'

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Balmorhea State Park is nice. Spring for swimming. Not right off interstate but worth the few miles. There is also an RV Park in Fort Stockton. There is a Pilot station at exit 456 (Junction, TX) and a Flying J at exit 259 (Fort Stockton). Although not many cities along the stretch there is plenty of traffic going that way and 3 rest areas between San Antonio and Fort Stockton.

[DougE]

It's obviously not an issue for me as I plan to run out Hwy 90 to Big Bend NP in a couple of weeks and come back on I10, but if I10 looks scary to them then Hwy 90 would really concern them. When my wife and I attended Texas Tech in Lubbock, she had a roommate from Massachusetts one semester. We took her home to San Antonio one holiday and the 30 miles between towns with no vehicle traffic freaked her out. BTW there's not enough traffic on I10 in that area to be a concern, but you've got it right, deserthawk, there's a lot of great things to see out there.

[DesertHawk]

Van Hone has fuel and places to stay, as well as Ft. Stockton. I-10 has a speed limit of 80 miles per hour. We didn't drive that fast of course & it wasn't hard driving it.

If you happen to be in Van Horn & need a place to overnight, the Desert Willow RV Park is a very nice place to do so.

Oct 28: we overnighted at Desert Willow RV Park. New to being Passport America (not in the listing book). We were pleasantly surprised with it. Small, yes, and all gravel, but all pull throughs & a very clean restroom/shower. Didn't use them, but very clean. Extremely friendly & nice staff. $12.50 with the PA discount.

Sonora Caverns might be a neat stop off I-10 (they do have an RV park at them also, I believe) but have never stopped.

I've read many reports of those saying to take US 90 from San Antonio to keep off the busy 10. More miles I would think. Big Bend Nat'l Park is south of Alpine/Fort Davis area as well. A neat place.

Balmorhea has places to stop. Before reaching the town (perhaps the first exit for it) for TX 17 (I believe) is a small Truck stop which also has a Passport America CG. Check it but didn't stay. Gas not a bargain.

We visited Balmorhea, Davis Mountains & Carlsbad in Sept.
Our Trip Report: Touring Chihuahuan Desert Using State Parks

We used TX 17 to reach US 285 at Pecos. On can hit the 285 at Ft. Stockton. US 285 wasn't a bad road, but it has a tremendous amount of oil field traffic on it. The Oil Patch is booming in Texas & New Mexico now. Lot of tankers, dump trucks & other oil field related traffic.

TX 17 was a good road as well, with a moderate amount of oil related traffic as well.

Border Patrol would be mainly from Van Horne to El Paso, then on to Tucson, etc.

Seminole Canyon SP is off of US 90. Never been but intend to do so by end of next year.

Should be a nice time to visit the :)Big Bend Area. We really enjoyed Balmorhea State Park (but might be a little cold for swimming there now) & checking out Fort Davis Nat'l Historic Site.

We did Big Bend on one our Spring Breaks some years ago. End of March, Start of April.

And the new Boquillas Port of Entry might be some you would want to do. Not something we have done or would do.

There is a Passport America RV Park in Marathon, too. Never used it, but have read good reviews for it.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park would be worth a stop at the visitor center if nothing else. A nice, small one but very interesting. Southwest of the Caverns, but on the way if you use the Van Horn Route.

New Mexico Sites & Sights.

Post Edit: Yes, lot of miles & miles of Texas out that way, few towns, but good amount of traffic. Texas highway patrol would be by at some point, I'm thinking. Border Patrol would also stop to help or to see what was going on.

Might have some areas without cell service, I would think. But thats happens out this way at times. Not sure for sure. Haven drive to San Antonio in some time now. Can't remember about when we were driving from Ft. S to El Paso this past summer.

[darsben]

I10 between I20 split and to near McNary Texas is a P.O.S. road. I used to think I10 in Louisiana was the worst but I now feel this section of I10 is worse.
If you are not in a hurry get off I10 and go to Fredericksburg. 4-5 nice places to stay and great German food plus town is pretty.
From Frederickburg to FT Stockton can be easily done in one day. I have stayed at Hilltop RV park for an overnight and it is adequate. There is also a FlyingJ and Walmart if you stay at those places

[DougE]

Actually the San Antonio to Fort Stockton section is populated with more gas and restaurant possibilities than the Fort Stockton to El Paso section. For overnight stays the State Park at Junction, the Caverns of Sonora and the State Park at Balmorhea are good. I would be doing fuel stops at Junction and Fort Stockton. There's a couple of truck stops out there too but I don't have their locations.