Photo: Gary M. Stolz, USFWS, public domainNew Mexico Mountains — 10 Days
Rock art → Guadalupe Peak → Sacramento Mountains → desert pool
Route Map
● Austin (start/end) · numbered stops in order · dashed line shows approximate route
Estimated Trip Cost
Gas estimate assumes 2WD pickup + travel trailer at 10 mpg, 65 mph max, $3.25/gal regular unleaded (approx. national avg). Includes 970 mi of stops + 350 mi return to Austin.
Trip Highlights
- ▶ Texas high point (Guadalupe Peak) + highest National Forest in TX (Lincoln NF Cloudcroft at 9,000 ft)
- ▶ Four drive days — the most drive-intensive itinerary; suited for those comfortable with moderate daily distances
- ▶ Balmorhea as a 2-night wind-down: arrive after the longest inter-stop drive (290 miles), recover at the spring-fed pool
- ▶ Lincoln NF offers the best summer escape from Texas heat: free dispersed camping at 7,000–9,000 ft elevation
- Seminole Canyon SP, Comstock TX (Night 1 transit — primitive, no hookups; guided pictograph tour recommended)
Stop-by-Stop
Comstock, TX • TX State Parks • $14/nt + $4/person entry
Day 1: depart Austin 10 AM — 280 miles via US-90 W; arrive ~2:54 PM. Transit night. Guided Fate Bell Shelter pictograph tour Day 1 afternoon if time permits.
Day 2: depart 10 AM — 240 miles via US-90 W → US-62/180 W to Pine Springs; arrive ~2:12 PM. Reserve on Recreation.gov. Guadalupe Peak hike Day 3. McKittrick Canyon Day 4. America the Beautiful Pass covers entry.
Day 5: depart 10 AM — 160 miles via US-62/180 E to Whites City → US-285 N → Artesia → US-82 W through Cloudcroft → Ruidoso; arrive ~12:49 PM. Upper Bonito or Bailey Canyon FRs (free dispersed). Cloudcroft is a mountain resort town at 8,650 ft — grocery, restaurants, dump station. Ruidoso Downs horse racing and mountain biking.
Day 8: depart 10 AM — 290 miles via US-82 W → Cloudcroft → Alamogordo (50 mi) → US-54 S → El Paso (80 mi) → I-10 E → Van Horn (105 mi) → SH-17 N → Toyahvale (55 mi); arrive ~3:04 PM. Two nights at the spring-fed pool — the ideal wind-down before the drive home. Day 10: depart 10 AM — 350 miles via SH-17 S → Fort Stockton → I-10 E → Austin; arrive ~4:09 PM.