Photo: Gary M. Stolz, USFWS, public domainNew Mexico Mountains — 9 Days
Rock art transit → Guadalupe Peak → spring-fed 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 615 mi of stops + 350 mi return to Austin.
Trip Highlights
- ▶ Guadalupe Peak — highest point in Texas at 8,751 ft; panoramic Chihuahuan Desert views
- ▶ Balmorhea spring-fed pool as a summer decompression stop: 4 nights at 72–76°F water
- ▶ Only 95 miles between Guadalupe Mountains and Balmorhea — the shortest inter-stop drive in NM
- ▶ Transit night at Seminole Canyon puts the ancient pictographs to work as a true destination, not just a sleep stop
- Seminole Canyon SP, Comstock TX (Night 1 transit — primitive sites, 8,000-year-old pictographs; guided tour Day 1 evening if time permits)
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 at Roadrunner Flat (primitive, no hookups). If time permits, catch the 4 PM guided pictograph tour of Fate Bell Shelter. Excellent stargazing from camp on clear nights.
Day 2: depart 10 AM — 240 miles via US-90 W → Marathon → US-385 N → US-62/180 W to Pine Springs; arrive ~2:12 PM. Reserve Pine Springs CG on Recreation.gov (up to 50ft). Guadalupe Peak trail (8.4 mi RT, 3,000 ft gain — Texas high point) on Day 3. McKittrick Canyon on Day 4 (separate entrance, short drive). America the Beautiful Pass covers entry.
Day 5: depart 10 AM — 95 miles via US-62/180 E → Van Horn → SH-17 N → Toyahvale; arrive ~11:40 AM. Arrive early — enjoy the pool all afternoon. Four nights = time to day-trip to Marfa (65 mi), Alpine (55 mi), and Fort Davis (65 mi). Day 9: depart 10 AM — 350 miles via SH-17 S → Fort Stockton → I-10 E → Austin; arrive ~4:09 PM.