question about Road trip route to Ruidoso (Austin, San Angelo: hotel, houses)

[justanothercalifornian]

I cannot describe how excited I am about hitting the road with my family and escaping to the cooler temperatures of Ruidoso, NM. Google maps is giving me a few options to get there and I'm just wondering if anyone has done this drive before. We want the most scenic and interesting route. From Cedar Park it is giving me the option of going through San Angelo or going through Brownwood to Sweetwater and beyond. What do you think?

[die Eichkatze]

I live in south Austin, and we always go out I-10. You can drive 80 and really eat up some time. Being in Cedar Park, I don't think that would save you time. I wouldn't call either route scenic, but I would choose the 183 to sweetwater to post to brownfield to Roswell route. Bring back some cooler weather!

[atxcio]

We love to go to Ruidoso. It's really the closest place where you can get a truly different climate (and skiing during the winter). Not to mention tall, green trees -- a fun little town and well worth the drive.

From Cedar Park, I agree that 183 through Brownwood is the best bet for time and convenience. We used to take that route, but living SW now we take 71 to US 87 through San Angelo. Love the wind farms near Big Spring (although you'll see them on all the routes). Both those routes, however, are kinda small twisty roads as they go through central Texas. You do get to see a lot of Texas courthouses along the way on these "original" highways. A good GPS is a big plus as there are several turns you have to make as the highways become "main streets" in these towns then turn back into the highway to the next town. I wouldn't call either particularly scenic (until you get near Ruidoso), but I suppose the San Angelo route would be slightly more scenic.

The I-10 route adds a lot of miles (about 50 for us) and some tedium.. but it is simpler, and you get to go through Carlsbad.

In Ruidoso, I recommend Cafe Rio for some good pizza - the kind that's so hard to find in Austin. But there it is right in this little town. Cash only, though. But most of the restaurants in Ruidoso are pretty nice, local, and resonably priced.

For lodging I really like stuff in the Upper Canyon area. Beautiful. The casino is not too bad either, pretty recently built, if you go for that kind of stuff.

If you stop in Roswell for food along the way, I highly recommend Big D's downtown dive. It's at the bottom of the Petroleum building in downtown Roswell, not far from the UFO museum.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by atxcio

We love to go to Ruidoso. It's really the closest place where you can get a truly different climate (and skiing during the winter). Not to mention tall, green trees -- a fun little town and well worth the drive.

From Cedar Park, I agree that 183 through Brownwood is the best bet for time and convenience. We used to take that route, but living SW now we take 71 to US 87 through San Angelo. Love the wind farms near Big Spring (although you'll see them on all the routes). Both those routes, however, are kinda small twisty roads as they go through central Texas. You do get to see a lot of Texas courthouses along the way on these "original" highways. A good GPS is a big plus as there are several turns you have to make as the highways become "main streets" in these towns then turn back into the highway to the next town. I wouldn't call either particularly scenic (until you get near Ruidoso), but I suppose the San Angelo route would be slightly more scenic.

The I-10 route adds a lot of miles (about 50 for us) and some tedium.. but it is simpler, and you get to go through Carlsbad.

In Ruidoso, I recommend Cafe Rio for some good pizza - the kind that's so hard to find in Austin. But there it is right in this little town. Cash only, though. But most of the restaurants in Ruidoso are pretty nice, local, and resonably priced.

For lodging I really like stuff in the Upper Canyon area. Beautiful. The casino is not too bad either, pretty recently built, if you go for that kind of stuff.

If you stop in Roswell for food along the way, I highly recommend Big D's downtown dive. It's at the bottom of the Petroleum building in downtown Roswell, not far from the UFO museum.

when is ski season is ruidoso?

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by Austin97

when is ski season is ruidoso?

Opening day is usually Thanksgiving, but often the snow isn't really good until January or February. Sometimes there are early big storms, though. Closes in late March I believe.

Ski Apache

Sometimes when the snow in the area is really good, this nearby ski area is also open: Ski Cloudcroft - Home

[rrjr]

Just did this from Leander during the Feburary blizzard . Doesn't that seem like ages ago?

Go Brownwood and beyond. 380 is a pretty easy drive through eastern NM.

Word of caution...if you see gas and you need gas, get it. Eastern NM is a bit desolate for a while (like between Tatum and Roswell and between Roswell and Ruidoso).

[austin-steve]

I'd probably go through San Angelo -> Roswell route. Nicer drive in my opinion.

We did this trip one year and took I-10 back to Hwy 290, thinking it would be longer but faster because of freeway miles. It wasn't. And Carsbad always smells bad.

It's not a bad drive through the heart of west Texas, and the scenery is more interesting than you might think.

Go to Google Maps and type "Cedar Park, TX to Ruidoso, NM" in the address field and then you can drag the route around and see the different options. If you go through Roswell, stop in the UFO Museum. It's a trip, kids will love it.

Steve

[Arabianhorsebreeder]

We rode our motorcycles to Ruidoso and went to Van Horn, then made a right towards Carlsbad. If you've never been throught the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas, you're definitely missing out. It's like your in another state. Have a fun trip!

[Rigglets]

We plan on going from Austin to Carlsbad with 2 large dogs: GSD and part Lab. Are there any nice hotel/motels that take dogs who weigh around 60-ish pounds? And any restaurants that may have dog friendly patios?