Driving From FL To NM.. Places of Interest? (Albuquerque, Carlsbad: moving to, places to eat)

[icystrz]

Hello Everyone. This is my first post on this Forum. I have been reading it now for about a month.

I am going to be Moving to New Mexico on Oct. 1st. and would like to make the drive a little more fun.

Does any one know of a few places to stop on the way To NM from FL? Maybe some good places to eat, or perhaps a tourist trap?

Its Says Via Mapquest, the trip should take around 27-29 hrs. I will definitly need some time of mental stimulation along the way.

Thanks!

[Towanda]

What part of New Mexico are you moving to?

Which route are you taking from Florida?

[Six Foot Three]

Its not very interesting that i remember. I used to drive from Jacksonville FLA to El Paso TX alot on Interstate-10. Jacksonville to the Texas/Louisiana border mainly a straight interstate with Swamp trees on each side it for around a 1,000 miles. Crossing the HUGE bridge going over the Mississippi River is very cool to see and do. Once crossing into Texas the trees disappear or thin out all the way thru Houston (Cool tall solid glass Skyscrapers) until you get thru San Antonio (Hill country is cool) then for about 500 miles you see nothing but dry, hot, waterless desert and no city larger than Ft. Stockton (10,000 pop) until you get to El Paso...

Just not an exciting trip from Jacksonville FLA to El Paso TX (1,800 mile trip).

[domino]

I have made the drive many times. Lots of interesting stops along the way. Florida Gulf Coast, Fairhope, AL, New Orleans, cajun-country around Lafayette, Houston traffic jams, San Antonio or Austin, Texas Hill Country, Caverns of Sonora, Davis Mountains (Ft. Davis State Park), Balmorhea, Hueco Tanks, El Paso/Juarez. Major detours include Big Bend/Alpine/Marathon and Carlsbad Caverns.

[Zoidberg]

My advice: avoid west Texas. Nothing to see or do. You will be bored to tears.

Try taking the US287 or better yet US78 up to I-40. Less boring, more to see.

[WLUTZ]

I'll second that on Carlsbad Caverns & Big Bend National Park.

Both incredible places.

[icystrz]

Originally Posted by Towanda

What part of New Mexico are you moving to?

Which route are you taking from Florida?

Im moving to Albuquerque

Im pretty sure Im not going to Take I-10 all the way in. My route will be more northern.

some of the roads I will travel consist of I-10, I-20, 287, and I-40.


Does any one know of any places that maybe I should AVOID?

[Zoidberg]

Beware Dallas between I-20 & US287, specifically downtown Dallas. Most roadmaps don't do justice to the spur roads you need to take. It goes so fast and the signs aren't helpful.

Highly recommended to get google maps, and play with ways around Dallas that you like.

[catman]

That is good advice. I would suggest staying on I-20 until you get to I-35W on the south side of Fort Worth, go north on it through Ft Worth, and take the 287 exit north of Ft Worth. It's much easir to deal with than Dallas. I-20 avoids the worst part of Dallas traffic. I-30 doesn't.

[songinthewind7]

Along the route you are thinking of, I would suggest the River Walk in San Antonio and also stop for some German food here in Fredericksburg where we are. Walking around downtown Fredericksburg would be nice break from the drive and doesn't take too long.