Current conditions rt 285 NM/Texas,Pecos/Carlsbad

[lisalu]

We are thinking of traveling from Carlsbad caverns NM down rt 285 thru Pecos Texas to get to Austin Texas. We have heard and seen posts about how bad the road is.We are thinking of driving it at night after seeing the bats leaving the cave at dusk.How bad are the CURRENT road conditions??
Thanks again for any input

[JohnBoyToo]

Can't say about current conditions, but recall years ago when we went thru there to see Judge Roy Bean's saloon and visit the Indian Reservations going out to Grand Canyon and the petrified forest...

Back then it was a two lane normal Texas road (which means good) BUT, I do recall there were no shoulders on that particular road through the sands

If memory serves there were nice vista on the east to west roads that look like the grand canyon to the north - georgeous !

[Cyc4200john]

Just went out there for work last month. All the roads are rough/under construction/ washed out/ pot holes. Can't think of a single road I went on out that way that didn't beat me to death. Really no way around it. Although I would try to drive that area during daylight time so you can avoid some of the big pot holes. On some of the roads I'd drive smack in the middle to get out of the grooves and bad spots. Good luck! And be safe, I live in Austin.

[BernieCheryl]

I actually drive that route a couple of times a year, though always in daylight. Other than the section just south of Loving, New Mexico, it's usually quite wide and straight (and that section, though narrow, is still quite navigable).

The main problem is that the area is overrun with oil field traffic, and the big rigs have beaten the crap out of the road. Thus, it is reasonably bumpy all the way from Loving into Pecos. That won't change regardless of whether you drive it in nighttime or daytime.

You'll just have to put up with the bumps. Other than that, it's ok.