San Antonio to Santa Fe then north

[caymanwent]

We are traveling from San Antonio to Santa Fe then north through Denver, then Wyoming. Any suggestions for points of interest? Any small town gems or off the beaten path must sees?
Thank you

[Ray,IN]

I'm assuming you will begin this spring, this week looks doubtful.

Anything North of Santa Fe is snowed-in right now, look at the weather.
Too much time has passed for me to suggest anything useful for sightseeing.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by caymanwent

We are traveling from San Antonio to Santa Fe then north through Denver, then Wyoming. Any suggestions for points of interest? Any small town gems or off the beaten path must sees?
Thank you

Wow! That's a BIG request.

When are you doing this?
What is your RV?
Do you want interstates or secondary roads?
What are your interests? Outdoorsy (hiking, public parks, etc.) or RV parks.

Need some help here!

[Isaac-1]

Making the assumption that you are not native to the San Antonio area, I will suggest a stop for a day or two in Fredericksburg, also San Angelo is an interesting town. Beyond that. Beyond that there are a couple of odd and unusual roadside attractions along the google maps suggested route, such as the alien museum in Roswell which is good for a laugh and a chance to stretch your legs, then there is Clines Corner at the intersection of I40 and US285 going to Santa Fe. Clines Corner is a gas station, travel stop, that dates back to the 1950's and has been added onto numerous times, with everything from cowboy boots and decorative signs to fast food and fudge. (we stopped there on our way to Santa Fe in October) Overall 285 from Cline Corner to Santa Fe seems to be a good road, though we did see alerts about it being one of the deadliest highways in NM, which made no sense to us.

[Big Dude]

We ate great chicken fried steak in the little restaurant at Ft Stockton RV Park. We enjoyed our time in Las Cruces and Mesilla, NM if you go that way.

[jbwilli1]

Stay away from 285 in the southern part of the state. North of I40 it's a nice road.

[yeloduster]

There is a lot to see along that route.

Spend some time in Sante Fe. Lots of history there and for the shoppers some very nice galleries.

Leave the Interstate and make your way to Taos. The square provides more shopping and just a drive around the town (not in your RV) is interesting in how this town is different from most small town America. You might visit Kit Carson's home and the Taos Pueblo.

From Taos go West on US64. Be sure to stop and walk across the Rio Grand Gorge Bridge and take a few pictures before continuing on west on US64 to US285 then turn north on US285. Take a ride on the Cumbres & Toltec railroad if in season: https://cumbrestoltec.com/.

While in the vicinity you may wish to spend some time at the Great Sand Dunes National Park: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm

Continue north on US285 then turn east on US50 at Poncha Springs. Drive the scenic Arkansas River canyon to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. Maybe spend a day or so in one of the RV parks near the Bridge. Maybe take a day trip through Canon City on US50 then turn south on CO67 to Wetmore then west on CO96 to south on CO165 to Bishop's castle: Bishop Castle - Adventure To New Heights | Official Website . A truly unique and crazy experience! Enter at your own risk!

When you leave the Canon City (pronounced Canyon City) continue east on US50 to north on CO115 to Colorado Springs. There you may wish to visit the Air Force Academy: https://www.usafa.af.mil/ .

I'll let someone else continue on north with the exception of mention of Old Fort Fetterman near Douglas, WY: https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/p...fort-fetterman .

[caymanwent]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Wow! That's a BIG request.

When are you doing this?
What is your RV?
Do you want interstates or secondary roads?
What are your interests? Outdoorsy (hiking, public parks, etc.) or RV parks.

Need some help here!

We are actually planning on breaking this up into several week long trips. We live in Maryland and usually take a week a month to travel, storing our motorhome between trips. We have a 2019 Coachman Pursuit and we tow a 2003 Jeep Wrangler.
Beginning in March, Week one may be from San Antonio to Santa Fe NM. Week two would be Santa Fe to Durango, and up to Fort Collins, grandchildren there. Next week maybe Wyoming, then next head to Montana.
Our goal is to cross the country in the next 2/3 years. We still have obligations at home and can’t really commit to being away for too long at a time.
I would appreciate recommendations for just the first leg if you have any. I was just reading about White Sands Monument. We like outdoorsy places, not really big cities....
Thank you!

[rarebear.nm]

We live in Santa Fe and have traveled all the aras you are interested in many times. Good ideas above.

Caution US 285 north of Pecos, Tx. is very bad due to the oil field trucks that pound the pavement into little bits. Find an alternate route if possible.

Carlsbad Caverns NP is always a great stop, stay in the town of Carlsbad as no RV parking in the NP. Nearby is Sitting Bull Falls and nice waterfall in the desert and a great hiking trail above it.

Roswell and the UFO museum if fun in Roswell, NM. There are some NM State parks in the near that good for RVers.

I agree the fudge in Clines Corners is great.

Santa Fs has many museums and shops. The Georgia O'Keefe museum is great and is the Palace of the Governors. A drive up to the Santa Fe Ski Basin provides some nice hiking options.

West is Los Alamos and the Bradbury Museum largely about the Lab's work on nuclear weapons, very good. West of Los Alamos on NM 4 is some great mountain scenery at about 10,000ft. You'd be in the bottom of a volcanic caldera.

Agree ditch I-25 and go north to Taos, similar to what Santa Fe was like 30-40 years ago. Yes, go north a few miles and walk out on the Rio Grande Gorge bridge on US 64. Perhaps turn east at Taos and continue on US 64 to Eagle Nest, then Cimarron and back to I-25 at Springer or near Raton, NM.

In Colorado Springs there are many things to see and do. The Air Force Academy, plan on being there at noon. The Garden of the Gods is a great drive. The US Olympic Training Center is there.

That's a starting point on leg one.

Have fun and be safe....

[yeloduster]

Originally Posted by caymanwent

......We have a 2019 Coachman Pursuit and we tow a 2003 Jeep Wrangler.
!........

I see you have a Jeep Wrangler as a toad. Should you choose to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park you may choose to take your Jeep east through the park over Medano Pass. This is a moderate 4x4 trail that your Jeep should be able to navigate without any problems. Just check at the visitor center on the creek crossings and assure that the creeks are not too high.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by caymanwent

We are actually planning on breaking this up into several week long trips. We live in Maryland and usually take a week a month to travel, storing our motorhome between trips. We have a 2019 Coachman Pursuit and we tow a 2003 Jeep Wrangler.
Beginning in March, Week one may be from San Antonio to Santa Fe NM. Week two would be Santa Fe to Durango, and up to Fort Collins, grandchildren there. Next week maybe Wyoming, then next head to Montana.
Our goal is to cross the country in the next 2/3 years. We still have obligations at home and can’t really commit to being away for too long at a time.
I would appreciate recommendations for just the first leg if you have any. I was just reading about White Sands Monument. We like outdoorsy places, not really big cities....
Thank you!

You seem to have a very unique way of traveling. For instance, would you store the RV at Santa Fe and fly back to Maryland or drive?

For your first leg ... San Antonio to Santa Fe ... yes, White Sands Nat'l Mon is nice to see - it only takes a few hours - however, that may be out of your way.

The route I would suggest for your first week is 700 miles. Out of Santa Fe take I-10 to 83 then 87/137 to Brownfield, TX then 380 west to Roswell, NM then 285 to Santa Fe.

I'd save your time for when you're in the Santa Fe area rather than siteseeing much beforehand since you only have a week for this portion.

For Santa Fe we love staying at Cochiti Corp of Eng. park and touring Kasha-Katuwe Nat'l Monument (Tent Rocks). They're just about next door to each other and nice hikes. Tent Rocks is very unique. From there it's a short drive into Santa Fe and the workers at Cochiti can give you good information. If staying here then at Clines Corner, NM take I-40 west to I-25 north to Cochiti campground. Do a 'Google' for specific information and details on all of this and below.

We park near the Farmer's Market where you can get a city bus taking you into the historic area of Santa Fe. Parking isn't great in the historic area so the bus helps. Another day we might take the Jeep rather than the bus and drive up to the ski area - very nice views. Another day you could drive to Taos. Yet another, drive 550 to Hwy 4 to Jemez Springs area and continue on the the Caldera - beautiful and on to Bandelier Nat'l Monument and Los Alamos. It would be a gorgeous circular drive.

Another good place to stay would be Abiquiu Corp of Eng. park on Hwy 84 but you could take that in on your way to Pagosa Springs, CO and Durango on your next leg.

Hope this helps for your first week.

Start a new post for your next leg.

[Flanz]

Originally Posted by rarebear.nm

We live in Santa Fe and have traveled all the aras you are interested in many times. Good ideas above.

Caution US 285 north of Pecos, Tx. is very bad due to the oil field trucks that pound the pavement into little bits. Find an alternate route if possible.

.

Thanks for posting this. It’s part of our route north out of Texas.

So, our secondary route will be rte 17 through Verhalen. Is route 17 any better that 285?

[rarebear.nm]

The rough part of US 285 is closer to Carlsbad. Its the Pecos to Carlsbad section I would try to by pass. Perhaps Ft Stockton, north on 18 to Jal, NM and then 128 West towards Carlsbad. At least as one option if you don't mind driving secondary roads.

[Flanz]

Thanks. Looks like 18N to 176W at Eunice to 62/180W into Carlsbad.

Thanks again for suggesting the route.