Community Forums

Keds · 05-18-2022, 12:22 PM

I'm traveling from Waco, Tx to Santa Fe NM and I'm seeking out help as to which route to take. I can take 35/287/40 through Ft Worth and Amarillo or 84/36/20 through Abilene and Lubbock. Is one way better than the other?

wolfe10 · 05-18-2022, 12:27 PM

Within a few miles of the same total distance and driving time.

I prefer the "through Abilene" route as it avoids the I 35 corridor and Ft Worth traffic.

twogypsies · 05-18-2022, 02:49 PM

I hope you're aware of all the fire activity in the Santa Fe area right now. You could be in smoke.

F4Gary · 05-18-2022, 03:32 PM

I would take 6 over to 281 to Wichita Falls and then 287 to I-40.

spuds · 05-18-2022, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F4Gary

I would take 6 over to 281 to Wichita Falls and then 287 to I-40.

Ditto, but also another reminder about the fires...

wolfe10 · 05-18-2022, 03:55 PM

Depends on when you are going. Would NOT take hwy 6 right now given the construction on it: https://drivetexas.org/#/10/31.9095/...7?future=false

Isaac-1 · 05-18-2022, 08:00 PM

I have driven both general routes, I lean towards 287/40 as I think it is slightly more scenic, but that is not saying much. It also gives an excuse to stop at the Big Texan Steakhouse in Amarillo.

Ike

p.s. I would probably skirt west of Fort Worth, probably up through Weatherford to get to 287, though Weatherford has grown a lot in the last few years, so I don't know how practical that is anymore.

DKRITTER · 05-19-2022, 06:47 AM

Really doesn't matter either way is fine. You might go to Santa Fe one way and come back the other.

I'll echo what Two Gypsies said about the Fire danger. NM right now has more fires than they ever have had.

35W/287/I-40 is all divided Hwy to Clines Corner.
FTW is easy to get thru if you time it correctly 10:00AM -3:00PM period. If you have a toll tag stay on 35W and get on it near downtown there is a 287 exit a few miles north of 820. If you don't have a TT keep up with traffic and consider taking the west side of Loop 820 and catching 35W again on the north side. Amarillo is always busy and last time we went thru there was construction on I-40, not a big deal just need to pay attention.

Abilene/Lubbock is a good route, part is divided Hwy but after Lubbock a good bit is not. All is good road and Fort Sumner is a cool place.

carybosse · 05-19-2022, 07:12 AM

I am not sure about the routes that allow you to avoid Fort Worth, but I would caution that if you decide to take a toll road, you might want to see what it will cost to utilize that convenience in an RV.

I was leaving Fort Worth one Friday afternoon in rush hour pulling my popup. Literally, I double parked downtown with my trailer to run into the courthouse to get a document I needed.

With a tolltag for both my truck and my popup, the costs to take Chisolm Trail toll road from Fort Worth to Cleburne was around $20 for that short trip, and Google maps said it would save me 5 minutes over non-toll road travel. They charge by number of axles for that specific toll road. Travel on a toll road without a tolltag is easily double over the tolltag route.

Also, if using a tolltag, I assume you will have someone in the vehicle with you. Logging on the tollroad app that you have a passenger should allow you to claim High Occupancy Vehicle status (HOV). Depending on the time of day and how heavy the traffic is, that sometimes allows for a discount of as much as 50% on some of the toll roads.

I do like the idea of going one way and returning the other.

Weatherford has grown a lot, it is basically just an extension of Fort Worth at this point.

TXiceman · 05-19-2022, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carybosse

Also, if using a tolltag, I assume you will have someone in the vehicle with you. Logging on the tollroad app that you have a passenger should allow you to claim High Occupancy Vehicle status (HOV). Depending on the time of day and how heavy the traffic is, that sometimes allows for a discount of as much as 50% on some of the toll roads.

Last time I looked, trucks over 1 ton and more than two axles were not allowed in the high occupancy lane.

Ken

F4Gary · 05-19-2022, 08:43 AM

Looking at Google maps traffic right now, Hwy 6 looks good. No red stretches and only 2 or 3 short stretches (1000') of amber.

DKRITTER · 05-19-2022, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Last time I looked, trucks over 1 ton and more than two axles were not allowed in the high occupancy lane.

Ken

I think you're talking about 2 different things.

1. Public roads that also have a HOV lane. I'm pretty sure these are subject to what you said about the 1 ton and over.

2. Toll Roads, I've never seen a designated lane for HOV but I have seen where you can log in and get a discount for a HOV while on the Toll Road.

carybosse · 05-19-2022, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Last time I looked, trucks over 1 ton and more than two axles were not allowed in the high occupancy lane.

Ken

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKRITTER

I think you're talking about 2 different things.

1. Public roads that also have a HOV lane. I'm pretty sure these are subject to what you said about the 1 ton and over.

2. Toll Roads, I've never seen a designated lane for HOV but I have seen where you can log in and get a discount for a HOV while on the Toll Road.

Did you guys see the major traffic accident in the ice storm that occurred in Fort Worth in February, 2021? That FedEx truck that was parked on top of a passenger car was speeding down toll road. What made it so bad was the concrete barriers for the toll lanes that run in the middle of the regular interstate lanes left stranded motorist no where to run.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...AAAAB0AAAAAEAc

We have dedicated HOV lanes over in Dallas, that are not toll lanes, and limited to the types of vehicles. However, some of the toll roads offer discounts for more than one person in vehicle, in an attempt to encourage car pooling. I assume an RV with an extra person would get the discount.

The HOV lanes in Dallas switch for the direction of the traffic in morning and afternoon. You want to see something strange, need to watch the zipper truck in action changing the HOV lane from one direction to the other.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=...AAAAAdAAAAABAD

Keds · 05-20-2022, 01:25 PM

Thanks for all the input. I didn't know about the fires in NM. I'm actually going to Colorado and was looking forward to stopping in Santa Fe. I will need to find a new route to Colorado Springs. It looks like either up through Oklahoma and west across Kansas or through Amarillo and 25 to CS.
Any comments on those routes would be appreciated.