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The wife and I are doing a cross country trip, May and June this year. Bike is being shipped to San Diego, we will fly out to meet the bike then start our ride to Florida. Then we will take a left and head north back to NY. That is the plan is a nutshell. We are in deep planning stages, so far we have Cali, Arizona and I think New Mexico all set up, but I have some concerns with Texas. mostly just because of the size of the place, you guys are living large down there. We also have concerns with fuel and being a little too far out in the middle of nowhere. Eastern Montana was just desolate for hotels and such, not looking to repeat that experience. So here is a map of my general route as currently thought out, we will be coming in from NM heading towards Amarillo.
1- Looking for advice on the route, particularity from Amarillo to Big Bend NP and then Corpus Christi.
2- Also if I was only going to do one town on the gulf, would you suggest CC, South Padre Island or Galveston? After Texas we are going to New Orleans, so we need to end in the southeast.
3- Currently we are bypassing Dallas, she has been for work and tells me it is just a City, any reason I need to go to Dallas?
4- Anything else you guys might have for me along this route, things to see, bars to have a drink in, etc.
Route looks good to me and what I'd take. Some notes;
- Amarillo to Lubbock area will be interstate so gas is good. Same South of that. Gas shouldn't be a problem except around Marathon to Langtry area. Lot of nothing in that area. Make sure you have good tires and battery. Lot of bikes make the Big Bend tour so you will be okay. Just check your map and plan your stops on that route.
- Amarillo - Big Texan Steak House. Don't plan to drive up and go in. Go early or plan for 1hr wait, mostly on weekends. Worth it.
- Could be windy in the Texas Panhandle, just depends
- Alpine - is good place to stay a day or so. Go all directions from there. Quality Inn was nice and safe.
- Fort Davis area: Calvary Out Post. McDonald Observatory. State Park for camping.
- Marfa: Prada for the wife. : )
- Big Bend - Drive in hwy 118, ride around and out 385. Worth spending time there.
- Gas in Big Bend, Panther Junction.
- Marathon - Gage Motel
- Langtry - Judge Roy Bean's place
- Pecos River - look for road side park south of hwy.
- Bandera, Leakey area, Three Sister's ride. Google for the map.
- Fredericksburg - Peach Tree Inn, Ask for the back side.
- From there take 290 to Houston
- Luckenbach - Drop by as long as your are in the area
- Austin - Bunch of crazy parties. Tell them Rob sent you.
- Brenham: Blue Bell, nice rest stop. yum yum.
Lot of areas. Other can chime in.
Hit me up if you need help around East Texas.
hth
Last edited by robarosa; Mar 12, 2020 at 08:41 AM.
1.Amarillo to Big Bend isnt a scenic ride till you get pretty close to the Ft Davis Mountains.. I would Adjust your route to go straight south through New Mexico into El Paso. I know it sounds crazy, but Amarillo, LBK, and Odessa all have pretty much the same scenery. New Mexico would at least have some elevation change here and there...
Your route from BB to Corpus looks like a good one. Highway 90 is a great ride.
2. If you want the beach, choose S Padre. If you wanna eat seafood choose Water Street Oyster Bar in Corpus. Galveston aint bad either we go to the Lone Star Rally every year there.
3. F Dallas
4. Hit up the Starlight in Terlingua while youre in BB, and some hill country bars you might look at are Hillbillyz, Albert Tx, Luckenbach, Shadetree Saloon, River Road Ice House, Dallys Down Under, Rileys Tavern.
If you have any more questions about a West Texas route PM me.
4
Route looks good to me and what I'd take. Some notes;
- Amarillo to Lubbock area will be interstate so gas is good. Same South of that. Gas shouldn't be a problem except around Marathon to Langtry area. Lot of nothing in that area. Make sure you have good tires and battery. Lot of bikes make the Big Bend tour so you will be okay. Just check your map and plan your stops on that route.
- Amarillo - Big Texan Steak House. Don't plan to drive up and go in. Go early or plan for 1hr wait, mostly on weekends. Worth it.
- Could be windy in the Texas Panhandle, just depends
- Alpine - is good place to stay a day or so. Go all directions from there. Quality Inn was nice and safe.
- Fort Davis area: Calvary Out Post. McDonald Observatory. State Park for camping.
- Marfa: Prada for the wife. : )
- Big Bend - Drive in hwy 118, ride around and out 385. Worth spending time there.
- Gas in Big Bend, Panther Junction.
- Marathon - Gage Motel
- Langtry - Judge Roy Bean's place
- Pecos River - look for road side park south of hwy.
- Bandera, Leakey area, Three Sister's ride. Google for the map.
- Fredericksburg - Peach Tree Inn, Ask for the back side.
- From there take 290 to Houston
- Luckenbach - Drop by as long as your are in the area
- Austin - Bunch of crazy parties. Tell them Rob sent you.
- Brenham: Blue Bell, nice rest stop. yum yum.
Lot of areas. Other can chime in.
Hit me up if you need help around East Texas.
hth
Can't thank you enough, I just spent some time Google-ing everything you sent, you the man.
1.Amarillo to Big Bend isnt a scenic ride till you get pretty close to the Ft Davis Mountains.. I would Adjust your route to go straight south through New Mexico into El Paso. I know it sounds crazy, but Amarillo, LBK, and Odessa all have pretty much the same scenery. New Mexico would at least have some elevation change here and there...
Your route from BB to Corpus looks like a good one. Highway 90 is a great ride.
2. If you want the beach, choose S Padre. If you wanna eat seafood choose Water Street Oyster Bar in Corpus. Galveston aint bad either we go to the Lone Star Rally every year there.
3. F Dallas
4. Hit up the Starlight in Terlingua while youre in BB, and some hill country bars you might look at are Hillbillyz, Albert Tx, Luckenbach, Shadetree Saloon, River Road Ice House, Dallys Down Under, Rileys Tavern.
If you have any more questions about a West Texas route PM me.
4
Big thank you to you as well, all good stuff.
1- We are going to be in NM for about 6 or 7 days, I will be looking to get into Texas by then. Also, I will never be that close to Cadillac Ranch and Big Texan again, gotta go. I know, I am also going to Roswell. Tourists and all of that.
3- Corpus seems to fit the route best. After Texas we are going to New Orleans, Biloxi, etc, etc, all thru the Florida panhandle. I will see plenty of gulf coast.
3- That is what I thought about Dallas, she may want a day trip to Waco to see friends, but I live and work in a City, i get it. i am going to God's Country to see the world and open places. I can look out the window to see a city.
It looks like you have a good plan to see a lot of Texas - and it will still be a drop in the bucket. As you noticed, Texas is a little bigger than the other 47 lower states. We like to say that everything is bigger in Texas.
Your route should show you mountains, prairies, rolling hills, rivers, lakes, deserts, forests, swamps, the Gulf Coast, and just the bottom edge of the Piney Woods of East Texas.
Corpus has nicer sand and water than Galveston. The Aransas Wildlife Refuge is nearby if you are into that. It takes only an hour or two to drive through it. Longer if you stop to look around.
South Padre Island is further south than Corpus - but it has the prettiest beaches and water.
Someone mentioned that it will be hot and to hydrate. Yes! Yes! Yes!
You might want to stop at a Texas Visitor Center - There is one in Amarillo (close to your entrance into Texas) and I know there is one in Orange (your exit out of Texas) and many in-between. You can get free maps and even a free bumper sticker that says "Don't Mess With Texas" - It's been decades since I've been to the one in Orange, but they are a nice place to stop, rest and just take a break. You can google Texas Visitor Centers to see where they are on the map.
Every major city will have construction. It's unavoidable. It's in abundance.
If you're that close to Austin (check out 6th for the bands), Fredericksburg is close (Wineries) Grape Creek is a nice one. And then ride "Three Sisters" just south of there (have to stop for one of the best burgers at the Bent Rim Grill).
Keep those bandanas wet!
And agree, Sante Fe to Amarillo to Lubbock with be a straight boring ride, Cadillac ranch? I think you'd be disappointed. Be careful in Houston.
New Orleans is a fun place.
You'll love your ride thru our State. Friendly folks and wide open spaces.....
Too much to mention. You'll be going thru lots of small towns. Each have their own history, great bars and great places to eat. Hill Country around San Antonio and West of Austin has great riding and some great bars and eats. Agree with Grandma1956, if you're that far South, might as well hit South Padre for a day. Nice beaches and some great Mexican and Seafood. Like CrBear said, Fredericksburg just a little North of San Antonio is worth the ride. Lots of Wineries, eateries and utterly fantastic riding in the Hill Country.
May and June is HOT in my World. That's why you see our faces covered in my sig pic. It was 108° that afternoon coming home from a long trip. You'll need something to cover your face or you'll cook, and those breathable baclava's really work good. Being from the NE be mindful of that. We try to do most of our riding in a 6 hour window from early morning on when it's hot, then get a room. Of course, if I'm trying to get home we soldier on.
Sun screen, cold water, some way to cover skin from the sun and you'll be fine. Then all you have to do is ride and enjoy the trip...
We have done the Southwest in August, we understand hot and we will be prepared. Death Valley in August a couple of years ago has us well trained.
Two fresh questions:
1- Houston? Just another City or worth a couple of nights?
2- Anyone have a recommended spot to cross into Mexico for an afternoon? Just looking to get the bike in all of North America, this trip will give us all lower 48, we have done Canada. Not sure if we should, just asking.
Love this Forum, third or fourth long distance trip that you fellas have been so helpful.
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Need some Texas help
