Leaving the Balloon fest in Albuquerque and have a week to get to OKC. I was looking for suggestions to see and do on the way.
In March we stopped in Santa Fe and toured Loretto Chapel in Old Santa Fe, well worth the stop. You are probably taking I40 but felt it would be worth the extra miles.
Or take a relatively short side trip and visit Carlsbad Caverns and go through Roswell and White Sands on the way. Regardless of whether or not you believe in aliens, Roswell is a hoot. And at White Sands there is an interesting missile museum on the base as well as the White Sands National Monument. After Carlsbad swing up through Lubbock and see the American Wind Power Center and the Silent Wings Museum which is about the role of gliders in WWII. All that only adds ~250 miles to your total trip according to Google.
You may have noticed that all the suggestions so far are not right on I-40. That's because there is not much in the area between ABQ and OKC except red dirt and wind and sandstorms. I swear Lubbock can have a foot of snow on the ground and still have a sandstorm on the horizon. Santa Fe, Carlsbad, Roswell, White Sands--all good choices as are the Lubbock suggestions. We have not seen it, but a friend who visited the UFO museum in Roswell really liked it. Also in Lubbock is the Buddy Holly Museum and the Ranching Heritage Center (which I understand is free). Also try to see the Texas Tech campus. The architecture is amazing. Go to the campus visitor center first and they will have info about it and possibly there might be a tour available. Another sight you might be interested in is Palo Duro Canyon State Park about 30 mi south of Amarillo. Also in Amarillo is the Cadillac Ranch (10 Cadillacs buried nose down in a field. It is just a few feet off I-40. It is quirky and used to be more popular. Now it is probably only worth a drive by, if that.) and the Big Texan Steakhouse which has good food. They offer a free dinner to anyone who can eat a 72 oz steak in 1 hour. Since this is the old Route 66, there are other nostalgic sights that may or may not be worth a stop. You should check out websites about Route 66 for information.
I just got back from NM and live in Texas. Perhaps others can enlighten me, but I don't believe there is much along your direct route Point A to B to see or do. Roswell and Carlsbad are a ways off the route, but I would absolutely do Santa Fe. Neat place to visit with it's tourist venues and fabulous restaurants.
QUOTE(RLM @ Oct 5 2014, 07:39 PM) [snapback]38614[/snapback] I just got back from NM and live in Texas. Perhaps others can enlighten me, but I don't believe there is much along your direct route Point A to B to see or do. Roswell and Carlsbad are a ways off the route, but I would absolutely do Santa Fe. Neat place to visit with it's tourist venues and fabulous restaurants. No, the suggestions were not on the direct route because, as TX stated, there isn't much on that route to see. But IMHO a ~250 side trip on a 500 mile journey isn't all that much to add in order to see all the sites I mentioned and Santa Fe is just a day-trip out of ABQ anyway. We lived in ABQ for 5 years and did the trip to Santa Fe quite a few times; these days you can even take the light rail.
Erick Oklahoma is near Elk City. A few years ago we were stranded in Elk City as I-40 was closed in TX due to snow. There is a route 66 museum there that is worth the visit and in Erick is the Roger Miller museum which is good if you are a Roger Miller fan ( can't roller skate in a buffalo herd song ) .
Thanks. Still at the balloon Fest but I thought it was slim pickings. I will look at some other ideas mentioned.
I've screwed up mileage arithmetic before, so correct me if I am wrong. My atlas shows: Albuquerque-Carlsbad NP 300 miles Carlsbad-Tucumcari 270 miles Albuquerque-Tucumcari 170 miles That's a minimum of an additional 400 miles not counting the extra miles and time to go to and the see the attractions of White Sands NM and Roswell. White Sands is about 4 hours from Albuquerque and Carlsbad the about same from White Sands. It will take at least 3 days to go to just those 3 sights and get back up to I40. I have no problem with somebody doing this, but it is not a simple 250 miles side trip.
QUOTE(Jerry S @ Oct 6 2014, 10:53 PM) [snapback]38635[/snapback] I've screwed up mileage arithmetic before, so correct me if I am wrong. My atlas shows: Albuquerque-Carlsbad NP 300 miles Carlsbad-Tucumcari 270 miles Albuquerque-Tucumcari 170 miles That's a minimum of an additional 400 miles not counting the extra miles and time to go to and the see the attractions of White Sands NM and Roswell. White Sands is about 4 hours from Albuquerque and Carlsbad the about same from White Sands. It will take at least 3 days to go to just those 3 sights and get back up to I40. I have no problem with somebody doing this, but it is not a simple 250 miles side trip. According to Google ABQ-OKC = 541 miles ABQ-Carlsbad-Lubbock-OKC = 800 miles Gee, it's a 259 mile difference not 250 miles. Sorry
QUOTE(docj @ Oct 7 2014, 09:02 AM) [snapback]38638[/snapback] According to Google ABQ-OKC = 541 miles ABQ-Carlsbad-Lubbock-OKC = 800 miles Gee, it's a 259 mile difference not 250 miles. Sorry I stand semi-corrected. I did a Alb-Cal-Tum triangle, you did a Alb-Cal-Lub triangle. I had them coming back to I40 as quickly as possible. You had the going in a more northeasterly direction than the mostly straight north I had them doing.
QUOTE(Jerry S @ Oct 6 2014, 10:53 PM) [snapback]38635[/snapback] Albuquerque-Tucumcari 170 miles Unless you absolutely *have* to see that historic section of Route 66, I cannot recommend wasting any time in Tucumcari. We spent two days there this summer and it was the longest seven days of my life.....
There are mostly historic sites and museums related to settlers western movement, Indian history and Route 66. DO stop at the visitor center when you enter OK...tons of info and enthusiastic staff...you can even park overnight. Speaking of free parking a couple of the OK casinos along the way offer free overnight RV parking with hookups... Who offers what changes every time I go through OK. One of the casinos E of OK city I used to always stop at offered several days free RV parking with hookups- was nice on a little creek. Last time I went through they had gone from free to $40 but went up the road and was offered a free spot at another casino. Some of them have some nice breakfast or buffet specials.
Thanks, we decided to leave the balloon Fest and drive to Amarillo and spend a few days. Then to OKC.
We recently stayed in Santa Rosa and Elk City. May not be the middle of nowhere but you can see it from either place. Found a great all-you-can-eat fish place just outside Elk City; ask the mgmt at campground for directions. Not much in Santa Rosa but its better than Tucumcari.
