Austin to Ruidoso, NM

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Dog_Gone

Yes it is faster by about 30 minutes. It takes you West more quickly. And yes it does enter and exit okay. It is not marked very well. Just be sure you are paying attention because I have missed it on several occasions on my way to Ruidoso.

Thanks, I appreciate the information. I usually go 25 and 10, but wanted to avoid going through either ABQ or EP this trip! I'm coming from the NW (US 550).

So I may try it if I don't miss it!

Construction mess between Roswell and Ruidoso, near Hondo, from what I gather.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by jenswan

I'm planning a trip from Austin to Ruidoso in late July and I'm thinking about taking a different route each way. What is there to see enroute? I'm thinking about the Davis Mountains, the Guadalupe Mts., any other places of interest?

From Austin to Ruidoso via the Davis Mtns is a L-O-N-G way out of the way, but if that's what you desire...

I used to live in Austin and now live in Ruidoso and have driven back and forth many times but always take the route that passes through San Angelo-Big Spring to Brownfield and then west to Roswell and Ruidoso. It's the most direct route but still takes a good ten hours.

If Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Natl park are on your itinerary, then you'll want to take a route that brings you into IH-10 and passes through Ft Stockton, Pecos and on up US-285 to Carlsbad.

So it's possible to take one route going and another returning. Another possibility is to go through El Paso and visit White Sands Nat. Monument and enter Ruidoso from the west via US-54/70.

There is more to do in the Ruidoso area than I can cover in one post, depending on one's interest. Best to visit the New Mexico forum and inquire there rather than here in the Texas Forum.

[emileNOLA]

If you take the road through Pecos, make sure to stop in at La Nortena, they have great Tamales, whenever we make the drive we pick up a box frozen on the way to SFe.

[borgerboy]

if you're gonna take the guadalupe peak route i would recommend taking the "short cut" thru menton. the smallest county seat of the smallest (population wise) county in texas. some good burgers at the cafe "in town". the trailer with the red roof.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Dog_Gone

Yes it is faster by about 30 minutes. It takes you West more quickly. And yes it does enter and exit okay. It is not marked very well. Just be sure you are paying attention because I have missed it on several occasions on my way to Ruidoso.

Again, thanks for the information. It does make a difference, but you do have to be careful in both turning off first, and then again after that. I got a little upset when I saw 380 to Portales...geeze, I messed up.....but then along comes the next sign with all three (70-380-285).

So it is really nice to not have to go through Roswell!

However, the drive itself (285 in particular) was just plain HARD--especially after leaving Roswell. The oilfield and truck traffic was horrible all the way through Pecos and the turnoff 1776.

I'm going back through US 90/10/25/550. Now I remember why I started going interstate a few years ago, LOL!!