Best route from Austin, TX to ABQ? (Roswell, Clovis: live in, title)

[jakabedy]

Looking at the map, I see there are a couple options. The drive will be next week, on Feb. 9-10. Two adults, two dogs, FWD car. Not really taking time to stop and see the sights, but interesting scenery is always welcome. Which is better?

1) I-10 to Fort Stockton-Carlsbad-Roswell.

2) Fredericksburg-Abilene-Lubbock-Clovis-ABQ


Which is better?

[Poncho_NM]

I would take the more Northern route... Fredericksburg-Abilene-Lubbock-Clovis-ABQ. There is less than an hours driving difference .

There is also a thread: Best Driving Route from Austin to ABQ

[jakabedy]

I got a PM that hints neither of those is the most direct route. So there's also:

3) Brownwood-Sweetwater-Lubbock-Clovis-ABQ

Poncho, I did a search for Austin and didn't come up with that thread!

[ABQ2015]

I also prefer the northern route although you miss Fredricksburg and Kerrville (but assume that you have been there many times if you live in Austin). Obviously the southern route will be better if there is bad weather.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by jakabedy

I got a PM that hints neither of those is the most direct route. So there's also:

3) Brownwood-Sweetwater-Lubbock-Clovis-ABQ

Poncho, I did a search for Austin and didn't come up with that thread!

Using Google there are three routes listed:

Suggested routes


3) Brownwood-Sweetwater-Lubbock-Clovis-ABQ is 695 mi, US-84 W/Hwy 84 W and I-40 W (same route)



699 mi, 10 hours 36 mins US-84 W/Hwy 84 W
711 mi, 10 hours 53 mins US-87 N
756 mi, 11 hours 27 mins I-10 W and US-285 N

Not really a big difference. There are a variety of obstacles to make those times vary...

Here is the google map: http://goo.gl/maps/OpYor

Click on the route listing on the left side (which I posted above) to see the route.


I used the "advanced search", searching the thread titles....

[DurangoJoe]

Just drove it in reverse last September.

1. I-40 East to US84 south through Clovis, Lubbock, then down to Sweetwater, TX.

2. TX70 south from Sweetwater, TX to TX153 East to Brownwood, TX

3. US183 south from Brownwood to Austin.

https://goo.gl/maps/YK1eH

691 miles, 10 hrs 21 mins.

[jakabedy]

Originally Posted by DurangoJoe

Just drove it in reverse last September.

1. I-40 East to US84 south through Clovis, Lubbock, then down to Sweetwater, TX.

2. TX70 south from Sweetwater, TX to TX153 East to Brownwood, TX

3. US183 south from Brownwood to Austin.

https://goo.gl/maps/YK1eH

691 miles, 10 hrs 21 mins.

Thanks. That's the route we've settled on. Planning to spend the night in Clovis to make for a short second day of driving.

[DurangoJoe]

Originally Posted by jakabedy

Thanks. That's the route we've settled on. Planning to spend the night in Clovis to make for a short second day of driving.

I'll be coming down from Durango & driving this route in a few days. Did it back in September as well. Sweetwater the first day then the remainder of the drive to Austin next day. It's a haul.....

[Zoidberg]

Originally Posted by jakabedy

Thanks. That's the route we've settled on. Planning to spend the night in Clovis to make for a short second day of driving.

Surprisingly, the most frustrating part of the drive for me was the lower speed limits on the NM side of the border. After being in the middle of nowhere for a few hours straight, to have to go even slower, just really wears on the nerves.

Faster than I-10 the whole way, though.