Driving Alb to Carlsbad Caverns National Park (Grants, White Sands: versus, system)

[Zoidberg]

Words of advice: The stretches of 285 about 5-20min north of Encino and about 5-15min South of Vaughn are speed traps. Exceeding the speed limit on I-40 is almost impossible due to the traffic.

Have done Albuquerque to Roswell in under 2 hours many times before. Unless you make that trip multiple times a month, I don't recommend even trying to do that.

Have been passed on a curvy bridge between Encino & Vaughn when I was driving 106. So maybe 90 minutes is a possibility if your vehicle can manage it.

Oh, and one more thing. Fill up the tank in Albuquerque. Vaughn runs out of gas sometimes, Encino has no gas pumps, Clines Corners charges about $.30/gal over the going rate, and the nice new gas station in Sedillo is no longer open for business.

[DOUBLE H]

Zoidberg is right about the gas station near Sedillo. I have friends i visit in Edgewood, just east of there. Spent all that money to build that thing, then a year or so later close it. Oh, well.

WILL take your advice on the speed traps, am planning a trip to Hagerman, just south of Roswell, in a few weeks. Yea, one time going through Vaughn, DID have a problem filling up!

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

Zoidberg is right about the gas station near Sedillo. I have friends i visit in Edgewood, just east of there. Spent all that money to build that thing, then a year or so later close it. Oh, well.

WILL take your advice on the speed traps, am planning a trip to Hagerman, just south of Roswell, in a few weeks. Yea, one time going through Vaughn, DID have a problem filling up!

This is the first time I've ever heard of anybody planning a trip to Hagerman...... Have gone through there and Dexter many, many years on the way to Ruidoso and points north.

But I wasn't driving most years. Had it been up to me, I would have gone via Denver City, TX, Tatum, Caprock etc.

[DOUBLE H]

Cath-he's an old construction friend of mine-also have friends in Edgewood, Tucumcari, and Albuq- kind of make a big swing through SE NM. Didn't necessarily mean just a separate trip!

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

Cath-he's an old construction of mine-have friends in Edgewood, Tucumcari, and Albuq- kind of make a big swing through SE NM. Didn't necessarily mean just a separate trip!

Have fun and enjoy your trip......!

Those old backroads of New Mexico in the 1970s were something else....

[annaegel]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

WILL take your advice on the speed traps, am planning a trip to Hagerman, just south of Roswell, in a few weeks. Yea, one time going through Vaughn, DID have a problem filling up!

My grandmother lived in Hagerman! She lived in the old victorian style house a few blocks away from the railroad tracks. I loved that old house! I wonder if it is still standing?! She had the rights to the empty lot behind the house. She planted a huge garden in that lot. The neighbors would sneak in and help themselves to the fruits of her labor. I remember picking apricots from the trees surrounding the garden. Found memories!

[eddie cantrell]

Thanks all. Maybe you are right and I should simply hang around Alb and north and take a seperate trip to Carlsbad, it is just so amazing. thanks for all the advice and I will update you when I get back, but you guys are about to talk me out of it.

[GregW]

Eddie - I recommended limiting your trip to the north because the east and Carlsbad deserve a trip of their own.

[Zoidberg]

Although it's like a puddle versus an ocean, if you have to get a NM cave in your system that actually happens to be on your way, might I suggest the Ice Cave near Grants? The ice never melts.

[eddie cantrell]

Originally Posted by GregW

Eddie - I recommended limiting your trip to the north because the east and Carlsbad deserve a trip of their own.

Greg, that is what I have decided to do, thanks to all the help on the forum. Thanks to you and to all.