Traveling from Sarasota to Phoenix, I-10 tips, please (El Paso, Kerrville: hotels, prices)

[cbelfore]

Hi everyone, Great site with lots of great advice.

I am traveling from FL to PHX 1st week in May. 36 hour drive, but I plan to do in 4 days. 1st stop Mobile, 2nd Columbus, TX, 3rd Van Horm, Tx. All are abt 9 hrs apart. Is this doable? Looking for inexpensive, but CLEAN and SAFE hotels/motels along the way. Sgl, middle aged female. Driving a rented van (caravan) filled with household items. Any tips, suggestions, advice???

Thanks so much!!

[badhornet]

Yes its doable. It's pretty much no mans land from Kerrville, TX to El Paso, TX with only Ozona, Ft Stockton, and Van Horn worth mentioning along the way. Van Horn is a dirty town, that only suvives because 35 cuts through it and caters to travelers. The hotels are nothing to brag about, but then again your only staying for a night. Ive driven through and stayed there many times and never have had a problem

[cbelfore]

Was thinking of staying to El Capitan in Van Horn, unless better suggestions. Again, don't care abt fancy...just clean and quiet.

[badhornet]

Originally Posted by cbelfore

Was thinking of staying to El Capitan in Van Horn, unless better suggestions. Again, don't care abt fancy...just clean and quiet.

I would have told you if it was a few years ago, no way would I recommend staying at the El Capitan, but they have remodeled it and it is nice. Your in town though, and like I said its very dirty and shady looking. I've stayed at the Motel 6 right off the freeway. Easy on and easy off I-35, it's cheaper, and the couple times I stayed there the rooms were clean. But either way you should be fine......I think the El Capitan is over 100 dollars a night (if Im not mistaken)........thats a lot of dough for just one night off the road (especially with gas prices the way they are)

[crone]

Made that I 10 drive to California many times. Not much to see from Tallahassee to El Paso. You will pick up an hour between Tallahassee and Pensacola and again just east of El Paso. You can easily do a 12 hour day.
I'd figure at least $100 a night for lodging.

[LilyLady]

Badhornet is right. The hotel website shows that the Historical rooms (smaller, more economical) are about $105 a night. However, since it's been remodeled, it gets a 4-star rating on Google and Trip Advisor.

Hotel El Capitan, Historic Hotel, Van Horn, Texas

[SVTRay]

Van Horn isn't too bad but I would push in to El Paso and get a room at the Holiday Inn etc but that's just me.

[LilyLady]

Originally Posted by SVTRay

Van Horn isn't too bad but I would push in to El Paso and get a room at the Holiday Inn etc but that's just me.

From Columbus to El Paso? That would make for a LONG boring drive, wouldn't it? At least it would for me, especially that stretch from Ft Stockton to Van Horn.

[LilyLady]

Originally Posted by cbelfore

Hi everyone, Great site with lots of great advice.

I am traveling from FL to PHX 1st week in May. 36 hour drive, but I plan to do in 4 days. 1st stop Mobile, 2nd Columbus, TX, 3rd Van Horm, Tx. All are abt 9 hrs apart. Is this doable? Looking for inexpensive, but CLEAN and SAFE hotels/motels along the way. Sgl, middle aged female. Driving a rented van (caravan) filled with household items. Any tips, suggestions, advice???

Thanks so much!!

Just thought of something else...

Just one piece of advice:
Be sure and fill up your tank at Fort Stockton. There's not much else between there and Van Horn. Depending on the time of day, Balmorhea can be 'iffy' on places to get gas.

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by LilyLady

From Columbus to El Paso? That would make for a LONG boring drive, wouldn't it? At least it would for me, especially that stretch from Ft Stockton to Van Horn.

What? No, I'm talking from Van Horn to El Paso.