Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Our entire family is planning on taking a roadtip from Houston, TX to Ruidoso, NM. We hear Ruidoso is really beautiful. I was wondering what is the best route or routes to take to AVOID the immigration checkpoints. We are all US citizens but my wife isn't. Is this possible? Any of your comments or thoughts would greatly be appreciated.
If your wife has legal residency status, there should be no problem with the checkpoints if she has her visa or whatever is needed with her.
Otherwise, keeping well to the east of the border highways should avoid having to pass through check points. From Houston take any route that leads NW to the lower panhandle of Texas and cross into NM at the eastern state line, passing through Roswell when approaching Ruidoso from the east. I don't know of any checkpoints along those routes, but perhaps someone else does. Certainly don't drive through the El Paso area.
You can find information/maps for the border patrol checkpoints simply by searching the internet using those words. Here's a quick reference to one such map:
Driving through El Paso is fine. Once you get into NM and about 20 mins in there's a checkpoint.
VERY BAD ADVICE for someone coming from Houston and approaching El Paso who wants to avoid being stopped by the border patrol!
There are several checkpoints that must be negotiated before even reaching El Paso and one on the highway between El Paso and Alamogordo on the way to Ruidoso.
I concur. US 380 or 285, through Roswell, are the only routes you should consider. Why not take American to Roswell, rent a car (cheap!), and drive the hour?
Thanks for all the replies! I'll be sure to look into this a bit more. Also the reason I decided not to fly was because I wasn't sure if my wife could board a plan only with her student ID.
VERY BAD ADVICE for someone coming from Houston and approaching El Paso who wants to avoid being stopped by the border patrol!
There are several checkpoints that must be negotiated before even reaching El Paso and one on the highway between El Paso and Alamogordo on the way to Ruidoso.
Just wondering, but, (where) is there a checkpoint before entering El Paso from the east? I've driven I-10 a couple of times coming from the Dallas area and I never had to stop for border patrol before driving west through El Paso.
Not saying that the OP should take that route, because of course they would have to stop before reaching Alamogordo, just curious.
Just wondering, but, (where) is there a checkpoint before entering El Paso from the east? I've driven I-10 a couple of times coming from the Dallas area and I never had to stop for border patrol before driving west through El Paso.
Not saying that the OP should take that route, because of course they would have to stop before reaching Alamogordo, just curious.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
