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My wife, Cathy, and daughter are flying out to New Mexico next week to explore Alamogordo! Cathy and I were there last February and were truly enchanted with the place. They are flying into Albuquerque late Monday evening, and I would appreciate any advice on the best route from there to Alamogordo. While most of the roads we traveled were just fine, we made the uniformed choice (i.e., "mistake") of taking 152 (if memory serves me right) from Truth or Consequences to Silver City. The view was breathtaking--as were some of the turns and heights! I would prefer my loved ones have a better road as they will be driving after dark. It seems that 25 down to 380 and then onto 54 would be safe and quick--but I am asking for a second opinion.
As an aside, Cathy and I are truly hoping to move from gray-skies, high-humidity, snow-covered Ohio to the sunshine and relaxation of New Mexico--before the end of this summer. This trip will allow Cat to make some final decisions about where and what we relocate to. I understand it's generally windy this time of the year; is there anything we need to know to cope with the wind?
US 380 and 54 is certainly the shortest route but after dark it is not a route I enjoy driving. From San Antonio (NM) to Alamo is all 2-lane and not that well paved of a route, to say nothing of the simple fact that it's narrow. Anyone contemplating that drive should be darned sure they are fully alert and not otherwise tired (or impaired). Better option would be to overnight in Albuq and drive down the next morning, IMO.
(I'm puzzled by the OP's reference to Silver City since that's in a totally opposite direction from Alamogordo and not a route one would take coming from Albuq???)
The road from Carrizozo to Tularosa needs some help. Wife and I drove from Alamo to Socorro and back on Sunday with a stop at the Valley of Fires Recreation Area. Looks like some construction is taking place on 54, but all lanes were open on Sunday.
... flying into El Paso - it is a lot closer to Alamogordo - and it is a really nice airport.
And to add to that, the highway from El Paso to Alamogordo is a divided four lane all the way with a 70mph speed limit as opposed to the lower limits on two lane highways in NM.
Many thanks for all the comments and suggestions. Next time, we will fly into El Paso; however, Southwest flights leave Ohio a later for ABQ, which was my wife's preference as flights to El Paso were too early for her.
Jaxart: My point was that last year when my wife and I were driving around NM, we looked at the map and saw what seemed like a great road from Truth or Consequences to Silver City. The map didn't lie, but that road was very crooked and very steep. You just can tell how great the road is from a map sometimes.
I've also told my wife and daughter to stay in ABQ when they arrive if they feel like it. I agree that the trip would be much better during daylight hours. I think, though, that they prefer driving it in the dark. Who knows?
My wife and daughter are really looking forward to this trip next week.
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Thanks!
