Any of you all ever make the drive to Big Bend?

I've driven it. But I actually started in Austin and spent a night in Ft. Davis. From Austin to Ft Davis was about 8 hours. From Ft. Davis to Chisos Mountain was another 2 hours. It's a long drive. Once you enter park grounds, you still drive like an hour through the park just to get to any campground.

 

It's a long drive, but a lot of it is very scenic. I think the speed limit is 85. I went around 90 for what seemed like forever. Spring is a great time to travel out there.

 

Drive up wasn't bad. I went in November, and that's when the Mexican hurricane came through and poured 5" of rain all over the area so it was unusually wet and cloudy. Fog covered the whole mountain and visibility driving up was 10' in front of you, but you go slow. Curves aren't terribly tight. I was in my midsize sedan, but plenty of trucks with trailers made it up the mountain.

 

You can easily drive from Houston to Big Bend in a day -- it's only about 600 miles.

 

Uploaded a photo of the mountain fog for reference.



Visibility was that bad. But usually, it's clear and you can see for miles.

 

Allow me to translate for fellow texans,,,the OP "You all" means "Y'all".

OP appently isn't on a Texas based cellphone and didn't get the proper auto correct

 

i made the drive to Big Ben Ranch a couple of years ago. unfortunately, Big Ben National Park was closed due to the government at the time. went from houston to seminole canyone state park. stayed over night at seminole before heading west on 90 through Dryden and Sanderson. I love seeing small towns though and if you're ever want to see a ghost town Dryden is it.

driving on 118 from Alpine to terlingua is very scenic. lots of mountains and very safe. the rio grande hwy (170) has a stretch with an 18% steep grade. it's a pretty intense drive up and down. but that is a few miles west of Lajitas. worth it though to get to the overlook on the other side.

 

Just think of it as a full workday with extra long breaks and an extended lunch.

9-10 hrs.

 

I've made the drive from Houston to Big Bend several times. It's true that when I went it was with friends and we were able to switch drivers.

What we did was leave late at night so that we got to the Gage Hotel in time for breakfast the next day. Those breakfasts were among the best I've ever had. From the Gage Hotel it's not far at all to Big Bend. That food was great fuel for the rest of the day (setting up camp and all of that.) It's great getting to the park early too, because depending on where you want to camp fewer camp sites will be occupied and you have more available selections.

I loved camping at Big Bend. So many amazing things to see and do there.

 

Take your time.

Marfa, Marathon, Balmorhea, Ruidoso, Ft. Davis, Carlsbad, Guadalupe Mtns, Ft.Stockton, Terlingua, etc....

 

I did it one time. Stayed in San Antonio then drove there the next day. Lots of wind farms but man that big bend sunset is worth it

 

I prefer going 90 West from SA than going 10 all the way. Just a little more interesting. I try to leave Houston after lunch and miss the rush hour traffic and get into Del Rio in time for dinner and then get up early the next day and you have pretty much a full day in Big Bend. And the Gage Hotel rocks.

I love Big Bend. Jealous.

 

Fly to el paso and rent a car...

 

that would probably be a 4-5 hour drive. it would be quicker to drive all the way and as a bonus, you dont have to go to el paso.

ive been to big bend about 10 times...from austin it is about 7 hours. from houston it would probably be about 9 if you take I-10. 90 is more scenic, but it will take longer.

unless you have an RV, there are no "dangerous" mountain drives in the park.

be careful if you're riding dirty. officer early williams III (aka "the hawk") of sutton county knows how to sniff em out.

 

I did! It was amazing. Highly recommend.

 

Amen to this. I even like the old school little cowboy town of Alpine.