New Mexico and Texas 8 Days Itinerary

We have family that moved to San Antonio last year and we have not seen them since the pandemic, since kids had the Jersey teacher convention week off we decided to plan a trip to Texas visiting national parks in the area and visit family.

Trip Highlight


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Day 0 – Fly into El Paso, TX

We took the late afternoon flight from EWR to El Paso. Arrived in El Paso shortly before 10pm, picked up the rental car and checked into the hotel by the airport. We did not get to check out El Paso city, something to do next time.

Day 1 – White Sands National Park

7:30am – 8:45amGrocery shopping at a local market and walmart
8:45am – 10:00amDrive to White Sands National Park
10:am – 10:45amWhite Sands National Park visitor Center
10:45am – 1:00pmDune Drive and hikes
1:00pm – 2:00pmDrive to meeting point for afternoon tour and checkin for tour
2:00pm – 5:00pmLake Lucero tour
5:00pm – 6:00pmDrive to Lincoln National Forest
6:00pm – 6:10pmTrestle Vista
6:10pm – 7:30pmDrive to Artesia

Day 2 – Carlsbad Caverns & Guadalupe Mountains

8:00am – 9:00amDrive to Carlsbad Caverns National Park
9:00am – 9:30amCarlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center
9:30am – 1:00pmCarlsbad Caverns
1:00pm – 1:45pmDrive to Guadalupe Mountains McKittrick Visitor Center
1:45pm – 4:00pmHike McKittrick Canyon to Pratt Cabin
4:00pm – 5:00pmDrive to Carlsbad Caverns for Bat Flight program
5:00pm – 7:00pmBat Flight Program
7:00pm – 7:15pmDrive to Whites city

Day 3 – Guadalupe Mountains & Fort Davis

8:00am – 9:00amDrive to Guadalupe Mountains Pine Springs trail head
9:00am – 12:00pmDevils Hall hike
12:00pm – 12:30pmPine Springs Visitor Center
12:30pm – 3:40pmDrive to Fort Davis (timezone change from mountain to central)
3:40pm – 4:40pmFort Davis National Historic Site
4:40pm – 5:00pmDrive to Alpine
5:00pm – 7:00pmAlpine hotel checkin/dinner/grocery shopping

Day 4 – 6 – Big Bend National Park

First Day
8:00am – 9:30amDrive to Big Bend National Park
9:30am – 10:00amFossil discovery exhibit/Panther Junction Visitor Center
10:00am – 12:00pmBalanced Rock Hike
12:00pm – 1:00pmDrive to Hot Springs Canyon
1:00pm – 2:00pmLangford Hot Springs
2:00pm – 3:30pmDrive to Boquillas Canyon with stops at overlook
3:30 – 4:30pmDrive to Chisos Mountains Lodge
4:30pm – 5:00pmCheck in to Chisos Mountains Lodge
6:30pm – 9:00pmWindow Overlook trail sunset and stargazing
Second Day
6:30am – 7:30amWindow overlook trail stargazing/sunrise
8:30am – 11:30amWindow trail hike
11:30am – 12:30pmBack to hotel for lunch
1:00 – 2:30pmRoss Maxwell Scenic Drive with stops at overlook
2:30pm – 3:30pmSana Elena Canyon hike
3:30pm – 4:00pmDrive to lower Burro Mesa Pour- off
4:00pm – 4:30pmlower Burro Mesa Pour-off trail
4:30pm – 5:30pm Drive to Starlight Theatre restaurant
5:30pm – 8:00pmDinner
8:00pm – 8:45pmDrive back to hotel at Chisos Mountain
Third day
9:00am – 12:00pmHike Lost Mine Trail
12:00pm – 4:00pmDrive to Amistad National Recreation Area
4:00pm – 5:00pmAmistad National Recreation Area
5:00pm – 5:45pmDinner at Rudy’s Del Rio
5:45pm – 8:30pmDrive to San Antonio

Day 7 – 8 – San Antonio

First Day
10:00am – 10:30amDrive to San Antonio Missions Visitor Center
10:30am – 12:00pm San Antonio Missions
12:00pm – 1:00pmLunch
1:00pm – 3:30pmAlamo
3:30 – 4:30pmSan Antonio River Walk
4:30pm – 6:00pmJapanese Tea Garden (Brackenridge Park)
Second Day
11:00am – 11:45amDrive to Canyon Lake
11:45 – 1:00pmOverlook park (dam walk)
1:00pm – 2:30pmCanyon Lake
2:30pm – 4:30pmGuandalupe River Trail
4:30 – 5:30pmDrive back to Family’s home

Where we stayed

# NightsCity
1El Paso, Tx
1Artesia, NM
1Whites City, NM
1Alpine, TX
2Big Bend National Park, TX
3San Antonio, TX

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