Route Question for Okie Hiker

[woodrow]

Heading out for the park in 3 weeks from OK City.  Just wondering what route you guys take from Enid ???

[okiehiker]

I generally take 81 south to I-44.  From OKC you can just get straight on 44.  

I-44 to Wichita Falls, jct. US 277
277 South to 92 west on the south edge of Stamford
In downtown Hamlin turn south on US 83
On the south end of Hamlin catch 57 SW to 70
70 south to I-20 at Sweetwater
I-20 west to Monahans, jct. 18
18 south to Fort Stockton
US 385 south to PJ, park headquarters.

In all honesty there is not a lot of time difference in taking I-35 to 35-W, I-820 to I-30 to I-20 to Monahans or I-44 to 277 and then south.  There is a considerable difference in distance, but three hours of two lane highway.  I like the back roads.  I have probably taken fifteen different routes from Wichita Falls to Colorado City.  I am not sure that one is any better than the others.  I do know that Mapquest tells you to take 277 to Abilene, but there seems to me to be too much traffic before you get to the interstate.

Good luck, and give us a trip report!

[woodrow]

Your I-44 route is almost identical to the route I have taken my last 2 trips. (2 and 4 years ago)  Thanks for the response.  I will post a report.

[dkerr24]

I know I'm digging up an ancient thread, but thanks Okiehiker for the route recommendations.  I'm heading out from Yukon on Saturday morning (02/09/08).  Have to make a few stops, but hope to finally get on I-44 around 9am.

I too thought the MapQuest directions have you backtracking a bit heading into Abilene...

I do have a few questions... is it 2 lane roads all the way from Wichita Falls to I-20?  Can't tell by looking at MapQuest.

Have you ever tried taking I-40 to Amarillo, then south on I-27 thru Lubbock?  Looks like about 60 miles further according to MapQuest, but not sure of the roads I'd have to deal with once south of Lubbock.

[okiehiker]

I have taken routes through Lubbock fairly often en route to the Guadalupes, taking 62 to carlsbad.  I have not headed south from there to BIBE.

On my trips I am generally cursed with two things, driving one of my POS vehicles, pulling a trailer, and a bunch of kids.  Driving through the towns via two-lane roads between Wichita Falls and Sweetwater doesn't cost me much time.  The four-lane road route might save you time.  I am still not convinced that there is two minutes difference either way.  I do think the Lubbock route would be about an hour longer.  11 vs. 12 hours driving time plus stops.  I did make it from Enid to Terlingua Abaja in just over ten hours one time driving the '90 BMW I had at the time, with just my son.  (The OMR was in exceptionally good shape....) We went through Hamlin on that trip. 

I think any of the routes down I-35 or I-44 are quicker than the Lubbock route.

[dkerr24]

Thanks for the recommendations.  Since I've driven I-35 a million times to Ft Worth, I'm going to try the I-44 route for a change of scenery.

[dkerr24]

Thought I'd update this thread...  We drove I-44 through Lawton to Wichita Falls, then took Hwy 277/US 83 all the way to Abilene.   I guess we came in on the west side of Abilene, as there wasn't much town once we got on I-20.   Much of the way on 277/83 was divided road that bypassed a lot of the smaller towns.   Once we hit I-20, it was pretty much smooth sailing to Monahans, then south in Hwy 18. 

Not much in the way of scenery once we passed the Wichita Mtns near Lawton... the drive south from Ft. Stockton got better the further south we went. 

Even with several rest stops, lunch, and a stop at the Wal-Mart in Sweetwater, TX for last minute supplies (i.e. 6 point Bud Light and Mr Pibb... haha), the entire trip took about 11 hours.  Drove posted speed limit the entire way.

[okiehiker]

I took the Abilene route one trip last year and the road into Abilene and down to I-20 was much better than it was 25 years ago.  The route through Hamlin down to Sweetwater is about 25 miles shorter, but I think there is very little difference in time.  The higher speed limits and better roads have made it a pretty reasonable one day trip either way. 

[Boojum1]

Thought I'd update this thread...  We drove I-44 through Lawton to Wichita Falls, then took Hwy 277/US 83 all the way to Abilene.   I guess we came in on the west side of Abilene, as there wasn't much town once we got on I-20.   Much of the way on 277/83 was divided road that bypassed a lot of the smaller towns.   Once we hit I-20, it was pretty much smooth sailing to Monahans, then south in Hwy 18. 

Not much in the way of scenery once we passed the Wichita Mtns near Lawton... the drive south from Ft. Stockton got better the further south we went. 

Even with several rest stops, lunch, and a stop at the Wal-Mart in Sweetwater, TX for last minute supplies (i.e. 6 point Bud Light and Mr Pibb... haha), the entire trip took about 11 hours.  Drove posted speed limit the entire way.

Next time in Sweetwater, eat at Mrs Allen's. You might also want to buy Dr. Pepper. 

[dkerr24]

My wife is the Mr. Pibb nut.  Think its only because Mr. Pibb is not available in our area.  And definitely no Bud Light 6 point here in Okla :(