Odessa to Carlsbad

[Mark D]

My son and I will be driving from the Odessa-Midland airport to Carlsbad Caverns on the first day of an upcoming Spring Break trip.
Is there any such thing as a scenic route between the two? We plan to camp at White's City that night.

[jeffblaylock]

White's City is an unadulterated tourist trap and not worthy of spending a moment or a dime in, in my opinion.    Lincoln National Forest is nearby, as is Brantley Lake SP.

Personally, I would drive through Kermit and Mentone to Orla and then cut across to the Guadalupe Mountains for a quick visit and dayhike. Then up 180 to Carlsbad Caverns, which is part of the same mountain range.

[Al]

You could always take the scenic route through Andrews and then out past the proposed low level radioactive waste landfill at the state line and the multi billion dollar uranium enrichment facility currently under construction by Eunice. Just kidding.  No matter how you go, Carlsbad has nicer motels and a variety of restaurants to select from, be sure and drive down to the rest area below Guadalupe Nat'l Park to take some pictures and then back up.  Wonderful views.

Al

[Roy]

I agree 100% with Jeff;  making sure I avoid White's City is a priority when I plan a trip out there.

[Mark D]

We're planning to tent camp, and it seem's White's is the only place to do so. Unless we go to an RV park in Carlsbad. Are there any forest service campgrounds near there?
We're going to tour southern NMex and then camp and hike at Gumo at the end of the week on our way back to Odessa. (Sorry, no plans for Bibe on this trip.)
I picked MAF because it had the cheapest combo of airfares and car rental. Cheaper than Albequerque, El Paso or PHX or Tucson.

[Al]

You might consider camping at Gumo.  It's a short drive to the caverns.  Pine Springs ain't great but it's better than White City.

[SHANEA]

from the Odessa-Midland airport to Carlsbad Caverns

Didn't know you could go Odessa-Midland to Carlsbad Caverns.  Thought you could only go Carlsbad Caverns to Odessa-Midland...

Actually, I really thought that all trips in West Texas have to go through Panther Junction...   

[aggiehiker]

I you are tent camping, camp on BLM lands right over the N. Mexico border lands outside GUMO. There may be other BLM lands closer to Carlsbad, I've never looked. You just drive and find a spot to camp.

[Flatlander]

  Native from Odessa.  Yes there is afew of us.  Anyhow the way we always went is to leave town on 302 west to Hiway 181 toward Goldsmith will take past an old tin building know as Tourbow Conners, which was the best place to get a hambuger years ago when I was a kid.  By turning on 181 you will be missing the big city of Notrees, not a big deal.  Then turn right on hiway 115, you will be in the sand hill and the scrub oak, and will be between Kermit and Andrews.  Turn agian at hiway 128 this is this the fyrpan hiway as it is know out there, this will take you to the state line.  I have not been that way in along time, about ten years, but uses to have the phone line ran on top of the bobwire fence.  Will be still in the sand hills, should be able to see the Purple Mts to the north.  What you are actual seeing is a mirage.   128 will take you though Jal, NM.  Don,t blink.  Does have a store and used to have a cafe.  Will take straight  though town for about 60 miles to hiway 31 turn right will take across the Pecos River, then to Loving, NM.  Just down the road from the Carlsbad.  Is  a real nice place to see best I remember it Sitting Bull Falls.  Go north though Carlsbad to State 137 about 18 miles one way there all paved just a little over a trickle for about 75 feet is pretty neat place.  Might be camping there now don't remember.  Been 30 years.  Just for info there is a meteor crater west of Odessa off I-20.  Hope this helps.  beats going though Kermit unless you never been there.

[Mark D]

Is that road between Orla and Gumo (rt 652) paved? I'm liking the idea of camping at Gumo then heading up to the Caverns in the morning.

[Flatlander]

Yes, it is paved and is good hiway the last time I drove it.  Should take you across the Delaware River.  When you get there may have to laugh saying I could step across that, but just the same is still a river.  The route take you through some different country best I remember.

[Timbo]

If you're going to Sitting Bull Falls, you might as well go to Dog Canyon on the north (NM) side of GUMO. Good camping, GREAT hiking. No stores or supplies though, so stock up in Carlsbad.

[skinny]

15 miles past Sitting Bull Falls and you're in the Lincoln Nat'l Forest...camp anywhere you want . Hwy 652 from Orla to U. S. 180 is paved. It also affords the best view of Guadalupe Peak and the south face of the Guadalupe Reef complex...

[presidio]

I you are tent camping, camp on BLM lands right over the N. Mexico border lands outside GUMO. There may be other BLM lands closer to Carlsbad, I've never looked. You just drive and find a spot to camp.

There are BLM lands all over, from the state line right up to town. As noted you just pick a spot and use it....no permits or fees like the NPS areas.

Another post noted the Whites City tourist trap. Funny, isn't it, that these kinds of things only exist at national park boundaries? You never see this kind of thing at BLM or USFS lands.

[presidio]

15 miles past Sitting Bull Falls and you're in the Lincoln Nat'l Forest...camp anywhere you want .

Actually, Sitting Bull Falls is in the NF, however, SBF is a day use area only.