I have been looking at the map for a long while but can't figure out the best way to go. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Are you after shortest in time? or are you up for a little longer drive but better scenery?

probably shortest time

oops... boyfriend's username

[This message has been edited by Rick Deckard (edited 12/16/2009 12:09a).]

i'm from houston and my grandparents live in santa fe... i've made that drive many times! or at least i've been a passenger on that drive many times. tomorrow i will ask my dad for his route.

there..

59 N, exit will clayton. Terminal B. Fly to ABQ. Rent a car for $20/day. 45 minute drive north via I-25.

FYI flights are less than $200

Shortest route:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=houston,+tx&daddr=US-183+N+to:31.821565,-99.382324+to:US-84+W+to:santa+fe,+nm&hl=en&geocode=FdQmxgEdON9Q-ikBhY1ItLhAhjE7BWXz3gINyg%3BFcLY1gEd0AEq-g%3B%3BFT7fCAIdfEji-Q%3BFT-KIAIdeYSv-SmpUpjnQ1AYhzFA34j9cyOQjA&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=7&via=1,2,3&sll=32.7255,-100.658575&sspn=8.295744,13.326416&ie=UTF8&z=7

Route I would take:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=houston,+tx&daddr=32.537552,-97.086182+to:I-20+W+to:US-84+W+to:santa+fe,+nm&hl=en&geocode=FdQmxgEdON9Q-ikBhY1ItLhAhjE7BWXz3gINyg%3B%3BFcZi8wEdWoUr-g%3BFT7fCAIdfEji-Q%3BFT-KIAIdeYSv-SmpUpjnQ1AYhzFA34j9cyOQjA&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=8&via=1,2,3&sll=32.731841,-97.382812&sspn=4.149042,6.663208&ie=UTF8&ll=32.731841,-100.217285&spn=8.294887,13.326416&z=7

[This message has been edited by Vero143 (edited 12/16/2009 9:58a).]

Agree with Vero, except I would opt for the shorter route. I can understand the Interstate route, but the back way shown (shorter) is pretty quick.

Be sure and check road conditions. Areas that you would not think would be bad in the winter often are. For instance, the road Santa Rosa to Clines Corners to Santa Fe is very high, and will get snow and ice. I've seen I-40 closed from Santa Rosa west several times.

Yeah driving through Santa Rosa can suck. We were coming back once and they had the roads plowed coming into town from both the East and West but none of the outbound lanes. All traffic on I-40 was required to stop and spend the night in Santa Rosa.

It was a complete cluster****. There were no hotel rooms left, the school gym was full, we drove around until we found a church on a back road that wasn't too crowded. Not long after we got there it got packed too. There was no food to be had in town, all the restaurants had lines wrapped around the block and ran out. I think the church raided their food pantry to feed us. Since we got there early we staked out a spot to sleep on the pews. There were a few hundred others on the floors.