My wife wants to take a trip out west with our 2 year old. He's pretty good in a car so I'm not worried about that part. Here's the route we're looking to take, any suggestions?

Houston -> San Antonio, visit some friends, see the Alamo, stay the night

San Antonio -> El Paso: Maybe catch a Chihuahua baseball game, stay the night

El Paso -> White Sands (is that just a drive through, check it out and keep on driving place?)

White Sands -> Ruidoso: Stay the night there and look around the next day before heading to Roswell

Ruidoso -> Roswell: Hunt for some aliens with the 2 year old, stay the night here too

Roswell -> Austin: Stop at the Capitol Building and other things in Austin

Austin -> Houston

How long is the trip?

Looking about 7 days from start to finish. We both work in the school setting so we're out for the summer. No real plan other than destinations

White Sands is a several hour stop max, especially with a two year old. Best to get there early before it gets too hot. You should be able to go from El Paso to White Sands to Ruidoso in one day no problem.

There is also a space museum in Alamogordo that is pretty good. Also think about going to Carlsbad Caverns. It's doable with that age if you have a backpack carrier.

Honestly I think you are spend way too much time on the road driving verses actual time at the sights. One week for this is too short especially if you add in other things such as Palo Duro Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns and maybe McDonalds Observatory in the path you are taking.

Why El Paso? Seems a lot of extra driving. White Sands access is from the east side, much closer to Alamogordo.

I might consider some more West Texas stops: Caverns of Sonora, Ft. Davis, Alpine. Big Bend is spectacular, but might be hot and busy. Davis Mountains are nice, second a stop at the observatory if you're a nerd like me.

Carlsbad Caverns is a must-see, I'm not sure how much fun it would be with a 2-year-old. Hang around for the evening bat flight.

White Sands is hot, but fascinating. There's a space museum in Alamogordo, worth a stop. I'd really like to see the rocket museum, never have, but it's all the way over on the west side of White Sands, so a lot of driving.

I'd see about staying in Cloudcroft overnight. In the mountains above Alamogordo. Much smaller and less busy than Ruiodoso. Don't know that there's much to see in Ruiodoso if you're not there for several days.

There's a Solar Observatory (Sun Spot) near Cloudcroft, not sure if you can tour.

If you're into Billy the Kid, Lincoln is a nice little stop.

Roswell, I wouldn't bother, unless you're really, really into the kitsch.

Roswell to Austin, I really enjoyed Ft. Concho in San Angelo.

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especially if you add in other things such as Palo Duro Canyon

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I'm always an advocate of Palo Duro, but this is a Southern NM trip. If you're stopping at PD, you need to be planning a Northern trip, to Red River, Santa Fe, or other northern areas.

That's about what 2000 miles? In 7 days that's almost 300 miles a day average which with the youngin is probably 6 hours a day, plus your turnover time everyday in a new hotel. That's a lot of time in the car with a 2 year old. I'd cut that average in half.

Thanks y'all..as you can tell this trip is still a work in progress. Wife is from Arkansas so she's been wanting to see west Texas. Think I'm going to cut out the El Paso stop out of the trip and leave White Sands up to her if she wants to drive out there and see it after we've been on the road as long as we will be.

The problem is that you have to drive so darn far to see West Texas....then drive a lot more to see anything in New Mexico.

I'd consider looking at a flight to El Paso and rent a car there. Or Albuquerque, and explore northern NM.

It's up to your tolerance for driving vs. flying, and, of course, the cost.

You could make a complete trip out of the Big Bend area alone, including Fort Davis, Indian Lodge, Alpine, Marfa, McDonald Observatory.

Or Carlsbad/Lincoln/White Sands/Ruiodoso/Fort Stanton.

Or Trinity Site (only open twice a year), VLA, San Antonio NM, Fort Craig, Gila

Or northern NM, Red River, Angel Fire, Cimmaron

Or Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Alamos,

Or go to Chama NM or Antonito CO and ride the train.

Another vote for Carlsbad and then to Cloudcroft. Go for a short hike in the morning before you head out to White Sands and you're almost sure to see some nice wildlife.