Amarillo to GC need recommenndations

Have any suggestions as to where to stay or what to see traveling from Amarillo to the Grand Canyon?  Also,  have any of you stayed at Hickory Creek in Dallas or Stewart Creek Campground ? 

Winslow AZ, if you are an Eagle fan. 25 miles west of that is Meteor Crater. They have a campground just off the highway. If you go to Meteor Crater, allow for 2-3 hours and the last guided tour was at 2:15pm for there winter hours.

In Albuquerque you can take the Tramway Road exit north and go to the tram at the bottom of the Sandia Mountains (on the edge of town). It's a beautiful ride to the top (a ski area in the winter, too), and there's even a restaurant at the top. And/or, state highway 14 in Tijeras Canyon (just before getting to Albuquerque) takes you to the road leading to the Crest, that is, Sandia Peak, which overlooks Albuquerque and hundreds of square miles of the surrounding area-- beautiful view, and the drive up is pretty, too. In summer, the trail from the Crest parking area (with the "Forest of Steel," lots of antennas) to the top of the tramway is also pretty, and you might see big horn sheep along there, if you (and others) are quiet enough. On the way to the Crest is also the Sandia Ski Area where, especially in summer, you can ride the ski lift to the top. I once saw a black bear when riding that lift.

An hour or so west of Albuquerque is Sky City, or the Acoma Pueblo, an Indian pueblo sitting on a mesa. It's very interesting to visit. Along I-40 in Arizona are also the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Parks, in addition to the above-mentioned Meteor Crater. And, since you're in the area, the Grand Canyon Railroad, which leaves from Williams (half an hour past Flagstaff), is a great trip to take. Besides the day trip, if you have hotel reservations, you can even take the train, stay in the park for a day or two, then ride it back to Williams.

We have been to the Meteor Crater, Tramway and Painted Desert / Petrified Forest NP.  All are worth the stop.  Meteor Crater was by far my favorite of the three.

El Morro National Monument near Grants NM and Acoma has a really neat hiking trail if you're into that.  It starts at the visitor center and winds past a pool and Inscription Rock, then goes around the mesa and on the other side gradually ascends to the top where you go across white marble(?).  It's up and down to cross the top of the mesa but really interesting to traverse.  The trail was put in by the CCC originally and a few places have a stairwell of several steps.  Be sure to take water, snacks, and wear layers because the temperature and winds can change quite a bit in a few hours.  We always take that hike when we're in the area.

ArdraF

we just did a GC trip last summer...19 days out and back so we squeezed a lot into a short time.  I'll summarize that part of our trip for brainstorming purposes

We didn't stay in Dallas, but we stopped at the Perot Museum of Science - very good...and drove through Dealey Plaza on the way out of town....

Intending to overnight in Bowie at the WM, ended up finding a little county park, Pelham park, with electric so we could run the AC.  nothing overly nice but safe and easy in and out.  Basically like 10 spaces at the rodeo arena and muni-pool there with a pay-post honor system.

In Amarillo, we stopped at the visitor center at I-40 right near the airport.  Very nice and they told us they allow overnight parking.  We didn't overnight, just stopped for info. Had a meal at The Big Texan.  mehh, fun for the kids, a novelty...
we visited an RV museum which was a rather nice collection that an RV dealer had of old RV's, also some motorcycles and other stuff.  Worth a stop, but beware you have to park out on the busy street
http://www.rvmuseum.net/

The visitor center told us about nearby Palo Duro Canyon SP.  We couldn't get a spot there, all booked up...but we did drive through and did a short hike on a trail.  DW would go back just for that.  really a nice surprise.  Highly suggest reserving a spot there, worth a couple days at least.  We overnighted at the WM in Canyon

From there we stopped at a Rte 66 auto museum in Santa Rosa.  OK place to stretch your legs for a few minutes

Sandia tramway in ABQ as previously mentioned was very nice, glad we did that.  Beware though...after you get on that Tramway BLVD, you'll see No Truck signs.  I'm not sure what the preferred routing is, but that aint it.  felt like a trap to me.
El Pinto restaurant was very nice.
In ABQ we also did the Natioanl Museum of Nuclear Science.... not bad.
overnight at a Cracker Barrel.
and another overnight at American RV resort just West of town.  Some guy there that was a long termer working in the area told me there is a huge problem of folks at rest areas and hiking trail heads getting their cars stripped or stolen, so be careful where you leave your car in the ABQ area.

If you do Petrified Forest, it was a very nice drive through...but don't buy samples at the gift shop, wait till Holbrook.  Places there you could buy in bulk...I'm guessing you could get a 5 gallon bucket full for what we paid for a few stones.

We stopped at the corner in Winslow, but it was late and most everything was closed so we moved on.

Overnighted at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino a little East of Flagstaff.

Thanks to Sailerbird, we boondocked in the Kiabab NF, one night near Tusayan, then another night in an area we found with Allstays.  Probably the best two sites I have ever RV camped at

On the return trip, we looped up to page, ended up staying two nights at Wahweep CG.  Another place we stumbled on that my DW wants to return to.  day hiked a slot canyon...not the crowded touristy one, saw horsehoe bend, etc...  nice area.

then looped around to monument valley, 4-corners (glad we did it these but long way out of the way)

then up to Mesa Verde very nice place to tour, RV park not so great but a place to park

Durango co was very nice but not RV friendly.  We couldn't find a place to stay, so after dinner I drove out of there with a bad taste in my mouth, too tired to drive but we moved on to a walmart in Farminton.

Aztec Ruins National Monument well worth a stop IMO

Sante fe - nice
then we high tailed it to OK City....

Thanks...love reading everyones adventures!

Durango co was very nice but not RV friendly.  We couldn't find a place to stay,

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A few miles north of Durango are a few campgrounds, including the Alpen Rose RV Park. On US 160 there's also a KOA east of town.

Larry N. said:

A few miles north of Durango are a few campgrounds, including the Alpen Rose RV Park. On US 160 there's also a KOA east of town.

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we were hoping just to overnight at WM or something but there was a new city ordnance we were told by a couple places.  Then we called a couple places that were booked (everything we could find on Allstays and using google), don't know if they are the one you mean or not.... but we were out of luck.  really liked the little town, dinner and shopping, and a great RR museum there.  Would loved to have taken a train ride there too...but not allowing overnights at WM just gives me a bad taste....I don't regret the experience there but I do regret supporting the businesses with my money if they don't want passing through RV's there.  Oh well, had some fun and it worked out for the best I suppose....

The restaurant at Sandia Peak has terrific bison burgers. Also, lots of humming birds outside the window to watch while you eat.

Just east of Albuquerque is a small town called Madrid. Its a former mining town that was abandoned and then taken over by a bunch of artists. Not sure how touristy its become, but years ago they had a museum at the mine where you could actually go down into one of the mine shafts. And seeing the abandoned houses, you could get a good feel for how they lived there. Someone also refurbished the baseball park and theyd have jazz concerts on Sundays.

Anyway, I just looked at the town website and it looks like there are a lot more things to do and see there. Even some restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

On I-40, by all means, hit Winslow, Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, Meteor Crater, but also, don't bypass Walnut Canyon.  Indian ruins built in a canyon.  Nice views from the visitors center as well as a nice walk though the ruins.

Just east of Tucson on I-10, in the town of Benson, we stayed at the Butterfield RV resort.  While it is a very nice and well-kept park, the really cool thing is the observatory they have on site.  It features a college grade telescope, and every night  that its clear, there is a presentation by a local amateur astronomer.  They limit the number of attendees so that everyone gets ample time to look through the telescope.  And its free for Butterfield guests.  Additionally, you are about a 1/2 hr from Tombstone.  My DW and I had a great time in Tombstone, spent the afternoon.

cadee2c said:

Just east of Albuquerque is a small town called Madrid. Its a former mining town that was abandoned and then taken over by a bunch of artists. Not sure how touristy its become, but years ago they had a museum at the mine where you could actually go down into one of the mine shafts. And seeing the abandoned houses, you could get a good feel for how they lived there. Someone also refurbished the baseball park and theyd have jazz concerts on Sundays.

Anyway, I just looked at the town website and it looks like there are a lot more things to do and see there. Even some restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

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We were there this past September, it has changed from what you described.  I didn't see any empty houses, but there were lots of shops and  a few  restaurants.  It appears to be a full blown artists colony.  We had a great time, and wish we'd stayed longer.

jayc2640 said:

Just east of Tucson on I-10, in the town of Benson, we stayed at the Butterfield RV resort.  While it is a very nice and well-kept park, the really cool thing is the observatory they have on site.  It features a college grade telescope, and every night  that its clear, there is a presentation by a local amateur astronomer.  They limit the number of attendees so that everyone gets ample time to look through the telescope.  And its free for Butterfield guests.  Additionally, you are about a 1/2 hr from Tombstone.  My DW and I had a great time in Tombstone, spent the afternoon.

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For amateur radio operators, they also have a nice base station there, which might be available for use. And that is a neat observatory, too.

blw2 said:

Durango co was very nice but not RV friendly.  We couldn't find a place to stay, so after dinner I drove out of there with a bad taste in my mouth, too tired to drive but we moved on to a walmart in Farminton.

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There's camping at the Fairgrounds, and a very nice USFS campground in the National Forest west of the fairgrounds.

I stayed at Junction Creek Campground, to get there head west 5.5 miles out of town on W. 25th St. across from the fairground entrance on US 550.  It becomes Junction Creek Rd. and then becomes a graded dirt road at the Forest entrance, the campground is a mile and a half further up.

Nice and peaceful, well separated sites in the forest.  One loop has electric hookups, the rest are boondocking.

The KOAs in Tucumcari, NM and Grants, NM both have nice pull through sites so you do not need to unhook.  Grants has really great WI-Fi and great pie!  Tucumcari has an on site restaurant.  The Grand Canyon has a RV park in the park.  I have never stayed there.  The KOA in Flagstaff is OK, but it had poor Wi-Fi when we stayed there a few years ago.  USA RV park in Gallup is OK if you do not need Wi-Fi.  When we were there a couple of years ago it did not work at all, but they did sell some great BBQ.  I am not certain the are still open.  The Williams KOA has some nice long pull through sites so if you get one of those you will not have to unhook.  The sites at all of the park are reasonably level, except, perhaps Flagstaff. 

That is it for the parks we have stayed at along what I assume is your route of travel. Have a great trip.

To be clear, do we need to stay in holbrook to see the painted desert, petrified, or do we just drive through it with our camper attached?  Also, do we need more than a one night stop in winslow as well?  Thx.

Regarding Winslow, we stayed at Meteor campground.  It is about 10 minutes from the meteor crater, and about 20-30 minutes from Winslow.  The hour spent in Winslow was more than enough time to see "the corner", and to shop for souvenirs.  That left us with enough time to tour the meteor crater and still leave the next morning.

Peggyy said:

To be clear, do we need to stay in holbrook to see the painted desert, petrified, or do we just drive through it with our camper attached?  Also, do we need more than a one night stop in winslow as well?  Thx.

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When I stayed at the Petrified Forest National Park I stayed in a free Indian Teepee located right at the south entrance to the park at a gift shop. I have no clue if they are still there but I cannot find them online or on Google Earth. There is no camping of RVs inside the park itself. One hour in Winslow is all you will need.