National Parks of New Mexico and Texas: The Perfect 8-Day Road Trip
Planning a road trip to the national parks of New Mexico and Texas? This 8-day itinerary covers all four parks in one efficient loop. Visit White Sands National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Big Bend National Park, which are all accessible from El Paso without a 4WD vehicle and without setting up a single tent.
We did this trip during spring break, and it remains one of our favorites. From walking on snow-white gypsum dunes to descending hundreds of feet underground into one of the world’s great cave systems, to crossing the border into Mexico for a margarita, this itinerary packs in an enormous variety of experiences in 8 days.
Here’s exactly how we did it and how you can too. And the best thing? No camping! (Unless you love that, then by all means – please camp!)
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Best Time to Visit the National Parks of New Mexico and Texas
The best time to visit the National Parks of New Mexico and Texas is sometime in the spring. Try to plan for late March or April. If you choose to go at this time, most of the desert flowers in Texas will be in bloom, including prickly pear and ocotillo. It was beautiful!
If you plan this trip in the summer, it may be too hot and miserable to hike, so keep that in mind.
Your National Parks of New Mexico and Texas itinerary visits multiple parks during one trip, so an interagency pass is the best bang for your buck. The pass expires after one year, but it usually pays for itself if you visit enough parks in one year.
Visit our Gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of some parks.
Itinerary at a Glance
| Day 1 – White Sands National Park Starting in El Paso, TX | Travel Day Rest in Carlsbad, NM |
| Day 2 – Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Rest in Carlsbad, NM |
| Day 3 – Guadalupe Mountains National Park | Rest in Carlsbad, NM |
| Day 4 – Guadalupe Mountains National Park | Rest in Terlingua, TX |
| Day 5 – Big Bend National Park | Rest in Terlingua, TX |
| Day 6 – Big Bend National Park | Rest in Terlingua, TX |
| Day 7 – Big Bend National Park Ending in El Paso, TX | Rest in El Paso, TX |
| Day 8 | Travel Day |
| Closest Airports | El Paso International Airport Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport |
The map above includes a numbered itinerary in order of places visited, along with the hikes and activities that we recommend for each location, which are color-coded for each national park or destination. Sometimes it helps to see a visual overview of where you’re headed!
How Much Does A National Park Road Trip Like This Cost?
I don’t know about you, but I love to know how much things cost, or at least a ballpark. This cost breakdown is based on our trip here in 2023, so costs have likely increased. Let’s be real, what hasn’t increased? This section includes most of the major costs except for food and gas.
| Category | Budget Range (2 people) | Notes |
| Flights | $1,000 | Varies widely by departure city; book early |
| Rental Car | $600 | Book pay-later so you can reprice; see our rental car guide |
| Hotels/Accommodations | $1,350 | Each of our accommodations was between $95-$260 a night. 7 nights total. |
| America The Beautiful Pass | $80.00 | Covers all parks. Get it before you go right here! |
| Activities & Tours | $50 | Hikes are free. Bring some cash for the trip to Mexico. |
| Estimated Total | $3,080 | That’s only $385 per day for 2, not including food! |
All prices are estimates and may vary by season and availability. It might cost you more during peak season, so keep that in mind.
Planning Your Road Trip
The main gateway for this road trip is El Paso International Airport. It’s where you’ll fly in on Day 1 and fly home from on Day 8, making it a clean loop with no backtracking on flights. El Paso is well-served by most major carriers, so finding a reasonable fare is usually not a problem.
If you can’t find a good deal in El Paso, Midland International Airport in Midland, TX, is another option worth checking, especially if you want to start the trip at Big Bend and work your way northwest.
We’ve also seen Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport listed as a nearby option, but honestly, the drive from Lubbock adds unnecessary time to an already heavy driving itinerary, so we would skip it.
Note that this itinerary does not require a 4X4 or all-wheel drive vehicle. Feel free to get one if you want to get off the beaten path, as there are some trailheads located off of 4X4-only roads.
Cell service is limited throughout this trip, especially in Big Bend. Download any maps you plan to use before you leave Terlingua each morning.
Gas up before you head from Guadalupe to Big Bend, because once you see the “No Gasoline for X number of miles” signs, you might get a little anxious. 😲
Note that the time change in Big Bend National Park is 1 hour ahead of the Guadalupe Mountains area.
Additionally, if you have extra time in your travel itinerary, add a travel day before planning to visit a park. You’ll have some cushion if your flight is delayed or canceled!
Rental Car
- Expert tip: We usually book our rental car super early as a pay later option. If you do this, you can continuously check the prices before your trip. If the price is lower than when you booked, cancel for free and rebook for the lower price! Most major rental car companies have free cancellation on pay later bookings, but always check the fine print.
- Make sure to take a video of the outside AND inside of the car before you leave the rental car lot. This will save you from any damage claims made by the rental car company after your return. We know from a very bad experience on this! Check out our post for more information on rental cars.
🚙 Reserve your car now at Booking.com or Expedia.com, but always check the fine print! 🚗
Day 1 – Travel Day & White Sands National Park
First off, Day 1 is a travel day to get you in the vicinity of the National Parks of New Mexico and Texas that you’ll visit on this trip. Start off by booking your flight to El Paso International Airport in El Paso, TX. Second, pick the most awesome rental car you can get. Or maybe you just want the cheapest? That’s fine too!
➡️For detailed information, check out our full post on White Sands.
Hopefully, you got into El Paso early, and you’re ready to drive because your first stop is 1.5 hours north at White Sands National Park! Check out our post on White Sands National Park for full details.
After you’re finished exploring the snow-white sand dunes, take a 3-hour drive to Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Day 2 – Carlsbad Caverns National Park
First things first – eat a big breakfast. Today will be full of cave tours. Gas up your rental car and head 40 minutes south to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Please note that you should have already reserved your tickets for the tours of your choosing. We chose to get tickets for the Kings Palace Tour as well as the self-guided tour.
If there is one thing you do here, make sure you hike down into the natural entrance. It is breathtaking, huge, awe-inspiring, and pictures don’t do it justice. Finally, when you are out of steam, drive back 40 minutes to Carlsbad, NM, get a bite to eat, and relax.
🦇More info on our trip to Carlsbad Caverns is here. Go ahead, read on!
Day 3 – Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Good morning and welcome to Day 3 at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Again, hit the road early and drive about 1 hour to reach the park. Here you will have the option to hike many trails, from easy to strenuous.
Due to the windy season in the park, winds were at 50 miles per hour and gusting to 100 miles per hour in the higher elevations. We had to significantly alter our hiking plans, and that is okay!
Needless to say, this day didn’t work out for us too well, so we headed back to Carlsbad Caverns. That being said, the hike that we planned on doing was The Bowl Loop. Our other option was the Guadalupe Peak Trail.
➡️Go here for more information on Guadalupe Mountains.
Head back about 1 hour and spend your last night in Carlsbad, NM. Stock up on some groceries and gas because tomorrow will include some hiking and a long, scenic drive.
Day 4 – Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Up and at ’em! Get ready for another hike at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, along with a nice and easy 4-hour drive. Yep, you read that right!
Head to the McKittrick Canyon Visitor Center and start The Notch Trail Hike here. Check out our guide to visiting this park for more details.
Once you are chased off the trail by mountain lions (just kidding!), drive south to Terlingua. When planning your stay in Terlingua, book your accommodations early because there are limited places to stay.
Terlingua is a very small town with only one gas station that sometimes even runs out of gas! There is a store in Alpine that we recommend stopping at before heading south to Terlingua. Terlingua was our favorite place to stay during our trip to the National Parks of New Mexico and Texas. We highly recommend staying there!
Days 5 & 6 – Big Bend National Park
Get ready for it! In our opinion, the crown jewel of Texas is Big Bend National Park. This was our favorite of the National Parks of New Mexico and Texas. Are you ready to spend the next 2 days hiking and exploring?
This park is huge, and we mean HUGE. You could spend all of your time driving around, but who really wants to do that? Check out our post below for full details on what exactly to see and do.
Spend the next 3 nights in Terlingua. Staying here and closer to Big Bend definitely beats that 2-hour drive one way back to Alpine.
🌵Check out our post on How to Hike and Explore Beautiful Big Bend National Park for the best bang for your buck hikes and even a quick trip to Mexico for a delicious, authentic margarita.
Day 7 – Big Bend National Park & Travel Day
The last day of vacation always gives us mixed feelings. We are always happy to be headed home, but on the other hand, there are always so many other places to see and visit.
Spend your last day at Big Bend National Park with one last spectacular hike at The Windows. This hike was perfect for a half day at the park, and we are definitely glad we fit it in. Check out the link above for details on this hike.
🚗If you’re looking for a fun driving activity, check out this audio tour of Big Bend National Park.
Now, I won’t lie, the 4-5 hour drive from Big Bend National Park back to El Paso is not the most fun, but necessary to get back home. A fun place that you can stop about halfway through this drive is Prada Marfa. Get those selfie sticks ready!
During our trip to the National Parks of New Mexico and Texas, we chose to stay super close to the airport before we flew out, so we were able to drop off our rental car a day early and walk to the airport the following morning on our way back home. What a great time saver.
Where To Stay
Carlsbad, NM — 3 nights (Days 1-3): We recommend staying here in between White Sands and Carlsbad/Guadalupe. This is a good home base location for Carlsbad and Guadalupe. Check out some options on Expedia.com here.
Terlingua, TX — 3 nights (Days 4-6) — There are limited places to stay near Big Bend National Park. If you aren’t camping, we recommend Terlingua. Be sure to book your stay early. We also recommend checking out the places on VRBO!
El Paso, TX — 1 night (Day 7) — stay right near the airport for easy departure the following morning. We could walk to the airport from the Best Western El Paso Airport Entrada Hotel. It was a great feeling to return that rental car early.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many national parks are in New Mexico and Texas?
There are six national parks between the two states, but this itinerary focuses on the four major parks that make the most geographic sense as a road trip loop: White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains in New Mexico and Texas, plus Big Bend in southwest Texas. We think it’s the perfect combination for one trip.
How many days do you need for the New Mexico and Texas national parks?
Eight days is the sweet spot and is enough time to give Big Bend the three days it deserves while still covering the other three parks without feeling rushed. If you only have 5-6 days, we’d suggest prioritizing White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Big Bend and saving Guadalupe Mountains for a return trip.
Do you need a 4WD vehicle for this road trip?
No, we did the entire trip in a standard rental car. That said, some trailheads inside Big Bend are only accessible via 4WD roads, so if you want to get fully off the beaten path, it’s worth considering. For the hikes and stops in this itinerary, any vehicle will do.
What is the best base for visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park?
Carlsbad, NM, is the most convenient home base. It puts you 45 minutes from Guadalupe Mountains and 40 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns, letting you cover both parks without moving accommodations. Just be aware that Carlsbad is a small city with limited dining options, so stock up on groceries if you’re watching your budget.
Is Terlingua worth staying in for Big Bend?
Absolutely! It was our favorite place to stay on the entire trip. Terlingua is a quirky, laid-back ghost town right on the edge of Big Bend with great food, cold beer, and unforgettable sunsets. Book early, though, because options are very limited and they fill up fast in spring. Seriously, don’t miss Terlingua.
Is an 8-Day National Parks of New Mexico and Texas Road Trip Worth It?
Yes, it is! We hope that you find this national park itinerary helpful as you plan to visit these 4 National Parks of New Mexico and Texas. This trip was a great mix of scenic drives, hikes, and great food with fun accommodations.
Some of our favorite hikes were at Big Bend National Park, and we loved the wildflowers in bloom here as well. Additionally, going to Mexico for the day was a very memorable experience! The locals are so nice and friendly.
Your trip to the 4 National Parks of New Mexico and Texas will look different, but using this epic national park itinerary will give you a solid foundation to plan your own trip and explore even further.
If you are looking for more national park itineraries, be sure to check out our other awesome adventures!
Wait a second! Before you go, check out Booking.com or Expedia.com to compare hotel prices and reviews today! 🛏️
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