You must ride slow. I live in DFW and can be there in 7.5 hours.

 

I love about six hours from Big Bend and I make frequent trips on my harley around areas like that. It’s soenthing that was cool once but I wouldn’t make that my destination again. It was long and boring at 6 hours. I live just south east of San Antonio. The good thing about that area is there are some twisty roads, but there are no gas stations on those roads. Plan you trip accordingly and you can make it fun, but I think there is so much better things to see in Texas and not have to worry about gas or being bored.

 

Coming from Wisconsin you could ride a Big Bend route through Texas that includes the Hill Country as others suggest. Maybe stay over in Fredericksburg and head SW from there. Much has been written on this site about Hill Country and Big Bend recommendations. I’d recommend making it in early June as I recall one of my rides there was around Father's Day and it was pretty toasty.

 

Sped less time in Texas and more time in New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns, Cloudcroft, , Gila Natl Forest, Taos, Chama. And southern Colorado.

 

We rode from the north of Amarillo to Fort Davis the first day. Second day we did make it into the park. Long boring ride the first day except for maybe the last 50 miles. I just would ride from Wisconsin to Big Bend. I would go elsewhere.

 

Avoid going through the cities in TX. Traffic is bad almost all of time and aggressive drivers at least in the DFW area. There are plenty of nice roads to get around the cities.

As the previous poster suggests, north central NM up into CO is gorgeous with great roads! Las Vegas, to Taos, to Pagosa Springs, CO is really nice. Take the loop around Wheeler Peak near Taos.

Enjoy the trip!

 

Thanks for all the info. Definitely doing a loop down then probably back up thru NM and CO

 

If you get close to DFW, give a shout.

 

I have been to Big Bend nearly every part of the year.

Pros: So darn hot in June that you may not run across anyone else out there
Cons: Too dang hot to ride and explore during the day in June.

From May through September it is super hot. As in well over 100 degrees with a hot wind.

If you really want to enjoy Big Bend, which I really do want you to do because it is my favorite place in TX, I would suggest April (not March due to Spring Break) or October/November/December (but avoid holidays because the park and lodging will be sold out).

 

I agree with this. Im 150 miles from Kerrville and 300 miles from Terlingua. I'll take Terlingua/Big Bend every time.. Its a preference thing.

I love staying in the Easter Egg Valley and cooking steaks pulled out of the tour pak on a charcoal grille while staring at the darkest sky you can find in the northern hemisphere. Stars there are truly awesome..