Where to stop between Tucson and Austin?

Any suggestions of a nice place to stay for one night while driving between Tucson and Austin? I like small independent hotels, cute little towns, quirky lodging (like the Tee-pees), beautiful landscape, great local food and nice people. Only one of the above would be fine.

Thanks!!

Where to stop between Tucson and Austin?

If you don%26#39;t mind a bit of a longer drive leave I10 at Van Horn, Texas and take Hwy 90 to San Antonio. You will go through Marfa and Marathon.

Hotel Paisano is in Marfa. Where the movie Giant was filmed.

The Gage Hotel is in Marathon. On the edge of Big Bend National Park

Both are classic Inns from a time gone by.

http://www.hotelpaisano.com/pages/hp001.html

http://www.gagehotel.com/

Where to stop between Tucson and Austin?

Sounds like you would enjoy Ft. Davis, Tx which is less than an hour south off I10 roughly halfway along your route. It%26#39;s a pretty and interesting area of Texas. www.fortdavis.com/ The McDonald Observatory is nearby. If you get the day right, in the evening you could go to a Star Party there which is interesting and fun. mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors/directions/

In Ft. Davis, I can recommend www.hotellimpia.com/ and nearby is 鈥tate.tx.us/spdest/鈥?/a> They are good and interesting places to stay. The dining room at the Limpia is quite good. The original Ft. Davis site is well worth a visit if you go. http://www.nps.gov/foda/

Hi Gehrig,

Thank you for all the terrific suggestions!! Those are just the kind of places that we like!

I have decided to add the Carlsbad Caverns to our trip, between Brisbee and Marfa. I think that, for lack of a better place to stay, we will stay in Carlsbad at the Holiday Inn for one night and go to the caverns in the morning. Then, we will drive to Marfa and stay at Hotel Paisano for two nights. We will go to the museum there and explore Marfa. Then we are planning to go to Driftwood and stay in a little cabin there for two nights, eat bar-b-q and go vintage shopping in Austin before we head to Louisiana.

Thank you for telling me about the Gage Hotel. It looks really nice, too. We looked at there website and thought about staying at the Paisano for one night and the Gage for one night but I am really excited to stay at the Pasiano and it will be nice to stay two nights in a row at one place.

I really like the idea of driving along the 90. I would not have thought of that! Is it a prettier drive? Is there a great place to stop for lunch on the way Driftwood/Austin?

Thank you so much for your help!

Texhills,

Thank you so much for your great suggestions!! We have decided to go to the Carlsbad Caverns. I saw the first picture if the cave on their website and know that I had to go! That will add an extra night to our trip. Fort Davis looks amazing and so does Hotel Limpia and I really like the Indian Lodge. I wish that we had time to do everything! I had no idea that all these great places were out there. Thank you so much for all your help!!

I don%26#39;t want to confuse you, but if you are visiting Carlsbad Caverns please don%26#39;t miss White Sands NM between Las Cruces and Alamogordo. Carlsbad and White Sands are not to be missed places visiting southern NM.

And going Marfa, it%26#39;s not a too long drive to Big Bend NP along one of the most scenic stretches in Texas, tx170 between Presidio and Lajitas along Rio Grande. but a visit to Big Bend takes at least 2 nights, 1 full day of exploring. Us90 definitely is more scenic than I10. If you decide to drive us90 please stop at the Judge Roy Bean visitor center in Langtry and at the confluence of Rio Grand and Pecos River. I heartly second the suggestions by my fellowposters for Paisano, Indian Lodge and Gage Hotel (I don%26#39;t know the other ones mentioned). South of CC stop by Guadalupe Mountains NP. The picture in my profile is taken of El Capitan.

Tet

Thank you, Tet. I looked at the White Sands website and it looks amazing but I don%26#39;t think that we can add anymore to our trip in this part. I added the caverns which added an extra night. I don%26#39;t think that we can fit any more in. It sounds like we will need to come back again!

in b/w San Antonio and Austin is Gruene, TX

one of my favorite places...

one of the oldest dance halls in TX, general store,

wine tasting room, Grist Mill restaurant is terraced

overlooking the Guadalupe river.

..

just off I 35...can spend an hour or several

www.gruenetexas.com

www.gruenehall.com

www.gruenemansionoinn.com

www.gruenegeneralstore.com/

----------

Rudy%26#39;s BBQ..various locations San Antonio/Austin

turkey breast, creamed corn...

....

sparlklegem,

Gruene is a good place to stop and relax for lunch!! You will find it just 5 minutes off IH 35 between San Antonio and Austin just north of New Braunfels.

Grist Mill is a good choice with scenic outdoor dining and drop into the Gruene General Store for all things Texan! Have a Shiner Bock longneck at Gruene Hall as well.

Of course, if you are in Driftwood how could you not eat at the Salt Lick.

http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

Driving into Austin you might enjoy entering via South Congress Avenue and having lunch at Threadgill%26#39;s. It%26#39;s an Austin institution. There are many great places for lunch in the SoCo area.

http://www.threadgills.com/

urbanspoon.com/n/11/1015/Austin/South-Congre鈥?/a>