Our road trip through the American Southwest for summer 2026

Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.

So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.

Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026: Car rental – check, Hotels – check, Itinerary – almost check, Photo gear – check, Budget – check, 🤪 Meal planning – meh, we’ll see... Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.

And now, without too much detail...

Fort Worth: The Longhorns and the Stockyards; JR’s ranch (for the missus); Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.

Houston and NASA Space Center: See the Gulf of Mexico/America.

San Antonio and the missions.

Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.

El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains: El Paso and White Sands.

Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum: Tombstone, Bisbee.

Phoenix:

Still working on the program.

Sedona: Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.

Albuquerque: Santa Fe, Turquoise Trail, Los Alamos.

Amarillo via Route 66: Old Route 66 in the city; Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.

Dallas: JFK Museum; Perot Museum; West End district.

And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!

We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).

Return to France: Dallas-Montpellier via CDG.

Cheers!

Hey there, yeah, it's hot—really, *really* hot during this time of year.

JR’s ranch is paid entry, and you can’t see anything from the outside.

Think honky-tonk and rodeo at the Stockyards—Billy Bob’s, for example.

The best BBQ is undeniably Salt Lick near Austin.

San Antonio’s River Walk is gorgeous at night, but it’s packed, and all the restaurants are tourist traps...

Driving to the Gulf of Mexico from Houston is doable in a day, but it’s a long haul. Galveston isn’t the most stunning spot, though you can find some beautiful colorful houses near the State Park. Corpus Christi is better—cool U.S. ship, amazing seafood restaurants.

For me, Sedona is best enjoyed on a hike. The few viewpoints are always crowded...

Turquoise Trail is pretty limited—only one town was worth the stop.

The Alamo is a must for history.

Good luck with the heat and mosquitoes!

I'm adding a link to some quick photos I took: https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE4MTAxMjg0MjM0NzY5OTYw?story_media_id=3681295898834619216_23088398635&igsh=MWluZHlzeGtjZnMwaA==

Hi there, yeah, it's hot—really, really hot this time of year.

JR’s ranch is paid entry, and you can’t see anything from the entrance.

Think Honkytonk and rodeo at the Stockyards—Billy Bob’s, for example.

The best BBQ is undeniably Salt Lick near Austin.

San Antonio’s River Walk is gorgeous at night but way too crowded. All the restaurants are tourist traps...

Seeing the Gulf of Mexico from Houston is doable in a day, though it’s a long drive. Galveston isn’t the prettiest spot, but you can find some stunning colorful houses near the State Park. Corpus Christi is better—cool American ship and amazing seafood restaurants.

For me, Sedona is best enjoyed on a hike. The few viewpoints are packed...

Turquoise Trail is of limited interest—only one town was worth it.

The Alamo is great for history.

Good luck with the heat and mosquitoes.

Hi, thanks for your reply! Mine’s a bit late because of a short trip to Haute Provence for the long Ascension weekend.

1. Got it on the heat. Unfortunately, these are the only dates available. I wanted to go back to Yellowstone, but... the family government vetoed it outright.

2. Paid entry planned for JR’s ranch. It’s not really my thing, but once again, the family government has demands...

3. Stockyards—planned for a day, maybe more. Everything’s mapped out.

4. No Austin visit for BBQ, but I’ll keep the spot in mind.

5. Okay on San Antonio and the tourists.

6. Okay on the Gulf of Mexico. We’ll just get a glimpse from the beach near Galveston. Corpus Christi isn’t on the agenda.

7. Sedona—got it, but we’re not hiking anymore. Only upside: I’m an early riser for the light and photos. Tourists are elsewhere—except for other photographers, not just "iPhone users or the like..."

8. Okay on the Turquoise Trail with limited interest.

9. The Alamo for history. Of course—it’s American history that fascinates me, even if it’s not always pretty.

10. For the heat, museums will be our daytime escape. We’ll adapt. I won’t mention the mosquitoes to the family government—they have a knack for targeting the Prime Minister! 😎

Best regards.

If you’ve already done NASA at Cape Canaveral, Houston is really disappointing.

Try to be in Santa Fe between August 14 and 16 for the Santa Fe Indian Market and the shows. Amazing! Visiting a pueblo?

If you’ve already done NASA at Cape Canaveral, Houston is really disappointing.

Try to be in Santa Fe between August 14 and 16 for the Santa Fe Indian Market and the shows. Amazing! Visit a pueblo?

No, not NASA. I cut Houston down to just one day to do NASA and nothing more. My friends warned me there wasn’t much to do in Houston.

For Santa Fe, I’ll see if we can make it since we arrive on 8/17.

Best,

I misspoke. What I meant was that the NASA visit in Houston is pretty disappointing, especially compared to the one at Cape Canaveral

Hi there, Having been to Houston five times (my daughter used to live there), I can tell you there’s quite a bit to do: NASA: I think the entry fee is a bit steep, and the indoor section is mostly geared toward kids, so it’s a little less engaging for adults. Still, I really enjoyed seeing the recently revamped Starship Gallery—it turned out great. The interesting part is outside, with the "Independence" shuttle on its transport aircraft. But the best thing is to take a "tour" (book in advance or as soon as you arrive) to see the impressive Saturn V rocket and visit the control room, which has been left just as it was. Since I haven’t been to Cape Canaveral yet, I actually quite liked this visit.

Walking around Houston in the summer is pretty tough because of the humidity combined with the heat, but here are some interesting things to do: - Buffalo Bayou - Hermann Park - The Menil Museum - The area around Market Square Park with lots of murals If you need more details, don’t hesitate to ask.

For the Gulf of Mexico: because of the frequent hurricanes, the coast isn’t very pretty. In my opinion, Galveston is the best spot. The seaside is nice with its two or three "piers," and since the water is very warm, it’s easy to go for a swim (East Beach is a better bet). The old quarter is also interesting, with buildings that tell a bit of the city’s history. You can see pelicans at Seawolf Park (there’s a fee, but it’s a nice spot for a picnic).

For San Antonio: you can visit the missions by renting bikes at Mission San José and cycling along the river or doing part of it on foot.

1) The interesting part is outside with the "Independence" shuttle on its transport aircraft.

2) But the best is to take a "tour" (book in advance or as soon as you arrive) to see the Saturn V rocket, which is pretty impressive, and check out the control room left just as it was. Since I haven’t been to Cape Canaveral yet, I really enjoyed this visit.

1) Glad you liked the shuttle on its aircraft—I was one of the donors!

2) I took this semi-private tour called the "Level 9 Tour" back then, and it was definitely worth it (though the cost too...). But I don’t think it still exists anymore.

I looked into it, and tours still exist, but things have changed. Access to Saturn V and other rockets, the astronaut training room, and the campus tour are now included in the admission price. You just have to queue up for the Tram... Only the historic control room is extra and requires booking an additional ticket (reserve at least 2 weeks in advance).

Another interesting thing to do in Houston: the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple. The temple is stunning, and attending a Hindu ceremony is a unique experience if you haven’t already been to India.

Hello!! Everything’s all set now! Visit and Tram + Center !

Hello Michel,

A few random tips:

Fort Worth: The Kimbell and Modern Art museums are great (personally, I love museums, though I know not everyone’s into art…)

Houston: The Rothko Chapel is a masterpiece—and free, too!

For the Gulf of Mexico, if you’ve got time (it’s a trek), head down to Port Isabel and South Padre Island—it’s like Florida in the 70s. And at the mouth of the Rio Grande, you’ve got Musk’s SpaceX base: it’s absolutely mind-blowing! I’ve never been to Cape Canaveral, but I think it feels more like a relic of the past, whereas this is pure 21st century. One of my biggest trip highlights in recent years!

San Antonio’s Mission is worth the detour—rare to find truly historic buildings in the US. As Arnaud mentioned, the Riverwalk restaurants are super touristy, but great for a stroll.

Tucson: If you’re into aviation, Pinal Airpark is one of the largest airplane boneyards in the US (or graveyards, depending on how you see it). It’s probably filling up even more now with the end of Spirit Airlines. It’s right off I-10.

Bisbee: Super cute—if you can, check out the US/Mexico border. There are spots where you can see both the old and new walls side by side.

Phoenix: Apache Trail is nice, and in the city, Scottsdale is the "old" neighborhood. Downtown isn’t that interesting, but the Desert Botanical Garden is pretty cool.

Albuquerque: The old town is really touristy, but my favorite was the Sandia Peak Tramway—a cable car that goes up to an old ski resort (which seems closed now—climate change means no more snow). The view over the city is amazing, and there are trails at the top.

Santa Fe: The center is touristy, but it’s got soul. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (the famous NM painter) is solid, and SITE Santa Fe is a great contemporary art space (and free!). On the Turquoise Trail, towns like Madrid and Los Cerrillos are worth seeing. For a taste of the railroad’s westward expansion, Lamy’s train station is a must—it’s one of those abandoned, Wild West legend spots.

Los Alamos: Not much to see, and you’ll need ID to pass through town because of the research labs. Meh—skip it.

In the area, two places I loved: Ghost Ranch and Jemez Hot Springs.

Dallas: Of course, Dealey Plaza, and downtown isn’t bad.

That’s all—have fun!

I wasn’t familiar with Pinal Airpark. But now it reminds me that Tucson also has the AMARG, which I loved. If it’s still the case, it’s visited in groups by bus. Our guide was a former fighter pilot who shared tons of stories—fascinating!

One of my dreams was to see a giant airplane boneyard, and I stumbled upon it by chance. Of course, we can’t go inside, but even from behind the fences, it’s mind-blowing!

I was really tempted by Pima, but oh well… I hadn’t heard of Amarg before—it looks amazing! Maybe next time! Thanks for the tip!

Tucson: if you're into aviation, Pinal Airpark is one of the largest airplane parking lots (or boneyards, take your pick) in the US... and it’s probably filling up even more right now with the end of Spirit Airlines. It’s right next to I-10.

Unfortunately, it’s no longer open for visits due to security reasons.

Tucson: If you're into aviation, Pinal Airpark is one of the largest airplane parking lots (or graveyards, if you prefer) in the US... and it’s probably filling up even more right now with the end of Spirit Airlines. It’s right next to I-10.

It’s no longer open for visits due to security reasons. Too bad.

GPS for the win with photos! I just looked through my pictures from this trip and realized I actually saw this site from I-10 and took the detour. Even though you can’t visit, the view from the outside is striking! Seeing all those birds that were once the pride of our technology just stored here, waiting to be dismantled... GPS coordinates: 32.516455 N, 111.324827 W

It was on our route, but just for the 10 minutes of emotion gazing at this "spectacle," the detour was totally worth it. If you love planes, of course!

A picture’s worth a thousand words:

After checking your info, I realize I messed up the sites.

Pinal Airpark is a civilian spot that seems to be open for visits, and it's actually near Phoenix:

https://www.pinalcountyairpark.com/history

And the off-limits storage center is Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson:

https://pimaair.org/

There you go—one military, one civilian.

Cheers.

Pinal Airpark is a civilian site that seems to be open for visits, and it's near Phoenix: https://www.pinalcountyairpark.com/history

Near Phoenix? Yet, looking at their address and the FAQ, it seems to be the same place I saw...

Pinal Airpark is a civilian site that seems to be open for visits, and it's more around Phoenix: https://www.pinalcountyairpark.com/history

Around Phoenix? Yet, looking at their address and the FAQ, it seems to be the same place I saw...

Indeed, it's a bit north of Tucson. My bad for the misjudgment.

Just a little story from this park: sure enough, it’s fenced off and you can’t go in, but across the way there’s a lot with a half-dismantled plane and the gate’s wide open. So we slip in for a closer look—awesome. Then a pack of guys on ATVs and beat-up desert-trial trucks rolls up, all jacked and shaved heads. One of them comes over: “This area’s off-limits.” We say, “Okay, we’re just French tourists, we’re leaving.” The guy looks at us and switches to French: “Ah, I speak your language—I was in the French Foreign Legion in Marseille…” America and its surprises…

Stuck on the ground for now...

Just a little story from this park: sure enough, it’s fenced off and you can’t get in, but across the way, there’s a lot with a half-dismantled plane where the gate’s open—so we hop in to check it out up close... awesome. Then a group of guys on ATVs and beat-up cars shows up, like they’re prepping for some desert trial, all jacked and shaved heads. One of them comes over and goes, "This is off-limits," so we’re like, "Okay, we’re just French tourists, we’re leaving." Then the guy looks at us and says in French, "Ah, I speak your language—I was in the French Foreign Legion in Marseille..." America and its surprises...

Amazing!!!

Hey there, fellow America enthusiasts! 😎

I’m fine-tuning our summer itinerary day by day.

Switching up hotels here and there, adjusting the road route, fitting key stops into my tired brain. Rethinking city drives... In short, we’re integrating, integrating. Even though it’s just the two of us traveling with my wife, she’s going with the flow and trusts me completely—even with hotel choices. It’s convenient, but I’d love for her to take the wheel a bit and get the hang of the GPS. 😎 As for her map-reading skills, let’s just say we’ll leave that for another day. 😉 So, I plan the routes with Google Maps, transfer them to my phone, and print out a detailed road book. In tricky situations, my co-pilot steps in.

So yeah, we’re fine-tuning, fine-tuning.

Dropped Phoenix as a stop and will take the route from Tucson to Sedona via Roosevelt Lake. In Sedona, I’m thinking of heading up to the Grand Canyon for a day. Two hours by car—totally doable. Been there before, but why not? The drive is gorgeous.

Here’s what we’re looking at:

Fort Worth: The Longhorns and Stockyards, plus an evening out; JR’s ranch (for my wife); Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington;

Houston and NASA Space Center: Seeing the Gulf of Mexico/America; Babes’s Beach, Galveston.

San Antonio and the missions: Maybe renting some bikes.

Fort Stockton overnight: We’ll find something to do.

El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains: El Paso White Sands; A city tour and seeing the Rio Grande. Scenic Drive in the evening. Fun fact: hotel prices in Mexico are 50% cheaper!

Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum: Tombstone, Bisbee; Saguaro National Park.

Sedona: A round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, one day; The Grand Canyon (been there before) another day.

Albuquerque: Santa Fe; Turquoise Trail; Los Alamos.

Amarillo via Route 66: Old Route 66 in the city; Big Texas Ranch Steak ;

Dallas: JFK Museum; Perot Museum; West End district;

And for me, maybe some early mornings for photos of quiet cities or landscapes that are worth it.

Here are some Grand Canyon shots from 2022.

Have a great Sunday!

Hello,

Question about this point:

A city tour and see the Rio Grande. Scenic Drive in the evening. By the way, hotel prices in Mexico are 50% less !

Can you cross into Mexico with a rental car?

And a comment on this:

Santa Fe Turquoise Trail Los Alamos: Personally, Los Alamos didn’t interest me at all—nothing to see except the two houses (one of which was closed when I visited) of Oppenheimer and his colleague. I naively thought it was a town a bit abandoned after the bomb and the end of the Cold War, but not at all—it’s still a major research center. Meh.

Hello,

Question on this point:

A city tour and see the Rio Grande. Scenic Drive in the evening. By the way, hotel prices in Mexico are 50% less!

Can you cross into Mexico with a rental car?

And a note on this:

Santa Fe Turquoise Trail Los Alamos: Personally, Los Alamos didn’t interest me at all: nothing to see except the two houses (one of which was closed when I visited) of Oppenheimer and his colleague... I naively thought it was a bit of an abandoned town after the bomb and the end of the Cold War, but not at all—it’s still a major research center... meh.

Hello! No crossing into Mexico, it was just an "economic" remark.😎

Okay for Los Alamos, I’ll think about it.

As for the Apache Trail, it seems things are gradually getting back to normal. I’ll see when the time comes.

Best,

Hello Tutti !

Encore assez éloignée mais la date approche.

En résumé,

Esta Check Tickets AF Check Parking Longue durée Montpellier Check Location Auto via Hertz BSP Check Arrosage du citronnier en notre absence check Plus de chats check Vérification niveau d'eau piscine check Régime alimentaire préparatoire en cours Check List finale en cours Matos photos, Z8 + 24/70+70/200 + Panasonic compact + DJI Pocket 3 + Dashcam voiture check Road Book, en cours. Analyse météo en cours. (Feux de Forêts à suivre) A prévoir : Levé tôt pour les photos sur place (5/6heures locales)

31 Juillet Montpellier-CDG-Dallas Hôtel Fort Worth et Walmart

1er Aout Stockyards, les vaches, les boutiques, les restos... Soir, Old Town si pas fatigués.

2 Aout Musée Medal of Honor Ranch JR pour Madame Soir, Old Town si pas fatigués.

3 Aout Vers Houston On prend l'air au bord de l'eau

4 Aout Space center + golfe du Mexique ou d'Amérique selon les gouts.

5 Aout Vers San Antonio Photos soir Alamo

6 Aout Le tour des missions en vélo (enfin on verra)

7 Aout Vers Fort Stockton pour nuit étape Soirée en ville ou apéro hôtel au frais

8 aout Vers El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains Old city le soir, apéro light

9 Aout White Sand aux aurores et Musée Espace Alamogordo Scénic drive El Paso le soir après ou avant apéro.

10 Aout Vers Tucson Old city le soir, apéro light

11 Aout Prima Air Museum Old Tucson Studios Old city le soir, apéro light

12 Aout Tombstone Bisbee

13 Aout Sagaro National Park Old city le soir, apéro light

14 Aout Vers Sedona par Apache Trail ou Roosevelt Dam par l'Est Old city le soir, apéro light

15 Aout Road Trip Sedona, Flagstaff, Williams et retour Couché de soleil Airport

16 Aout Une virée sur Grand Canyon déjà vu mais on y retourne. Une boucle de balade

17 Aout Anniversaire de mon épouse surnommée le Prime Minister. Si j'oublie, je suis mort. Vers Albuquerque. Ce n'est pas à coté. Old city le soir, apéro light

18 Aout Santa Fe et retour par Los Alamos à voir.

19 Aout Albuquerque City. Musée des Snakes !!! Au pays des Crotales !

20 Aout Vers Amarillo Old city le soir, apéro light 6th Street et apéro

21 Aout Musées et Big Texas Ranch Steak !!! Old city le soir, apéro light si digestion terminée

22 Aout Vers Dallas Old city le soir, apéro light

23 Aout Musée JFK Et divers

24 aout Dallas Downtown en cours d'évaluation

25 Aout Retour France

26 Aout Arrivée Montpellier.

Et de toute façon, tout est modulable au jour le jour.

Il va faire chaud, c'est sûr. Sieste prévue de tout façon. Nous n'avons plus vingt ans ...

Tchuuss.

Dans tes "check", tu ne prévois pas le repérage des points GPS pour te faciliter la tâche sur place?

Dans tes "check", tu ne prévois pas le repérage des points GPS pour te faciliter la tâche sur place?

Non , pas de points GPS. Je balade simplement pas de randos. Je suis un vieil instructeur topo, donc je me sers de cartes plutôt. Mais je retiens ta remarque. Why not. Cdt.

Ca impressionne toujours une road map comme celle-ci à lire…il y des bornes et des bornes, mais c’est aussi pour ça que l’on fait se genre de truc…..et de vrai paysages de dingue…..

Ca impressionne toujours une road map comme celle-ci à lire...il y des bornes et des bornes, mais c’est aussi pour ça que l’on fait se genre de truc.....et de vrai paysages de dingue.....

Yes ! Je privilégie les routes secondaires pour les balades. Et surtout pour la 66 entre Albuquerque et Amarillo.

La Dashcam est prévue pour les routes sympas et les photos lors des arrêts impromptus ou programmés. Chaque jour (en ce moment), je prépare ma route sur Google Maps pour repérer les lieux à voir.

Tout est quasiment prêt. Sauf que je viens de vérifier mes billets AF et je rentre de Paris CDG vers Montpellier en TGV au lieu d'un vol ! J'ai du m....r à un moment où je ne n'ai pas été assez concentré. Je vais donc passer la journée au téléphone pour tenter d'y voir plus clair... 🤪

Une galère de plus...

À Albuquerque je recommande le Sandia Peak Tramway, c’est un téléphérique qui monte dans les montagnes, très belle vue et bonne fraîcheur si canicule en bas……

Un musée de vieilles voitures a l’air bien à Santa Rosa sur la 40 ….ou le Bill’s Backyard à Amarillo …mais pas vu, ma femme faisant maintenant un refus d’obstacle pour la 66……pouf pouf

Have fun !!!!!!

À Albuquerque je recommande le Sandia Peak Tramway, c’est un téléphérique qui monte dans les montagnes, très belle vue et bonne fraîcheur si canicule en bas......

Un musée de vieilles voitures a l’air bien à Santa Rosa sur la 40 ....ou le Bill’s Backyard à Amarillo ...mais pas vu, ma femme faisant maintenant un refus d’obstacle pour la 66......pouf pouf

Have fun !!!!!!

Je prends les infos.

Au passage, mon souci avec le retour CDG/MPT réglé ce matin avec AF. C'était une erreur de ma part. Mauvaise lecture des propositions de vols disponibles. Bref, une rallonge de 850 euros pour le changement TGV vers Vol direct. Je ne me voyais rentrer en TGV avec 4 valoches et un sac de voyage !! 😉