Roadtrip with RVshare Houston to Grand Junction

The journey from Houston to Grand Junction is a long one and will probably take you at least two days of driving, even though your route is only through three states. Along the way, you will see most of the state of Texas, all the way from the southern coastal areas through the panhandle of North Texas. You will see a small portion of the state of New Mexico and continue on through much of the state of Colorado. As you travel on this Houston to Grand Junction road trip, you will have a wonderful opportunity to see an amazingly diverse landscape of grasslands, deserts, and mountains. 

Nearby National Parks

Rocky Mountain National Park

For an epic end to your road trip from Houston to Grand Junction, adding a stop at this majestic national park is the obvious answer. Rocky Mountain National Park is an iconic symbol of the western wilderness, and it is only a few hours from various points of your route through Colorado, depending on which roads you choose. The park contains a vast part of the Rocky Mountains and includes Longs Peak, one of the "fourteeners" of Colorado, which are mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet or more above sea level. The Rockies are home to bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mule deer, elk, and other types of wildlife, and you will experience diverse environments of alpine, subalpine, and tundra. If you are visiting during the summer months, you will be able to enjoy the vast array of wildflowers blanketing the meadows.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park serves to preserve four of the five historic Spanish Missions that were established in the San Antonio area of what is now Texas in the 1700s. These missions include Mission Espada, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Concepcion. The Alamo Mission is managed by the state of Texas and is not part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Spanish missionaries founded these missions as protected areas that served the local peoples and to promote Christianity. Today, visitors can tour the historical missions, which are still active parishes, to see the unique architecture and learn about their histories. 

Nearby State Parks

Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway  

Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway is located near the former resort of Mineral Wells, a popular resort and spa in the 1800s and early 1900s that was famous for the restorative powers of the local mineral springs. Today, the park contains the 640-acre Lake Mineral, a rock-climbing area, and many miles of multi-use trails for hiking and horse riding. You can swim and boat on the lake, and there are six fishing piers for your convenience with no fishing license required. The park is also home to the Trailway, a 20-mile long path that is a former section of the Weatherford, Mineral Wells & Northwestern Railroad, which eventually became part of the Union Pacific Railway. The Trailway has 2 miles of asphalt and 18 miles of crushed limestone, and the 16 bridges have decks and rails. The signature 500-foot bridge crosses U.S. Highway 180.

Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway

Caprock Canyons State Park is a state park in Texas that is close to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, where you can hike and view the second largest canyon in the U.S. Inside Caprock Canyons State Park, you will be surrounded by red sandstone cliffs. There are plenty of available water activities on Lake Theo and around 90 miles of trails for hiking and biking, which range from 1 mile to 15 miles in length. The Caprock Canyons Trailway is part of the former Fort Worth and Denver South Plains Railway that ran freight and passenger service from Lubbock to Estelline and back between 1928 and 1989. This 26-mile trail encompasses three counties and crosses 46 bridges. It goes through Clarity Tunnel, the current residence for a large colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. The park is also home to the official Texas State Bison herd.

Lake Pueblo State Park

Lake Pueblo State Park contains the man-made reservoir of Lake Pueblo. This large lake has 60 miles of shoreline and offers many water-based activities, such as boating, sailing, and waterskiing, and visitors can swim at the Rock Canyon Swim Beach. There are two marinas with full services and boat ramps, and you can view the Arkansas River from the above dam overlook. The Wet Mountains, Greenhorn Mountains, and Pikes Peak frame the park and provide an attractive backdrop for the whole.

Along the Way

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas is an amazing museum that is housed on five floors with a total of 11 permanent exhibits. The overall design is that of a unique cube suspended over a water garden, and the facade is evocative of the natural grasslands of North Texas. While in the museum, you can experience an earthquake, design a robot, test your skills against athletes, make music, and more. There are giant dinosaur skeletons to see and dinosaur research to read on real-time screens.

Palo Duro Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon is located in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which provides easy access to the second-largest canyon in the U.S. Palo Duro Canyon is 120 miles long and has an average width of 6 miles, but it reaches a width of 20 miles in many places. The hike into the canyon floor descends 800 feet to the bottom, where you can see the uniquely formed rock formations that characterize the gorge and cliffs. You can also drive along the 16 miles of roads and hike along the rim trails to see beautiful views from above. 

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak is known as "America's Mountain" and is the inspiration for the familiar song "America the Beautiful," written by Katharine Lee Bates and composed by Samuel A. Ward. Pikes Peak is one of the most popular attractions to visit in Colorado and has several access points, such as a cog railway or one of many hiking trails. The Barr Trail is one of the more commonly used trails and is a 13-mile hike that ascends 8,000 feet in elevation to the top of the mountain. 

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Dallas, TX

Dallas is a large city in North Texas and is part of the huge Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. It is a hub of energy and culture, and you can find museums, art centers, parks, and more if you take the time to stop on your Houston to Grand Junction RV road trip. Some of the interesting places to visit in Dallas are the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which serves to remember the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens; the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum; and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Treetops RV Resort has over 2,000 oak trees on the property, and the owners have many planned events. When you need to utilize a dump station for your RV, they are easy to find locally.

Amarillo, TX

Amarillo is a large urban city in North Texas and is about two-thirds of the way along your route. It is the place to be to see the Palo Duro Canyon, and the iconic Route 66 runs through Downtown Amarillo. If you stop in Amarillo, you should definitely visit the downtown area along historic Route 66 and shop and dine at any of the many boutiques and eateries that line the streets. Palo Duro Rim RV campground is a park that offers convenient access to Palo Duro Canyon and features plenty of comfortable amenities. If you need a dump station, you can find many options nearby.

Raton, NM

Raton is a city in the northeast corner of New Mexico and is beautifully framed by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The city is not large, but it has plenty of museums and cultural activities nonetheless. You have ample opportunities to find dump stations along your route through New Mexico, and Santa Fe Skies RV Park is an attractively appointed RV park with all the comfortable amenities you need on a long trip. 

Find Adventure from Houston to Grand Junction

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Houston to Grand Junction, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in Houston or Grand Junction.