Four National Parks in Texas-New Mexico
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Before this trip, I had never been to Texas or New Mexico. Initially, our plan was to visit only Big Bend National Park in southern Texas, near the border with Mexico. However, we stumbled upon a blog where the author mentioned that there are several other national parks not far from Big Bend. In fact, the area is home to four remarkable parks: Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands. Despite their proximity, these parks are incredibly distinct from one another. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the unique natural beauty each had to offer. (The first picture here is from White Sands National Park!)
Let’s begin with the first day of our trip, November 16, 2024. Although it was already November, the southern U.S. was still pleasantly mild. We departed from Champaign at 6 AM and arrived at Midland Airport around 9:30 AM. After picking up a rental car, we headed to our first destination, Big Bend National Park. The drive took about five hours, including a stop at Walmart to stock up on essentials like food, water (a must), and firewood.
We arrived at the park in the afternoon and made our first stop at the fossil exhibit. The outdoor exhibition was well-maintained and offered a great introduction to the area. Next, we headed to the Window Trail, which we completed in about half an hour. From there, we spent two hours driving along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, soaking in the breathtaking views.
The scenic drive’s final stop was Santa Elena Canyon. We crossed the water and climbed along the Rio Grande for about an hour to take in the stunning view from the top. After descending, we encountered a herd of cattle on our way to our RV hotel, marking the end of an adventure-filled day.
I have to mention our RV hotel in Terlingua, which I believe falls under what’s called glamping. This was the main reason we needed to stock up on food and supplies at Walmart. It was also our first time building a campfire, and let me tell you—it was harder than it looked!
We had hoped to stargaze that night since Terlingua is located in one of the darkest sky areas in mainland USA. Unfortunately, we completely forgot to check the moon phase—it was nearly full that night! Despite this stargazing mishap, the night was warm, and we were more than satisfied after feasting on roasted steak and s’mores. It truly couldn’t have been a more perfect stay.
On November 17, 2024, the second day of our trip, we set out to visit two national parks: Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. We began the morning with a stop at El Capitan in Guadalupe Mountains to take some photos of the iconic peak. Afterward, we drove to Carlsbad Caverns to make our reserved time slot for the self-guided tour.
As we drove, we barely noticed how much altitude we had gained until we found ourselves at the top of the mountain, wondering where the caves could possibly be. It soon became clear that the caves were deep beneath the mountain. From the parking area, we had the option to descend 750 feet via an elevator (or by walking).
Once inside, we were greeted by thousands upon thousands of breathtaking rock formations. The Grand Room, a vast underground chamber, was anything but empty—every inch was adorned with stalagmites and stalactites, creating an otherworldly landscape. This incredible place instantly became the most beautiful cave I’ve ever visited.
Around 3 PM, we headed back to Guadalupe to complete our mission: conquering one of its trails. The trail we chose—Devil’s Hall—was the only one we had time for. Based on Reddit reviews, we learned that the hike typically takes 2 to 3 hours to complete. Feeling optimistic, we assumed we’d be closer to the 2-hour mark.
However, the trail turned out to be more challenging than expected, especially in the second half, where we found ourselves navigating a rocky wash. Climbing over rocks made the trek slow and demanding, and we ultimately took the full 3 hours, reaching the parking lot just as it got dark.
Despite the tough terrain, the trail was absolutely stunning, surrounded by vibrant foliage. We were incredibly lucky to catch it at its peak!
On November 18, we left our stay in El Paso and drove to the final destination of our trip, White Sands National Park. Located just an hour and a half from El Paso, it’s a perfect getaway for those in the area. For anyone planning to visit, be sure to check for missile tests on your chosen day. There was one scheduled on the morning of our visit, but fortunately, it didn’t affect us since it was completed early.
We arrived at the park around 9 AM, just as it opened. With minimal expectations, we were absolutely blown away by its beauty and otherworldly atmosphere. What made the sand dunes especially striking (to us) was how they were surrounded 360 degrees by the stunning southern mountain ranges. We had an incredible time exploring White Sands before heading back home to Illinois, marking a perfect end to our trip.
There are not many national parks that are ideal to visit in winter, except for those in the desert. For this Christmas trip, we chose three desert national parks, namely, Petrified Forest, Saguaro, and Joshua Tree. In addition to these, we also stopped by some of the most iconic landmarks in Arizona’s desert landscape, including Horseshoe Bend and Monument Valley. It was a dry, sandy, and breathtaking Christmas. One that turned out to be truly memorable for both of us.
Despite the polar vortex that swept through Illinois, we decided to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio, driving from our home in Champaign. Along the way, we got to meet some friends in Cincinnati and Akron. In fact, we didn’t stop only at Cuyahoga Valley; we also continued on to see a much bigger set of falls in upstate New York—Niagara Falls. Everything was freezing cold, but the fresh snow somehow gave the entire trip a magical atmosphere.
Foliage season feels so fleeting to me, so Poy and I never really planned to chase fall colors anywhere beyond our university campus. But there are a few national parks that are especially beautiful in autumn, and we wanted to try visiting them at their peak. We followed the fall–color predictions closely and booked our flights well in advance to keep costs down. On this trip, we were lucky enough to catch vibrant red and yellow leaves in Shenandoah, New River Gorge, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. We also had the chance to explore the beautiful wetlands of Congaree National Park before flying back home!
At the end of Summer 2025, we embarked on a grand tour of the northern United States. Our goal was to explore a mix of popular national parks and hidden gems across Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington. The journey took us through breathtaking mountain ranges and bountiful wilderness teeming with wildlife. Thanks to booking our flights more than six months in advance, we were lucky enough to fly directly out of Champaign, a perfect start to our adventure!