Contributor I
Considering a move to Dallas from AZ, what kind of overlanding/off roading is there in the area? Any decent camping close?
Texas
- Thread starter Ogden88
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Member III
Texas is horrible for overlanding as only a tiny fraction of the state is public land. There are offroad parks scattered through out the state but thats about it. Coming from AZ you are likely to be sorley disappointed.
you will need a new wardrobe....
Influencer III
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There’s a National Grassland near dfw. Ive not been, but have heard good things about it. Lots of state parks about for camping. I’ve been learning about a number of private ranches that allow camping in the Hill Country. It’s similar to dispersed camping, and a few bucks a night. Lots of county roads are dirt, so if you’re exploring it’s better than pavement. many of the Hill Country county roads are not only dirt but have no bridges, so they offer the chance to splash if it’s rained recently.
Member III
Your best bet for overlanding near north Texas is to head north to Oklahoma and do the OAT. Oklahoma adventure trail. Eastern section of the state is especially nice. Check this thread for some trip reports on the southern and eastern sections.
www.overlandbound.com
OAT trips
I decided to get some real "social distancing" today by doing a day trip on the OAT. Started in Colbert and ended in Hugo. Came across this cool bridge that said it was made in 1905 All the roads were passable but since it had been raining for the last week, there were a few places where it...
USStrongman
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There are a number of trails in Hill Country, but nothing remotely exciting.
There are a ton of Jeep groups in the DFW, Austin and especially Houston areas. I am in Lubbock, 6 hours NW of downtown Dallas. Albuquerque is closer than Dallas for me. I go to New Mexico for my off roading fix. I try to take two trips to Colorado per year as well.
As for parks, about 4 hours south of DFW (or as it is locally referred to as "The Metroplex") is Big Bend NP. Terlingua and the area is full of terrific overlanding and off road adventure. Inside the park is Old Ore Road which is a nice easy'ish drive with cool ruins and geo features.
www.nps.gov
Overland Routes | The Texas Hill Country - Expedition Portal
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Winter 2017. Prayer is the best way to meet the Lord, but trespassing on this property is faster. Folks in Texas are known for many things, but taking kindly to trespassers ain’t one of ’em. Don’t get me wrong, most would...
expeditionportal.com
There are a ton of Jeep groups in the DFW, Austin and especially Houston areas. I am in Lubbock, 6 hours NW of downtown Dallas. Albuquerque is closer than Dallas for me. I go to New Mexico for my off roading fix. I try to take two trips to Colorado per year as well.
As for parks, about 4 hours south of DFW (or as it is locally referred to as "The Metroplex") is Big Bend NP. Terlingua and the area is full of terrific overlanding and off road adventure. Inside the park is Old Ore Road which is a nice easy'ish drive with cool ruins and geo features.
Big Bend National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
There is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime...
Influencer III
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@Busaman2013 the Hill Country loop noted above is a nice way to get out and introduce your wife too. Beware the chance of flash flooding if it has rained, otherwise the water at the deepest crossing is about 8 inches.There are a number of trails in Hill Country, but nothing remotely exciting.
Overland Routes | The Texas Hill Country - Expedition Portal
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Winter 2017. Prayer is the best way to meet the Lord, but trespassing on this property is faster. Folks in Texas are known for many things, but taking kindly to trespassers ain’t one of ’em. Don’t get me wrong, most would...expeditionportal.com
There are a ton of Jeep groups in the DFW, Austin and especially Houston areas. I am in Lubbock, 6 hours NW of downtown Dallas. Albuquerque is closer than Dallas for me. I go to New Mexico for my off roading fix. I try to take two trips to Colorado per year as well.
As for parks, about 4 hours south of DFW (or as it is locally referred to as "The Metroplex") is Big Bend NP. Terlingua and the area is full of terrific overlanding and off road adventure. Inside the park is Old Ore Road which is a nice easy'ish drive with cool ruins and geo features.
Big Bend National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
There is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime...
Not much right near DFW (other than LBJ Grasslands), but some great places elsewhere in Texas, Big Bend, NP, Big Bend SP and Padre Island to start. Then Palo Duro Canyon, and from DFW many places in Oklahoma and Arkansas which are actually closer then Big Bend Area.
Contributor I
Thanks guys! The move to Texas is better for me in almost every way, financially work life balance, friends and every hobby except overlanding. But with you’re help hopefully I can still make overlanding work there. AZ sucks to live lol
USStrongman
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I enjoyed my time in Az. 5 years working downtown and living just outside of Cave Creek. Wickenburg was close and made it out there often. North out to Strawberry and Jerome or Black Canyon, or south to Bisbee and Tombstone. Mind you, I moved from Seattle to Phoenix. Night and day difference in lifestyle, topography, days of sun, rain... you get it. Did take a year to adjust.
The thing about Az is you can be essentially anywhere in about 5 hours. Most far less. In Texas, if you want to go to the Jeep Jamboree in Palo Duro, its a 9+ hour trip. Texas is big. Back in the day it took 23 hours driving the 55mph speed limit to go from the furthest point west (El Paso) to the furthest point east, just outside Shreveport, Louisiana. Fortunately there are areas wide open that are 85mph with most highway speeds being 75 except inner city drives.
The thing about Az is you can be essentially anywhere in about 5 hours. Most far less. In Texas, if you want to go to the Jeep Jamboree in Palo Duro, its a 9+ hour trip. Texas is big. Back in the day it took 23 hours driving the 55mph speed limit to go from the furthest point west (El Paso) to the furthest point east, just outside Shreveport, Louisiana. Fortunately there are areas wide open that are 85mph with most highway speeds being 75 except inner city drives.
Texas is great. Hope the move works out.
Texas hill country route is fun as noted above. Also check out Padre Seashore (PINS)you can camp on the beach in Texas - like 70 miles of it.
We also typically bolt to CO or NM to get altitude in the summer. One day travel from Austin to Carson NF.
Texas hill country route is fun as noted above. Also check out Padre Seashore (PINS)you can camp on the beach in Texas - like 70 miles of it.
We also typically bolt to CO or NM to get altitude in the summer. One day travel from Austin to Carson NF.
Busaman2013
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Cool, I’ll keep those in my mind, took a screen shot to google those places. Can’t wait to get started. Super excited. Thanks for sharing. Really appreciate it.
Busaman2013
Rank IV
Advocate II
Gosh, I didn’t realize there were so many places. Seems like you’ve had a blast. I’m so excited, can’t wait till fall gets here so it’s cooler for my wife, plus I still need some equipment and all terrain tires too. So it’ll be a little bit before I’m ready. Thanks for sharing your awesome experiences, hope to enjoy it as much as you have.
maybe we’ll meet someday.
Thanks again
Influencer III
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