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Southwest to Great Lakes Cross-Country Journey

A relaxed 7-day transcontinental journey from the Arizona desert to the heart of the Midwest. This route balances iconic Southwestern landscapes with Texas history and the rolling hills of the Ozarks, ensuring manageable daily driving times.

7days
14stops
3042km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Las Cruces · Roswell · Amarillo · Fort Worth · Texarkana · St. Louis — start in Surprise, end in Fort Wayne.

DAY01

Surprise → Old Mesilla Village

667 km · 6h 7m driving · long drive · Overnight in Old Mesilla Village
  1. 09:00
    Surprise City Hall· start
  2. 667 km · 6h 7m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Old Mesilla Village· overnight
DAY02

White Sands National Park → Roswell

98 km · 57m driving · Overnight in Roswell Historic District
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ White Sands National Park· start
  2. 98 km · 57m
  3. 12:00
    Roswell Historic District· overnight
DAY03

Cadillac Ranch → Amarillo

340 km · 3h 24m driving · Overnight in Amarillo Downtown
  1. 09:00
    Cadillac Ranch· start
  2. 340 km · 3h 24m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Amarillo Downtown· overnight
DAY04

Fort Worth → Sundance Square

542 km · 5h 6m driving · long drive · Overnight in Sundance Square
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Fort Worth Stockyards· start
  2. 542 km · 5h 6m
  3. 12:00
    Sundance Square· overnight
DAY05

Tyler → Texarkana

213 km · 2h 3m driving · Overnight in Texarkana Post Office and Federal Building
  1. 09:00
    Tyler Rose Garden· start
  2. 213 km · 2h 3m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Texarkana Post Office and Federal Building· overnight
DAY06

Gateway Arch National Park → Forest Park

787 km · 7h 30m driving · long drive · Overnight in Forest Park
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Gateway Arch National Park· start
  2. 787 km · 7h 30m
  3. 12:00
    Forest Park· overnight
DAY07

Indianapolis Motor Speedway M… → Fort Wayne

395 km · 3h 43m driving · long drive
  1. 09:00
    Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum· start
  2. 395 km · 3h 43m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Fort Wayne
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Day 1Stay in Las Cruces · Night 1
  2. Day 2Stay in Roswell · Night 2
  3. Day 3Stay in Amarillo · Night 3
  4. Day 4Stay in Fort Worth · Night 4
  5. Day 5Stay in Texarkana · Night 5
  6. Day 6Stay in St. Louis · Night 6
Heads Up
  • Day 1: 6h 7m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 4: 5h 16m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 6: 7h 38m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 7: 5h 57m driving — plan rest stops
  • Check White Sands National Park website for missile range closure schedules before visiting.
  • Expect significant temperature shifts between the Arizona desert and the humid Great Lakes region.
  • Book accommodations in advance for smaller towns like Texarkana and Rolla.