Cross Country (almost) with Two Dogs

Day Four: Amarillo, TX to Colorado Springs, CO

The final day of our four-day move in June 2021, we drove from Amarillo, Texas to Colorado Springs, Colorado. I know a lot of folks would have tried to push forward because this stretch is only 358 miles, but we were towing a trailer and with two dogs it's better to be safe.

There is a long stretch of two-lane highway when you get outside Amarillo. We were well rested and listening to a podcast about 90's music when we noticed a truck coming toward us, veering to our side of the road. We both held our breath as my husband began to move our truck to the shoulder to try to put our trailer, rather than us, in the path of the collision. Luckily, just before the other truck hit our trailer, he swerved to his right. We had to stop for a few minutes to get our heart rates down! This is one example of why we always drive rested, and don't push ourselves to drive more hours than we should.

When we finally made it home, the girls enjoyed some much needed sun baths, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

The pass leaving New Mexico into Colorado, known as Raton Pass takes you through winding mountainous roads before dropping down into the plains of Southern Colorado. Making this drive in summer is pleasant with nice views. However, I would caution anyone driving this route in winter. The weather can change very quickly.

We found ourselves driving that near-collission route once again many months later. In February 2022, after several cancelled flights we were stranded in Dallas and decided to rent a car to drive home. We attempted to drive the whole way (we didn't have dogs with us)! It started getting dark and we were both very tired. Even though there were clear skies, we opted to stay at the Best Western Plus Raton. For anyone making a road trip and in need of a hotel, I highly recommend this Best Western. We had a nice room with a door that opens to the outside like a motel, but also a door to an interior courtyard so you can access the lobby and restaurant without venturing out into the cold or heat. The restaurant was nice and both enjoyed burgers before going to bed.

When we woke up the next morning, we were so glad we had stopped! There were about 4 inches of snow on the ground and it was still falling. We quickly loaded up our bags and began driving north to Colorado. The conditions were treacherous in the pass and snow plows were struggling to keep up with blizzard-like conditions.

The drive typically takes 2.5 hours but that day it took 4.5. We had to drive around 30 miles per hour until we reached Pueblo, Colorado. We finally made it home to our pups, including our new baby, Finn.

Before booking I highly recommend reviewing my original blog Cross Country with Three Dogs where I explain all the necessary steps to make reservations when traveling with pets.

Check out my day-to-day posts about each hotel and area: