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2022 Road Trip - Los Angeles, California to Dallas, Texas - 1,500 miles ; Barely Survived! Thunderstorms.

Travel

Epic Road Trip: Los Angeles to Dallas

3 days, 2 nights, and ~1,500 miles across the American Southwest

1,500
Miles Driven
3
Days
5
States
$400
Cash on Hand
Table of Contents
① Overview
② Day 1: LA to Phoenix
③ Day 2: Phoenix to Amarillo
④ Day 3: Amarillo to Dallas
⑤ Packing List
⑥ Closing Thoughts
⑦ Picture Book Highlights
The Journey

Overview

I recently embarked on a thrilling 3-day, 2-night road trip from Los Angeles, California, to Dallas, Texas, covering approximately 1,500 miles. The route choice was a mix between I-10/20 and I-40; ultimately, I went with I-10 to Phoenix, then cut over to I-40 through Albuquerque.

Important Reminder: Always check the weather! I ran into storm clouds over New Mexico and Texas, resulting in some harrowing moments on the road.
 Day 1

Los Angeles to Phoenix (400 miles)

  • → 11 am — Hit the road heading towards Palm Springs.
  • → 1 pm — Lunch at Felipe's (delicious tacos!) and enjoyed some sights of the dinosaur attractions.
  • → 3 pm — Quick stop at Joshua Tree for the iconic desert views.
  • → 6 pm — Arrived in Phoenix, Arizona.
  • → 6 pm — Dinner at Nogales or Lupita's Sonoran Hot Dogs (a must-try!).
Day 2

Phoenix to Amarillo 🌧 (705 miles)

  • → 7 am — Breakfast to fuel up for the long day ahead.
  • → 9 am — Scenic drive through Payson, AZ—mountains and beautiful landscapes!
  • → Noon — Joined I-40 / Route 66 and took in the stunning Painted Mountains.
  • → 2 pm — Stopped in Albuquerque, NM.
  • → 2 pm — Lunch at Frontier Restaurant (great Mexican food!).
  • → 5 pm — Hit by rain in Santa Rosa, NM; I had to stop due to poor visibility.
  • → 7 pm — After waiting 2 hours for the rain to calm down, I headed towards Amarillo.
  • → 11 pm — Arrived in Amarillo, TX—no hotel, but I made it! 
 
 
Day 3

Amarillo to Dallas (365 miles)

  • → 2 am — Faced heavy rain on 287; I decided to pull over in Memphis, TX, for some much-needed sleep.
  • → 5:30 am — Hit the road again for Dallas.
  • → 9 am — Arrived in Dallas.

 
What I Brought

Packing List

To prepare for hot summer months and potential rain, I packed accordingly.

Bags & Clothes 💼
  • →Adidas Backpack
  • →Jansport Fannypack
  • →4 Uniqlo T-Shirts (Black)
  • →4 Adidas White Socks
  • →4 Underwear
  • →Jeans & Nike Gym Shorts
  • →Khaki Shorts
  • →Northface Rain Jacket
  • →Adidas Track Jacket
  • →Gap Crew Neck Sweater
  • →Nike Shoes
  • →Baseball Cap
Tech & Tools 📱
  • →iPhone 11 & Samsung A32 (backup)
  • →AirPods Pro
  • →Anker Battery Pack (10k mAh)
  • →3 Power Cables
  • →Charging Blocks (Car & Home)
  • →Flashlight
  • →Swiss Army Knife
  • →Bic Lighter
  • →Casio G-Shock 5600
  • →Fleece Blanket (Rollup)
  • →Car Kit
  • →Laptop (for work)
  • →Pens & Notepad
  • →Toiletry Kit
Food & Water 🍱
  • →48 Bottles of Water (2 cases)
  • →Chips (16 pack)
  • →Food Bars (18 pack)
  • →Trail Mix (12 pack)
  • →Beef Jerky (8 oz)
Miscellaneous 🗺
  • →Printout of map and directions
  • →Schedule for daily calls (3x/day)
  • →$400 cash ($20 x 10, $100 x 2)
  • →Credit Cards & Apple Pay
Reflections

Closing Thoughts

The blanket and rain jacket proved to be lifesavers when I ended up camping out in my car for a few hours due to the storm. Always be prepared for unexpected situations!

Despite the challenges, I look forward to visiting Amarillo someday. This trip taught me a lot about planning and being adaptable on the road.

1,500 miles, 3 days, CA → AZ → NM → TX — always check the weather.

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