Life is a little on the bleak side in west Texas unless you make something special of it. The fun is in the details. Get off the main highway and take a wander through the small towns and ask "why," as in "why is there a huge smoke stack in Thurber but no factory?"
Where are the people? Where can we eat? You will soon realize why the speed limit has been raised on I-20 and I-10 to the highest in the U.S. on some parts. There's not much there! Don't just drive by at high speed. Stop to meet the people, try to food and see the buffalo (real and otherwise). There more to west Texas than coyotes and cattle.
Quick Tips:
Be wary of driving at night on the highway as all sorts of predators are likely to cross the road from the types that are small and won't hurt you (skunks) to the big ones that will put a big dent in your car—wild boars! When a road doesn't curve for a few hundred miles, it's very easy to fall asleep at the wheel.
When traveling during the heat of the summer seasons, be sure to carry water and other emergency supplies with you. It can be a long, long way between towns. We also carry a large umbrella even though the chance of rain is usually nil. One person can hold the umbrella to make some shade while the other one changes a flat tire. Most small towns have Dairy Queen restaurants which are decent places to eat and to cool off. Be sure to take along iced drinks "for the road." Be careful of your pets. Do not leave them in a locked car when you stop for a while. They can die a miserable death in a few minutes. Highway rest areas have exercise areas for pets as well as places to water cattle and horses. Rest areas are usually not more than one hour apart and include vending machines, toilets, drinking water and emergency telephones. Usually, however, very little shade and the grassy areas may have fire ants. Be careful!
It is difficult to shop in the smaller towns. Good shopping is hard to come by west of Fort Worth until you are 200 miles down the road in Abilene. Figure the same for quality restaurant food. Sorry about that. You have to plan your route. The Texas highway department and tourist commission will be thrilled to send you books and maps for free. www.traveltex.com
Best Way To Get Around:
You absolutely have to drive. No way around it. There just isn't any other way unless you own an airplane. You can fly from DFW airport to Abilene on American Airlines in less than an hour, but you will need to rent something to drive when you get there. That's life on the west Texas high plains. I've driven 400 miles in one day, just to have a lunch meeting. True!
In many restaurants remember to say "no beans" for many items, unless you want your plate swimming in beans. Ice tea comes unsweetened and in bucket size containers. Soft drinks (never called pop) are available in most national brands, with heavy emphasis on Dr. Pepper and Coke items.
Internet cafes are nearly impossible to find, but cell phone and Blackberry type access has improved very much over the years. It is now possible to talk your way from Fort Worth all the way to Abilene as there are cell towers most of the way. If you venture off the interstate highways, you will experience "no service" areas but you can always head for a high hill and do a bit better.
If your Lexus breaks down in Stamford, it's going to get towed all the way back over 250 miles to Fort Worth. If you get sick in Haskell, you may get towed to Abilene, Fort Worth, or even Dallas for medical care. Do be careful!
Most people don't walk in west Texas. You just won't see people on foot very often. Of course there are hiking trails in the state and federal parks, but drivers aren't used to seeing people "afoot" along the highways. If your car breaks down, stay with it. Don't attempt to walk to a town unless you can see the lights.