New Mexico Routing

Loved all of these responses. So helpful. Re the video: it was interesting to watch. The music? I suppose the song wasn’t too bad but listening to it replayed over and over was challenging. At least it wasn’t rap or hip hop. LOL
Thanks everybody

If you can put up with the music (or turn it off) here's a YouTube of the Cloudcroft drive. You can almost find any questionable highway on YouTube nowadays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7r_AToIJro

I pull my 25 foot 5er up and down the hill between Alamogordo and Cloudcroft 3 or 4 times a year. Nothing to worry about. It has a few 6% grades and 35mph speed limits.

New Mexico has good RV friendly roads and camping locations. Have been up & down West road into Cloudcroft and no problem if you take your time. What isn't friendly are the micro-burst, thunder storms and hail during monsoon season. Had seven trees blown down around us with on hitting the MH in a NM State Park Campground. Insurance took care of repair! Headed back to NM again this summer.

rocmoc n AZ

All depends on your destination thereafter. A few weeks ago, I was seeking route from down in west Texas to just south of Albuquerque. Because the traffic on I10 is so bad after I20 joins it, I chose to go up through Carlsbad, Artesia, Capitan, Carrizozo, San Antonio.

The New Mexico part of the trip was not a problem. Yes, somewhat narrow at spots, but nothing I couldn't do with our motorhome.

What was a problem was in Texas: Pecos via US285 to the border is a total mess.

:(
Lynn

As Second Chance stated... that little section between Cloudcroft and Alamogordo is the only iffy issue you'd have with all the highways you mentioned. Depending exactly where you want to end up at, you'd have options rather that 82 through this section.

Coming from east to west through Cloudcroft you'll have 6-7% downhill for 16 miles. It's a 4300' drop in elevation. It has curves and two run-away truck ramp. I'd advise routing yourself another way, if possible.

Thank you for the prompt response, Second Chance. Exactly what I was looking for.

82 through Cloudcroft involves a tunnel or two and some decent grades. Some folks opt for 380/70 through Ruidoso, instead (as I would with my fifth wheel). Unless you want to end up as far north as San Antonio, you're still fine on 70 from Alamogordo to Las Cruces. You may be a bit slow going up Organ Pass, but lots of folks do it all the time.

Rob (native southern New Mexican)