Arizona/New Mexico in the winter--lots of questions!

Northern NM & AZ does get cold in the winter. High Elevations. But not socked in with snow & cold all the time. The I-10 route much more likely to be free of snow & less cold.

Maybe something in these older posts will be of help:

:C Santa Fe has a lot of neat things to see & do. Santa Fe & Bandelier Nat'l Mon't -A Trip Report last summer. But can be a cold place in winter.

More on the Santa Fe Area Expanded & ABQ.

More on the Sante Fe Area Plus.

Cochiti Lake COE campground, between ABQ & Santa Fe & at a lower elevation should have sites open. As would Bandelier National Monument's Juniper Campground. Higher than Cochiti Lake. Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area a BLM site with campgrounds is 30 miles north of Santa Fe (near Santa Cruz). Not as high as Santa Fe, might work for you. Cochiti Lake CG

For Las Cruces & I-10. Here's some info on the Las Cruces Area & Southern NM Mexican Food plus camping and attractions in the area. At least try a Green Chile Cheese Burger. Video

Taste of NM Pecans: Stahmanns or Salopek

In Las Cruces: Hacienda RV Resort and Siesta RV Park are the easiest to get to, just of I-10 exit 140. Las Cruces KOA and Sunny Acres RV Park off I-10 exit 135. KOA on the mesa over looking the Mesilla Valley, Sunny Acres in the Valley. Park Reviews Siesta RV has gravel roads & pads, Hacienda RV has paved roads, maybe concrete pads. Sunny Acres more into town, maybe cramped???

Leasburg Dam State Park is about 17 miles N of Las Cruces on I-25. With Fort Selden State Mon't near by. A young Douglas Mac Arthur called the fort home while his father was post commander in the late 1880s.

Off I-10/I-25 on US 70 between Las Cruces & Alamogordo, White Sands Nat'l Monument & Alamogordo Area. This site also has info on Carlsbad......I believe I would stay at Brantley State Park to base to see the area by Carlsbad.

North of Las Cruces I-25 70 to 80 miles: Around the T or C area, three state parks, Elephant Butte SP and Caballo SP with Caballo being closest to the interstate as well as Percha Dam State Park a nice place on Rio Grande, near Caballo Lake. Elephant Butte Lake State Park headquarters are 5 miles north of Truth or Consequences via I-25 exit 83. Caballo Lake State Park is 16 miles south of Truth or Consequences via I-25 exit 59 and NM 187. Percha Dam State Park is 21 miles south of Truth or Consequences via I-25, exit 59.

:C New Mexico State Parks Best Camping Prices Around & No Day Fees on top of camping fees (unlike CO & TX). Most (not all) have free showers. NM Camping Fees

60 miles West of Las Cruces on I-10, In Deming there are Hidden Valley Ranch and Low Hi Ranch RV Park plus a few more: RV Park Reviews. 81 Palms (55 RV Park) is just off I-10 on the frontage road, west side of town.

We have always enjoyed the Uniqueness of camping close or in the rocks at City of Rocks State Park. Very Unique Place about 30 miles North of Deming, just off US 180.

North of TorC, just off of I-25 by San Antonio, NM, the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

Bosque Birdwatchers RV Park Never stayed there, but have read about others staying there to see the Bosque. As a matter of fact you could take US 380 from I-25 at San Antonio to Carrizozo.

Tucson/Arizona, New Mexico & Texas

Tucson is normally pretty warm, but at times it can get cold. A very nice city, easy to get around in.

Picacho Peak State Park 30 miles or so North of Tucson. Seems it's open again.

Info for Tucson, :) Clicky.
There are two units to see at Saguaro NP, one on each side of Tucson. East unit has a paved road which loop around part of the park. Small visitor center. West unit is a dirt road, seems longer maybe ? & has a larger visitor center. Near it is also the AZ Sonora Desert Museum (very good one, more zoo than museum), a must see IMHO. Also campground near by Gilbert Ray CG. Info in the above Clicky.

If using I-30 & I-10, you will be connecting them with I-20:
What I have on the Abilene area. We found really good steaks at Buffalo Gap Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, of course.

As well as Joe Allen's in Abilene.

This one might be good as well? Lytle Land & Cattle Co.

Never been to the Buffalo Gap Historic Village, might be good. The area around Buffalo Gap is really neat. A state park there as well. Abilene State Park

There's a Buck Creek and Abilene RV in Abilene.

Abilene KOA is located in a former pecan grove near the intersection of I-20 and highways 277/83/84.

Near Pecos & Midland/Odessa on I-20. Not stopped but seemed kind of neat, Monahans Sandhills State Park.

In case Dallas/Fort Worth Area is having an Ice Storm, might need to head more south to the I-10. What I have on the San Antonio Area & the :C Texas Hill Country and I-10 to San Antonio.