New Mexico

I can help with Hatch. If you are shopping for chilies go to Hatch Chile Sales across from the Pepper Pot restaurant. Either we or our son goes through there a couple of times a year and they have the best prices and service that we have found. The Pepper Pot and Sparky's are both good for food.

Richard,
There are also the "RVparks, Campgrounds, and Attractions" and "Roads and Routes" sections of this Forum. Destinations and routes are discussed in those and there are many friendly folks to help (not that you haven't found some here :C).

Have a good time on your trip!

If you consider staying north, you certainly should consider Chama, NM and the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad, which runs between Chama and Antonito, CO. Several options (and prices) available; taking the train from Chama to Antonito and a bus back; taking a bus to Antonito and the train back to Chama; or taking the train up to Osier one way, and then taking it back down the same way, but different train. Plan on a full day and amazing scenery. The train crosses the CO-NM border multiple times as it winds the 54 miles between the 2 towns.

As others have said, NM is a pretty spread out state and you should consider a regional visit as an option. Like Second Chance has said finding any kind of RV spot down in the Southeast corner can be difficult due to the oilfield and pipeline activity. I commute through Carlsbad frequently and most of the RV "parks" have No Vacancy signs out. Even the bare gravel lots that they call parks.

However, if you do make it to Carlsbad and the caverns please save some time to drive another 45min Southwest to Guadalupe Mountains NP and see the highest point in TX. Spend some time at the visitor center and try to visit the Frijole Ranch site to see how folks lived when the area was being settled.

Let me know if you have specific questions about the area, I am living in my trailer here now.

Terry

2oldman wrote:
Of course oil, but I meant what part.. we aren't drilling in Carlsbad caverns are we? :E

No - there's a north-south pipeline under construction east of there.

Rob

Save time for eating. Astonishingly good food -- even an ordinary omelette becomes something special when drizzled with salsa roja and wrapped up in a fresh corn tortilla. The red salsa in NM is nothing like the salsa we get in California (which can be very good, but it is tomato based). The true NM red is just about pure chiles. And sometimes it is not very spicy at all, and sometimes it is. And if they ask if you want Christmas, they are offering you both red and green. Say yes!

Make sure to try some sopapilla, maybe with a little bit of honey.

Also, the new moon is on the 13th -- try to get away from city lights. The stars in NM are, well, out of this world.

Been several years but we stayed at Santa Fe Skies RV park just off I-25 at the southwest edge of Santa Fe. Nothing special but nice enough and easy drive into downtown. And very friendly lady stayed late to welcome us as we had some trouble and was running late.

To see Carlsbad Caverns we stayed at the Carlsbad KOA as reviews for other parks in the area were not impressive. But the KOA is about 20 miles north of the city of Carlsbad and the caverns are about the same distance south. May be better choices now as that was 5 yrs ago. Check rvparkreviews.com.

If you go thru Ruidoso, the Circle B RV Park was very good. And again very nice staff.

About 4 1/2 hrs Santa Fe to Carlsbad. Little more than you planned but not bad.

Of course oil, but I meant what part.. we aren't drilling in Carlsbad caverns are we? :E

2oldman wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
The oil industry contractors and their employees have occupied just about every RV space and motel room for miles around.

Oil industry? What are we drilling now?

Crude oil drilling. It's been going on for several years (or decades for that matter) and the number of drill rigs in the US seems to be going up every year. Texas seems to be the hot bed but it's just one of several states where they drill.

Second Chance wrote:
The oil industry contractors and their employees have occupied just about every RV space and motel room for miles around.

Oil industry? What are we drilling now?