Santa Fe to Taos to Great Sand Dunes NP

The campground in Great Sand Dunes could be tight for your rig. May want to drop toad and drive it through.
Visit the alligator farm just north of park. Interesting, but kind of tired. Gator ranch

How many routes are there? 160 in CO is the only way unless you are going to take the 4WD road from the north side of the park. And 285 out of NM would be the normal way unless you are going to take local roads. Or backtrack to the interstate.

As for the Gator farm, coming from Florida the idea of a gator farm in high desert Colorado is bizarre. Like finding a Polar bear farm outside the town I live in. We've been by it several time but never tempted to stop.

It's been awhile since we camped in GS but I thought it was open sand fields.

Campground is in grove of Pinion pines.
Pinion Campground

OK and the pad length is 35 feet.

If of any interest to you, there's a nice natural springs somewhat nearby the Sand Dunes with an RV park. Lookup Sand Dunes Pool if of any interest.

No one actually answered your question about the highways. . And been years since I have been in that area. But from reading other posts about it, I think 68 from Espanola to Taos is fine for you. And from Taos you could take either 522 to Ft Garland or US 64 back to US 285 to Alamosa, either of which I believe is also ok. Maybe someone who has been there recently will chime in for a more up to date answer.

There is a KOA just east of Alamosa and a short distance from the dunes that can handle your MH.

April/May/early June is a great time to visit the dunes. Weather not so hot. And Medano Creek will still be running across the lower part of the dunes, wide but inches deep. Dries up toward end of June.

Mbiviano wrote:
If of any interest to you, there's a nice natural springs somewhat nearby the Sand Dunes with an RV park. Lookup Sand Dunes Pool if of any interest.

To the original post - the drive is not an issue, IMHO.

If you decide to stay the Pool might be Fun with the Bar.

Looks interesting . .:)



Pinion Flats Looks as if I could fit in a pinch -

We generally stay in Salida or Buena Vista and just drive the Toad for a hike into the Sand.

Best of Luck,

BB_TX wrote:
No one actually answered your question about the highways. . And been years since I have been in that area. But from reading other posts about it, I think 68 from Espanola to Taos is fine for you. And from Taos you could take either 522 to Ft Garland or US 64 back to US 285 to Alamosa, either of which I believe is also ok. Maybe someone who has been there recently will chime in for a more up to date answer.

There is a KOA just east of Alamosa and a short distance from the dunes that can handle your MH.

April/May/early June is a great time to visit the dunes. Weather not so hot. And Medano Creek will still be running across the lower part of the dunes, wide but inches deep. Dries up toward end of June.

X2

NM 522 becomes CO 159 at the border. Nice drive, a little up and down but nothing serious and not to much traffic. Using 64 to 285 adds about an hour to the trip by the time you drive back east to the Dunes.

Only nasty place on the route is through Taos. Streets are narrow with parking on both sides.
Route is mostly two lane highway and last trip through was in good shape. Been several years.

NMDriver2 wrote:
...........

NM 522 becomes CO 159 at the border. Nice drive, a little up and down but nothing serious and not to much traffic. Using 64 to 285 adds about an hour to the trip by the time you drive back east to the Dunes.

Google maps says 64/285 to dunes is 18 minutes slower. Turn off on 160 to dunes is only about 5 miles closer to Ft Garland than to Alamosa.