southern Kansas, Ok, & NM

[routeforty]

Thinking the first of May we may take a month or so and head to NM, AZ, & Ca. Will go I-70 to I-44, but when we get to Joplin, Mo. was thinking of taking the 2 lane across southern Kansas(staying south of Witchita), cutting down through Guymon, Ok or Boise City, then into NM to I-25 to Albuquerque. Have been the I-40 way several times, wanted a change of scenery, and to go through tornado alley(will watch the weather). Anybody know anything about this area(diesel avaibility, sights, etc)? Have seen a couple towns have city parks to overnight in. I know it's really flat, don't have to remind me of that. Will be taking the Lance and towing the Prius on a tow dolly. After NM want to head to Grand Canyon, then on to Sequoia NP. Would like to stay mainly on 2 lane roads. No hurry. Then??? Will decide then. Any ideas?? Gary

[jtrent6415]

I went to College 10 miles southwest of Guymon....and there is not much there. Guymon will have Diesel and any amenities you need. Liberal is a bigger town in the area and would also have anything needed. You would also not be very far from Dodge City, you could visit Boot Hill if you were interested in that. As you probably know from driving I-40 through the Texas panhandle, get ready for lots of wind!

[DesertHawk]

Santa Fe & Bandelier Nat'l Mon't <<<<< A Trip Report last summer.

Bandelier Nat'l Mon't had a nice campground, water, but no showers or electric. Nice restrooms. Neat place to visit. Easy to get to on paved roads. Free Bus rides down to the sites.

We got good Asian at Jinja Bar & Bistro in Santa Fe last summer. Someone at the AAA office recommended Tortilla Flats in Santa Fe; it prove to be very good as well.

Normally, we would eat on the Plaza, from Cart Vendors, such as Roque's Carnitas. Cart Cuisine, but they were not there that week-end. Due to the 'Santa Fe Indian Market', "a 91-year-old Native art market", we didn't find the normal street food venders on the Plaza.

More on the Santa Fe Area Expanded.

I-25 N (Just East of Santa Fe) , in the Glorieta Pass & Pecos Area: Civil War Battlefield and Pecos Nat'l Historic Park, the remains of an Indian pueblo.

Off I-25 between Santa Fe & Las Vegas, NM, you might enjoyed an overnight at Villanueva State Park. It is off the 25 a bit.

One can also go from Santa Fe (I-25 S down to US 550) or US 84 N to Chama. US 84 on to Farmington and/or Four Corner's Area.

One can also go to Taos after Santa Fe & use the high road over to the Chama Area. US 64 out of Taos; US 84 N to Chama, etc. goes into high country.

The Cumbres Toltec Steam Train at Chama is a neat one. Heron Lake State Park, Chama, Train Photos

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.

Black Canyon Campground is just before Hyde State Park & is one of the more popular campgrounds on the Santa Fe National Forest....not electric, but water, restrooms. No showers at both Black Canyon & Hyde State Park. Seasons: Weather dependant, April through November. Depending on size of your rig, might be too small sites.

We used Hyde SP last summer on two trips in the area. No showers, too high in the mountains, I assume. But have a few electric sites, fairly long ones. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/hydememorialstatepark.html

There are many Indian Casinos on the way to ABQ & in the ABQ area. They sometimes have RV camping at them. http://www.indiancasinos.com/newmexico.shtml

At times fuel price maybe better at them as well. Not always.

Not far off the interstate, west of Grants, Blue Water Lake State Park, west of Albu'que on I-40, might be a good place to overnight. But is only about 100 miles out of ABQ.
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/bluewaterlakestatepark.html

By Gallup: This was a neat place to camp and visit (have not been to in it many years), even with a museum near by all close to Gallup at Red Rock/Churchrock just off of I-40 east of town. It was a State Prk at the time we used it.

El Morro National Monument is neat to see & has a small campground; there is a private campgound near by as well. Near Grants or can be reached from Gallup. We went from Gallup to Zuni Pueblo then to El Morro (we lingered too long at the Pueblo and didn't get to hike the trial at El Morro, got there too late in the day; its a neat trail too, we had hiked it before). Of course one could go to it from Grants as well.

One could easily, go by El Morro from Grants area, then drive the back roads to Gallup.

Flagstaff - Gallup - Grants- Albuquerque - Santa Fe -Las Vegas - Plus

New Mexico State Parks are a great Value. No entry fees on top of camping fee. Most have very nice free showers.

NM State Park Finder MAP.

Might want to go by Navajo National Monument in Arizona (not been to it yet, but seems neat). Maybe a day to see with an overnight. Navajo Nat'l Mon't

US 54 Kansas, OK & NM (northern area)

One may go to Santa Fe, from I-40 using Exit 218 & take US 285 from Cline's Corners to I-25, close to Glorieta Pass & Pecos.

Or take US 84 (East of Santa Rosa, NM) Exit 256 (I-40) to I-25 (south of Las Vegas).

From the Guyman Area one could work your way to US 56/US 412 W to Clayton, NM (going through Boise City) & on to I-25 (somewhere between Las Vegas & Raton). Fort Union National Monument would be close to this junction. I have not driven this route. Should be a good one. ? Close to Clayton is the Capulin Volcano Nat'l Mon't. Neat place.

One can bypass Santa Fe & much of I-25 by using non-interestate roads from around Las Vegas or Raton. I have driven US 64 E from Taos area to Raton area. Scenic but could be slow at times. Goes to Eagles Nest and through Cimarron Canyon & Cimarron (the town), etc. High elevations by Eagles Nest. NM Vietnam Veterans Memorial is near Eagles Nest as is Cimarron Canyon State Park. Eagle Nest Lake State Park has a small campground (19 sites) now, but no showers.

NM-518 from Taos to Las Vegas should be a good route as well.

Old Post

From Taos to Chama on US 64 E to Shiprock & on to US 160 E (in AZ) to US 89 S to Flagstaff. No interstate at all.

Aztec Ruins National Monument is off US 64 in Aztec (just after Bloomfield). As is the Rio Grande River Gorge Bridge just after Taos.

Chaco Canyon Nat'l Historic Site is South of Bloomfield. The road can vary from time to time, depending on recent weather & when they had graded the road last. In a few places very rough or mildly rough, some not too bad at all. We didn't want to take the Scamp last year, so just used the pickup & topper. Due to the campground being full, we had to drive the road twice, 4 times if counting into & out.

The entry via US 550 down from Bloomfield seems to be the better of the routes into the park. We did the one from Crownpoint years ago, longer on dirt & much more rough. At least at that time. I believe I noticed an RV park in Bloomfield or maybe Aztec. Not sure how good any would be. Bloomfield is closer to the park than Farmington. We stayed at the BLM Angel Peak campground, south of Bloomfield. No water, pit toilets, on not to bad of sandy road, a little rough at the start only. Follow signs, GPS wanted to go on other roads if checking it out. Better description of the road in Part 2 below.

The Chaco campground was pretty good, dirt roads mainly (a little dusty), had water at the restrooms, which were good. But last morning, the one by us was closed, due to water break. Water & restrooms by visitor center as well. No showers.

Our Chaco Canyon Trip Part One in 2012. A hard one to get back into at times. Part Two

Navajo Lake State Park is NE of Bloomfield as well. Only been to Pine Campground.