Vaughn NM to I-10 at Las Cruces

[paynet]

I'm heading to Florence AZ next week and instead of our normal route through Dallas in Interstate all the way i'm thinking of going to Wichita Kansas then 54 down to Alamogordo NM then 70 over to Las Cruces to I-10. I have been on most of 54 except from Vaughn NM down to Alamorgordo. I have never been on 70 from Alamogordo to Las Cruces. We have a 2004 40ft Monoco Diplomat and this year pulling a 24 ft enclosed trailer with Ford Taurus and Harley dresser inside. I have ruled out 60 over the mountains pulling a trailer. The trailer is new with working brakes on both axles. Any thought s would be appreciated.

[fanrgs]

frizzen wrote:

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
Three Rivers is one of my favorite ‘secret’ locations. It has two 50amp with water RV sites for $9 per night for Senior Pass, $18 for others. No dump station.

This is the campground at the petroglyph site. If you go about 12 or 13 miles on up that road you will get to the Three Rivers campground.

The difference is that the US Forest Service's Three Rivers campground has no hookups. The BLM RV sites at the petroglyphs does.

[frizzen]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
Shhhhhhh.....

Three Rivers is one of my favorite ‘secret’ locations. It has two 50amp with water RV sites for $9 per night for Senior Pass, $18 for others. No dump station.

Though it is a great location, there are a few dozen campgrounds across the West with petroglyphs, Valley of Fires is the only one I’ve heard of overlooking a lava flow so close.

This is the campground at the petroglyph site. If you go about 12 or 13 miles on up that road you will get to the Three Rivers campground.

[NMDriver]

Second Chance wrote:

I've always wondered what part of the state you lived in, NMDriver. Hello from a native Las Crucen. We'll be back this spring to visit my mom and sisters...
Rob

I sent you a PM.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Shhhhhhh.....

Three Rivers is one of my favorite ‘secret’ locations. It has two 50amp with water RV sites for $9 per night for Senior Pass, $18 for others. No dump station.

Though it is a great location, there are a few dozen campgrounds across the West with petroglyphs, Valley of Fires is the only one I’ve heard of overlooking a lava flow so close.

[fanrgs]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
A few miles west of Carrizozo is the BLM Valley of Fires campground. 30 amp with water, nice shower/ restroom and dump station. It is built right on the edge of the lava flow with a great nature trail out into the lava field.

Another great BLM site north of Alamogordo is the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. You hike a trail between lava boulders covered with petroglyphs--thousands of them! One of the ore interesting sites I have visited in New Mexico. The site also has a small number of RV sites with electricity (formerly free, but not sure now).

[Dave_and_Sue]

Vaughn to Almagordo is a really nice drive.Stop in Vaughn at the station as you come into town.Last chance for diesel that I saw when we went through there last year. Two lane asphault all the way.

[Gonzo42]

I was stationed at WSMR back in the 60's. Visited a few years ago. If you like chili at all I recommend you visit Hatch, NM, just north of Las Cruces. There is where the tastiest chili is grown.

Have you considered a detour to Carlsbad for the caverns?

[Second_Chance]

NMDriver wrote:

pigman1 wrote:
The difference between 380 and 70 is that the 380 route's hills are shorter and not as high.

Not true when talking about US70 between Alamagordo and Las Cruces vs Carrizozo to San Antonio.

I worked on White Sands Missile Range for 3 years, still live in Las Cruces and drive over the pass every week at least once. It is a short up and down with no long steep areas.

I've always wondered what part of the state you lived in, NMDriver. Hello from a native Las Crucen. We'll be back this spring to visit my mom and sisters...

Rob

[Edd505]

OK 60 is very drive able with your rig, I used to drive that in a 75ft 18 wheeler on that route. Drive 60 from Vaughn to I25 and go south. I drive it regularly with my 5W going into Monzano SP or up to Tucummcarri area where there are a number of state parks.

Not sure where you have planned stops but Oliver Lee SP has some really unlevel sites. Also 70 across to Las Cruces gets closed for White Sands Missal Range tests if you go that way check for road closures & times.

[NMDriver]

pigman1 wrote:
The difference between 380 and 70 is that the 380 route's hills are shorter and not as high.

Not true when talking about US70 between Alamagordo and Las Cruces vs Carrizozo to San Antonio.

I worked on White Sands Missile Range for 3 years, still live in Las Cruces and drive over the pass every week at least once. It is a short up and down with no long steep areas.

[pigman1]

Second Chance wrote:
San Augustin Pass just east of Las Cruces near White Sands Missile Range is your only obstacle between Alamogordo and Cruces. The eastern side of the pass (climbing as you're going west) consists of four miles of 3 - 5% and then two miles of 6% (with a 1/2 mile of 4% in the middle). Going down the west side, you'll have 2.5 miles of 6%, a half mile of 4%, then another 1/2 mile of 6%. The remaining four miles are mostly 5% easing to 3% near the bottom. Only you can judge how your rig will handle these grades. I'm comfortable with them in my rig - but it's a different animal. The evening and morning rush hours experience heavy traffic between Las Cruces and the missile range on the east side of the pass.

Rob

Definitely. We don't have hill issues, but this route definitely has it's share, in spades. I have seen a number of RV's pulled over on 70 with either overheating on the up hill route or hot brakes on the downhill run. 54 puts you on a just about a flat run, but then you'll have to deal with El Paso traffic. We regularly run the El Paso I-10 run, but try to pick our the schedule so we're not battling drive time traffic. 380 from Carrizozo to San Antonio is a good 2 lane road but does have significant hills up and down. The difference between 380 and 70 is that the 380 route's hills are shorter and not as high.

[NMDriver]

The pass is actually 5719ft according to the sign at the top, and you do not start going up the grade until you are at the missile range HQ road on the west side of the Tularosa Basin, not at the 54/70 junction.

I drive 54-70 several times a year. There are no significant grades, but there are ups and downs around Corona, NM. Get your fuel in Santa Rosa and try to make it at least to Alamagordo before refueling.

I am not sure what mountains you are referring to on US 60, but I do not think you would have any trouble on US 60 either. Except for the decent into the Salt River Canyon it is fairly flat. Especially from Vaughn to Show Low where it starts down to the river.

[RE_Todd]

You should have no issues with this. The road from Alamogordo to Las Cruces is 4 lane divided highway with a 70 mph speed limit. When you get to Las Cruces, take Interstate 25 south to connect to Interstate 10 west. This avoids driving through town which is a construction mess. The truck stops are on the west side of Las Cruces off of the 10, so another reason to avoid driving through town.

[agesilaus]

Second Chance wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
I've been on 70 in that section, visiting White Sands, several times. Nothing special impressed my memory of that road other than it was a standard 2 lane western highway in good shape. Maybe a little hilly in parts. Google maps shows the altitude climbing 400 ft or so fairly quickly when you approach Las Cruces. And then dropping most of the way back down. The climb starts right after the junction with 54 and going west.

You're WAY off on your elevations, my friend. Alamogordo is 4,366 ft., the pass is 5,779 ft., and Las Cruces is between 3,900 and 4,000 ft. depending on where you're standing in town.

Rob

LOL you are correct I don't know how I did that.