Yuma to Ft Stockton...looking for suggestions

[rastaman33609]

Will be leaving Florida and taking I10 to Yuma Arizona, For the return trip I am looking for suggestions for a route to take that will provide places to see and camp (cheap or free, blm) I don't mind going out of the way and off the beaten path, between Yuma and Ft Stockton where I will be heading south to Big Bend.(I am familiar with the big bend area)
We carry motorcycles and enjoy riding back roads in the area we camp.

[lane_hog]

Definitely do the side trip to Carlsbad Caverns, but instead of Brantley Lake, I'd recommend Guadelupe Mountains National Park. There's a small campground right off of US-62 at Pine Springs, and a visitor center.

Our only experience with Brantley was miserable -- thousands of flies trying to invade any opening they could find...

[Reddog1]

Great write up and photos. Thanks for sharing.

Wayne

[DesertHawk]

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???

Valley of Fires BLM Campground (near Carrizozo) is a first rate campground with electric & water hookups, good dump station and a fine shower house. Not Alpine area, warmer. Pics & description can be found:
Campground . . and . . Cloudcroft, Lincoln/Capitan, Carrizozo/White Oaks. Campgrounds not open yet end of March and early April.

South of Silver City is City of Rocks State Park, a neat place to see & would make a nice overnight stop.

Around the Deming Area: Pancho Villa SP is south of Deming right on the Mexican Border in Columbus, NM. Pancho Villa raided Columbus on Mar 9, 1916. HISTORY Of THE COLUMBUS RAID It was only a few years before the US would enter World War I which was already raging in Europe.

North of Deming towards Silver City is City of Rocks State Park. I've never been to Pancho Villa, but have enjoyed out trips & stays at City of Rocks. Ditto on City of Rocks

Silver City Area -Videos

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.

Our 3 days at Brantley Lake State Park 10 miles or so North of Carlsbad. Had to stay an extra day when the road up to the Caverns was closed due to Flash Flood warnings, very heavy rains on Friday. Water & electric, no cable, but good TV signals which helped on rainy Friday. Not crowed, but several camping. Didn't check out the dry camping area. These all had water & electric with a few with sewer. Saturday was overcast & cool. Walked in from the entrance, about 2 1/2 hrs. The oil field traffic is extremely bad now up there from Balmorhea to Pecos & on to Carlsbad. A great many tankers on the highways plus dump trucks, flat bed semis & other trucks.










1 night at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park 12 miles South of Alamogordo. We would have stayed in Cloudcroft, but it was rainy & going to get pretty cold at night. Choose not to get water & electric to see how our two batteries would work (did very well), but poor TV reception. Almost no traffic west bound from Artesia to Cloudcroft, more east bound. Some rain & sprinkles going up as well.
Cloudcroft & Drive Down the Mountain


Only HWY Tunnel in New Mexico


Oliver Lee Memorial State Park










Van Horn & need a place to overnight, the Desert Willow RV Park is a very nice place to do so.


Find a Park Map. NM State Parks: $10 no hookup, $4 for electric, not entry fee on top of camping fee.

Oct 28: we overnighted at Desert Willow RV Park. New to being Passport America (not in the listing book @ the time). We were pleasantly surprised with it. Small, yes, and all gravel, but all pull throughs & a very clean restroom/shower. Didn't use them, but very clean. Extremely friendly & nice staff. $12.50 with the PA discount.

Sonora Caverns might be a neat stop off I-10 (they do have an RV park at them also, I believe) but have never stopped.

We visited Balmorhea, Davis Mountains & Carlsbad in Sept.
Our Trip Report: Touring Chihuahuan Desert Using State Parks

[Reddog1]

I am not sure why this is posted in the TC Forum instead of the Roads and Routes Forum. The OP signature offers no information and does not include RV type.

Unless I am given a reason not to, I will move the Thread to Roads and Routes.

Wayne
Moderator

[msgtord]

You'll be ok along the border. Allot of folks boondocking within miles of the border with no problem. Much of the hype is the media blowing things up.

Take SR 85 south to Organ Pipe at mp75. Or check out BLM land around Ajo.

Also look for an area south of SR 86 called Gunsight.

Happy camping.

[usmcshepherd]

Are you military or retired military by any chance? If so I'd highly suggest the campground at Ft Bliss in El Paso if you're needing to stay anywhere near there as it's safe, very nice and inexpensive. Fort Sam Huston in San Antonio is also very convenient if you want to stop and see the Alamo. Be cautious of boondocking along the southern border...the last time I went across from VA to CA there were all kinds of warnings concerning the violence there, which has increased significantly in the past five years.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

http://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/wheelingit-camping-map_25982#5/39.079/-103.140

On the above map, green markers are boondock sites.

Elephant Butte State Park NM is $14 per night. My Aunt and Uncle went there all the time. We missed it on our last trip but it's on our list.
http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en.html