New Mexico visit

[ovrdrawn]

Hello,

I'm planning a trip from central Florida to Albuquerque, to attend the balloon fest this October. I would like to stop in Carlsbad to see the caverns and also Rosewell, on the way. Can anyone give me some input/suggestions on campgrounds in those areas? (Or other things to see/do?)

Thanks,
Andy

[eubank]

Ah, I'm not a great fan of El Paso, but its safety record is actually pretty astounding:

http://www.kvia.com/news/El-Paso-again-ranks-as-safest-U-S-city/-/391068/18410136/-/g0jb03/-/index.h...

🙂
Lynn

[loggenrock]

Glad you opted for Brantley Lake. We used Trailer Village right in Roswell for the night - yes, 1 day was totally adequate, but it was fun! (isn't that the idea???). A brother firefighter STRONGLY suggested we NOT go from Carlsbad down to El Paso, the obvious route and what we had been planning. Very real safety concerns (at least in 2010 when we were there) even travelling along I-10 in that area - cartels were flexing their muscles along the border. Instead we headed west over 82 (?) thru Cloudcroft and down to a beautiful SP in Alamogordo, then on to White Sands, etc. Have a great trip - and yes, stay right on the grounds at the balloon festival like 2gypsies mentioned - it was a great experience! ST

[NCBounder]

If you happen to change your mind about going to Roswell, you could go through Guadalupe Mts State Park and over to Las Cruces then head north. Plenty of great scenery and stuff to do that way too. I think NM is one of the most underrated areas for tourist in the country. Beautiful!

[eubank]

Ok, if you're coming up from Valley of Fire on Hwy 380 to I25, you're going to be driving right through San Antonio, NM. That's where you'll find The Buckhorn, whose owner beat Bobby Flay in a green chile cheeseburger throw-down! (People will tell you to eat one at the Owl across the street in San Antonio. Granted, the Owl has a lot more history to it, but I think the Buckhorn's burgers are better.)

🙂
Lynn

[2gypsies1]

Your trip sounds absolutely perfect. Enjoy!!!

[ovrdrawn]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I've added an extra couple of days to the trip and plan 2 days at Brantley lake state park, 1 at Bottomless lake SP and 1 at Valley of Fires Recreation Area before heading to the balloon fest where we stay inside the grounds. Also will take a day trip to Santa Fe, and somewhere get a green chili cheeseburger. 🙂

[Kit_Carson]

We stayed at KOA Central for the balloon fiesta a couple of years ago. Very nice campground (prices elevated because of fiesta, but what's new). When we left Albq we went to Ft. Sumner for Billy the Kid stuff, did Roswell UFO museum, then went to Carlsbad and stayed at KOA there. As posted, it is quite a ways from the caverns but is exceptionally nice. Enjoy your trip.

[DBW]

Bottomless Lake SP near Roswell is a good stop for a night or two. It had a bit more character (think New Mexico desert) than Lake Brantley SP in my opinion. Part of reason we stayed there was to avoid pulling the 5th wheel needlessly to Carlsbad since the trip was head north after leaving Roswell. One of the offbeat things not mentioned about Roswell is the aircraft boneyard (storage) of old airliners at the airport south of town. Second offbeat thing is the alien themed McDonald's in Roswell. Less offbeat is the art museum in Roswell. I don't recall the name or details but it was a worthwhile stop. Don't forget to have at least one green chili cheeseburger while in New Mexico. The good ones are truly special.

[trailertraveler]

A lot of these are likely in DesertHawk's links but here is my list: for New Mexico: Fort Union National Monument, Pecos National Historic Site, Bandelier National Monument, Petroglyph National Monument, El Malpais National Monument, El Moro National Monument, Aztec Ruins National Monument, Salinas Pueblos National Monument, White Sands National Monument, Tent Rocks National Monument, Acoma Sky City, Pueblo Cultural Center, Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, The Very Large Array, The Blue Hole, Cumbres & Toltec Railroad, Salmon Ruins , Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Rio Grande River Gorge , Mining Museum, Tucumcari, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Turquoise Trail

[Trlrboy]

We've stayed at Brantley Lake SP also. Nice place, kind of windy in the evenings but the stars are phenomenal.

[DesertHawk]

What I have on the San Antonio Area & the :C Texas Hill Country. Southern NM/West Texas using I-10 to San Antonio.

The Alpine, TX area and the Big Bend Area might be interesting.

Guadalupe Pass (Texas) Near Carlsbad Area - New Mexico

Never done any Sightseeing in Roswell, NMMI Museum Might be Interesting or the Sinkhole Lakes @ Bottomless Lakes State Park. A Visit at RMAC and seeing Art might be cool. Nice Drive up to Mountains on US 70 W to Ruidoso Area from Roswell. I enjoyed The Hurd La Rinconada Gallery with it's Wyeth family connection at San Patricio on US 70 (3.5 miles past US 380 turn off). Deer Crossing RV (50+) Park near San Patricio (never stayed, no bargain); had been PassPort America, but not now it seems.

:C West of Roswell US 70/US 380 to US 54 - - - - - -> US 380 runs from Roswell to Carrizozo to San Antonio, between Carrizozo & US 70 one passes Billy the Kid Country & Lincoln & Smokey Bear in Capitan all in Lincoln County & the neat Valley of Fire BLM Campground is near Carrizozo, then take US 54 south to Alamogordo. Or US 380 to San Antonio, NM & I-25. Or US 54 N to Santa Fe.

:C Valley of Fires BLM Campground is a first rate campground with electric & water hookups, good dump station and a fine shower house. Pics & description can be found: Campground . . and . . Cloudcroft, Lincoln/Capitan, Carrizozo/White Oaks.

From Artesia, US 82 through Cloudcroft to Alamogordo is another neat drive. US 285 in TX will lead you to the Carlsbad & on up to US 82. US 70 between Las Cruces & Alamogordo, :C White Sands Nat'l Monument & Alamogordo Area. This site also has info on Carlsbad......I believe I would stay at Brantley State Park to base to see the area by Carlsbad.

PS: one can reach Santa Fe/ABQ from Carrizozo via US 54 to NM 3 to US 285 N to I-25 S to Santa Fe then to ABQ.
US 285 Detour to Santa Fe from I-40 :::::: Back Roads New Mexico

:C Santa Fe has a lot of neat things to see & do. Santa Fe & Bandelier Nat'l Mon't -A Trip Report last summer.

More on the Santa Fe Area Expanded & ABQ.

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, might work for you. Cochiti Lake CG

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.

An Older Post on Campgrounds in Santa Fe.

We have heard good things about camping over by Pecos 16 to 23 miles north of Pecos on Highway 63 and Forest Road 122 at Holy Ghost, Iron Gate & Jack's Creek Campgrounds. Good elevations for these I believe.

More info in this older post: Flagstaff - Gallup - Grants- Albuquerque - Santa Fe - Plus

Just In Case you get to Las Cruces. Here's some info on the 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???

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.

North of Las Cruces I-25: Around the T or C area, three state parks, Elephant Butte SP and Caballo SP with Caballo being closest to the interstate as well as Percha Dam State Park a nice place on Rio Grande, near Caballo Lake. Elephant Butte Lake State Park headquarters are 5 miles north of Truth or Consequences via I-25 exit 83. Caballo Lake State Park is 16 miles south of Truth or Consequences via I-25 exit 59 and NM 187. Percha Dam State Park is 21 miles south of Truth or Consequences via I-25, exit 59.

:C New Mexico State Parks Best Camping Prices Around & No Day Fees on top of camping fees (unlike CO & TX). Most (not all) have free showers. NM Camping Fees

North of TorC, just off of I-25 by San Antonio, NM, the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

Bosque Birdwatchers RV Park Never stayed there, but have read about others staying there to see the Bosque. As a matter of fact you could take US 380 from I-25 at San Antonio to Carrizozo.

[2gypsies1]

For Carlsbad, Brantley Lake State Park is a nice place to stay. For the Balloon Festival, the best place is right on the grounds, not in an RV park. You'll have all the action right in front of you without having the traffic and parking problems to contend with. You'd also have a chance to crew for a balloon operator if you wish and would probably get a free ride! Have a good trip!

[TexasShadow]

the KOA in Carlsbad is your best bet.
Roswell Alien museum
cross the mountains on 70 and 380. this route takes you through some of Billy the Kid's country.
there's a nice little federal campground just west of Carrizozo. elec, water and dump station.
going up I 25, there's a real nice rv park at the Isleta Casino. golf course, water, fishing, walking, and it's right on the light rail service which is pretty reasonable to use. the rv park costs around $35.00 a night. a shuttle will take you up to the casino where they have fair to middling dining.
this place is just south of Albuquerque, so it's not far from the balloons gathering.

[sremsing]

Not really a lot to do in Roswell, one afternoon and your done. UFO museum is about it. There is a campground in town, can( remember name of it. Bottomless Lakes is interesting, and does have a campground.