RV Parks

New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM

American RV Park - West side of town adjacent I-40. Paseo Del Vulcan exit. Nice park, in the open desert, pretty close to main highway. With our winds this one would have to be a last resort for me.

Balloon Park - Alameda exit off of I25. Close in for visiting with family and friends. Very popular at time of Balloon Fiesta, the first part of August. Large driving range, with classes for the golfer in me. Cute place to meet friends at Gardunos' on the Green. No shade, and open to the wind. Not one of my favorites during the hot season.

Chociti Lake, NM

US Army Corp of Engineers Project. Exit 258 off on I-25, between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Data: 82 Dam Crest Road, Pena Blanca, NM 87041, 505-465-0307, Fax 505-465-0316. A body of water of some size and use makes facilities run by the Army Corp of Engineers of interest to me. In the desert they are rare and appeal to almost everyone. From I-25 to the lake is less than 10 minutes. Facilities are located on both the east and west sides, to include boat ramps. Most of the facilities are on the west side. Loop A has both electric and water. No sewer hooks up, but there is a dump site at the entrance to Loop A. Weekends arrivals are not suggested during the summer. Best fishing is reported to be at the rock quarry. Check the detailed signs posted around the park. About 30 miles to Albuquerque and about 30 miles to Santa Fe.

Navajo Lake State Park - Lake on the border of Colorado and New Mexico. The camping area in the pictures below is about 28 miles east of Farmington, NM. Navajo Lake is clear and cold, and the river below the spill way is reputed to be one of the best trout fishing streams in America. As you can see there are trees in the area. It has been several years since I visited the area. More info and pictures to follow.

Santa Fe, NM

Santa Fe Skies RV Park - Hwy. 14 & I-25 exit. South on Hwy. 14 to Hwy. 599. East to RV Park about 1 block from corner grocery store. Data: 14 Browncastle Ranch, Santa Fe, NM 87508. 504-473-5946, Toll Free 877-565-0451, or Fax 505-471-9069. As of June, 2006, they quoted me pull through sites, w/tax $32.99. Monthly about $530.00. Not a bad RV Park, but certainly nothing to write home about. The laundry facilities, and small grocery store are okay. The sites have some space around them, and there is a small tree here and there. I suspect the city lights would be nice at night, and there are a few places where you can park with shade on the correct side of a RV, and yet keep the sun out of the front.

Rancheos de Santa Fe Campground - Hwy. 25, and Hwy. 285 exit. Park is east of Santa Fe about 2.5 miles on I-25. Turn north after getting off the exit ramp. East on old Las Vegas Hwy. about a mile. Data: 736 Old Las Vegas Hwy., Santa Fe, NM 87508, 505-466-3482, or Toll Free 800-426-9259. June, 2006 they quoted $35.50 w/o discount memberships. There is a 10% tax in the Santa Fe area. A large campground with short trees, but in some spots the trees are tall enough to provide some shade. Combination campground which includes tents, trailers, and RV's.

KOA - Same directions as above, but you have to drive about 1.5 miles further east on Old Las Vegas Highway. Data: 736 Old Las Vegas Hwy., Santa Fe, NM 87508, 505-466-1419. Did not impress me. Not as much shade, and the typical KOA look, but it would probably be okay if I wanted to stay over night.

There are two other RV Parks in Santa Fe, both are pretty much adjacent to Cerritos Road. I did not check these out since I knew from having stayed in hotels along Cerritos Road that the noise is often quite unpleasant.

Santa Rosa, NM

Santa Rosa Campground - Exit 275 from I-40. Left on Route 66, about 1 mile. Data: 2136 Historic Route 66, P.O. Box 423, Santa Rosa, NM 88435, 505-472-3126. Email: santarosacampground@speakeasy.net. Probably the best available in the town. Santa Rosa State Park is about 7 miles north of town. Good roads, and very well maintained campsites. Loop A, offers electrical and water.

Socorro, NM

Casey's Socorro RV Park - Exit 147 from I-25. Look to the west and you can't miss it. Data: 1101 State Road 1 SW, Socorro, NM 87801, 505-835-2234 or Toll Free 888-674-2234. No Internet page listed. Far enough from I-25 to miss much of the interstate noise. Some will be surprised to learn New Mexico Tech, the local university has an excellent golf course. Green fees are very reasonable and the course is super. The university's main function is energy studies, using "dynamic methods", which translates into one or two explosions on some days. Many of them will rock your RV so don't be surprised. It is just a college class going off in a rather unusual way.

Tijeras, NM

Hidden Valley RV Park - Exit 178, off I-40, to the east of Albuquerque. About 10 minutes from the city and good shopping. Data: 844 - B, East Highway 66, Tijeras, NM 87059, 1-800-326-2024. Good idea to make reservations, especially on the weekends. Very small store, but close to Chevron Station so minor grocery items are easy to obtain. Good laundry facilities, and swimming pool is not bad either. Lots of trees, which really sits this place apart for the city locations. In my opinion this is the best RV Park within an hours drive of Albuquerque, and to the best of my knowledge I have been to all of them.

Truth or Consequences, NM

RJ RV Park - Exit 75, off I-25. About a mile east of the exit on north side of road. Data: 2103 S. Broadway, 87901, 505-894-9777. Managed by Charles and Robin Ruble. An over 55 park, that is clean, hookups in good condition, and club house well maintained. About 7 PM a number of guests gather to play cards and pool. There are several other nice parks in the area, and a nine hole golf course in Truth or Consequences. Three small towns in the area are supported by the tourist activities associated with Elephant Butte Lake. From the number of boats in storage it appears the summer time is quite active.

Texas

Amarillo, TX

Fort Amarillo RV Resort - Exit 62B, from I40. This is the "Business" I-40 route. Continue east of Business I-40, about 1 mile. Data: 10101 Amarillo Blvd, Amarillo, TX 79124. 806-331-1700. <http://www.fortamarillorvresort.com>. Only one I have stayed at in the area, but this one is nice enough to keep me coming back. Enjoyed the indoor pool, and work-out facilities. 50 amp service at all sites. Gary and Trina, the owners are super people.

Colorado

Durango, CO

Alpen Rose RV Park - About 2 miles north of the Durango, CO, city limits on Hwy. 550. Data: 27847 Highway 550 N., Durango, CO 81301, 1-877-259-5791, 970-247-5540, Web Page: www.alpenroservpark.com, email: camp@alpenroservpark.com. I checked several RV Parks in the Durango area, the latter part of June 06. While it is true I did not have time to look at any of the parks along Hwy. 160 east of Durango, the Alpen Rose was the best I saw. It is by far the most expensive. I misplaced the daily rate sheet, but the monthly was quoted at about $891.00, so you can guess from there, or go to their website. There is a super nice Golf Course just north on Hwy. 550. Silverton, CO, is about an hour north. One has to go over two mountain passes to get there. A car is easy. I even saw a few smaller motor homes, but my opinion remains some people need a head space and timing check to take a rig over passes that high. I was a peace officer in Colorado for well over a decade, and had to scrape more than a few of them off the valley below so I have go reason for suggesting caution.

Arizona

Willcox, AZ

Lifestyle RV Resort - Exit 344 from I-10. From exit about four miles into town. On north side of N. Haskell Ave. Data: 622 N. Haskell Ave, Willcox, AZ 85643, 520-384-3303, Toll Free 1-877-789-5210, email lifestyle2@hotmail.com, WWW:vtc.net/~lifestyle/. Pretty much everything in the way of hookups, fitness center, pool, spa, WIFI, etc. Rather sparse pad sites, but okay for a short stay. Just lots of gravel.

Benson, AZ

Butterfield RV Resort - Ocotillo Exit from I-10. About the middle of town. South about 1 mile (just past Safeway). Data: 251 S. Ocotillo Ave., Benson, AZ 85602, phone 800-863-8160. Very reasonable season rates for long stays. $380.00 + electric. Spoke with a number of long time residents and they had lots of positive things to say.

Tucson, AZ

Beaudry RV Resort - Exit 264 from I-10. Left on Irvington Blvd. Left on Country Club to park on east side. Data: 5151 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson, AZ 85706. 1-877-694-9176. Make sure you tell them you are not interested in buying. The sales people have an unpleasant approach according to many. Best sites have their on hot tubs. Nice fitness center and pool. $30 per night.

Phoenix, AZ

Canyon Vistas RV Resort - Hwy. 60 on east side of Phoenix area. Data: 6601 E. US Highway 60, Gold Canyon, AZ 85218, phone 480-288-8844. <http://www.cal-am.com>. Cal-AM has several RV Resorts in the Phoenix area. So far I have only been to this one and it is way cool. At the base of the Superstition Mountains, large spaces, great facilities, and super long term. Monthly rate is $530 + electric. Daily $36.00. This one is a Wow!

More to follow as time permits.