Go East, old Man, go East in the RV, but where?
 

COVID is shutting down RV parks in CA left and right, we're thinking of going East to AZ, or NM in the next few weeks, where they aren't so restrictive to people in RVs. Concerned about snow so Flagstaff and higher elevations aren't a good idea.

Probably drive to a Needles area RV park on night one, but after that, I'm open to suggestions. Maybe a 10-14 day excursion. Any suggestions of interesting areas? I got snowed in at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in April a few years back, but this time I'll be towing a 4x4 Jeep Grand Cherokee, so snowed in for a few days in the RV is less of a concern.

Key West...Florida

Hurrycane season never end there...

^^^ Yep...they have been getting hit hard lately. :confused:

Las Cruces and push on to Big Bend TX..

MM

I'm liking it, don't know the SW well, but Phoenix, to Tuscon maybe Bisbee (shot a Steven King mini-series there once) [Desperation] not a very good mini-series, but interesting area. On to La Cruces and Big Bend, TX sounds very doable for 10-14 day RV trip. elevation not too high so maybe avoid the snow, at least heavy snow.

Big Bemd is nice. Carlsbad is just a hop skip and a jump if you haven't been there. Desolate area.

Sedona is gorgeous. Lots of hiking, bike trails, etc. and a cool vibe. I always liked Santa Fe too (but it can get winters being at 7,000’ or so).

Carlsbad, NM, my sister was the lead DOE environmental attorney there for the WIPP 20 years ago, you go down in an elevator about a mile into the salt dome where they store Transuranic waste. If you dig around in the mine tailings, you can find a piece of salt with a water bubble in it that is about a billion years old.

Gimme a shout if you come to Phoenix. I go to Tucson a lot these days and there are some great sights in southern AZ. It's more sparsely populated and with much bigger mountains than around Phoenix. Night sky views are amazing.

If you stay near I-10, you will have 60+ temps the whole way. And I-10 doesn't have much in the way of steep runs.

Sweet thanks guys, I'll post pics where ever we end up going.

IF you make it to Houston, we can do Tex-Mex and beer. Or BBQ and Beer.

There is a really nice RV Park on the Road to Red River NM, called Angel Fire RV Resort. I have never stayed there but rode by it on my motorcycle a few years ago and to this day remember thinking, damn that place is nice.

911 Checking it out now.

Excellent!

Bill

I recommend Pinetop/lakeside az. Not too yuppy like flag and are mostly retirees with a few random Mormons. From there you can see all of new Mexico via two lane highway. The very large Array is that way too. If you have dd form 2; Luke afb just opened up a new rv camp ground.

I’m going to Pinnacles on Monday. There are KOAs still open too

I wouldn't suggest Nashville right now. :rolleyes:

What about Baja?

NM is locked down.
 

Carlsbad Caverns was closed a couple of weeks ago, call ahead.
Big Bend is nice this time of year but it’s very popular with the winter
Texans so get reservations.

I could not recommend this more, Hugh. I drive Route 60 every chance I get.

There are a lot of campground, etc. in the area: https://www.campendium.com/new-mexico/magdalena

Madgalena is a cool little town.

With the Jeep, the roads in the area are spectacular.

I've never seen a night sky as bright as in Big Bend Nat'l Park. Once we "entered" the park, we drove for almost 90 minutes to get to the campsite which was right at the Rio Grande. We set up tents at 2AM by star light. "Billions and billions" of them as Carl would say.

Quartzsite Az. is a hangout for many snowbirds, and has lots of boondocking opportunities.

https://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/

Run up to Montana, some good country side up there..

there's talk of the "stay at home" orders being extended.
does this apply?

Creature, that is why I'm traveling outside of CA.

Baja, no, too much covid and lawlessness,

Montana, there and Wyoming and the Dakotas, a few months ago, too much snow as well, I suspect.


IIRC we filmed portions of "Wild Hogs" in Magdalena. Pretty place

Just inside of Az, south of I -40. There are a couple of state parks along the Colo river.
I've stayed a couple of times in Buckskin state park, pretty nice being in the green zone near the river.

The other two in that area are Lake Havasu, and Cattail Cove. I haven't stayed at these by worth looking into.

The scene in quartzite is way too many people for keeping your space clear.

Have also stayed in Dead Horse Ranch state park south of Sedona, nice, but mid elevation, so can be pretty cold mid winter.

Lost Dutchman S P And Picacho Peak S P. Not too far from Phonex are low elevation and nice.

Your rig looks nice with the jeep along.
Have fun.

Cheers Richard

This was staying in Dead Horse SP. AZ, south of Sedona around New Years a few years ago.
Pretty chilly, I was the only rig in the park. Most RVers go south and look for lower elevation for winter camping.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1609105742.jpg

Nice. I'm very self contained.

Nashville?

Probably cheap hotel rates there now, but I'll be in an RV

Scottsdale. Send a note if you get close.

That is damn funny right there .......... gold Jerry gold :D

Hugh if you find the weather ok there in central Az. There is an interesting route from the river near Parker heading east towards Sedona. First you cross a mix of desert terrain for a few hours. Then you get to the mountains west of Prescott (a cool old historic western town) worth a visit to its old time saloons around the town square.

Just north of Prescott there is a lake surrounded by some unusual rock formations, called the Granite Dells. Settled into these rocks is the Point Of Rocks RV park, this is an interesting place to check out. Spend a day walking the rocks checking out the lake.

Take another day to drive your jeep over Mingus Mountain over to Jerome ( old copper mining town purched on the edge of the mountain over looking the Verde valley to the east). Not a good drive for the RV. Over this mountain. But easy to drive around to the south to get to Verde Valley.

If you continue over to Sedona area, as well as the red rocks of Sedona, a couple of commercial RV parks. there is a great drive north of Sedona in Oak Creek canyon.

Heading more to the east from Verde valley you encounter the Mogollon rim of the Colo plateau. This takes you up to the 7,000 elevation, probably a no go zone in winter.

I spent most of my time in this area of AZ. So I thought I'd share more details for your trip planning.

Cheers Richard

Looks like we're going to Buckskin Mountain State Park in AZ for five days. Near Parker Dam. Thanks everyone.