We decided to keep a list of all of the RV Parks that we stay at so that other RVers can benefit from what we learn and we can return to the ones we like in the future. We will rate them with our #DamNomads rating system from 1-5 stars. Keep in mind that a 5 star resort in our mind is similar to what we have at Outdoor Resort Palm Springs so we are using that as a benchmark. This post will be updated as we travel this Summer.
Tombstone RV Park
1475 N. Hwy 80, Tombstone, AZ 85638
520-457-3829
May 12-16, 2019 – This RV Park is about a mile and a half from Tombstone. We chose this park because the reviews of the parks in town weren’t very good. It’s a typical Arizona RV Park with the roads and sites being all gravel but the gravel is small enough that our little dogs didn’t have trouble walking on it. The sites were wide and long. There’s a path at the back of the park that leads to town. We rode our bikes into town that way which was great because it kept us off the highway. They had a nice heated pool which was great and the staff was very friendly, helpful and informative. We stayed in Site # 5 which was easy in and out. Price was $38 a night.
Boot Hill RV Resort
1 Dog Ranch Rd., Alamogordo, NM 88310
575-439-6224
May 16-19, 2019 – We chose this park because we wanted to visit White Sands National Monument and the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Calling this an RV Resort is quite a stretch as there aren’t any amenities except for showers and laundry (both of which we don’t need because we have them in the coach). Just like the RV Parks of Arizona this one is all gravel and it was quite dusty but it was also very windy when we were there. The park (and our site) was about 300 feet from the fairly busy highway. It is right across the street from Pistachioland, home of the world’s largest pistachio. We stayed in site 605 which was an easy in and out. Price was $34 a night.
Carlsbad KOA
2 Manthei Road, Carlsbad, NM 88220
575-457-2000
May 19-26, 2019 – This KOA is in the middle of nowhere and about 45 minutes to Carlsbad Caverns and 20 minutes to the town of Carlsbad but there aren’t any other RV parks to stay at that are closer. Their sign at the highway was missing so you can easily miss it if you don’t have your GPS on. The staff at this KOA were so friendly and we thought it was fun that they had all of the names of everyone checking in on a welcome board outside of the office. There is a dirt road on the edge of the park that you can walk or ride to Brantley Lake. There was a little bit of grass between sites but it was pretty sad, but better than nothing. We paid extra to have a deluxe site with a paved patio, covered are with wrought iron table and chairs, swing, firepit and barbecue. They had a nice but very small pool that was not heated so it was really cold, but refreshing on a hot day. They normally have a restaurant that you can order food and have it delivered to your site, but it was closed for remodeling when we were there. There were quite a few permanent RVs there but they were at the back of the park. The park was very big rig friendly. We stayed in site C 5. Price was $68 a night.
Clovis RV Park
3009 N Prince St., Clovis, NM 88101
575-742-5035
May 26-29, 2019 – We chose this RV Park because it was the furthest away from the train tracks and it was in the middle of town so it was convenient for shopping, eating out, etc. We came to Clovis because this is where we met almost 30 years ago and we wanted to come back to check it out. After driving around and seeing the other RV Parks, this one is by far the best one in town (which isn’t really saying much). It used to be a mobile home park so it’s laid out kind of weird but there was plenty of room for our coach and truck. There aren’t any amenities except for showers and laundry but the location was great. The manager was really friendly and helpful. Almost all of the sites are permanent or extended stay residents (military, oil workers and electricians for the wind turbines) so it was very quiet. We stayed in site 37. Price was $34 a night.
Albuquerque North/Bernalillo KOA
555 South Hill Rd., Bernalillo, NM 87004
505-867-5227
May 29-31, 2019 – We chose this RV Park because it was along our route to Mesa Verde. We were originally going to stay in Santa Fe for a week but changed our plans. I forgot to take a picture at this park but there wouldn’t have been much to see. We had a very narrow and unlevel site and we had to pull so far forward that our door opened up into the tree that was between the two sites. The utilities were in a weird place so we had to extra sewer hose. We were right next to the dog run which was convenient and also meant we didn’t have neighbors on one side, luckily it didn’t smell. They have a heated pool but they didn’t have it open when we were there because there had been thunderstorms and they were concerned about lightening so they locked them and no one ever went back to unlock them. The roads were pretty tight for us but we could still get in and out. The best part of this park is there is a back gate that leads you to a local brewery where we went for beer and pizza (which were both delicious) and they had live music and flamenco dancers that night too. We stayed in site P 46. We paid $48 a night.
Ancient Cedars RV Park
34979 Hwy 160 Frontage Road, Mancos, CO 81325
970-565-3517
May 31 – June 7, 2019 – We chose this park because of its proximity to Mesa Verde National Park. It is literally across the highway from the visitor center. The location is great because the drive from the entrance of the park to the cliff dwellings was 45-60 minutes depending on which dwellings you are visiting. I wish we would have added an extra 15 minutes to our drive and stayed in Cortez at one of the other RV Parks. This one had very narrow and short sites, the coach barely fit and we had to have our truck parked perpendicular in front of the coach without encroaching on our neighbor’s space. The only place where there was room to sit outside was on the rickety picnic table which was literally next to the neighbor’s sewer hose. There was non-stop smell of cat pee outside which permeated inside if you opened any windows. I actually thought our cat had peed inside our coach until we drove away and the smell went away. The cell signal there is horrible which isn’t good when you are still working. The first few days the park WiFi was good enough that John could work with that but then it got really bad. They have a pool and hot tub but they didn’t open up the pool until the first day we got there and it was freezing cold. The hot tub needed a replacement part and never worked the whole time we were there. It’s probably okay though because it was 1/4 mile from our site to the pool. The owners (or managers) were very nice but other than that this park was my least favorite so far on this trip. We stayed in site 611. We paid $38.50 a night.
Montrose/Black Canyon National Park KOA
200 N. Cedar Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401
970-249-9177
June 7-16, 2019 – We chose this park because we wanted to be in Montrose to visit Olathe (where my Mom went to high school) and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. We loved the location of the park since it’s right in town just off of Main Street, close to everything and only 20 minutes to the National Park (this park is a do NOT miss!). Our site was nice, it would have been better if it was a bit longer because we had to overlap the truck and coach but the site was long enough for us to do that. We had a great big tree that provided nice shade all day long and lots of birds to keep the cat entertained through the windows. We had a nice grass lawn where we could sit outside with the dogs and for the dogs to do their “business”. There was a nice pool that was a comfortable temperature and a hot tub. The hot tub was a residential one but most KOAs don’t have a hot tub so that was nice. We were able to enjoy the pool and hot tub during the week but once the weekend came it was too packed for our liking. The employees were all really friendly and nice. It looked like they had a nice little general store but I didn’t shop so I don’t know what all they had. The neighborhood around the park looked a bit sketchy but we didn’t have any issues or see anyone or anything to be concerned about. It was a very easy in and out although we chose to hookup the truck once we were outside of the park but the road is nice and wide so there was plenty of room. The cell reception was good, we were able to work and stream videos. We stayed in site 26. We paid $53.90 a night.
Grand Junction KOA
2819 Highway 50, Grand Junction, CO 81503
970-242-2527
June 16-18, 2019 – We chose this KOA because we wanted to be here so we could drop off our coach for some service work at a place in Grand Junction. Since we were only going to be there two days we weren’t being too picky and as members of KOA we earn points from each stay that can be used for future stays so we decided this KOA would work. The sites were long and wide with a little grass patch, fire pit, paved patio and tree for shade. As with most KOAs, the sites and roads are made of gravel but the gravel is small enough that our little dogs could walk on it easily. They have a pool but it was freezing cold and it’s right next to the highway so it’s not very peaceful. There is a game room with a pool table, air hockey and four way ping pong. The staff was very friendly although when we had an issue with the neighbor’s dog being on a leash so long that he could crawl under their park and be in our site, the staff member said that as long as people are leashing their dogs, they don’t do anything about it. The rules say no longer than a six foot leash, but obviously that isn’t enforced. The park was very clean. We didn’t use the showers or restrooms so I can’t report on that but if the rest of the park is any indication, then they were likely clean and in good repair. The park is right next to the county fairgrounds so it would be a great place to stay if you are attending an event there. There is also a City Market, liquor store and few restaurants. The park is only 20 minutes to Colorado National Monument, which was the only sightseeing we got to do while we were there. We stayed in site C7. We paid $49.76 per night.
Grande River Vineyards (A Harvest Host Location)
Palisade, CO
When we only have a one night stay we try to find a Harvest Host location. For the equivalent price of two stays in an RV park you can join Harvest Hosts and stay as many nights as you want (one night per location at a time). Free overnight stays at over 1163 locations: 345 Golf Courses, Country Clubs, Golf Resorts, Hotels, access to spa facilities, and more. Plus 818 Wineries, Farms, Breweries, Distilleries, Museums, and other unique attractions. If you want to join Harvest Hosts, you can use this link and save 15% on your membership. http://harvesthosts.refr.cc/kristend
As a Harvest Host member you are expected to purchase something from the host as a thank you for providing a place to stay. Since we love wine that is no trouble for us at the winery locations. We did a wine tasting and decided on a couple bottles of wine. This winery is located at the base of the beautiful Bookcliffs in Palisade, CO. From the winery we walked next door for Food Truck Friday and were able to get a great dinner too.
Dam(azio) Nomads 