RV Rental, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns

1,197 Views | 11 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by NoahAg
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AG
I'm looking at doing something new this spring break with the kids. I think Carlsbad Caverns will blow their minds. I know I was impressed as a hard to impress 14-year old.

With Covid uncertainty, I think staying at Guadalupe Mountain National Park may be a better bet than staying in New Mexico. To double down on the new experiences, my wife and I are considering renting one of the small RVs.

Questions:
  • Terrible Idea?
  • Good RV campsite recommendations in/around GMNP?
  • Is White Sands and/or Lincoln National Forest worth the extra miles?
  • Does it make more sense to fly to El Paso or Midland and rent there? Or else we would be renting in McKinney. My kids are good road trippers. The novelty of the RV may help with the drive as well.

TIA!
Wicked Good Ag
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White Sands well worth the extra miles.

Where you coming from?
arrow
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AG
Trenton, TX. Just north of McKinney.
AgRyan04
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The campground in Guadalupe Mountains NP is just a parking lot and it is first come first serve, which during spring break, will be more of a challenge than normal.

Near White Sands, I have heard good things about Oliver Lee State Park, but I don't know how COVID would affect it being in NM.
Pro Sandy
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AG
They aren't occurring right now, but if ranger guided tours resume, take them on one. The main cavern has some great ones. Lower Cave is a good first one that doesn't require crawling on your hands and knees. Slaughter Canyon Cave is interesting. Not as pretty as the main cavern, but they do a complete black out on the tour.

My kids have been twice. First in 2013 when we cross country moved. They loved it so lunch they asked to go again when we moved cross country again. Now this year when we move cross country, they've asked to go again. So Carlsbad Cavern is an excellent choice.
Stringfellow Hawke
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AG
Make reservations now. Everything is crazy bc of Covid. I know RV's can be really expensive to rent and more difficult to drive.

These look cool. Not sure if they meet space needs.

https://mercedessprinterrvrentals.com/mercedes-sprinter-rental-fleet/

Caladan
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arrow said:

I'm looking at doing something new this spring break with the kids. I think Carlsbad Caverns will blow their minds. I know I was impressed as a hard to impress 14-year old.

With Covid uncertainty, I think staying at Guadalupe Mountain National Park may be a better bet than staying in New Mexico. To double down on the new experiences, my wife and I are considering renting one of the small RVs.

Questions:
  • Terrible Idea?
  • Good RV campsite recommendations in/around GMNP?
  • Is White Sands and/or Lincoln National Forest worth the extra miles?
  • Does it make more sense to fly to El Paso or Midland and rent there? Or else we would be renting in McKinney. My kids are good road trippers. The novelty of the RV may help with the drive as well.

TIA!
You won't be able to use a NM state park unless you have a NM driver's license.

We only camp at state parks, so I cannot speak to any commercial RV places near White's City/CCNP. The two closest TX state parks to CCNP are Hueco Tanks and Monahans Sand Hills, both of which are about 2.5 hours away. You need to reserve yesterday if you want to get an RV campsite in any state park for spring break. Reservable campsites w/electricity and water and that can accommodate a motor home in any reasonably popular National Park are most likely reserved for spring break by now too, but that is pre-Covid. Since Covid, it has become much harder to get an RV campsite at any state or National Park that is the least bit popular.

White Sands NP is well worth seeing, but it might not be worth the trip if you end up staying in the Odessa/Pecos area. However, you could make a loop from CCNP, through Cloudcroft, and down to WSNP, if you could find a place to spend the night. Cloudcroft is a nice little town that may well have snow in March, since it is so high in elevation. From WSNP, it would be a fairly short drive back to Hueco Tanks SP, and you could hop from state park to state park until back home.

Again, if you are going to be doing this sort of thing during spring break, you need to make all reservations immediately, and that includes any commercial RV places (KOA, Jellystone, etc.) that are near a National Park.

C
bayouaggie
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AG
I have a Class C RV (Jayco Greyhawk 31FS) and we did a New Mexico loop for Thanksgiving week 2019. Rough itinerary below. Happy to answer any questions.

Day 1 - Drive The Woodlands to Abilene
Day 2 - Drive Abilene to Whites City NM - there is a full HU campground right in Whites City (which isn't really a city, just a restaurant and general store), which is located only a few miles from entrance to Carlsbad Caverns NP
Day 3 - Day trip to Guadalupe Mtns NP, roughly 30 min drive each way - hiked all day
Day 4 - Took first Carlsbad Cave tour in the morning, went back to RV ate some sandwiches then drove to Alamogordo NM - stayed at KOA Alamogordo/White Sands which was a nice campground right in town
Day 5 - Spent the day at White Sands, hiking and sledding, cool experience
Day 6 - Drove to Ruidoso NM
Day 7 - Snowed all day surprisingly so didn't do anything outdoors. Ate at the Inn of the Mountain Gods casino then I played a little poker while the kids watched movies in the RV
Day 8 - Drove Ruidoso to Abilene
Day 9 - Drove Abilene to The Woodlands

Edited to add that I tow a Jeep Wrangler behind the RV, so use that for getting around after setting up camp.
arrow
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AG
Thanks for all the great info coming in. It sounds like I may be a little late on my research. Hopefully I have more time in the next few days to make some calls.

This is what I had in mind to rent:
El Monte C22

Can you boondock with these little RVs? I've never driven one before. I don't think I'll need electrical or water hook-ups. But I'm pretty ignorant to how many days/nights you can stay comfortable in them without hook-ups.

Caladan
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arrow said:

Thanks for all the great info coming in. It sounds like I may be a little late on my research. Hopefully I have more time in the next few days to make some calls.

This is what I had in mind to rent:
El Monte C22

Can you boondock with these little RVs? I've never driven one before. I don't think I'll need electrical or water hook-ups. But I'm pretty ignorant to how many days/nights you can stay comfortable in them without hook-ups.


You can easily boondock in an RV like that, as long as you watch out for size restrictions, and you have enough water. Water is the most limiting factor, especially if you want to use the toilet. Electricity is not as critical as you don't necessarily need the fridge, and you can use LED flashlights and lanterns at night. Of course, you will need some electricity if you want to use the furnace. If you will just boondock for a few days and don't need the furnace, then you can get by without a generator or a solar setup. As long as the house battery is good, you will have enough power to operate the water pump for toilet flushing for a few days.

If you have a big enough solar setup, you can power a small DC fridge, recharge your personal electronics, and recharge the house battery enough to operate the water pump. Use propane for cooking, and you could stay out indefinitely as long as the water holds out. Or at least as long as you are willing to go without HVAC.

If you don't have a large solar setup, then you can get a few small battery banks that have a built-in solar panel to recharge personal electronics. Since you don't need battery power to flush the toilet, so you could still use it as long as you have the water. Again, water will be your limiting factor. Take non-perishable foods, cook outdoors, use a pit toilet, and you can get by without any need for electricity, and will greatly decrease water usage.

You could also run a small generator a few hours a day to re-charge the house battery if you don't have a solar setup. By doing this, you would be able to power the interior lights and the water pump, and re-charge your personal electronics. If your house battery is large enough, you can even power the gas furnace all night long. This is a good way to anger your boondocking neighbors if you have any. If you plan on doing this, please try to find a campsite that is far away from others.

Unfortunately there aren't many places in TX where you can boondock. For boondocking suggestions, check the BLM website, and also a website called "freecampsites.net".

C
arrow
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AG
Thanks again! I've got all the backcountry gear and tent camping gear a guy could want. So I can see where if I have access to or bring some water, we would be fine for a few days. Boondocking would just be a possible backup situation if all the first-come first-serve campsites are taken.

Highlights for me would be Guadalupe Peak trail and a guided cave tour in Carlsbad. Cloudcroft (tubing maybe) and visiting White Sands look like a good bonus.

If I strike out with RV and campsites, this still might be a good motel/hotel road trip.
BwdAg
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AG
I did gmnp in late October.

The post above about white city would be the best bet to make sure you have a spot.

Gmnp, as mentioned, is first come first serve.

There is a boondocks location between white city and gmnp that I camped in. No charge. Gravel lot. It worked for me.

NoahAg
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Definitely hike Guadalupe Peak. You won't regret it.
If you can't park in the campground I think there are some Hipcamp options within a reasonable distance.

We went to Carlsbad Caverns summer 2019. While the vastness of it was certainly impressive I actually enjoy the various Texas caverns I've been to more.
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