Road Trips Starting from Albuquerque, NM
Best National Parks Near Albuquerque, NM
White Sands National Park is in southern New Mexico's Tularosa Basin, about 250 miles from Albuquerque. Bring a sled or buy a plastic snow disc at the visitor center for unforgettable sledding down the soft, snow-white dunes. The expansive sea of gypsum dunes is home to 800 animal species, most of them nocturnal. Many species, including the Apache pocket mouse and the bleached earless lizard, have evolved white coloration to blend with the sand. Besides sledding, popular activities at this park include bicycling and driving along the scenic 16-mile Dunes Drive.
About 250 miles northwest of Albuquerque, Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado is like a time capsule from the Ancestral Pueblo people, who left behind a staggering array of cliff dwellings carved between 550 and 1300 A.D. The park is home to 5,000 archaeological sites, including 600 dwellings in the canyon walls. Mesa Verde is split into two main parts: Chapin Mesa, the main hub for exploration, and Wetherill Mesa, known for its easy 5-mile loop. Book your ranger tour tickets in advance to view dwellings like Cliff Palace up close. While exploring the well-maintained trails among pinyon, juniper, and Gambel oak trees, watch for local wildlife like mule deer, wild turkeys, and the odd black bear.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, reaching nearly 750 feet tall. To put that in perspective, the Statue of Liberty is 305 feet in height. This southern Colorado park is about 250 miles from Albuquerque. The terrain is a mix of ecosystems, with forests, alpine lakes, grasslands, wetlands, and even tundra surrounding the 30-square-mile dune fields. While the dunes might seem barren at first, the surrounding areas are teeming with life, including mule deer and wild turkeys. The flora includes hardy species like pinyon pine and juniper trees. Hike the trails leading through the dune fields and into the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The park also offers sand sledding and boarding, stargazing in one of the darkest skies in the country, and seasonal swimming in Medano Creek.
Popular State Parks Near Albuquerque, NM
Heron Lake State Park is roughly 160 miles north of Albuquerque. Its namesake 5,900-acre lake is a "quiet lake" — all watercraft is restricted to no-wake speeds. The calm waters are exquisitely suited for kayaking, canoeing, and sailing. Hiking trails, including one that leads along the Rio Chama from a dramatic stone staircase to a suspension bridge, offer panoramic views and take you to neighboring El Vado Lake. Anglers flock to Heron Lake in both summer and winter for its record-setting trout and kokanee salmon. Wildlife viewing is a park highlight, with opportunities to see majestic bald eagles, fish hawks, elusive mountain lions, black bears, elk, deer, and marmots, a type of large ground squirrel. Cross-country skiing is also a popular activity there.
Hyde Memorial State Park is a short drive from Santa Fe and about 70 miles northeast of Albuquerque. Spanning 340 acres along Little Tesuque Creek, the park is home to lush pine forests, dramatic rock formations, and the soothing sounds of cascading waterfalls in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Visitors can explore over 4.2 miles of beautiful hiking trails, such as the challenging West Circle Trail with a 1,000-foot elevation gain over 1 mile or the easier East Circle Trail. Enjoy picnicking, playing volleyball, wildlife viewing, and birding. The diverse wildlife includes foxes, coyotes, butterflies, porcupines, and a variety of bird species. Winter transforms the park into a wonderland for snowshoeing, sledding, and cross-country skiing.
Villanueva State Park is located in a beautiful canyon along the Pecos River, near the historic town of Villanueva, about 96 miles northeast of Albuquerque. High sandstone bluffs and giant cottonwood trees provide a unique setting in this 1,600-acre park. Open year-round, the park has opportunities for fishing, birding, hiking, and horseback riding. Tubing on the Pecos River is a popular summertime activity. The park offers trails like the Viewpoint Loop, El Cerro, and River Trail.
Must-see Monuments and Landmarks Near Albuquerque, NM
All of the state parks listed here are accessible to RVs of all sizes, with abundant places to park. At Petroglyph National Monument, just 8 miles northwest of Albuquerque, you can view over 20,000 petroglyphs carved into dark basalt boulders by Native Americans and Spanish settlers centuries ago. This site near Albuquerque also invites you to explore the surrounding high desert's beauty, where wildlife such as hawks and roadrunners thrive. Explore trails at the Volcanoes Day Use Area, Rinconada Canyon, and Piedras Marcadas Canyon. The natural earth surface trail is easy to moderate to walk.
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail stretches 404 miles from El Paso, Texas to Santa Fe, New Mexico, with a stop in Albuquerque. Much of the trail is easily accessible by car. Its origins go back to the 16th century, predating both Jamestown and Plymouth Rock. This trail is dotted with museums, historic sites, churches, and segments of the original trail.
Bandelier National Monument, located 98 miles from Albuquerque in Los Alamos Mesa County, spans over 33,000 acres. It showcases the Ancestral Puebloan lifestyle through petroglyphs, cliff dwellings, and masonry wall remains. Visitors can explore a variety of trails, from the accessible Main Loop Trail through Frijoles Canyon to more challenging hikes to Upper Falls or mesa tops for panoramic views. The Tsankawi section offers unique ladder climbs and views of ancient villages and petroglyphs. Plan to walk to the archeological sites and cliff dwellings on the Bandelier National Monument trails as it is an easy trek.
RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks & Campgrounds
Albuquerque North KOA is in Bernalillo, New Mexico, right at the foot of the Sandia Mountains, just 14 miles north of Albuquerque. Over a thousand cottonwood and pine trees provide shade, and flowers are everywhere in summer. Its amenities include an outdoor café, a pool, and outdoor movies on summer nights. This Albuquerque RV park also has an on-site restaurant, a playground, a general store, and laundry facilities. They've also got horseshoes, volleyball, and croquet. Refresh your RV at the on-site dump station. And, if you've got a furry friend, they're going to love the off-leash dog park, KampK9, where they can run wild, sniff all the things, and make new buddies.
American RV Resort is 10 miles west of downtown Albuquerque and close to the city's western attractions, like Old Town and the Petroglyph National Monument. This RV park is perched on the higher west mesa and offers stunning views of the Sandia Mountains by day and twinkling city lights by night. Dip into the heated pool or unwind in the sheltered hot tub after a day of adventures. There are two bathhouses and a dog park. The place is securely gated after dark, so if you're rolling in late, just make sure to get the gate code when you make your reservation. Some other amenities include continental breakfast, horseshoe pits, a playground, a coin-operated laundry, propane, a general store, and free Wi-Fi. RV sites with full hookups, concrete patios, and picnic tables are available.
Balloon View RV Park is in Albuquerque’s Sandia Mountain range and only 16 miles from downtown Albuquerque and its attractions. This top-rated campground has a swimming pool, a pavilion, and an exercise room. With modern showers, laundry facilities, and full RV services including 20/30/50-amp power, water, cable, and sewer, it caters to just about every need. This RV park is close to major highways, the Balloon Festival, and the University of New Mexico.
RV Dump Stations Near Albuquerque, NM
Flying J Travel Center #689 in Albuquerque is located about 10 miles from the Turquoise Museum. This travel center features a Denny's and Cinnabon. It also provides 15 showers, diesel lanes, diesel mobile fueling, premium Wi-Fi, an ATM, and a barber shop.
The Speedway service station (formerly Giant) at 6104 Academy Road NE is an option for an Albuquerque dump station. It offers free dump services to RVs. It’s close to local restaurants and a self-storage facility as well as the Arroyo del Oso Golf Course.
