Clovis, New Mexico, sits at the heart of one of the smallest counties in the state, Curry County. This 1405-square-mile county was established in 1909. It was named after George Curry, the Territorial Governor of New Mexico from 1907 to 1910. While Clovis is the county seat, Curry County also includes the surrounding cities of Grady, Melrose, Texico, and Cannon Air Force Base.
Clovis was established by the Santa Fe Railway engineers looking for a town site. The area was first called Riley's Switch. The town was officially founded after the first transcontinental traffic passed through the area. Eventually, the town was renamed by the daughter of a railroad official who was studying King Clovis of the Franks. The name became official in May 1909.
In the 1920s, Portair Air Field, a civilian passenger facility, was established. This facility would eventually become the well-known Cannon Air Force Base. When the base was put on the BRAC closure list, the citizens of Clovis came together for "Operation Keep Cannon." The base was removed from the closure list in 2006 due to the perseverance and support of the town's people. "Operation Kept Cannon" banners and flags are still proudly displayed around town to thank the airmen for their sacrifices.
Today, Clovis has a population of over 38,000. The primary economic activities with the area include Cannon Air Force Base, Santa Fe Railroad, agriculture, and retail. Locals will recommend Cook's Restaurant, Leal's Mexican Food Restaurant, or Taco Box as the best food in town. Music lovers enjoy visiting the Norman and Vi Petty Rock' N' Roll Museum. Other favorite stops include Hillcrest Park Zoo, Norman Petty Recording Studio, Blackwater Draw Museum, Ned Houk Memorial Park, and Red Arrow Entertainment.
Oasis State Park offers 26 RV sites located south of Clovis, New Mexico. It has a small lake, hiking trails, and a playground. The fishing pond is stocked, and you can fish at any time. The daily rate of this campground is $10, but no hookups are available. However, the site does have back-in and pull-through sites and a dump station.
The Bolt RV Park near downtown Clovis has been recently renovated. It is within walking distance of Leal's Mexican Restaurant. This site includes various amenities, including free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, and laundry facilities. This campground offers daily, weekly, and monthly rates with full hookups. It also has both back-in and pull-through sites.
The sites at Akers RV Park are grassy, and some are fenced. It is within walking distance of Hillcrest Park. This park's gorgeous landscaping stands out beautifully in the desert terrain of the area. This RV park offers daily, weekly, and monthly rates. You can choose from 36 sites with full hookups. Akers RV Park honors Good Sam, AARP, and military discounts.
With cottonwood trees, sand dunes, and fishing opportunities, Oasis State Park offers abundant outdoor activities. The main draw to this beautiful state park is the small fishing lake. However, it also has various hiking trails to explore the dunes. The area has three campgrounds and each facility has restrooms with water, showers, and vault toilets. You can also find a shady playground, visitor center, and dump station within the park. Clovis is fifteen miles to the east, and Portales, New Mexico, is ten miles south, allowing easy access to various necessities.
Sumner Lake State Park is within 25 miles of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and is home to Billy the Kid's Grave and Visitor Center and the Billy the Kid Museum. Almost every campsite within this park includes a gorgeous view of the lake. The various activities available include fishing, boating, swimming, birding, and wildlife viewing. The park has multiple campgrounds with trails, including Fox Run Trail and Discovery Trail. This park also has a mountain biking trail, picnic area, and boat ramp. While on the site, try the Rodeo Grill, Sadie's Frontier Restaurant, or the Daily Grind Restaurant for some favorite local cuisine.
The Bottomless Lakes State Park is 14 miles southeast of Roswell, New Mexico. Roswell is known for the alleged 1947 UFO crash. The town is home to the international UFO Museum and Research Center as well as a UFO-shaped Mcdonald's. This state park offers a variety of outdoor activities, including boating, picnicking, scuba diving, wildlife viewing, and swimming. It also has over four miles of hiking trails. These trails include Skidmark's mountain bike trail, the Bluff Trail, and the Wetlands Trail. The park contains 32 camping sites with water and electric hookups, an RV dump station, a group shelter, and restrooms with showers.
Near Fritch, Texas, the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument area has been used for thousands of years as a source of flint for various tools. The site has a visitor center with various interactive exhibits, a theater, and a bookstore. This site provides hands-on demonstrations and interpretive ranger-guided hiking tours. The Alibates Interpretive Garden, the Mesquite Trail, McBride Canyon, and Mullinaw Trail are some outdoor options at this site. While camping is not allowed within this monument, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is nearby.
The main attraction at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is the 10,000-acre Lake Meredith. Canoeing, kayaking, boating, and fishing are some favorite activities at this lake. The hiking system at this site includes Harbor Bay Trail, Fritch Fortress Trail, Mullinaw Trail, and South Turkey Creek Trail. This site also has ten RV sites with electric and water hookups. Another popular activity at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is off-roading. This area has two spots, Blue Creek and Rosita Flats, designated for off-road vehicle recreation.
Fort Union National Monument covers 1,126 square miles and contains the remnants of the most prominent 19th-century military fort near Watrous, New Mexico. This national site serves as a reminder of how the fort served as a safe place for frontier people. This fort also played a vital role in the economic growth of the northwestern American frontier. You can explore the area by taking the 1.25-mile self-guided interpretive trail or joining one of the ranger-guided tours.
Lincoln National Forest is located just a few miles from Alamogordo, New Mexico, and includes three mountain ranges: Sacramento, Capitan, and Guadalupe. The forest contains over 1.1 million acres with elevations from 4,000 to 11,500 feet. You'll also find numerous campgrounds and various hiking trails within the forest. Besides hiking, the forest offers wildlife viewing, geocaching, and caving opportunities.
The highest peak in New Mexico is Wheeler Peak which can be found in Carson National Forest. This forest contains 1.5 million acres and offers a wide array of recreation opportunities. This national forest is well-known for its biking trails and two rivers within the park offer excellent fishing opportunities. Keep an eye out to view some of the wildlife that calls the forest home, including bighorn sheep, coyotes, foxes, mule deer, elk, and black bears.
Covering 1.6 million acres, the Santa Fe National Forest ranges from 5,000 to 13,000 feet. This forest encompasses mountains, mesas, and valleys. Many visitors enjoy the colorful volcanic formations and deep river gorges. While in the woods, you can participate in biking, horseback riding, nature viewing, fishing, and water activities. This forest also offers free camping sites for up to 14 consecutive days. You can also enjoy various hiking trails, such as Grasshopper Canyon Trail, Chamisa Trail, and Holy Ghost Creek Trail.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is 184 miles southwest of Clovis. This national park is known for the 119 caves hidden below the surface. The park offers two trails to explore various cave chambers. The Big Room Trail is 1.25 miles long and takes about 1.5 hours to walk. Parts of this trail are wheelchair accessible. The other trail is the Natural Entrance Trail, which is also 1.25 miles long. However, it is incredibly steep. Besides the self-guided tours, visitors enjoy the visitor center, ranger-guided tours, and surface hiking trails.
A little over 230 miles from Clovis, the Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers beautiful mountains, canyons, deserts, dunes, and clear night skies. This park includes the four highest peaks in Texas while protecting the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef. You'll also find over 80 miles of hiking trails within the park, including Bear Canyon Trail, Bow Trail, Devil's Hall, and McKittrick Canyon Trail. This national park is also known for its scenic drives. The most popular drives include the Guadalupe Peak Viewpoint and El Capitan Viewpoint. Over 300 species of birds either nest or migrate through this national park.
One of New Mexico's most popular national parks is White Sands National Park. This park is 275 square miles of gypsum sand. The visitor center provides a variety of museum exhibits, a theater, a gift shop, and restrooms. After the visitor's center, you can enjoy the eight-mile Dunes Drive scenic drive. It takes you from the visitor's center to the heart of the gypsum dune field. The national park also has five established trails, including the Interdune Boardwalk, Playa Trail, Dune Life Nature Trail, Backcountry Camping Trail, and Alkali Flat Trail. Other activities in this national park include bicycling, horseback riding, photography, and sledding.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Clovis, NM, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Clovis?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Clovis from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Clovis?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
