Socorro, New Mexico, has been a place of welcome for more than 400 years. The name means "help" in Spanish, and it was the indigenous Native American people who helped the Spanish when they emerged from the desert. Today, Socorro is home to about 9,000 people. The city is known for its unique "golf tournament." Players start more than 7,000 feet up and have to hit their golf balls across all sorts of wild terrain at the single hole, which is more than three miles away.
The Very Large Array Radio Telescope facility of 28 dish telescopes, each of which weighs more than 200 tons, is nearby, and amateur astronomers can buy tickets and tour the facility. Birders can observe the migration of sandhill cranes on the nearby Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, which is world-renowned as a spot for bird-watching. If you happen to be in the area on the right dates, then you can even take a tour of the Trinity Site, which is the site of the first atomic bomb test.
The restaurants in Socorro, New Mexico, combine American and Mexican cuisines. Two of the most popular are Yo Mama's and the Bodega Burger Company. Both offer hearty, simple dishes at reasonable prices, and they both offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dining options. If you visit at the end of the summer, then you can experience the Socorro County Fair and Rodeo at the rodeo complex in the town. The rodeo is sponsored by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
The Balloon View RV Park in nearby Albuquerque is stacked with amenities for its 27 RV campsites. First, every site has both 30-amp and 50-amp hookups. The pool and hot tub can serve as a wonderful way to unwind and recharge after a day in the surrounding desert. The laundry facilities are convenient as are the free Wi-Fi and cable television hookups.
The Kampground of America is also located in Albuquerque. All of its 169 RV campsites have full hookups, and a couple of sites even have pergolas for relaxing outdoors. You can play miniature golf and take a dip in either the pool or the hot tub afterward. Pets are welcome at this park as long as you keep them on a leash, clean up after them, and make sure that they don't bother other campers.
The 66 back-in sites at the El Rancho RV Park, also located in nearby Albuquerque, all have full hookups that include both 50-amp and 30-amp hookups, water, and sewer. All of the sites at this RV campground also have shade from the more than 200 trees in the campground. The park provides Wi-Fi and cable television service as well. Active-duty military and veterans get a discount.
Elephant Butte Lake State Park is only 70 miles from Socorro, New Mexico near the town of Elephant Butte. The lake in the park is 40,000 acres, and you can swim, boat, and enjoy other water activities there. There are three marinas along the shore of the lake for putting forth boats. The park has 15 miles of hiking trails, and while hiking, you can observe many different bird species. The National Audubon Society recognizes Elephant Butte Lake State Park as one of the premier birding locations in the entire country.
Dinosaurs are the order of the day at Clayton Lake State Park, which is slightly more than 350 miles away near the town of Clayton, New Mexico. You can marvel at the hundreds of footprints that are tens, or even hundreds or millions of years old. There is a reservoir in the park, and it's a no-wake location, which means that you can paddle in peace and enjoy the tranquility of the location. The park has miles of hiking trails, too, and picnic areas dot the landscape.
Leasburg Dam State Park lies 132 miles from Socorro, New Mexico. There is a small observatory in the park, so you can do your stargazing there. There aren't many hiking trails, just 2.25 miles worth, but they're easy strolls that are just right for a mild evening constitutional. The gardens within the park don't require irrigation. They're beautiful in their own right, however, so you can appreciate the cacti, agave, lavender, and juniper while walking through. Many species of birds populate the park, so birders can spy these creatures while taking one of the easy hikes.
Right around 400 years ago, the Spanish tried to establish three sites on the ground of the current Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. By 1673, all three had failed from a combination of natural disasters and raiding from nearby Apache. Ten decades later, the Spanish tried to revive the areas as sheep farms, but they again failed. Now, you can tour them and experience the culture and history of an earlier time. Short hiking trails cover the area, and none of them is more than moderately difficult.
To the north of Socorro lies the Petroglyph National Monument, which is about 84 miles away. The carvings on the volcanic rocks in the area come both from Spanish conquerors and the Pueblo natives. The history included therein describes the lives of these people. During your visit, you can hike through the area along easy and moderate hiking trails of various lengths. The most popular trail is the Rinconada Canyon Trail, largely because you can bring your pets along the trail. Along this trail, you can see upwards of 300 of the park's petroglyphs.
To the northwest, 131 miles away, you can find the El Malpais National Monument. The name means "badlands" in Spanish, and these were the famous "Badlands of New Mexico." Ancient volcanoes covered the area in lava. Forests grew up from the soil, which was extremely nutritive from the ancient eruptions. Some of the trails are rough going because of the jagged rocks, making them unsuitable for bringing along pets. The trail called Big Tubes features two collapsed lava tubes among the forest of aspen, juniper, and pine.
The Lincoln National Forest is 87 miles to the southeast and features roughly one million acres of natural mountain and forest beauty. The hiking in the forest ranges from a tiny, 1,000-foot loop to the National Recreation Rim Trail, which winds its way through the forest for more than 31 miles in one direction. The Crest Trail is long, too, at 20 miles one way.
The Gila National Forest is a little more than 90 minutes to the southwest. At 3.5 million acres, it's a gigantic place that's separated into five distinct sections. The mountainous terrain makes for interesting hikes where you might need shorts and shirts at lower altitudes while needing jeans and jackets at higher elevations. The hiking here is for experts as can be seen by the treacherous terrain and steep incline of the Black Range Crest Trail, which runs for 36 miles.
Santa Fe National Forest is a three-hour drive from Socorro, New Mexico. Contained therein is the Valles Caldera National Preserve, the huge crater of a dormant volcano. The forest also contains more than 1,000 miles of hiking trails. Some of them, like the Nambe Lake Trail, are a little tough to follow while out in the wilderness, so it's a good idea to download a map of the trail and bring a compass with you on your hike.
The actual white sand at White Sands National Park is from gypsum, giving this place that's 148 miles from Socorro, New Mexico, its otherworldly appearance. The dunes spread over nearly 300 square miles of desert. While there, you can ride horses through that desert or hike along the five clearly marked trails. Because the area is a desert, it's extremely important to have enough water available during your visit.
It's almost a 300-mile drive to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas. The park contains the highest mountain in Texas, which is 8,749 feet tall. The park is great for folks who like solitude, but there are several precautions you should take. First, be sure to fill up before going to the park and bring your own food because there are neither nearby gas stations nor restaurants. The cell service is spotty, as well, which contributes to the solitude. The views along the hiking trails are magnificent, however, so be sure to bring your camera.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is 260 miles away from Socorro, New Mexico. The park contains 119 limestone caves that are home to free-tailed bats. Despite the heat of the outside world, the caverns themselves are at a constant 56 degrees, so plan on dressing accordingly From May to October, every night at 6:30 p.m., park rangers lead a tour that features the hundreds of bats flying out of the cave while framed by the setting sun.
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 Socorro, 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 Socorro?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Socorro 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 Socorro?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
