When Tucumcari was first settled in 1901, it was a tent city called Ragtown. This tent city soon earned the nickname "Six Shooter Siding." With saloons and outlaws, it was a rowdy railroad camp for the Chicago, Rock Island and Union Pacific Railroad. Once the railroad reached the area, the small town of Liberty was dismantled and moved closer. The town became officially known as Tucumcari within a year of this move. The origin of the name is unknown, but there are various theories.
The most credible idea is the name comes from the Comanche word "tukamukara," which means "lookout point" or "signal peak." It is suggested that it was named after the mountains that act as a backdrop for the town. This move also brought merchants, dance hall girls, gamblers and bartenders to the small tent city. Five businessmen from Liberty are credited as the fathers of Tucumcari. These five filed a claim on 120 acres and then donated the land to the town.
The first businesses in 1902 were the Barnes and Rankin furniture store, Monarch Saloon, Blankenship's livery barn, and a hotel. Max Goldenburg owned the first permanent home in the town. This home also contained the first post office. The first drugstore was established in 1906. By 1910, Tucumcari was home to over 70 businesses.
Today, the town has a population of around 5,000 and contains 776 registered businesses. These businesses include motels, hotels, government offices and restaurants. The restaurants include Blake's Lotaburger, Palomino and Pinon Tree. One of the locals' favorite spots is Tucumcari Memorial Park. The town also sits on Historic Route 66 and is the largest city on this highway between Amarillo and Albuquerque.
One of the best campgrounds near Tucumcari is the West Grand RV Park in Clovis, an hour and 20 minutes southeast of Tucumcari. This campsite has private showers that are cleaned after each use. It is located near Dollar General and within walking distance of various restaurants. The on-site convenience store features drinks and snacks. It offers daily, weekly and monthly rates. The 58 sites have full hookups, 30-/50-amp connections, and pull-through and back-in options.
Another excellent campground is Wagon Wheel RV Park, located near Portales, an hour and a half southeast of Tucumcari. This site has immaculate landscaping and offers easy access to Highway 70. The resident horse enjoys visiting with the guests. This campground has a large dog park and areas to accommodate any RV.
Oasis State Park, an hour and a half southeast of Tucumcari, is another fabulous campground. This facility features a small lake and various hiking trails. Swimming and fishing are possible here, and there is a shaded playground as well. With 26 locations and affordable daily rates, visitors enjoy this park year-round. The park does not have full hookups.
Sumner Lake State Park is near Ft. Sumner, New Mexico, home to Billy the Kid's grave. The park, which is an hour and 35 minutes southwest of Tucumcari, contains a 4,300-acre reservoir. This reservoir connects to the Pecos River by way of the Sumner Dam. The park also has 2 miles of trails for hiking or mountain biking. You can also find interpretive trails. Fishing, water skiing, swimming, canoeing and motorized boating are popular activities. The campgrounds have 50 developed sites, some with water and electric hookups. You can also use the dump station if needed. The area has three boat ramps, a visitor center, a playground, group facilities and exhibits.
Oasis State Park is in the middle of cottonwood trees, a small lake and dunes. Most visitors come to this park for its fishing opportunities. During the winter, the fishing lake is stocked with rainbow trout. During the summer, you will find channel catfish. Besides fishing, visitors can also enjoy the various hiking trails and bird-watching. Oasis State Park provides 26 camping sites. Some of these sites have both water and 30-/50-amp connections. The park also has a visitor center, dump station and playground.
Santa Rosa Lake State Park is near Santa Rosa, an hour and five minutes southwest of Tucumcari. It includes the 3,800-acre Santa Rosa Reservoir. This reservoir is home to catfish, walleye and largemouth bass. The local area offers 5.5 miles of trails suitable for hiking or horseback riding. The lake provides an opportunity for various activities, including motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, swimming and water skiing. There also is a boat ramp. The park's campgrounds have over 52 sites – some with hookups, some with only water and some with electricity. There also is a dump station, group shelter and playground.
Fort Union National Monument is a fantastic site near Watrous, two hours and 15 minutes northwest of Tucumcari. This site was preserved to honor the fort's importance in developing the American West culture. Visiting the monument takes you back to the 1850s when the fort was first established. Fort Union served as a means for political and cultural change for over 40 years. Today, you can take the 1.25-mile self-guided walk to explore the entire fort or the half-mile walk through a small section. Along both trails are signs providing valuable historical information.
Another great site you may want to visit is Capulin Volcano National Monument near Capulin, two hours and 50 minutes north of Tucumcari. The Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field covers 8,000 square miles, and the Capulin Volcano is an excellent example of the volcanic geology of the area. The area offers a wide array of outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy a vast landscape with over five miles of hiking trails. Driving the Volcano Road allows you to experience gorgeous views to the rim. The visitor center is located at the base of the volcano. Inside, it shows a 10-minute movie called "Capulin Volcano."
You can find Pecos National Historical Park near Pecos, two hours and 20 minutes northwest of Tucumcari. This cultural crossroads involves traders, hunters, gatherers, conquerors, explorers, immigrants, ranchers, soldiers and tourists. The site offers a variety of indoor activities, including museum exhibits, a gift shop, a bookstore and a 12-minute film. The outdoor activities include picnicking, fishing, ranger-led tours and hiking. You can explore three hiking trails: Ancestral Sites, Civil War Battlefield and South Pasture. Three miles of the Pecos River can be accessed within the park for excellent fly-fishing opportunities.
Santa Fe National Forest comprises 1.6 million acres three hours and 45 minutes northwest of Tucumcari. These acres consist of mesas, valleys and mountains. This forest offers many activities, including biking, picnicking, hunting, fishing and hiking. Hikers, mountain bike riders and horseback riders share abundant trails in this forest. The lower front country trails are perfect for short day hikes while the backcountry trails are higher in elevation. The forest is divided into five wilderness areas: Coyote Ranger, Cuba Ranger, Espanola Ranger and Jemez Ranger Districts. This forest also features a vast amount of scenic driving opportunities.
Near Taos, four and a half hours northwest of Tucumcari, is Carson National Forest. This forest covers 1.5 million acres with elevations ranging from 6,000 to 13,161 feet. The forest has over 30 campgrounds to ensure you find just the right place. Bicycling, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, OHV riding, scenic driving and picnicking are some available activities. Visitors come to the area to fish for rainbow, brown and native Rio Grande cutthroat trout. The forest contains many hiking trails, including the Agua Sarca, Apache, and 70 Moto Trails.
Lincoln National Forest is another beautiful area that covers 1.1 million acres, including three mountain ranges. These ranges are the Sacramento, Guadalupe and Capitan. It can be found near Alamogordo, four hours and 50 minutes southwest of Tucumcari. You can also find Smokey Bear in this forest, where he has made his home since 1950. The forest's elevation ranges from 4,000 to 11,500 feet, passing through five different life zones. Some of the most popular trails in the area include the Osha, Benson Range and Willie White trails. Besides hiking, you can enjoy biking, camping, horse riding, OHV riding, scenic driving and picnicking in the Lincoln National Forest area.
You only have to drive four hours and 20 minutes southwest of Tucumcari to reach Carlsbad Caverns National Park to see a perfect example of nature's beauty. This national park has over 100 caves formed from sulfuric acid-dissolved limestone. The park has two popular trails. The first trail is the Big Room Trail, which is 1.25 miles long. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to walk the flat terrain of this trail. The second popular trail is the Natural Entrance Trail. It is also 1.25 miles long, but it is incredibly steep. This park offers surface hiking trails, ranger-led tours and a bat flight program.
Great Sands Dunes National Park is close to Alamosa, Colorado, five hours northwest of Tucumcari. This national park is known for its massive dunes. These dunes include High Dune, Hidden Dune, Star Dune and Eastern Dune. A popular seasonal stream is Medano Creek. This creek comes to the dune in April when the snow begins to melt. It increases in size until June but begins to retreat in July. By August, it is typically completely gone from the main visitor area.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park sits in the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas, four hours and 50 minutes southwest of Tucumcari. Visitors come to see the wildlife-rich Salt Basin Dunes. The hiking trails are also popular and include McKittrick Canyon, Pine Springs, Salt Basin Dunes, Dog Canyon and Frijole Ranch Trails. Scenic drives are another option in this park. You can choose between Guadalupe Peak Viewpoint, El Capitan Viewpoint, Dog Canyon Drive and Five Points Vista Drive.
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 Tucumcari, 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 Tucumcari?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Tucumcari 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 Tucumcari?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
