Road Trips Starting from El Paso, TX
Best National Parks Near El Paso, TX
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is about 115 miles due east of El Paso. The highest mountain in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, is here, as are several other of the highest points in the state. Unlike other national parks, Guadalupe Mountains lacks paved roads, meaning a visit here makes for a more rugged experience. The McKittrick Canyon section offers a number of day hikes of varying difficulty; try the Notch or Pratt Cabin trails. The park is also a great place for birding, with Frijole Ranch and Smith Springs, as well as McKittrick Canyon, offering prime locations for spotting hawks, bluebirds, meadowlarks, warblers, and hummingbirds. Guadalupe Mountains has three developed campgrounds, with each offering spots for RVs but no electric hookups.
Over the state line in New Mexico, about 150 miles from El Paso, Carlsbad Caverns National Park features 100+ caves, some of which are open for ranger-led tours. Note that these tours often sell out, so it's smart to make reservations well in advance. If you visit the park from Memorial Day through October, you'll have the chance to observe Brazilian free-tailed bats as they exit the caverns each evening looking for food. On the surface are a number of hiking trails, including Juniper Ridge and Yucca Canyon. There's no RV camping at Carlsbad Caverns, but you'll find accommodations nearby in the towns of White City and Carlsbad.
One hundred miles north of El Paso is White Sands National Park, one of the country's newer national parks, established in 2019. The main feature here is the 275 square miles of white gypsum dunes that you could easily mistake for snow. Popular activities include hiking and sledding on the dunes, and you can pick up a snow saucer at the park's gift shop. White Sands only offers primitive backcountry camping, but you can find RV campgrounds in some of the nearby state parks and BLM lands. Note that if there's activity at the adjacent White Sands Missile Range, the park may close, so always check ahead of time before you visit.
Popular State Parks Near El Paso, TX
Located within El Paso's city limits, Franklin Mountains State Park is an urban oasis featuring over 100 miles of trails in addition to rock climbing, birding, and mountain biking. North Franklin Mountain, at 7,192 feet tall, is here. While visiting this park, you may encounter wildlife that includes mountain lions, mule deer, hawks, and golden eagles.
Roughly 200 miles southeast of El Paso is Davis Mountains State Park. Enjoy cooler temperatures due to the park's elevation, which averages between 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Go hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, geocaching, and stargazing. Use the bird blind here as a viewing station to spot the park's many bird species, like white-winged doves, scrub jays, and black-headed grosbeaks. While visiting the Davis Mountains, there's a good chance you'll encounter some javelinas, which look like boars but are technically considered peccaries. The park also has several RV campsites, some with full hookups and some with just water or electrical hookups.
Leasburg Dam State Park is in New Mexico near Las Cruces, just over 60 miles from El Paso. Here, you can go kayaking or canoeing right on the Rio Grande. The clear night sky also makes this a great location for stargazing. Other activities include fishing, swimming, hiking, and bird-watching. RV campsites include spots with water and electrical hookups; some sites offer 30-amp power, while others provide 50-amp power.
Must-see Monuments and Landmarks Near El Paso, TX
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is in New Mexico, 200 miles from El Paso. This national monument preserves cliff dwellings once inhabited by the indigenous Mogollon peoples in the late 1200s. The route from Silver City, NM takes a lot of twists and turns, so practice safe driving while in your RV. Once you arrive, you can take a ranger-led tour of the dwellings. Self-guided tours are also available, as well as several day hikes you can attempt, ranging from a mile to 12 miles.
A visit to Chiricahua National Monument requires traveling across New Mexico and into Arizona for a trip of around 245 miles from El Paso. It's worth the long drive, though; this park sees few visitors, so chances are great you'll have the park nearly to yourself when you visit. The park features unique rock formations sculpted out of hardened volcanic ash. See the rock sculptures up close on any number of hikes that range from easy to difficult. You can also go horseback riding and attend ranger-led program.
The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is near Albuquerque, requiring a drive of just over 200 miles from El Paso. The monument comprises three different sites: Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivira. Learn about the different cultures that once thrived in the region. You can stroll among the grounds at all three of the sites as well as attend astronomy events where you can view the clear night sky through telescopes provided by park staff. Other nighttime events include star walks and viewing meteor showers.
Best Nearby Campgrounds
The El Paso West/Anthony KOA Journey is in Anthony, Texas, just over 20 miles from El Paso. This campground has full hookups, 30- and 50-amp power, back-in and pull-through spots, free wireless internet, showers, and a playground. This pet-friendly RV campground also has a dog park.
Mission RV Park in El Paso offers a dump station, clubhouse, cable, laundry facilities, basketball and volleyball courts, and a playground. This campsite also allows pets.
The pet-friendly Desert Oasis Park is in El Paso and has amenities that include both pull-through and back-in sites, full hookups, cell reception, picnic tables, grills, shaded sites, and showers.
RV Dump Stations Near El Paso, TX
While traveling Texas, you will find there is no shortage of dump stations to empty your tanks. The TA Travel Center in Las Cruces, 45 miles from El Paso, offers a dump station for use with a small fee, as well as fuel, showers, laundry facilities, a convenience store, and some fast-food restaurants.
The Low-Hi RV Ranch is in Deming, NM, roughly 105 miles from El Paso, and has a dump station you can use for a small fee. If you're staying here overnight, you'll also have free Wi-Fi, hot showers, modern restrooms, and a dog park.
In Silver City, NM, 155 miles from El Paso, is the Wastewater Treatment Plant, which also has a dump station for use.
