RV rental Caballo Lake State Park, NM: Motorhome rentals, camper van rentals and more

Camping at Caballo Lake State Park means waking up to the sound of waves lapping at the shores and the sight of distant brown buttes transforming into warm rosy hues. This state park RV campground has around 115 sites with electric and water, and a handful has sewer hookups, as well. Restrooms and showers are a short walk from most sites. There is a dump station available, also. A vast swath of BLM land to the east of the lake is available for backcountry camping, though there are no amenities at all. If parked off-road, camping with an RV in the desert poses some unique challenges, particularly during the rainy season. The campground at Percha Dam State Park is smaller, but because it’s an underrated gem, it can be easier to find available sites during the high season. There are also a handful of small, private RV parks and campgrounds along the western shores of the lake.

In addition to a vast, sweeping desert, this region is well known for fantastic chili peppers and ghost towns. All along Highway 25 south of Caballo Lake State Park campground are roadside restaurants and stands to sell chili peppers. The towns of Arrey, Garfield, Hatch, and Rincon in particular. Hop into a rental motorhome and hunt for the best peppers. Choose from freshly picked, roasted, or prepared into savory, heat-laden dish options. Camping at Caballo Lake State Park also means easy access to the local ghost towns. Remnants of a not-so-ancient civilization, these ghost towns stand guard, waiting for time to do their work. Wind blast the adobe walls, wearing them down. Sand grind the dry clapboard into tinder. Though most known ghost towns have long since been plundered, they can still be toured. Quite a few may even be inhabited by ghosts. Locals say that St. Francis de Sales Church in Hatch, has a host of curious ghosts who will often follow curious visitors who peek into the church windows home. In spite of the arid desert environment, small farms and wineries eke out a living. The Shattuck Vineyard in Caballo, NM, produces a range of award-winning boutique wines. Within walking distance of the lake, its tasting view has a nearly 360-degree view of the desert from the Gila Wilderness to the west to the Caballo Mountains in the east. Enjoy the slower pace of life and the transforming-yet-eternal desert landscape in New Mexico as you embark on an outdoor adventure with friends and family.