Lordsburg KOA

Search for an RV in Hidalgo County, and you will be one step closer to an amazing adventure in the iconic state of New Mexico. Gila National Forest is approximately 100 miles from Lordsburg KOA and is a two-hour trip each way; if you plan to venture here, you should leave early or plan on staying overnight. The forest is a combination of rangeland, forested hills, and towering mountains. The climate can be cool in the summer and reasonably warm in the winter, making it a perfect destination for a variety of outdoor activities. In the winter, you'll have the chance to experience cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; in the summer, there are hundreds of miles of trail open for hiking, and some of them are interpretive trails. The park allows camping, and there are both developed and primitive camping sites for you to choose from.

Across the state line in Arizona, Mt Graham is a 110-mile drive from Lordsburg KOA. You can hike here and enjoy the breathtaking views, but most impressive is the observatory with several telescopes, one of which is a radio telescope and another that is one of the largest on the planet. The views make this an ideal destination for picnicking; as you move through the area, you'll observe eight distinct zones in just a dozen miles, that include Sonoran desert and grassland, pinyon-juniper woodland, Madrean evergreen oak woodland, Ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer forests, just to name a few.

Coronado National Forest is about 120 miles in each direction and about a two-hour trip each way. It is a good choice for both summer and winter outdoor activities; fishing and boating is available but limited, as much of the land is arid (you can try fishing at Rose Canyon Lake, which is also a desirable destination for birdwatching and outdoor photography). Hiking, camping, and picnicking are popular activities, and mountain biking is quickly becoming another very popular activity in the region.

Deming is a small but interesting town in New Mexico and is home to several vineyards and wineries where you can while away an afternoon sampling the local vintages. One local museum is dedicated to the lapidary samples found in volcanic activity, while another focuses on memorabilia relevant to the city's history. There is a local operational farm that welcomes visitors and guests, and an arts center that features both local artists and artists from around the state. History buffs will want to make a stop at historic Fort Cummings which was built to protect the settlers and stagecoaches from Indian raids; the condition of the road, however, might not be suitable for an RV rental, so a smaller rental car or ATV might be required (you can ask the managers at Lordsburg KOA to inquire for you).

Silver City is one of New Mexico's gems, with outdoor recreation in forest settings, a thriving art scene, a historic downtown core, and a continuous supply of festivals and events. Several museums populate the small town, one of which belongs to the local University of New Mexico campus. Another, situated in a restored Mansard house, is a testament to the lives and the culture of the people who have lived here since the city's founding. The city has several urban parks, and one of the more interesting of them is a combination park/playground that has been constructed by a team of local artists, children, and adults working together. One of the landmarks that receives many visitors is the remains of an open-pit mine, although you should check to see that the viewpoints of the mine are open before traveling there.

You can see now that New Mexico is an exciting blend of old and new, historic and contemporary, and much more; motorhome camping at Lordsburg KOA will be your introduction to all of it.