RV Rental Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX

Spending time at national park RV campgrounds is an excellent way for families to connect without the grind of the outside world encroaching. Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers many different activities for people to participate in, including the Ranger Campout. This is a two-day, one-night event hosted at the Dog Canyon Campground in the park. Participants will take hikes and learn about the park's night sky programs. The Ranger Campout is a popular event and reservations must be made in advance.

While visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park, you'll want to explore the area and utilize the over 80 miles of hiking trails blazed through the park. Easy hiking trails meander through desert flora and aren't very long, usually about a mile or less. Moderate hiking trails take you into canyons and are longer, ranging from two miles to six miles. Those seeking a challenge can hike through country forest areas that will take all day to cover.

Several people flock to Guadalupe Mountains National Park for birdwatching. Frijole Ranch, located in the park, is an excellent spot to enjoy watching various birds such as western scrub jay, say’s phoebes, chipping sparrows, lark sparrows, and white-winged doves. Springtime at the park brings warblers and orioles, while wintertime usually sees western bluebirds, phainopeplas, and pyrrhuloxias. Visit the Manzanita Spring during summertime to see white-throat swifts and violet-green swallows.

Pine Springs is a national park RV campground located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. This campground is at the steep elevation of 5,822 feet above sea level and is located near the Pine Springs visitors' center. Pine Springs campground is situated in a desert landscape and offers 19 sites for RV campers. No reservations are taken for this campground; sites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Potable water, flush toilets, and a utility sink are easily accessible from all campsites. There are no shower facilities.

Dog Canyon Campground is located in a cool, shady canyon 6,280 feet above sea level. There are only four RV sites at this campground which can only accommodate RVs that are 23 feet or shorter. Amenities include utility sinks and flush toilets.

If you want to go camping with an RV but would like more modern conveniences than those offered at the national park RV campgrounds, you may consider the Carlsbad KOA, located just over the state line in New Mexico. Similar to other KOA campgrounds, the Carlsbad KOA offers full hookups, Wi-Fi and cable TV, modern restroom facilities with showers, and laundry facilities.

While you're camping at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, head to El Paso and explore the historic side of this tourist hot spot. Concordia Cemetery houses the graves of over 60,000 Texans, chief among them John Wesley Hardin. This outlaw was considered the most dangerous gunslinger in Texas back in the Wild West era. While you're here, take some time to see the Buffalo Soldier Memorial. See more historic sites in El Paso along the Historic Mission Trail.

Craving more outdoor adventure? Venture across the state line into New Mexico and visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where you can learn about the two historic districts to which the park belongs: the Cavern Historic District and the Rattlesnake Springs Historic District. Plan an overnight camping trip at the park and view the Carlsbad Caverns Bat Flight Program in May through October. During this program, a park ranger discusses all things bats before the bats take their nightly flight from the caverns.

Spend some time at the 35-acre El Paso Zoo. There are over 220 species living at the zoo, including the Amur leopard and the Aruba rattlesnake, both endangered species. There are daily animal exhibits and shows. Family attractions include the African Star train, Foster Tree House playground, Hunt Family Splash Pad, and the Hunt Endangered Species Carousel.

When you've explored Guadalupe Mountains National Park until you can explore no more, steer your rental RV west to Dell City, where you'll find a few gas stations and shops. Alternatively, head north into New Mexico to discover Carlsbad.