If you are looking for an unusual, borderline-otherworldly, destination for your next RV trip, consider New Mexico’s City of Rocks State Park near the tiny town of Faywood. Rock formations like those at the City of Rocks State Park exist in only six other places in the entire world, so you are not likely to encounter anywhere else like this.
Formed of volcanic ash welded together 35 million years ago, then artfully sculpted by wind and water into rows of monolithic blocks, these incredible rock formations give City of Rocks its name. You can see it from a distance, rising out of the otherwise flat desert floor much like the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz.
Hiking trails, a botanical garden, and a public night sky observatory add to this unique destination.
Like most New Mexico state parks, City of Rocks offers RV sites with electrical and water hookups (a dump station is also on-site). However, if you can forgo the hookups, the BEST campsites here are the 52 dry camping sites that are nestled among the impressive rock formations.
With the awe-inspiring boulders in the background, everywhere I looked were RVs that appeared as if they came out of magazine ads.
Because of the way the ancient lava flowed, you can easily hike on, among, and between the HUGE rocks, just as you could walk the streets in most cities—for instance, Bedrock. I half expected to see Fred and Barney coming around a boulder at any moment.
A more steep and strenuous hike to Table Top Mesa will give you a bird’s-eye view of City of Rocks and an amazing photo op.
You’ll also enjoy wildlife and bird watching. The way my RV was parked in an elevated campsite, I got to marvel at the ravens flying by my windows, practically at eye level, all day long.
In addition, mule deer, roadrunners, javelinas, cactus wrens, western diamondback rattlesnakes, ground squirrels, coyotes, and jackrabbits all make their homes here.
Until 1200 A.D., Mimbres people roamed this area, leaving arrowheads and pottery shards as evidence of their culture. The park also lies within the traditional homelands of the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache. You can learn more about the history of the park in the visitor’s center.
If you seek them out, you’ll find a few ancient Native American petroglyphs hidden among the rocks.
Spanish explorers and settlers arrived in 1500 and mule trains loaded with copper from the nearby Santa Rita mine passed nearby on their way to Chihuahua from 1804 to 1834. The only bit of graffiti I saw was a small cross carved into one of the rocks (kudos to park staff for keeping City of Rocks immaculate). However, this marking, too, is ancient, left behind by Spanish explorers, so not really graffiti at all.
You can pick up a map in the visitor’s center showing where to find these points of interest.
Southern New Mexico is famous for its clear night skies and the New Mexico State Parks system established its first astronomical observatory at City of Rocks State Park. Check park schedules for when the observatory is open and for special ranger presentations. However, even without these, star watching from the park is spectacular anytime the skies are clear and the moon is small.
What’s near City of Rocks State Park?
Faywood Hot Springs “resort” is less than 3 miles away. They offer RV and tent camping with unlimited soaks 24/7 in their natural mineral water pools. You can alternately rent a private pool by the hour for you and your group without the need to camp there.
Half of the hot springs are clothing required, the other half clothing optional.
While Faywood Hot Springs bills itself as a “resort,” this is a FAR stretch. It’s rustic, at best, and there are some long term residents who stay there. Nonetheless, there are RV spaces with hookups, a dump station, a laundry, and hot mineral water showers in addition to the six public hot tubs.
I sure loved my relaxing time at Faywood Hot Springs. There’s nothing like soaking naked (or not, your choice) in a mineral water hot tub while gazing at the spectacular New Mexico night skies. And my skin and hair felt great!
I also liked the management’s friendly, helpful, laid back attitude. They graciously allowed me to have a package shipped there, and I love you can access the mineral baths and the laundry 24/7. Learn more about Faywood Hot Springs here.
The charming historic town of Silver City is about 45 minutes away. You’ll find shops, restaurants, groceries, propane, and more there, but take note that many places in town are closed on Mondays, so plan your visit for another day.
City of Rocks practicalities
- Off-grid camping is just $10 (currently free with the NM State Parks Pass), $14 for sites with hookups ($7 with the pass).
- You can stay up to two weeks at a time at City of Rocks State Park.
- You can make reservations for camping through ReserveAmerica.com, some sites are also first-come, first-served. There are 62 sites‚ 10 with electric.
- There are vault toilets throughout the park and regular restrooms and showers near the visitor’s center.
- It gets windy here, but depending on your campsite, it’s not such a big deal as the rocks can shelter your RV from the brunt of it.
- To get to City of Rocks State Park from Deming, take US 180 northwest 24 miles; then go northeast on NM 61 for 4 miles to the park entrance road.
- City of Rocks State Park
NM 61 (4 mi. NE of US 180)
Faywood, NM
575-536-2800 - Learn more about City of Rocks State Park here.
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Of the public campgrounds where we have stayed in our RVs in 39 states and Canadian provinces, New Mexico state parks are our favorite. And not just for the bargain price as many, like City of Rocks, have unique features. In other NM SPs, you can visit a coal mine ghost town (Sugarite Canyon), try free rock and mineral collecting (Rockhound), or view hundreds of dinosaur tracks (Clayton)!
It is one of the most interesting and unique campgrounds we’ve stayed in. We were there about a month ago for 3 nights in a dry site nestled in the big rocks. Loved it!
I was first there over 20 years ago on a travel writer’s press trip. I did not have an RV at the time but made a note that I definitely wanted to come back when I did. It did not disappoint.
There is also a City of Rocks in southern Idaho, and it’s a climber’s Mecca. Not as RV-friendly, but still possible. Fees? Not that I recall. And you can watch avid rock climbers scaling the impossible granite faces.
Any size RV can fit in the main campground. The sites among the rocks are for smaller rigs.
Pick a moon-less night and the stars are blazing
If you rely on a mobile Hotspot, be aware internet can be dicy there. Beautiful place, but it is a bit remote.
It was strange. I had a great signal about half the time. So they are capable of getting a good signal (at least from Verizon). However it was so frustrating, I finally broke down and got Starlink, which I had been putting off. Of course, no sooner was Starlink ordered than Verizon started performing beautifully. It’s OK, Starlink will ultimately serve me better.
Been there, done that (one year ago), and would do it again. Very enjoyable at the Park, and also at Faywood Hot Springs. I agree that the Hot Springs is not really a “resort”, but it was pleasant, especially with the private tubs.
I would add that there is a brewery/taproom in Deming that is next to a campground. Good beer, and they had a food truck. Also a brewery in Silver City (the other direction) that had good beer and a great staff. Don’t miss the ‘ditch park’ on the east side of downtown. Was a runoff ditch, and now they have paved trails and overlooks. A different sort of attraction.
Thank you, Cheri! 🙂 it sounds like a great, fascinating place to visit. Will keep a close eye and shortened leash on Weagle, given your warning of the rattlesnakes. I’m presuming that he doesn’t expire before we get there. Safe travels! 🙂
As Gregory Illes says, there is a City of Rocks National Reserve in southern Idaho, in Castle Rocks State Park, which is also really fascinating. It was on the California Trail, and you can see inscriptions left on the rocks by immigrants passing through. We stayed in a beautiful campground called Smoky Mountain, and would loved to have stayed for weeks! Full hookups, campsites in the trees, and a view of the valley below. And the rock formations were spectacular!
Internet at your site and Durfee Hot Springs. A very swell place.
Now >THIS< is much more my definition of “Outstanding and Affordable”. Take a hint!