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Old 06-07-2022, 07:49 AM   #1
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Angel Fire RV Resort, NM to Portal RV Resort, Moab, UT

Needle in a haystack question - but has anyone made this trip and if you did, do you remember your route? Appreciate any help you can provide - want to split that part of the trip into two segments and this would be critical info! The Grand Adventure is really coming together - we are super stoked!
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Old 06-07-2022, 11:57 AM   #2
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I've done nearly all the parts of that trip - just not a direct transit all in one sitting.

Angel Fire to Taos is a fairly slow, twisty trip. The part from Taos to Hwy 84 south of Chama is the only part I've not traveled. But from Tierra Amarilla to Durango we just traveled last month. And, from Durango to Moab I have also traveled but it's been quite a while ago.

The roads are pretty good in this area. Most are fairly slow going due to traffic and a little bit twisty. But nothing bad for an RV. We have a 37' Adventurer and we tow a Lincoln Toad so, no real issues.

As to how to split the trip up you have a lot of choices. We love Durango and go once or twice a year every year for the past 12 years. We were there in May and have another 10-day reservation in Sept.

We were going to go to the Angel Fire RV Resort in May but they cancelled everyone's reservations due to the huge Fire nearby. I haven't kept track of what's happened with that. We were in Santa Fe when we got the word on the cancellation so we just went over to Durango for 5-days instead.

The typical route to moab you'll pass through Pagosa Springs, Durango, Delores and then a fairly long stretch through the Apache reservation before getting to Moab. There is not many "places" on the reservation. It's a pretty drive but there's not much there.

We've camped in all of those places I listed above and we like Durango and Delores the best. Pagosa Springs is OK but it's never really lived up to the hype for us. The Hot Spring is the main attraction and it's just a bunch of small swimming pools/tubs with hot water that you pay $50 per person to bob around in.

Delores is a tiny town with good pizza and beer and some OK RV options around from National Forest to smaller Mom & Pop campgrounds. But it's nice enough that we've been 3-times for up to a week there.

When we stay in Durango we stay in a National Forest Campground called Haviland Lake. It's about 15 miles north of town. It's beautiful and they even have 15 or so sites with 50-amp power. But they have no other hookups not even water. We still love it.

Here's a photo of us at Haviland Lake Campground:
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Old 06-07-2022, 12:26 PM   #3
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Thanks my friend - Durango it is! This is what Angel Fire has on their site and it cranked up my anxiety level a bit!!

"PLEASE NOTE: Some GPS and internet mapping systems will route going north out of Las Vegas, NM taking NM 518 then to Hwy 434. DO NOT take this route as it is a single-lane road through the mountain. Also do not take NM 120 from I-25, which is an impassible route for an RV.

We do not recommend traveling through Mora or Wagon Mound, NM."


Love that pic! Thanks for sharing...
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Old 06-07-2022, 12:40 PM   #4
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Yeah, You'll go back through Taos and then over to Tierra Amarilla and route 84. On that trip last month, we stopped for one night at a New Mexico State Park outside of Tierra Amarilla. It was 8 miles off of RT 84 and about 5 miles south of TA. It was called Heron Lake State Park. It's huge with 250 sites - most of them boondocking sites. We had an electric/water site on a small loop. It was pretty rustic and dry but it was fine for an overnight. NM State Parks are all on the rustic side in our experience.
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Old 06-19-2022, 06:38 PM   #5
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We have traveled all the roads mentioned above. Good highways, great scenery, and some very nice campgrounds. We stayed at the Dolores River Campground (FHU RV park) in Dolores, not Delores, last month. We have also stayed at Heron Lake SP in New Mexico. NM SPs are the best bargain in the natio--FHU site $18/night, W/E site $14/night, with vehicle day pass included We have stayed at about half the SPs in NM over our years of RVing.

For more on the routes mentioned, not-to-be missed sights, and recommended campgrounds, see my blog HERE. Highly recommend stops at Chimney Rock NM west of Pagosa, the Anasazi Museum near Dolores, and Dead Horse Point SP in Canyonlands NP near Moab. IMHO, DHP SP has the most spectacular views of any SP in the nation!
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Old 06-20-2022, 08:46 AM   #6
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Thanks for the additional info. We definitely have to get out of our comfort zones and start looking at state/national parks. Ours in PA that we have visited are more for tent camping than an RV. We did stay at Gros Ventre in Teton in our travel trailer once, ran out of power in hours, and had to hook up and start the truck to flush the toilets! Kind of ended the experiment there...
New rig is much more suited for this type of thing so we will check them out while we are on our journey.
We ended up selecting Durango Ranch RV Resort for a few days on our way from Angel Fire to Portal.
Thanks again to you both! Maybe we'll see you on the road...
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Old 06-20-2022, 09:05 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by Scotty B View Post
We ended up selecting Durango Ranch RV Resort for a few days on our way from Angel Fire to Portal.
That's a brand new place South of Durango about 12 miles South of town. It's so brand new that Google shows that it just opened and we've never seen it. Though we've driven by that location many times.

It's on 550 which is the main highway from the New Mexico state line all the way through Durango, up over the Million Dollar Highway through Silverton, Ouray and Montrose. That RV park is near Ignacio which is a small berg in the UTE Reservation and near the Airport.

Just an FYI, there is nothing around there and you'll have a 20+ min drive to any shopping of any kind.
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Old 06-20-2022, 09:28 AM   #8
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Ignacio is the headquarters of the Southern Ute Reservation. It has an Indian-owned casino with a FHU RV park, a few stores, gas station,, a clinic, a fairgrounds, schools, and several residential areas.

There are also shopping centers, hardware store, and gas stations in Bayfield, just north of Ignacio. So, Ignacio is not really all that isolated by Colorado standards. We are used to driving 15-20 miles or more between towns, not 3 miles like the East.

Incidentally, if my blog link above didn't work for some reason, it is "https://2fanrgs.blogspot.com".
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Old 06-20-2022, 10:15 AM   #9
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There are also shopping centers, hardware store, and gas stations in Bayfield, just north of Ignacio. So, Ignacio is not really all that isolated by Colorado standards.
It's not only a long drive to the South side of Durango, but it's 20 miles to Ignacio, and 22 miles to Bayfield from that RV park, too. There is no shopping, gas, or anything other than farm and ranch land close to the area around that new RV park. There is an older mobile home/rv park just south of the new RV park. However, it's mostly permanent residents.

Many people like that kind of isolation - it's just good to know what to expect before you arrive.

I should add that the place we stay in Durango is 17 miles north of Durango and we love being in the forest and mountains. There is gas and some food within 5 miles of where we stay but it's a 20+ min drive to town. So, it's all what you're looking for.
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Old 06-21-2022, 07:49 AM   #10
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All good information and much appreciated!

Regarding the distance from town:

1 - Am now officially retired and have already started the deprogramming of not being in a massive hurry all of the time - this will take a concerted effort and a decent amount of time to accomplish - might be a lifetime journey!

2 - Weather permitting - I get to pop the top and drive my Bronco when we head to town so am not fussed at all if it's a bit longer drive.

The Grand Adventure begins in 34 days!

Peace
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Old 08-15-2022, 06:02 PM   #11
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Hi guys.
Here in Angel Fire...truly amazing campground - perhaps the best we've ever been in.
Regarding the drive to Durango, is it 64 to 84 to 160 all the way to Durango, though we'll head south on 550 to our campground?
Appreciate your help.
We climbed OK to 8200' from Tucumcari, kept up basically with speed limit and posted signs for turns.
Thanks in advance...
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Old 08-15-2022, 07:10 PM   #12
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Yes, you'll go back through Taos, then over to Tierra Amarilla then up to Chama and over to Pagosa Springs and then 160 west to Durango. Just as you enter Durango you'll turn left on 550 South up a big steep but short hill to head to your campground.

Plan on about 5+ hours for that trip. There are two little mountain passes after you get past Tierra Amarilla. One just before Pagosa Springs and another on your way to Durango.

We'll be in Chama on Sept 10th on our way to Haviland Lake National Forest Campground on the 11th for 10 days. Looking forward to it for sure.
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Old 08-15-2022, 07:26 PM   #13
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This is a campground we have enjoyed and like it as being a bit closer to town? But I also admit that I am a "train nut" and like the fact that I can walk down to see the train go out and back, without having to get in the car!!

I used to try to ride them all but now it is far more fun to watch them go past without any associated hassle.

https://www.durangorv.com/
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Old 08-19-2022, 09:14 AM   #14
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Here safe and sound in Durango. What a drive! Pretty flawless transit - thanks guys. Several climbs where we topped out at 30 mph, but just a new way of driving.
Campground is OK, the folks have a lovely back story...trying to save the fifth generation family farm with the new RV park.
Going to bum around Durango today and pick up supplies., then head to Aztec tomorrow before we move on to Moab. May touch base on those directions, too.
Couple pics attached. What a difference from Angel Fire!
Peace!
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Old 08-19-2022, 09:17 AM   #15
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And a few from route 66 adventure...
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Old 08-19-2022, 09:18 AM   #16
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This is Durango this morning
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Old 08-20-2022, 09:21 AM   #17
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Hi guys. Gloomy rainy day here in Durango.
Would you mind confirming route numbers to Moab?
Looks like 160 to 184 to 491 to 191?
Thx for your guidance and support!
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Old 08-20-2022, 10:23 AM   #18
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Personally I would stay on 160 to Cortez, then 491 to 191. Adds about one mile distance but better road. YMMV
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Old 08-20-2022, 10:34 AM   #19
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I think Wyo is correct. that little cutoff between Mancos and Delores is OK, but not really necessary. And the main road is better by far.
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Old 08-20-2022, 11:36 AM   #20
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160 to 491 it is.
Great appreciation for all of you...have signifcantly reduced my anxiety on this trip and helped keep us safe
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