As a traveler working your way around the United States you may ask yourself, “Is Santa Fe worth visiting in an RV?” Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the United States, established in 1610. History abounds in Santa Fe’s architecture, museums, and culture. But it’s not just its past that makes Santa Fe special, this city also has one foot in the modern world with art exhibits like Meow Wolf and many sophisticated dining options.
Some people wonder, is Santa Fe safe? The statistics aren’t great, the crime rate is worse than about 90% of the rest of the country. But Santa Fe is just about as safe as anywhere else in New Mexico. While Albuquerque has some gang-related violence, in Santa Fe it’s more generally petty theft.
There’s so much to see and do in Santa Fe, that we think it’s definitely worth a visit.
MUST SEE AND DO IN SANTA FE NEW MEXICO
Santa Fe Restaurants:
One of our favorite ways to experience a new city is through the food. Here are a few diverse options for getting to know Santa Fe by its restaurants. El Farol is a tapas place with live music every night, go on Saturday for the Flamenco show. Radish and Rye is farm-to-table dining featuring whatever is local and seasonal. San Marcos Cafe is a local establishment serving up traditional New Mexican-style food. And finally, if you’re looking for fine dining, Geronimo is your top choice as it was named one of the 100 best restaurants in America. Enjoy getting to know the city and the culture through these must-try restaurants in Santa Fe.
Santa Fe Farmers’ Market:
The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market was voted one of the top ten farmers’ markets in the country. They’re open year-round on Saturdays from 8 am-1 pm if you want to stop by and see what it’s all about. From May through November there’s also a Tuesday market at the same time. While we were there we snagged some New Mexico Green Chiles. We even whipped up this Green Chile Burgers recipe to share.
Santa Fe Plaza:
The plaza is a National Historic Landmark, dating back to the early 17th century. Today, the plaza is home to vendors selling jewelry and crafts, musicians, and nearby restaurants and shops. One wall of the plaza is made up of the Palace of the Governors, the oldest public building in the US, today a museum. The plaza is a community gathering place where you can feel the pulse of the city, it’s a great place to start any visit to Santa Fe.
MUST DO HIKES IN SANTA FE
If you want to keep your RV out of freezing temperatures, plan your trip to Santa Fe between April and October. The sun is always warm at Santa Fe’s high elevation (7,199’) though, so daytime highs are warm enough for outdoor activities nearly year-round. The Santa Fe weather is marked by 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a great destination for a trip centered around outdoor activities.
Picacho Peak Trail
If you’re looking for a hike that’s close to the city and offers great views of Santa Fe, Picacho Peak Trail is the one for you. This is a moderate trail with a 1,329’ elevation gain over 3.9 miles.
Grasshopper Canyon Trail
For an easier walk, try Grasshopper Canyon Trail in the Santa Fe National Forest. This out and back trail only gains 278’ of elevation and is 3.1 miles, plus it’s dog friendly!
Wheeler Peak
If you have a bit more time to venture north toward Taos, Wheeler Peak via the Williams Lake Trail is our favorite hike in the area. This is an 8.5-mile out and back trail that takes you to the highest peak in New Mexico. It’s considered a challenging hike with a 2,972’ elevation gain but is a great option, especially in the Summer when it’s hotter down in Santa Fe.
SANTA FE CAMPING SPOTS
There are a fair amount of Santa Fe camping RV options for all tastes and styles of RVing. You will find some age-restricted parks, as well as some that only offer partial hookups, or only have 30 amp connections, so do your research and be sure to call ahead.
Los Suenos RV Park
If you want to be in the action and close to the city attractions, this is the park for you. It’s a proper RV resort with modern amenities like a laundry room, swimming pool, etc. And they also have access to Santa Fe’s trail system straight from the park, so it doesn’t have to be all city-living from here.
Santa Fe Skies RV Park
Only 12 miles from downtown Santa Fe, this RV park is pure luxury. All sites have full hookups, there are a clubhouse, gas, and groceries nearby, and scenic views all around.
Hyde Memorial State Park
There’s not a ton of good boondocking nearby to the city of Santa Fe, but this small State Park is a great choice if you want to be more in nature, but still close enough to the city. Cell connectivity and wifi are seriously lacking here, but maybe that’s what you’re looking for.
IS SANTA FE WORTH VISITING IN AN RV?
We certainly think travel to Santa Fe New Mexico is worth it. A city with great food, nearby hiking, and good options for RV camping always earns a gold star in our book. What’s more, Santa Fe has a rich history, unique culture, and modern art scene. So whatever you’re into, Santa Fe probably has something for you.
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