El Morro RV Park & Cabins

This is an older park with a few full time residents. A nice younger couple are in the process of buying the park with plans to make some much needed upgrades. The plans include leveling and graveling the sites. The on-site restaurant serves excellent fresh dishes! This was my second time staying here, only because it is kind of “out of the way”. The Banderas Caldera and ice caves as well as El Morro National Monument are nearby! The 2 pull through sites are long enough for any rig, I’m 58’ and had PLENTY of room.

I love this campground. It isn't fancy and connectivity is spotty, but the owners and staff are wonderful and make you feel like family. While we were staying here the first time I had a minor injury, and both residents and staff pitched in to help out. After getting patched up in Albuquerque, we were happy to come right back. The campground is definitely off the beaten path, but is so much nicer than the rather grim looking campgrounds on I-40 near Grants. Definitely worth a side trip. The food in the cafe is delicious. The only problem is that it is only open Thursday through Sunday. Perhaps that's just their winter hours.

We stayed here November 1. This was an overnight stop for us on the way from Petrified Forest back to Santa Fe area. We arrived in the pitch dark after Google had misguided us. Pay attention to where Google says it is on the maps, not on the driving directions! We had a decent site though it was really hard to level. There are other better sites but this was easiest to access from the entrance given our late, very dark arrival. Manager met us at the site at 8pm in the cold and dark to make sure we were ok. When we woke up in the morning, we discovered the rv park was below a huge butte and was in a really lovely area just down the road from El Morro National Monument and near El Malpais National Monument. Our big regret was we didn't adjust our plans and spend another day here exploring these areas. The park has a well reviewed restaurant which was sadly closed when we were there. They had a clean heated shower facility as well. There was a surprising amount of road noise late into the night though we thought we were well off the beaten path, hence the 4 rather than 5 on noise. Cell was really iffy.

I really like it here at Ancient Way. The folks that own, operate, and work here, are incredible. It's my fourth year (4th time) staying here. When I arrived, the first little while felt like a mini home coming. Chatting, and catching up before and after I navigated into my parking spot. I typically don't go for or enjoy RV parks particularly. I'm more of an open space/boondocking type. But these folks are kind of a throwback to the days when I was a child, and my Mom ran in hippie circles. Or so it feels to me. Great people with a philosophy of non-judgment. Their mantra is “We reserve the right to serve everyone”. How cool is that? I think everyone could use a little “Ancient Way”. Plus, the Café is awesome. If you ever have a chance to eat here, don’t pass it up. All homemade, fresh foods, all natural and organic (to the degree possible).

Since my last stay here, they have remodeled the café kitchen, and improved their WiFi.

This was my first time at site #13, a back in site. I won't kid you, it was tight getting maneuvered into this site with my 33' 5th wheel. But it's a site I wanted to try, and I'm glad I did. Here I do get a couple of bars on Verizon 4G LTE, and I can reach the Cafe's WiFi. The sites I've stayed in previously did not really get a viable cellular signal. In my previous two visits I stayed respectively in each of the drive through sites.

Beyond that, I don't have much new to add. You can see my two previous reviews for this location below...

Cute little camping spot. We stayed in a 33 ft RV for one night. We would have stayed longer if didn't have a busy agenda ahead of us. The grounds are nice and quiet. You can't make reservations online for the campsite (only cabins, but those looked super cute and fully booked), but you can email and Feather is super accommodating and responsive. We arrived to our site kinda late and he had reserved a very nice large site for us with cones. Feather even greeted us and was super helpful throughout the entire stay. There is a nice little art walk/ trail behind the property, and you can tell someone has some talent with abstract art. My son and I loved it. Also close to El Morro state park and the Bandero Volcano and Ice Cave. I might have to head back here to eat in the restaurant is done being renovated because I heard they serve some amazing food and cage free eggs!!

I was a little surprised there were no reviews since my last stay. But, this spot may be a little out of the way. For me it's a perfect location for when I come to this area. They don't take reservations for RV spots. But I did email ahead just to see if it looked like there would be a spot available. I got a quick response, and was encouraged head this way, and they'd take care of me. I must say, take care of me they did. Like last year, by happenstance I met Charlie, the Camp Host just as I'd pulled in. I parked, and got set up quickly. I prepaid for a week, and then added an extra day towards the end of my stay. Feather, the manager, gave me an additional discount beyond the seven day stay discount because of my electrical trubbles last year (see my previous review) .

All the people who work here are friendly and accommodating. Charlie, the Camp Host gave me is personal wifi password since I was too far from the Cafe to hit that wifi from my campsite. That was nice.

Cell service here is sparse. From my spot I could not connect with AT&T or Verizon. Up by the cafe I can get a bar maybe two on verizon. But, I knew that coming in.

Feather also advised that they do have plans in the pipe to upgrade the sites to 50amp, and that the project should be completed before I return next year.

They did seem to get a lot of RV business while I was here. More than I recall last year. RVs coming in and out pretty much daily. Probably because some of the RV parks near Gallup and Grants NM are shut down due to covid. Anyway, to anyone thinking about staying, give them chance. It's a bit primitive. But a great place to stay. They can fill your propane bottles onsite and, the restrooms and showers (up by the cafe) are very well kept.

I came to the area to get away from the urban world. So i find it liberating to have no cable, limited internet, and almost no cellular. The staff here are wonderful. Always helpful, courteous, and friendly. The Ancient Way restraint is really good. There are great places to visit and explore near here. This may or may not be your cup of tea. But I'll be back. I stayed one week this time and I rented one of their cabins last year. I recommend bringing a book or two, and if you are so equipped, some DVD or blue-ray movies if you need something more that just the peaceful ambiance here.

This location is primitive by modern standards no doubt about it. Nothing above 30amp sites. But you do have full hookups, electric, water, and sewer. The cafe has wifi, but it's not spectacular. I've been able to attach to it with my wifi extender from my site (10), barely. Cell service here is almost non existent. I get 1 bar (Verizon) sometimes. Access is easy, at least it was for me. The camp host met me right at the entrance and took me to my site. To be honest, the camp host just happened, by coincidence, to be at the entrance when I arrived. I don't think she waits there...

I've read a couple of what I'd call less than favorable reviews for this place. I'm trying to give them a fair shake so to speak. It's probably true this is not a premier RV campground, and could use some TLC and a few upgrades. But I enjoy it here....

Lastly, the 30amp receptacle on site 10 (were I stayed) has a 20amp breaker in it. I did report this in hopes this will be solved for the next camper. I didn't need AC, so this was not a big issue for me. (UPDATE: I received an email telling me the aforementioned breaker issue was fixed, and that they plan to update their electrical line. I was also offered a free night's stay on my next trip.. I'm a happy camper!!)

I would term this campground "quirky," right along with the owners. The proprietors are very nice and helpful. But don't expect them to be in their cafe at all hours, especially when checking in. Our rig is 40 feet long with a toad, so getting in and out of a pull through site took some skill, but we managed. The power was clean, that was all we wanted We only stayed overnight, so we didn't check out anything else. The cafe has WiFi, but don't expect it to reach your rig unless you have an external antenna. Verizon cell service was minimal, I had to put my phone in an east facing window to get anything. OTA television was non-existent. Still, I'd stay again for a quick overnight.