Balmorhea lodging then to white sands and eventually to Show Low, AZ

[Playa]

We are taking a trip and meeting family in Show low, AZ, I’m thinking of adding a pair of days on the front end and taking a round about route and spending a day swimming at Balmorhea and then heading up through Alamogordo and spending at day at White Sands.

the lodge at Balmorhea is still
closed and under renovation so that’s not an option. Balmorhea looks like it has 3 or 4 smaller independent motels, has anyone stayed at them, or have feedback on one? Our other option would be to dive on to Van Horn on the way to White Sands when we have had enough of Balmorhea.


any do not miss things to do in show low?

[Gumbo Man]

We were there about 4 weeks ago. Personally I would continue west for lodging. Didn’t look like many options at all in Balmorhea. That swimming hole looked awesome.

[S-3 Ranch]

The 11 inn is where I would put my pronghorn, aoudad, mule deer hunters sometimes

[jclaybennett]

I'd recommend swimming, then loading up and heading to Van Horn to stay at Hotel El Capitan.

[Sidro]

Best thing in Balmorhea is a green chile burrito from Carrascos and a cold beer.

[diamond10x]

Have stayed at El Oso and the Eleven. El Oso is the nicer place. If you're going to the state park, might as well plan to be there the whole day if you've got kids.

[GroceryGetter]

I have stayed in the Holiday Inn at Van Horn a handful of times and would to it again. Now let's get to the important part and that's food despite you not asking for recs.

Do NOT eat at Chuys in Van Horn. I am still scratching my head on how they could make such awful food yet John Madden raved about the place. Trash can.

If you need to stop and eat in El Paso around breakfast time I highly recommend Crave. Chorizo Pankcake. Covered in two eggs with bacon and sausage. It is really really good.
Lunchtime I would suggest Kiki's. Red crab enchiladas.

Any dinner plans around Las Cruces/Mesilla I have to recommend Double Eagle Steakhouse. The tableside Caesar dressing with a raw egg is worth a stop.

[Casey]

Check White Sands status. An F16 went down in the park and as of a couple weeks ago most of it was closed.

I'm a fan of LaPosta deMesilla in Mesilla if staying in Las Cruces. We've had great luck with AirBnBs in Las Cruces over last foUr years while my son was attending NMSU.