I'm considering a last minute fly & ride and am a little confused as to the current quarantine restrictions in New Mexico. I'm from New Jersey, which is exempt from quarantine in NM. I'd fly into CA, which is also exempt. But, obviously, I would have to ride across Arizona, which is not exempt. Bike would have a CA plate, I have a NJ drivers license. I'd like to spend at least two nights in NM (two different places). Does anyone have current information on how the restrictions currently work? Visiting New Mexico would actually be one of the points of the trip... I'd appreciate any current info.
Very good question... One of my sisters lives south of Albq. She comments regularly how tight NM is shut down. She has friends with small business and many are being starved by the extreme restrictions. They seem unreasonable and politically extreme. Caution! What I know from riding in NM...be careful of the wind. When a wind warning is issued, give it serious respect. Unlike, say Wyoming where the wind seems to blow steady all the time, the wind storms in NM produce strong steady winds with violent and dangerous gusts. Add blowing dust and clouds of tumbleweeds and they become very dangerous. To balance my comment on hazards, the dessert can be truly magical on a calm cool morning.
We did two rides in New Mexico this summer and my buddy Trail Boss did those as well as a third two weeks ago. Ride Report from Two Wheeled Texans: Into The Dust New Mexico is wide open. You may find that off of major routes that entrances into reservations can be blocked, but we only saw one instance of that and in general it never impacted us. We did a bunch of the NMBDR off road and a paved only ride starting in Las Cruces and heading West into Arizona (191) to Alpine then back into NM at Reserve. The usual masks/social distancing blah blah blah but go and have a good time. New Mexico is great!
Here is the Travel restrictions page for NM from the Department of Health: https://cv.nmhealth.org/travel-recommendations/ They usually update the list of states requiring 14 day quarantine on Wednesdays. Your milage may vary, but if you are from an exempt state, starting your ride in an exempt state, and quickly traveling through a quarantine required state you are probably doing a better job of honoring the quarantine requirement than many folks living here. Note that the number of daily cases is rising rapidly in our state (I think it has doubled over the last 3 weeks or so). If you minimize your contacts, wear a mask, and are generally cautious I would say go for it, but it would probably good to void speeding on the highways where the state police patrol. In closing, I am jealous of your chance to ride across the country. Be safe and enjoy the opportunity.
Thank you gbmaz! I’m in SoCal now — will likely take off tomorrow but could be Monday. I’ve been watching the rising numbers. The two places I plan to stop have been pretty good. Definitely plan to minimize contacts and always wear a mask. I feel very grateful to be able to do this. I’m extremely happy to finally be able to check off New Mexico as my 48th state. Can’t wait to see it — even if far too briefly. Again, thank you. I appreciate it.
Definitely come back another time for a longer visit. I moved out this way back in the early 90's from the suburbs of NYC and fell in love. The Rocky Mountain West and the Desert South West are where I am meant to be. So much to see and not too many people. My avatar picture was taken at the top of Cumberland Pass in CO at 12k feet and one of my annual solo adventures into CO. I am blessed to have as my local stomping grounds an area that people travel from around the world to see. Safe travels!
Been through NM eight times this summer and early fall on way to CO and back. No restrictions, no issues, just the normal protocol for Covid.
To close this out...I spent four days in New Mexico, riding in from Southern California on a new-to-me R1100R. I definitely enjoyed every minute. Kept to the normal, respectful Covid standards. I met some of the best people in the world there and got to check off a few bucket list items. Looking forward to going back again. Thanks everyone for your input and guidance -- I appreciate it!
When you do head out this way again, definitely hit up the NM folks in the Rockies forum for up to date info.
Will I have issues if I’m just transiting through NM to Colorado (coming from Texas) Gas available? Motels closed? Camping closed?
You should be able to get gas. Not sure about Motels. Even if a NF campground is closed, you can still disperse camp. The Forest Service had closed all of the campgrounds in California (mostly for fire conditions) which caused crowding in the common dispersed camping areas.
This may be dated as it was about two or three weeks ago but a national forest ranger I called in NM told me the national parks were open to non-residents for camping in the campgrounds. I was planning on leaving for NM about now but decided not to because of the direction the pandemic seems to be taking and because I hope a vaccine will be available before too long and thing will revert to something approximating the old "normal". Inshallah.
This is the latest from the NM Health Dept.: "Places of lodging – hotels, motels, RV parks, and short-term vacation rentals – that have completed the N.M. Safe Certified training offered at nmsafecertified.org may operate up to 25 percent of maximum occupancy. All other “places of lodging” must close. Healthcare providers who are engaged in the provision of care to New Mexico residents or individuals utilizing “places of lodging” for extended stays, as temporary housing, or for purposes of quarantining shall not be counted for purposes of determining maximum occupancy." https://cv.nmhealth.org/2020/11/13/...evel-of-statewide-public-health-restrictions/ Gustavo
