For many RVers, there’s nothing better than soaking your cares away in a hot mineral bath after a bumpy day on the road. If your travels take you to Interstate 25 in New Mexico, you’re near one of the best hot springs destinations for RVers in the western United States. Just point your rig to the hot springs Mecca of Truth or Consequences for a relaxing respite from the road.
Book a deluxe private soaking pool.
Find your bliss in T-or-C
Located along the banks of the Rio Grande, each year the town’s rustic desert scenery draws thousands of visitors lured by the promises of better health. Known for it’s odor-free, mineral-rich water with high levels of chloride, a naturally occurring germ killer that sterilizes the skin and ensures the purity of the water, Truth or Consequences makes for a fun getaway or overnight stop.
Image: Sierra County Tourism
Word about this unusual spot got out as early as 1598 when Spanish settlers discovered steam rising from the area’s waters. Road-weary travelers quickly learned how hot mineral springs could care for wounds and ease ailments.
It wasn’t until 1949 when the town’s abundant resource gained national fame after citizens renamed it from “Hot Springs” to “Truth or Consequences” after winning a publicity stunt contest on the popular NBC radio show.
The show is now history but today Truth or Consequences (known as “T-or-C” by New Mexicans) is more popular than ever.
Most visitors are drawn by the freeflowing hot mineral waters peculating beneath city streets, but another attraction that’s blossomed is the lively artist community. Attracted to the town’s affordable cost of living and casual environment, artists of every type have flocked to T-or-C to pursue their creative passions.
Hot water is abundant in T-or-C.
In response to the town’s nurturing environment, many health care practitioners have followed suit and opened holistic health clinics offering massage, reflexology, mud wraps, reiki, and more. In addition, a variety of restaurants and lodging options are always ready to cater to visitors needs.
New Mexicans have tried to keep T-or-C a “best kept secret” for years, but word about this quirky destination leaked out to the rest of the world when Sir Richard Branson and his Virgin Galactic company became the first anchor tenant of Spaceport America, the world’s first commercial spaceport. Spaceport America offers tours that include a “G-Shock simulator” thrill ride and tours of the operations center.
Why Truth or Consequences is the best hot springs destination
As RVers, we’re lucky: T-or-C has three highly-rated RV parks in town. R.J. RV Park and Cielo Vista RV Park are two popular spots with nightly rates and full-hookups.
However if you want to soak, you’ll need to book an hour at a time at any of the eight hot mineral bath resorts that accept walk-in visits. The town is quite small so you can walk to many of the baths.
Book a deluxe private soaking pool.
The only RV park with hot mineral baths for overnight guests is Riverbend Hot Springs. Not only can you enjoy access to the resort’s fifteen mineral pools, but you’ll revel in the tranquil riverfront scenery while doing so.
Riverbend is the one T-or-C destination with public and private hot springs pools overlooking the Rio Grande. Deluxe private pools (which can be reserved) and common pools with all-day access enable you to soak between 8 am and 10 pm, seven days a week. Each pool is hand-built with a distinctly different natural setting found nowhere else in town.
Currently there are three back-in RV spots offered at Riverbend, so book your stay early. You’ll find full-hookups with 50-amp service for almost any-sized RV.
No matter where you park your rig in Truth or Consequences, you’ll have a hard time leaving one of the best hot springs destinations for RVers in the U.S. When it’s finally time to go, you’ll be relaxed and refreshed when you hit the road.
Rene Agredano and her husband, Jim Nelson, became full-time RVers in 2007 and have been touring the country ever since. In her blog, Rene chronicles the ins and outs of the full-timing life and brings readers along to meet the fascinating people and amazing places they visit on the road. Her road trip adventures are chronicled in her blog at LiveWorkDream.com.
My wife and I spent several weeks in this town and most of that at the “Riverside Hot Springs” and have some comments. Namely this review sounds like an info commercial not an objective review. If so, you do a disservice to us RV’ers since no one likes to go out of their way (this place is not on a major beaten path), with great expectations and then find the ‘real’ story. Here is the negative side of the entirely positive one written.
1. The town is a very big nothing. Almost all the other places other than Riverside are not worth the bother. Save some money and take a hot bath in a nice motel room. (We suspect one motel was doing just that and advertising it as hot spring fed).
2. Riverside is the only act in town and yes has its charms. But unless you get a private tub It was also on bordering on the wrong side of funky when we were there. The private tubs are the good part but they are are pricey.
3. Saying they have RV spaces is a joke. There are in fact only 3, they are shared with some rather tatered workcamper spaces, in a bare parking lot across the street. Far from deluxe accommodations (considering the prices).
4. The young man who own/runs the place is a bit of a (XX??!!) who varies depending on his mood.
In closing and I hate to accuse since I have only a suspicion, but I think someone got some free soaks in exchange for a good article. (the owner specializes in securing this type of advertising and is proud enough to brag about it).
Len thank you for sharing your opinion about Riverbend. Sounds like you haven’t been there in the last year when renovations really took off. I was quite surprised to see how much it’s “grown up,” as I do recall what it was like from it’s early days. As you know there are no one-size-fits-all destinations for every RVer but based on Riverbend’s 20+ year history of being a favorite for many who appreciate and enjoy the hot springs culture, we felt it was worth pointing out in a feature article. If you have destinations you would like to recommend by all means please let us know.
I was there, enjoying a private soak last year. It was quite wonderful, not all that pricey considering the amenities, especially the incredible view. I thought T or C was quite interesting and will return. I overnighted at the Moose Lodge.
I also tried one of the tiny original baths. No comparison.