Last Updated: May 4, 2026
In January 2018 we were making our way west from Texas, bound for another Tucson winter stay — RV rolling, Jake in his spot, Sandy and I settling into the rhythm of the road. The plan called for a few days in Las Cruces, New Mexico with a side trip to White Sands National Monument, one of our favorite stops from previous visits. The plan didn’t survive because of the RV’s sided radiator fan drive gear box.
Las Cruces, New Mexico
We had been looking forward to Las Cruces. The Mesilla Valley has real character — the old plaza, the green chile, the long views east toward the Organ Mountains rising dramatically from the desert floor. We’d visited White Sands before and were eager to return. Instead, we discovered oil leaking from the side radiator fan drive gear box — the same component that had already been replaced once. Freightliner thought it might be oil overflow from the breather valve, but “might be” wasn’t reassuring enough to linger on a winter trip through the desert. Our choices were to backtrack an hour to El Paso, where there was a service center, or push the four hours west to Tucson, which has multiple Freightliner facilities. Michael got under the motor home, and was able to tighten the breather valve. We chose Tucson, knowing that it wasn’t a blown seal, rather an under tightened breather valve.
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks
Before the mechanical situation fully unfolded, we did get one excellent stop in: a hike at Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, one of the Bureau of Land Management’s most spectacular holdings in southern New Mexico. The Organ Mountains rise sharply from the Chihuahuan Desert floor east of Las Cruces — sheer granite needles and serrated ridgelines that look almost architectural against the desert sky. The trails are dog-friendly, which mattered greatly during Jake’s years, and we were practically alone out there. The views were stunning and the quiet was complete. We’ve always loved places like this precisely because they draw fewer visitors than the national parks and are every bit as dramatic.
Visitor Information: Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is accessible from several trailheads east of Las Cruces off US-70 and NM-213. There is no entrance fee. Dogs are welcome on trails on leash. For current access information, trail maps, and status, visit the BLM website.
The Drive to Tucson
With the oil leak confirmed and White Sands off the table, we loaded up and headed west on I-10. Sandy drove the Jeep behind the RV the entire four hours, watching for new problems. I kept one eye on the gauges and the other on the road. Jake, characteristically unfazed by the whole situation, rode in his spot as if this were any other travel day. Four hours later we pulled into Tucson. No smoke or further oil leak. No breakdown. No damage to the RV. We made it — and we have rarely been so genuinely relieved to arrive somewhere.
Tucson, Arizona
It was so good to be in Tucson. Michael has been coming here since the early 1980s — he’s been a member of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for decades — and the city has grown considerably over those years. The traffic is heavier, the development has pushed further into the bajadas, and some of the quieter corners from earlier visits have filled in. But the desert itself remains untouched and extraordinary. The saguaro don’t care about traffic. The washes still hold the same wildlife they always have. And the quality of light on a clear January morning in the Sonoran Desert is simply unlike anything else we know.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in January
The first thing we did — as we almost always do on arrival in Tucson — was activate our Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum membership. The membership pays for itself quickly when you’re staying for a week or more, and we can visit daily and find something different each time. Even in January the museum delivered. Coyotes moved through the grounds with complete ease. The cactus wrens were anything but shy — they were actively investigating potential nesting sites throughout the exhibits, moving with the busy, purposeful energy that makes them so entertaining to watch. The hummingbirds were working whatever winter blooms were open. Even stripped of its spring color, the desert still impresses in January, and the museum is one of the best places anywhere to understand why.
Visitor Information: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located at 2021 N. Kinney Rd., Tucson, AZ 85743. Current hours, admission, and seasonal programming are available at the museum website. Phone: (520) 883-2702. Annual memberships are available and highly recommended for stays of more than a day or two.
Practical Tips
January is an excellent time to visit Tucson. The Sonoran Desert winter is mild by almost any standard — daytime temperatures in the 60s and 70s are common, crowds run well below spring and fall levels, and the winter light on the desert landscape is some of the best of the year for photography. You won’t see the spring cactus bloom, but the desert has its own quiet beauty in the cold months and the wildlife is very active.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum annual membership pays for itself quickly. If you’re planning more than two visits or staying for several days, the annual membership makes strong financial sense and allows you to drop in as often as you like. We treat it as essential gear for any Tucson stay and renew it without hesitation every year.
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks is worth a dedicated stop between El Paso and Las Cruces. The trails are accessible, the scenery is dramatic, dogs are welcome on leash, and the crowds are light compared to better-known destinations in the region. Budget at least a half day, more if you want to explore multiple trailheads.
If you’re traveling by RV, know your service options before you need them. Tucson has strong heavy-duty truck and RV service infrastructure, including Freightliner facilities — which was the decisive factor in our routing decision during our oil leak situation. Knowing in advance where service is available along your route can turn a stressful mechanical situation into a manageable one.
Build buffer time into long RV driving days. Our Las Cruces situation resolved well in part because we left early and kept our pace conservative. On long driving days with a large vehicle, extra time and a chase vehicle when possible can make a real difference. Sandy following in the Jeep gave us both peace of mind and an early warning system for the entire four hours to Tucson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Las Cruces, New Mexico worth a stop on the drive from Texas to Arizona? Absolutely — it’s a genuine destination, not just a pass-through point. The Old Mesilla plaza, the proximity to White Sands National Monument, and the easy access to Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks all make it worth at least a two-night stop. We were sorry to leave early and intend to return with more time to do it properly.
What is Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks? It is a large public land area east of Las Cruces, New Mexico managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It protects a dramatic stretch of the Chihuahuan Desert and the Organ Mountain range — a series of spectacular granite spires that rise sharply from the desert floor. There is no entrance fee, dogs are welcome on trails on leash, and the area is open for hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography. Visit the BLM website for current information.
Is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum worth visiting in January? Yes — without hesitation. While January falls outside the spring bloom season, the museum is far from quiet. Resident wildlife is active year-round, the weather is ideal for walking the outdoor exhibits, and the grounds and galleries are outstanding in every season. January crowds are lighter than spring, and the winter light on the desert landscape is beautiful for photography.
What should RV travelers know about the I-10 corridor from El Paso to Tucson? It is well-traveled RV country with fuel, services, and overnight facilities throughout. Tucson in particular has strong RV and heavy-duty truck service infrastructure. If you’re managing a mechanical situation on the road in this part of the Southwest, Tucson is a good place to aim for and Las Cruces has services as well.
The beginning of our January 2018 Tucson stay — continues with our time exploring the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Tucson Mountains.
