Traveling to Philmont
Traveling to and from Philmont is an important part of the high-adventure
experience. Most contingents will find transportation the largest expense in
the budget, so it's important to study the various travel options before
making a final decision.
Location
Philmont Scout Ranch is in northeastern New Mexico, near the town of
Cimarron, which is between Albuquerque and Denver, Colorado. View this
map of northeastern New Mexico for a more precise
location of the ranch.
Arrival and Departure Dates
The ideal time to arrive at Philmont is prior to lunch on your scheduled
arrival day. That enables your crew to process and outfit in Camping
Headquarters and to depart for the trail the following day. Each Philmont
expedition concludes after breakfast on day 13, and crews depart on that
day.
Important: There are no accommodations at Philmont for
groups that arrive earlier or depart later than their scheduled dates. If
it is necessary to arrive early or depart late, you must make arrangements
to stay elsewhere. See our list of accommodations for some options.
Methods of Transportation
Private vehicles should be used only with full assurance vehicles are safe
and drivers are reliable. Make sure there is adequate insurance coverage for
each vehicle. Adhere rigidly to the Tour Permit requirements.
Many crews have found public carriers to provide a reliable form of
transportation to the ranch. Here are some of the most common modes of
transportation:
- Chartered or private vehicle directly from your town to Philmont.
Contact a local transportation company or travel agency to make
arrangements.
- Airlines to Denver, Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, or Pueblo. When
making reservations, inquire about supplemental chartered airline services
offering packaged plans with reduced group rates.
- Train to Denver or Raton. Note: There is no ticket agent in Raton,
but the train does stop for ticketed passengers.
For crews travelling by air or train, it will be necessary to use another
mode of transportation to arrive in Cimarron or Raton; a list of
travel companies serving Philmont is provided
for your convenience.
If necessary, Philmont can arrange round-trip bus transportation from the
bus and train stations in Raton (at a cost of $20 per person) or Cimarron
($5 per person) for arriving crews. Buses are scheduled upon receipt of the
"Arrival Plans" card from the itinerary book that is sent to registered crews
in mid-March.
Travel Etiquette
Scouts and Venturers are respected nationwide because of how they travel
and appear to the public. To maintain a positive appearance and good public
image, follow this advice:
- Wear your Scout or Venturing uniform proudly! You are members of the
Boy Scouts of America, a highly regarded youth organization. A Scout
or Venturer properly uniformed, sharp appearing, courteous, and well
mannered is the best medium for public relations.
- Use the buddy system; no one person ever leaves the group alone.
- Telephone ahead to your next day's stopping place. It is inconsiderate
to drop in or cancel without adequate notification.
- Do not use tobacco in public. It may be offensive to those around
you.
- Express appreciation to those who extend courtesies to you along
the way.
Emergency Transportation
Philmont will assist with transportation arrangements that result from a
family emergency (death or serious illness) that occurs during an expedition
and requires a participant to return home, or if a participant must return
home for medical reasons. Participants will be required to reimburse Philmont
for any transportation services provided, including transportation to a
required airport.