Travel Guide: Rocky Mountain 3-Gun Championship 2026

Rocky Mountain 3-Gun is the rare major match where the location is as much of an attraction as the competition itself. The NRA Whittington Center sits on 33,000 acres of high-desert terrain in northeastern New Mexico, at about 6,700 feet of elevation. That means long-distance rifle stages, natural elevation changes on pistol bays, and actual wind to read - the opposite of a flat club-range 3-Gun match. For a lot of shooters this is the highlight of their season.

Getting there

Raton is far from everywhere. The nearest useful airports are:

• Denver (DEN) - The practical choice for most out-of-state shooters. Lots of flights, every major airline, every major rental car brand. Denver to Raton is about 3 hours 30 minutes south on I-25. This is the route most competitors take.
• Colorado Springs (COS) - Shaves an hour off the drive (about 2 hours 30 minutes). Fewer flights and higher prices than DEN, but worth checking if you can find a direct from your home airport. Southwest, United, and Frontier all fly here.
• Albuquerque (ABQ) - Roughly 4 hours south of Raton on I-25. Useful if you want to tack on time in Santa Fe or explore northern New Mexico on the way home.
• Amarillo (AMA) - 3 hours east through rural terrain. Only useful if you happen to be flying from somewhere with a direct flight to AMA.

Flying with firearms is standard - declare at check-in, lock in a TSA-approved hard case, ammunition in the original manufacturer box or a separate locking container. You can fly with up to 11 pounds of ammunition per passenger on most airlines. The rental car drive from Denver is long but easy: it's all I-25 south, mostly straight, mostly empty, gorgeous scenery once you're past Castle Rock.

Lodging

Raton is a small town (~6,000 people). It has enough motels to accommodate the match, but you need to book early. Match week fills up the whole town, and the nicer hotels go first.

Your options in rough order of quality:

• Hampton Inn Raton - The best chain option in town. Book 3-6 months out for match week. Reliable, clean, has a breakfast, laundry on-site.
• Holiday Inn Express Raton - Second chain option, similar quality. Also books out fast.
• Best Western Kachina Lodge - Functional and usually has rooms when the two above are full. Fine for shooters.
• Camping at Whittington - The Whittington Center has RV spots and tent camping on-site. This is what a lot of the hardcore 3-Gun crowd does. No hotel commute, wake up at the range, drive straight to your stage. Reserve directly through NRAWC.

If everything in Raton is full, Trinidad, Colorado is 20 minutes north on I-25 and has additional chain hotels. It's an easy commute to the range.

At the range

Whittington Center is huge. Plan on a 15-20 minute drive from the main entrance to whatever bay your squad is assigned to. Bring a cooler, sunscreen, hydration, and expect full-day stages that leave no time to run into town for lunch.

Elevation matters.If you live at sea level, your first day at 6,700 feet will feel rougher than you expect. Arrive a day early if possible. Drink more water than you think you need. Your rifle zero may also shift noticeably at altitude - plan on re-zeroing on the on-site zero range the day before your squad's first stage.

Weather and what to bring

Early August in northeastern New Mexico is hot during the day (high 80s to mid 90s) and cool at night (high 50s). Afternoon thunderstorms are common - don't be surprised if a stage gets paused for 20 minutes while lightning clears. Pack:

• Wide-brim hat or cap with sun flap. The high-altitude sun is brutal.
• Long sleeves for sun protection, not warmth.
• A light rain shell in your range bag.
• Lip balm and aggressive sunscreen (SPF 50+).
• Electrolyte tablets or powder. 6,700 feet plus heat plus a full day of shooting dehydrates you fast.
• A pair of cheap gardening gloves. Whittington has some rocky, dusty stages where you'll be bracing off natural terrain.

First-timer tips

If this is your first Whittington match:

• Fuel up in Trinidad or Raton before driving to the range.The closest gas after you're on Whittington property is a long drive back.
• Cell service is spotty on the range. Download your stage briefings and squad schedule in advance. Apps like PractiScore work offline.
• Plan for a longer day than you're used to.The bays are spread out, so travel between stages eats time. A full 8-stage match day here is 10-11 hours door to door.
• Check out the Whittington Center after the match.Between matches you can shoot their public long-range bays, visit the firearms museum, or just explore the property. It's a destination range in its own right.

If you're bringing family

Raton has a small historic downtown worth an hour. The real family attractions are the Capulin Volcano National Monument (45 minutes east - you can drive to the rim) and Cimarron Canyon State Park (1 hour west - fishing and hiking). Trinidad has more restaurants. Santa Fe is 3 hours away if you want to make a week of it on the back end.

Summary

Rocky Mountain 3-Gun is worth the logistics. Fly into Denver, rent a car, stay in Raton, and build in an extra day for altitude adjustment if you can. The match earns its reputation as one of the best 3-Gun events in the country because of the venue - so treat it like a trip, not just a match.