San Rafael New Mexico Map
Explore San Rafael, New Mexico, with this interactive street and satellite map.
Interactive Map of San Rafael, New Mexico
| City | San Rafael |
| State | New Mexico (NM) |
| County | Cibola County |
| Country | United States of America |
| Timezone | Mountain Time (America/Denver) |
| Latitude | 35.098163 |
| Longitude | -107.904921 |
| Population | 1,164 |
| Density | 28.5 /km² |
| Incorporated | N/A |
| ZIP Codes | 88439, 87020 |
| Area Code | 575, 505 |
| County Seat | Grants |
| School District | Grants-Cibola County Schools |
About San Rafael, New Mexico
San Rafael is a locality in Cibola County, New Mexico, United States. It has a population of approximately 1,164. The population density is 28.5 people per km². San Rafael is located at 35.0982°N, 107.9049°W. It observes the Mountain Time (America/Denver) timezone. ZIP codes: 88439, 87020.San Rafael emerges from the high desert floor as a quiet confluence of geological patience and enduring human settlement. It lies 56.3 miles east-southeast of Gallup, NM (from Gallup, NM: bearing 120°T), and is situated 3.0 miles southwest of Grants. Morada Canyon serves as the cradle for the settlement, its rugged walls framing a landscape defined by the stark, volcanic architecture of El Malpais National Conservation Area, which lies a mere mile away. To the horizon, the silhouette of Chute Mesa rises against the vast, pale sky, while the cooling air of evening carries the scent of dry earth and sage. The nearby Rio San Jose traces a thin, life-giving line through the arid plains, providing a vital contrast to the ancient, weathered basalt flows that dominate the surrounding terrain.
San Rafael carries the legacy of generations who cultivated this demanding soil, their history etched into the adobe structures that anchor the village. Local life remains tied to the rhythms of the land, with the economy reflecting a quiet resilience rooted in agriculture and an intimate connection to the wilderness of the Mount Taylor Ranger District. Residents often look toward the waters of Atarque del Doter, which glimmers under the intense, crystalline light that defines these afternoons. In the slow, deliberate pace of daily work, San Rafael maintains an identity that feels inseparable from the harsh, beautiful expanse of the plateau, where the shadows of passing clouds drift across the volcanic rock like ink on parchment.
Nearby Outdoor Places
- El Malpais National Conservation Area (National Conservation Area) — 1.9 mi, 092° E · 263k acres
- Cibola National Forest (National Forest) — 2.1 mi, 270° W · 1.6M acres
- San Rafael Historical marker (Monument) — 2.2 mi, 049° NE
- Mount Taylor Historic Marker (Monument) — 3.9 mi, 026° NE
- El Malpais National Monument (National Monument) — 4.0 mi, 077° E · 109k acres
- San Jose Park (Local Park) — 4.5 mi, 033° NE
- Route 66 Drive-Thru Neon Sign (Attraction) — 4.7 mi, 036° NE
- The Roarin' 20's Sign (Attraction) — 4.8 mi, 039° NE
- Cibola County History Museum (Museum) — 4.8 mi, 036° NE
- Grants Historic Marker (Monument) — 5.0 mi, 063° NE
- El Malpais Wilderness Study Area (Wilderness Study Area) — 5.5 mi, 149° SE · 21k acres
- Wells Park (Local Park) — 6.2 mi, 052° NE
- El Malpais Proposed or Recommended Wilderness Area (Wilderness Study Area) — 7.2 mi, 157° SE · 98k acres
- Lava Caves (entry forbidden) (Viewpoint) — 10.5 mi, 212° SW
- Garret Homestead (Historic Ruins) — 10.8 mi, 157° SE
- Cebolla Wilderness Area (Wilderness Area) — 14.1 mi, 164° S · 62k acres
- West Malpais Wilderness Area (Wilderness Area) — 16.0 mi, 192° S · 40k acres
- Bluewater Lake State Park (State Park) — 16.9 mi, 315° NW
- Engine House? (Historic Ruins) — 20.0 mi, 286° W
- Phillips 66 Gas Station (Attraction) — 21.5 mi, 095° E
- Acoma Museum (Museum) — 22.5 mi, 127° SE
- El Morro National Monument (National Monument) — 24.2 mi, 262° W · 1,040 acres
- Roy T. Herman's Garage (Attraction) — 27.5 mi, 319° NW
- Fort Wingate Army Depot (Historic Castle / Fort) — 48.1 mi, 307° NW
- Red Rock Musuem (Museum) — 50.4 mi, 308° NW
- Front Row Seat (Cinema) — 53.5 mi, 304° NW
- Museum of Zuni (Museum) — 53.6 mi, 268° W
- Wind Biker (Public Artwork) — 55.7 mi, 302° NW
- George Galaris Multiultural Center (Museum) — 55.7 mi, 303° NW
- Apache National Forest (National Forest) — 61.8 mi, 213° SW · 1.8M acres
Latest News: San Rafael
Loading news…
World News
Loading news-world…
More World News
Loading news-world…
About This San Rafael Map Page
This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of San Rafael, New Mexico. Coordinates: 35.098163, -107.904921. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.
Detailed location data for San Rafael includes the ZIP code (88439, 87020), telephone area code (575, 505), county seat of Cibola County (Grants), and school district assignment (Grants-Cibola County Schools).
Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.
| Page generated | August 2026 |
| Location data | SimpleMaps US Cities Database; coordinates matched to USGS GNIS definitive data |
| Wikipedia validation | Article content matched to USGS GNIS coordinates via Wikipedia geosearch API. |
