San Rafael, New Mexico
San Rafael is a community of 1,039 people in Cibola County, New Mexico.
Why visit San Rafael
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cerrito Colorado, Loma Pelada, Charley's Automotive Service and Grants-Milan Flight Service Station.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; December lows average 14°F.
Weather in San Rafael
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About San Rafael
San Rafael is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cibola County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, San Rafael had a population of 1,164. Also known as "Bikyaya" or "El Gallo", it lies at an elevation of 6,470 feet (1,970 m) above sea level and is located in north-central Cibola County at (35.1125386, -107.8825580). New Mexico State Road 53 passes through the community, leading north 3 miles (5 km) to Interstate 40 and 5 miles (8 km) to the center of Grants, the county seat.
From the Wikipedia article San Rafael, New Mexico (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks3
Charley's Automotive Service
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
Roadside business and home complex on the former route of U.S. Route 66, in Grants, New Mexico
Grants-Milan Flight Service Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.2 mi
Flight service station in Cibola County, New Mexico
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Churches and places of worship1
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Map of San Rafael
13 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 15°F | 0.6 in | 2.2 in |
| Feb | 56°F | 17°F | 0.4 in | 1.2 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 23°F | 0.5 in | 0.5 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 31°F | 0.4 in | 0.3 in |
| May | 80°F | 39°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 90°F | 48°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 55°F | 1.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 89°F | 53°F | 1.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 84°F | 45°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 32°F | 0.8 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 60°F | 21°F | 0.7 in | 0.6 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 14°F | 0.6 in | 2.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Grants Ap (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Cibola County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2026-10-26: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-10-29: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2011-11-23: Flooding (Flood)
- 2010-09-13: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Grants-Milan Municipal Airport (GNT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 miles away.
- Grants 6 mi northeast, about 10 min by car
- Mount Taylor 6 mi east, about 10 min by car
- Milan 7 mi north, about 12 min by car
- McCartys Village 14 mi east, about 22 min by car
- Lobo Canyon 14 mi northeast, about 22 min by car
- Skyline-Ganipa 17 mi east, about 27 min by car
- Acomita Lake 17 mi east, about 27 min by car
- Las Tusas 18 mi northwest, about 29 min by car
- Crownpoint 47 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Gallup 56 mi northwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Charlie's Radiator Service, Grants, NM, Bill Eichelberger, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grants-Milan Flight Service Station, MRobison, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.