Camping in New Mexico is so much more than simply miles of desert and mountains.
The southwestern U.S. state encompasses the Chihuahuan Desert and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, as well as some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, including undulating dunes, deep gorges, and a wide, star-studded night sky.
Camping in New Mexico is amazing, with a wide range of beautiful sites ranging from the Santa Fe National Forest’s 200,000 acres of canyon wilderness to the White Sands National Monument and the Petroglyph National Monument.
So grab your belongings and travel to one of these campgrounds for a night beneath the stars.
Summary
| Guide | Camping in New Mexico |
|---|---|
| Things to bring | Torch, tent, etc |
| Best places to visit | Santa Fe, and more |
| Campgrounds | Aguirre Spring Campground, and more |
| Situated | Mexico |
Camping In New Mexico
1. Aguirre Spring Campground
The Aguirre Spring Campground offers 57 first-come, first-served individual campsites, two group sites, and a horse corral at the base of dramatic rising cliffs on the east side of Organ Mountains with stunning views across Tularosa Basin and White Sands National Monument.
Picnic tables and fire rings are there for you to use, as well as pit toilets, but there is no potable water.
Address: 15000 Aguirre Spring Road, Organ
2. Angel Peak Scenic Area
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the Angel Peak Scenic Area, encompassing over 10,000 acres of rocky terrain, steep gorges, colorful badlands, and the almost 7,000-foot Angel Peak.
The Angel Peak Scenic Area, located south of Bloomfield in San Juan County, features a campsite and three picnic spots.
Address: Bloomfield, NM 87413
3. Cherry Creek Campground
Cherry Creek Campground is a level, gradually sloping campground having dense mixed conifer trees, golden aspens, rusty oaks, and vivid scarlet sumac in a magnificent stretch of the Trail of the Mountain Spirits By-Way around it.
The seasonal campsite lies on the east side of State Highway 15, 14 miles north of Silver City.
Address: NM-15, Silver City, NM 88061
4. Cibola National Forest
The Cibola National Forest in New Mexico covers more than 1.6 million acres and reaches over 11,000 feet.
The Cibola National Forest is separated into four wilderness regions and takes its name after the Zuni Indian word for their tribal territories.
Address: Albuquerque, NM 87113
5. Cimarron Canyon State Park
Cimarron Canyon State Park is three miles east of Eagle Nest and is part of the 33,116-acre Colin Neblett Wildlife Area.
It has stunning vistas of soaring palisade cliffs and glittering rivers and streams.
Tolby Creek and Ute Park, which stretches for eight miles along the Cimarron Canyon, has three constructed day-use areas and campsites.
Address: 28869 US-64, Eagle Nest, NM 87718
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6. City of Rocks State Park
The City of Rocks State Park is known for its gigantic sculptured rock formations and clusters of monolithic volcanic rocks, some of which are over 50 feet tall, that you can find in the center of the Chihuahuan Desert.
This park near Deming includes 52 campsites with tents and R.V. camping.
Address: 327 New Mexico 61, Faywood, NM 88034
7. Columbine Campground
The Columbine Campground is between Questa and Red River in the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness region, at an elevation of 7,900 feet.
The two-loop campsite contains 26 single tent and R.V. sites, potable water, and vault toilets, as well as picnic tables, tent pads, and fire rings and grills at each site.
Address: 2987 Bald Mountain Rd, Central City
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8. Cosmic Campground
The Cosmic Campground is a 3.5-acre campground in western New Mexico’s Gila National Forest, which is known for being one of the country’s darkest places at night, with stunning unobstructed 360°night sky views.
The park, which is between the Gila Wilderness and the Blue Range Primitive Area, offers minimal camping alternatives.
Address: Glenwood, NM 88039
9. Navajo Lake State Park Cottonwood Campground
The well-developed Pine River portion of Navajo Lake State Park, a visitor center with informative displays, numerous campsites, a day-use area, and a full-service marina, is one of the park’s three recreation zones.
The Cottonwood Campground is below the dam on the San Juan River, which is known for its excellent trout fishing.
Address: Navajo Dam, NM 87419
10. Datil Well Campground
The Bureau of Land Management manages the Datil Well Campground, which is approximately a mile west of Datil.
This park, which is popular for picnicking and camping, contains 22 individual campsites and a group shelter for big groups, all of which have shades.
Address: Datil, NM 87821
Best Places To Visit Near New Mexico
Santa Fe
Before the establishment of the city of Santa Fe by Spanish colonists in 1610, the territory had a series of native tribes in its population, which explains the city’s rich cultural and historical background.
Before even getting started on the extensive list of cultural attractions, you may visit dozens of museums, historical monuments, and Indian pueblos, which is why the city was chosen as the number one destination for culturephiles by USA Today.
Taos
When it comes to providing a diverse range of attractions and activities inside a single city, few destinations can match Taos.
At the famous Taos Pueblo, a multi-story adobe complex, you can explore over a thousand years of tradition and see how Native Americans lived several centuries ago before soaking up the atmosphere of this long-time artist colony by visiting some of the many galleries, studios, and museums that showcase primarily local artists.
Checklist Before Camping In New Mexico
Tent camping is a fantastic way to experience nature while getting away from it all.
Whether you’re a seasoned camper or this is your first vacation, it’s critical to be prepared in a location you have never been before.
- Sleeping bag or quilt
- Sleeping pad or mattress
- Camping pillow
- Camp table
- Camp chairs
- Lantern
- Extra batteries
- Coolers
- Large water jug/dispenser
- Stove + fuel
- Lighter or matches
- Cook pots + lids
FAQ
Is there a fee for daily use for camping in New Mexico?
State parks take a daily fee for use, but some private campgrounds could have different ways of servicing. Make sure to check with them.
Can we build a campfire while camping in New Mexico?
Depending on the local fire conditions, certain parks that are available for camping may allow campfires while others may not.
Are pets allowed for camping in New Mexico?
In most state parks, yes, for private campgrounds, this could vary depending on the campground.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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