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Established Camping

East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park

Warning 5 Alerts are In Effect

There are 5 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

(Except the west shoreline) Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove is prohibited except in State Park developed camp and picnic grounds where grills and stoves are provided by the State Park. The use of devices fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three (3) feet of the device. Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site/improved site, or while standing in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

ADA sites must DISPLAY Handicapped Placard or have License Plate with Handicapped signage, or will be asked to relocate.

OHV's are not allowed to be operated within the Park boundaries.

Please bring proof of your reservation with you to your campsite.

Make it your goal to extinguish hot coals. If your campfire is too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave. Drown it with water, stir it with a shovel, and repeat until your campfire is out cold! Learn more from Smokey Bear.

East Side Campground at Sumner Lake State Park is located near a large reservoir, offering a landscape of open spaces and water views. Temperatures can range from highs in the 90s during summer to lows in the 20s in winter. Visitors can explore Sumner Lake for fishing and boating or visit the nearby historic town of Fort Sumner.

Description

NM State Parks & Recreation

Sumner Lake State Park

This lake on the grassy plains offers many activities, such as boating, swimming, fishing, wildlife viewing, and birding. Relax at a campsite with views of the lake after a hike along the lakeshore.

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Location

East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park is located in New Mexico

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Interstate 40 at Santa Rosa, take US 84 South to State Road 203 then west on 203 for 6 miles to Park Entrance. Follow main campground road for another 2 miles to Pecos or Mesquite Loop. From US 60/84 in Fort Sumner take US 84 North to State Road 203 then west use the directions above.

Address

HC 64 BOX 125
Fort Sumner, NM 88119

Coordinates

34.614 N
104.379 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Available
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time


Reviews

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3.5

out of 5

2 Reviews

Reviewed Nov. 18, 2023

Lots of options for camping

There are at least 4 formal campgrounds and several more primitive places to camp. You certainly can choose what works for you. No real shade anywhere and I would think it would be brutally hot in the summer. Pretty darn warm right now. 14 bucks for a nice flat spot with services. 8 dollar charge to reserve online and all the sites with services require it.

Site7
Month of VisitNovember
Reviewed Oct. 22, 2018

Rocky Shorelines And Hard Packed Campsites

I stopped in this camp when taking a brief trip through Fort Sumner on the way back to Texas from Las Vegas. The town of Fort Sumner itself is known for its Billy The Kidd presence and there are many things to do in the area in regard to that which are interesting. But just as much as I wanted to check that out, I wanted to check out another unique spot in New Mexico to stay the night and this campsite seemed to be one of the closest.

I liked this because there were both tent and RV sites, so naturally I felt a bit more at home than I would have it had ben a park which focuses daily on RVs and leaves tents as an after thought.

The lake itself wasn't my favorite lake of New Mexico, though it seemed large everything around it was pretty dry. The banks were more of a gravel than a beach and some of the areas were rocky with larger boulders making it a little more difficult to find a recreational place to just enjoy the water. I definitely needed water shoes to get into or near the water.

I chose a primitive site although they do have some which have connections, my reason for selecting this site was its location which I thought would have a great view of the sunrise and the lake, unfortunately it ended up raining the morning so there was no beautiful sunrise. But for only $8 I couldn't really complain especially since I was able to take advantage of the lake a bit the evening before.

I noticed the lake was typically of any lake with a lot of the activities of the park centering around it, however they also had a few hiking trails, a small visitor center to check out a little light information about the location and outdoor education programs which were mostly held on weekends.

It wasn't really that busy when I was there on the weekday I passed through and camp felt pretty quiet throughout the duration of my stay.

Restrooms located near me were vault style but they did have a bathroom with running water and showers as well, depending on where you elect to stay you will be nearby some kind of accommodations. My site being primitive was really primitive and had no table or fire ring, but I did notice for $10 you could have both just a little distance from where my site was located. I personally didn't need either when staying.

TIPS:

  • Check into the park office for minor supplies, anything bigger you will need to travel Into town where there are numerous stores.

  • When in the area make sure to stop in at the Billy The Kidd Museum and Bosque Redondo Park both are staples of the area and contain a lot of history which will tell the story of New Mexico past in some of the most infamous ways.

  • Review photo of East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park by Crystal C., October 22, 2018
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  • Review photo of East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park by Crystal C., October 22, 2018
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park?

    Camping at East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park can cost between $20.00 and $30.00 depending on the site.

  • Does East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

  • What is the elevation of East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park?

    East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park is located at 4310 feet.

  • What is the max vehicle length at East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park?

    East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park allows vehicles up to 120 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at East Side Campground — Sumner Lake State Park, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.