Mile 10 - Dispersed Camping

Stayed: 10/11/2020- FREE

Site: Corner of entrance and 10 Mile Rd, on the right

Vehicle: Hyundai Rogue

Equipment: Tent

  

“10 Mile Rd” runs parallel to the highway. It connects the 3 campgrounds in the area, this spot is the middle one.

  

Whichever direction you are coming from, watch for the Mile 10 highway marker, the entrance is between the two signs. If traveling south on 180, there IS a spot to turn, you just have to be looking for it. It’s a bit of a dip, but it saves you from making a u-ie.

  

We pulled in and turned right at the“No Camping Beyond This Point” sign and parked immediately to the left of 10 Mile.\*See photo\* It was flat and level, a great spot to pitch a tent.

  

The stars were amazing and we were about 20 mins from the Carlsbad National Park visitor center. The town of Whites City is maybe 5 minutes(The drive into Carlsbad NP is what takes so long).

  

We stayed on a Sunday and were the first ones there at about 7:45pm. Eventually, two others pitched tents as well.

  

It was extremely windy! We would have possibly stayed again if Pine Springs in Guadalupe Mountains NP was full. It’s about a 45 min drive to that park. We really enjoyed this spot!

  

AT&amp;T and Sprint: 3 bars LTE

Great little spot between 2 National Parks

The previous review is SUPER helpful. We pulled in close to midnight without an issue locating the fire rings to set up camp. We were camping in a truck bed tent and it was great. The stargazing is impeccable and we got lucky and it was a shooting star frenzy. Wind does pick up a good bit at night. Please leave no trace. We picked up a good but of trash that was left before us. Would definitely camp again. A bit of highway noise since you aren’t far, but that did not bother me. 

Perfect Campsite For Carlsbad Caverns

Great for truck bed, car, tent or small trailer camping. We shared the site with 2 other vehicles. Some existing fire rings and pull offs. Close to Carlsbad and Guadalupe Mountains. Another cool nearby place worth checking out is Sitting Bull falls. 

Better than Chosa for smaller setups

**Dates:** 12/28/2020 and 12/29/2020

**Vehicle:** Dodge Caravan

**Camp Setup:** In-van

  

As there is currently no camping within Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Mile 10 is a perfect (and free) place to spend the night in order to get an early start at the park. 

It's easy to find (literally AT the Mile 10 marker) and relatively private, given its vicinity to the highway. There is a some noise from the highway, but a fair enough trade off for the price and proximity.

We arrived after dark (7:30pm at the end of December), but had no trouble finding our way. There were already a few other vehicles taking advantage of the site, but we were able to find a spot for our van.

The actual campground is great. The ground is flat and relatively free of debris. There are some lights from Carlsbad and some of the mining operations in the distance (and of course lights from vehicles on the highway), but otherwise it's completely dark, giving an absolutely amazing sky full of stars and the full moon. And of course the sunsets/sunrises are simply amazing.

Fair warning: the area has absolutely no cover or wind breaks, so you WILL experience the wind. Be sure to secure your belongings/trash, and come prepared with appropriate clothing (especially in the winter).

Great Spot for Carlsbad Caverns National Park Camping

This campsite is super easy to find seeing that it’s right off the mile 10 marker. Literally just flat ground, no amenities of course, but good proximity to Carlsbad Caverns NP. Perfect for one night, pack out your trash! 

Easy to find, basic, flat

You probably won’t see any other campers.  Very primitive campsites. At night we could hear the coyotes.

Cool primitive campsite

We had a great stay! Just a few campsites and only two other people. we drove in with our van. Even though you can see the highway it was completely quiet. Beautiful view and sunset. No restrooms or showers and please clean up your mess after you!

So quiet

This is very primitive campsite with no facilities. We did not see any other people while we were there. Close to Carlsbad NP.

Primitive Camping

Just some dirt sites off of dirt road, easy access from highway can only access entry from eastbound. Inside my van I can barely hear the highway no problem.

Close to Carlsbad Caverns

My buddy and I were road-tripping from Washington State to Texas and this was our last stop. What a way to end this awesome trip! We had an amazing view of the stars and even caught one of space x star link satellite system! 

Mile 10 Beauty!

Felt very safe, mostly just grass and yucca trees for vegetation. Had a lot of fun going to Carlsbad Caverns and enjoying the peace and quiet of the desert at night.

I liked it!

We were going to stay at the sunset reef camp across the street but they were totally full. So we went to the Dyrt for help. Found this on across the street. The signs were a little confusing for where to camp exactly but we found a nice spot to set up. The highway noise is pretty loud but when it gets late it’s not so bad. You have great views no bathroom, and clean. We are traveling on a budget road trip and this is just what we were looking for to call it a night!  

Very simple but just what we needed

It was a simple place but It does the job. 
Very near of the freeway but it’s still kinda quiet. 
You can do campfire, tent and RV ok.
You can go it’s safe. 

Simple place 

This area is v easy to find. Right off 62/180 at mile marker 10. On the right hand side of the road if heading north towards Carlsbad. The turn off isn’t marked but there are several signs right around it. Gravel/dirt road is in pretty good shape. Most any car should be able to drive down it. The sites start almost immediately and are well spaced. There were no other people around when we were here in January! 
Prepare yourself for the wind if you are here in winter. It was no joke! 
We also stayed across the street at Sunset reef for a night. Both are nice! Less privacy at Sunset reef but there’s a pit toilet if that’s important to you, as well as sun shelters and picnic tables. 

Pretty standard dispersed site!

Only 10 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns NP and about 25 minutes from Guadeloupe Mountains NP! 

The area is a large gravel lot with some brush and scubs scattered about. Plenty of spots for trailers/RVs/and any other campers. Very easy to find right off the highway! There is no turn off if you are headed west. You'll have to make a Uturn about a mile up the highway. This campsite was less busy than Chosa campground, which I stayed at the night before. A few fire rings here and there.

Dispersed area, pack in pack out. Verizon service was good!  

Quieter than Chosa campground 

Not sure why so many people spend $70 a night when they have the ability to go hook up free. Got free water at the local gas station pulled out here absolutely no money for the next few days

Why pay to camp?

Quiet place away from others, which we like. We followed the GPS coordinates and found a spot away from the freeway. It had a firepit and we weren't super close to our neighbors. We could see them, but they were a ways off. Sunrises were beautiful and the weather in April pleasant. Occasional wind gusts, but not too bad. We stayed for 4 nights. 

  

10 minutes from the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Once you enter, you have a 15 minute drive to get to the Visitor's Center. And, this spot is only 25 minutes from Carlsbad, with Walmart, restaurants and gas stations. 

  

First we tried Carlsbad BLM Land Dispersed, but didn't want to stay in the lot right off the freeway. And we walked the road going further up and it was too rutted for our 36 ft travel trailer. We could have done it but wanted something not so hard on our camper. 

  

Next we tried Carlsbad Caverns Dispersed. We followed the coordinates here on Dyrt.com and it took us way out into a cow field (with very aggressive cows) and eventually a dead end. It was a bit tricky getting turned around. We never did see places off the side of the road to boondock. Right after the grates there is a dirt lot off to the left but was too close to freeway and others for us. If you do that one, just don't follow the GPS coordinates.

  

We needed to refill our water and use a dump station, so I called around. White City RV charges $15 for dump and refill (too much), and we found an Ice House America at the White City gas station the had water refills for $.25 a gallon (good for our drinking water bottles, but not good for filling our RV). Finally we called Greasewood RV. Neil, the owner, was super nice. He told us we could just pull up to any open spot at his park and fill our water tanks, dump our black tank and use the big trash bin. He also said he had spaces for us to stay if we wanted to. He offered $20 a night instead of his usual $30 a night which I thought was super nice of him. If we had known that, we may have stayed their instead since we calculated that it costs us $18-$20 a night to boondock. We like having electricity when possible because we have a full size fridge to keep cold. 

  

Anyway, we really enjoyed this spot. Our kids even found a sinkhole with what looked like a small cave near our campsite.

Great spot for dispersed camping

Right off of the highway, the coordinates took us right to it! The trail is bumpy but not horrible. We’re driving a 34 footer! 10 minute drive to the caverns, and pretty quiet (even considering being on the highway) not too many people have come down here. We’ve stayed 4 days with pretty little traffic! 

Easy to locate, and plenty of space! 

About 7 miles away from Carlsbad Caverns. A half dozen spots right at the entrance. It was empty so we stayed near the front with a small rock fire pit. There are other spots deeper in the field but we didn’t go that far in. Easy to find entrance, easy to find a spot, easy to get to Carlsbad Caverns or Guadalupe Mountains NP. Great for a quick overnight spot. 

VERY EASY to find - nice and empty 

This is a good place for dry camping. Right off the road. GPS takes you straight there. 6 or 7 miles from Carlsbad Caverns. Not far from Carlsbad, NM. Very few people came through. I went past the first two sites on down a short distance to a great spot on the left. There was a rock fire ring there. Another big spot on down a little on the right. Great view of the mountains. No services, but not far from Carlsbad. Cell service is full 5G!

Can't beat it for free campsite.

Good dry camping area

Lots of room! Nobody around. Right off the main HWY.. kind of a hidden gem! Not so bad if you don't mind cows or cow poop! Lol! Nice little spot.. easy for my truck and trailer to get in here! Plus room for others!

Open air and cows!

Like others have said. Easy to find and access road is doable for almost any rig. Sunrise and sunsets are amazing. Cows can be persistent and if you have a dog be careful it doesn’t get trampled. Loved the spot and would definitely return 

First time boondocking 

Coming from Carlsbad the GPS may have you get off at Chosa Campground and there’s a dirt road connecting that to this site, but recommend you turn around to get back on the highway going north and then exit at this marker. Even camped right off the highway the noise didn’t bother us, but a few people continued down the roads going further away. Windy and hot until the sun went down!

Does the job

Really nice place to stop. Impeccable cell service, lots of space with any neighbors far away, and location 20 minutes away from Carlsbad Caverns can't be beat. No sun or wind protection though!

Quiet, spacious, great location

The proximity to both Guadalupe Mountains NP and Carlsbad Caverns NP are unbeatable and the sunsets over the mountains are truly phenomenal. I even got a kick out of the cows.

Spacious with fire rings, and a thousand times better than Sunset Reef (they were packed in like sardines with zero privacy) but beware of the winds! I was caught in a two day dust storm with 70mph winds and it was admittedly miserable, as was the amount of dirt inside my van.

Overall I would recommend staying here, but don’t rely too heavily on the weather forecast—it drastically changed every hour I was there over 4 days. Cell service was also phenomenal for working remotely. 