Dirt pull off
Big dirt lot just off the highway. Not too much road noise considering you can see the highway. Close to Carlsbad Caverns. Pack out your poop!!
Great Spot for Carlsbad Caverns National Park Camping
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).
Month of VisitDecember
Better than Chosa for smaller setups
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.
Perfect Campsite For Carlsbad Caverns
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.
Great little spot between 2 National Parks
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&T and Sprint: 3 bars LTE
SiteN/A
Month of VisitOctober
