Best Tent Camping near Alamogordo, NM

Recent Tent Reviews near Alamogordo, New Mexico

393 Reviews of 13 Alamogordo Campgrounds

• 

  Lindsey M.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 9, 2024

  Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park

  Lovely Little Stop

  Car camped in a tent site for just a night after visiting WSNP. Non-flush toilets without sinks near tent sites and the full bathhouse is a bit of a walk away. Worth it, though, with spacious shower stalls and well-kept buildings. Sweet views of the valley and mountains and far off the highway.

• 

  Jacob W.

  Ranger

  

  Mar. 30, 2021

  Silver Lake Campground

  Nice place

  We tent camped at Silver Lake Campground on the Mescalero Reservation over Labor Day weekend 2020. It was packed. Kind of a free-for-all without clear tent sites, just like find your own fire ring. But we found a good spot. The campground cleared out on Labor Day and we had the place to ourselves, just grilling steaks and playing Scrabble on the picnic table. Labor Day was the last day of the open season.

• 

  Joe D.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 30, 2021

  Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park

  Great views and close to town

  Reservation camp ground about 15-20 min from Alamogordo. Great views, although a little windy at night since you're right up against the mountains. Bathrooms were clean and the pull in spots are nicely spaced out, so it's nice and chill. They also have quiet hours from 10p-7a daily. Office was closed when I was there (Monday) so I can't speak to the staff, but the campground looked pretty well maintained.

  There are two trails if you want to hike. One is flat and goes through the canyon for about a mile and a half. The other is basically straight up for 5 miles - I didn't try that one :) - but I imagine the views are great if you can swing it.

  The only complaint about this campground (which can't be fixed) is the flies. So. Many. Flies. They're everywhere and they are impossible to deter no matter how many times you swat them. It's insane. Maybe it was the time of year (late June) but it made tent camping pretty tough at times. If you're in an RV/camper I imagine it wouldn't be quite as bad for you.

• 

  Jacob W.

  Ranger

  

  May. 31, 2022

  Eagle Creek Mescalero Cabins

  A good, open Mescalero alternative to the closed Lincoln NF

  We tent camped at Eagle Lake aka Eagle Creek campground on the Mescalero Apache Reservation over Memorial Day weekend 2022. The surrounding Lincoln National Forest was closed because of extreme fire risk, so there were very few places to camp in the Sacramento Mountains and escape the heat of El Paso. We used camp stoves because of a fire ban. We camped among the pine trees in the first tent area. There were clean porta-johns in that area. The showers and permanent bathroom were located up in the RV park about a 3-mile round trip walk on the road from the first tent area, so it’s more practical to drive to the showers. The permanent bathrooms and showers were clean.

  Very pretty scenery, surrounded by mountain ridges and peaks and pine forest. There were two small lakes and a small creek flowing through the campground.

  The campground format is kind of laissez faire because there aren’t assigned sites and it’s first come, first serve. The first tent area seemed about half full and we found a good site. We didn’t scout the second tent area because the host said there weren’t as many trees there. The first tent site was developed on a forested slope albeit they built flat rectangular-like terraces into the slope where you can pitch a tent(s) and park your vehicle(s).

  Eagle Creek, near Ruidoso, had a similar feel to the Mescalero Nation’s Silver Lake campground near Cloudcroft, but Eagle Creek had a more quiet vibe. The main drawback was the 10:00 am checkout time, but we were still able to cook up some breakfast burritos as we broke camp. Good times.

  Update 6/22/2022: At some point after my review, the Dyrt deleted the actual campground, which is where the road forks and moved my review to the nearby and similarly named RV resort, which is totally different. I love the Dyrt and I’m a pro ranger but sometimes c’mon man.

• 

  Nicoli D.

  Scout

  

  May. 29, 2022

  Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground

  Great spot to camp! Not the best for RVs or Trailers.

  It really is beautiful here. Southeast New Mexico has mountains believe it or not. The camp is nestled up against one. It’s Memorial Day weekend and not too crowded. Highly recommend for the price (basically free). If you are tent camping and low maintenance this place rocks. If you have a huge rig I’m not even sure I would want to make the drive up the road to the camp site. Spots are small, so you would need to find the best spot if you have an RV or Trailer.

• 

  Joel R.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 3, 2024

  Edgington RV Park

  Ok for one night

  We stopped here for one night after visiting White Sands National Monument. The sites are very close together. The side of our camper almost touched the slide out of the RV next to us. Water, sewer & electricity. They have bright lights st the sites which is annoying. There is a duck pond. Bathrooms and showers were adequate. About 5 miles from Alamogordo and 20 miles from White Sands.

• 

  Dennis P.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 5, 2021

  Boot Hill RV Resort

  Clean, quiet and a pistachio

  Right across the road from the world's largest pistachio, this RV campground has all you would ever want. Friendly folks (both staff and campers) made it fun. We visited White Sands NP and Three Rivers Petroglyph Area from this spot, and each was about equal distance. Not that far from Alamogordo so we splurged and ate out one night. We missed the space museum, so we'll be back for that.

• 

  Brett H.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 14, 2021

  Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park

  Nice/central to White Sands

  Good, clean state park campground central to Alamogordo and White Sands.

  Pros:

  • Location/easy to get to
  • A good mix of pull through and tent sites with plenty of room to drive in.
  • Views on both sides are spectacular
  • Reasonably spaced, not super private but that is pretty much any paid campground
  • Clean bathrooms and pit toilets (showers still closed)
  • Sites are relatively spacious and very well kept with tables and fire rings; some have partial shelter

  Cons:

  • Seems to get a little crowded, which is to be expected due to its proximity to White Sands
• 

  SilVer F.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 30, 2021

  Halls Hideaway RV Park

  My Journey on my HD Slim !!!

  Awesome tent site, Beautiful ponderosa pines , very clean bathrooms an showers !!!! Awesome Owners they live on camp site!!!

• 

  Kylee K.

  Traveler

  

  May. 15, 2024

  Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park

  Gorgeous Campground

  Pros - gorgeous 360 views, quiet spot, clean pit toilets, water available throughout grounds

  Cons - zero shade so it is HOT especially if you're tent camping, nothing to "do" at the campground but plenty activities in a reasonable drive

• m

  michael W.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 11, 2023

  Sleepy Grass Campground

  Beautiful place and cool

  Lovely campsites, good tent sites and a few pull thru and back in sites for small Rv’s. Saw several teardrops. No showers but clean pit toilets.

• J

  John H.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 15, 2021

  Alamogordo / White Sands KOA

  Convenient

  Like most KOAs this one is well maintained. Right in town so not scenic but close to shops and restaurants. They have gravel tent sites for $30 which is high for tents but typical for KOA.

• 

  Tori K.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 1, 2023

  Alamogordo / White Sands KOA

  KOAs are a go to on the road

  KOAs tend to be a go to chain for me. They usually offer similar amenities between locations and good prices. I should probably consider becoming a member. This KOA was great. They had spotlights at each tent pad that you could turn on and adjust where they point. This made my nighttime arrival set up experience so much smoother. I'm pretty skilled at night time set up at this point, but having light always makes things move faster when you're solo. Each tent site also had a water spicket and 1 or 3 tables. The tent sites are huge and can fit any tent I've ever seen. Close to white sands national park. They also offer sleds you can borrow for free and wax for a $1 deposit. I highly recommend going there and sledding. Be aware of the weather/season because the sand will be hot during the day in the summer months

• 

  Nathan S.

  Guide

  

  Jan. 18, 2021

  Cedar Creek Recreation Area

  Small free camping site

  Not a lot to say a small parking lot at the end of the road. Two trails lead from the lot there are a few good tent sites right by the lot. The lot is mostly flat and has a three night limit.

• C

  Carson

  Traveler

  

  May. 30, 2023

  Upper Karr Canyon Campground

  Good nature

  Beautiful area for tent camping. I hiked into the trees a bit so there weren’t super close neighbors. Plenty of downed trees for gathering firewood. There’s an old logging road that makes for an easy hike. It leads into a meadow with a very small pond which I’m sure would be good for wildlife viewing if you sat there long enough.

• 

  Jacob W.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 15, 2021

  Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park

  Nice campground with two trails

  We tent-camped at Oliver Lee State Park on 8/14/2021. Overall good experience. We took a 2 mile hike down and around the riparian trail where there was water in the canyon that disappeared in the creek bed beyond the canyon. We didn’t attempt the steep trail to the ridge. Although we visited in August, it wasn’t too hot because of recent rains.

• 

  Alistar B.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 4, 2021

  Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground

  UNIQUE

  I've been on a nationwide roadtrip for a few months that now and I have tent camped alone in many sites from Florida to Arkansas to, now, New Mexico. I chose Aguirra because of its close proximity to White Sands National Park. It is a First Come First Serve site and you must pay in cash. I was lucky to find a site in the afternoon. There are many sites. Over 40. I lucked out with 43 because it is huge! It's a jilly Rocky site with no one around me and several stone fire pits, a BBQ grill, and animal proof garbage can. There are Porta John's in close proximity. I have not found any water yet. Not sure. No RV hookups. But what do you expect for 7 bucks a night. I was here over Easter weekend so it got noisy with Fiesta music and someone throwing up across from my site at midnight! Whole families come here, jam their music etc. It's Easter so whatever. There is a covered picnic table and lots of tree cover to deal with the intense NM sun. I love how this place is at the end of an ascending, remote, windy road though. It's large enough that no rangers come and bug you for trivialities.

• R

  Ron G.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 28, 2021

  Lincoln National Forest Slide Group Campground

  Great location for group camping ($$$)

  We have rented Slide Campground several times for group RV & tent camping. It features vault toilets if you Ed them, a tent area, a very large covered pavilion for those rainy days, large firepit area, cooking grills & a large parking lot for RVs & kids to play. Also has bear proof garbage and food storage. It easily held 3 RVs and 20 people. They provide 300 gallons of water in a tank. Behind the campground is a hiking trail. Loved it.

• 

  Jacob W.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 10, 2021

  Three Rivers Campground

  Nice camping, hard hike to ridge

  My family and dog tent-camped at Three Rivers campground on Labor Day weekend 2014. There were shaded spots. The water in the river was running and fresh. There were a couple nice bathing holes. We tried to hike up to the peak but we ascended halfway and turned back. In Aug. 2018, I climbed the trail to the peak but camped 2/3 up the mountain; so it took me 2 days to ascend and descend, which was harder. Pretty place with many conifer trees.

• W

  William M.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 26, 2023

  Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park

  Bring Shade but It Has Everything Else You Could Want

  As other people have mentioned, there are some sites that have small shelters built over the picnic tables, but I couldn't figure out a pattern to them, so it would be difficult to reserve ahead. (Also, many of them were at the RV sites--which have water and electricity but no sewer connections--which seemed like a waste since RV's come with built-in shade. Luckily, we had brought an 8' square canopy which was a lifesaver. About 15 minutes from Alamogordo and 30 minutes from White Sands, so convenient, too. It seemed to be full on Friday night but only half-full on Saturday night. (The Trinity Site was open on Saturday, so my guess was that some people went there and then moved on.) Nice flush bathrooms with free showers, and there were additional spigots and vault toilets for backup. Didn't go on it but the Dog Canyon trail looks like a beast and started from the campground. Highlight was definitely the views, especially during sunrise and sunset. The sites across from us ($42 and #44) would have been even better for views (though neither had the prized picnic table shade!).

• 

  Mandi W.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 29, 2023

  Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping

  Beautiful free spot

  We tent camped here on a Friday night, it was kind of crowded for dispersed camping but a really beautiful place and still easy to find a spot despite arriving at like 8:30pm. We camped right on the creek, kids loved playing in it and seeing the waterfall. We saw deer, tons of elk, a hummingbird came right up to us and chirped and tried to land on us, and we woke up the first morning to a herd of cows mooing and walking past our tents with their calves. Would definitely stay here again. No cell signal (Verizon). Road to get there is not paved and in some places can only fit one vehicle so we did see some minor issues with that with people traveling the road.

• 

  Jacob W.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 3, 2020

  Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping

  Potentially good

  Bluff Springs is nestled in a pretty forested valley with a creek and falls in Lincoln National Forest about 10 miles south of Cloudcroft off Sunspot highway on Upper Peñasco Road. There’s a gravel parking lot with bathrooms but no campground. We tent camped Sat, Aug. 1, 2020, arriving about 2pm. There were many people camping and it was difficult to find a spot along the road with dispersed camping sites. We had to camp in thicker grass among cow dung because the mowed sites were taken. Still, life outside is better, right? It stormed much of the day and night but Sunday morning dawned clear and we took a short 1-mile hike from the Bluff Springs trailhead to the Willie White trailhead. There are longer hikes too. There were some camping trailers but no big RVs. Upper Peñasco Road is narrow in parts. A decent place.

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 25, 2023

  Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park

  Well laid-out state park

  General: Nicely laid out state park about 15 miles from Alamogordo where you could stock up on anything you need. 

  Site Quality: The sites are level, gravel, and generous in size; each would have room for an extra vehicle if needed. I believe all of them have water and electric hookups. The only odd thing is that these hookups are located near the front of the site which could be awkward if you do not have a long enough cord. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring; some (but not all) have a covered shelter. 

  Bathhouse: The bathroom appeared clean. Two shower stalls appeared clean, but I did not use them. There is a gravel path leading to the bathhouse, but it is twisty and rocky; make sure you bring your flashlight after dark. 

  Activities: There are guided tours four times a week where you will drive your own vehicle to the ranch. There is also an occasional Saturday morning “coffee and conversation” where staff is available to answer questions about the history of the area, plants, and wildlife. Unfortunately, we arrived after dark in the rain and left the next morning around 9 am still in the rain and not on a day that any of the programs were offered. From what I could see, this looks like a very well-laid-out park, and I would definitely like to return to see the ranch and explore more of the area.

• M

  Mark M.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 17, 2024

  Three Rivers Petroglyph Site

  Clean spacious safe at major pertroglyph site

  Has one handicap accessible & next to bathroom). There is a group site that has three picnic tables under a shelter and two grills. 2 RV sites have covered picnic tables and grills and water and electric hookups. Five tent sites. One of the tent locations is at the handicap accessible site. CLEAN restrooms with flush toilets and drinking water are available. Pets are allowed in the campground(on leash), but are not allowed on the trails. Petroglyph trails are rocky, but not difficult (keep your eyes peeled, there are petroglyphs everywhere). Hosts were very nice. Campground has well-functioning electronic/pay check-in. Great BLM campground. Other places in area include Malpais lava flows. Sierra Blanca hovers to the east. Sunset was early in Nov. so if hiking trails in late afternoon take a flashlight. Nearby Carrizozo reportedly has a photo gallery or three that we were told were well worth checking out but we did not get chance to do so.

• 

  Angela C.

  Ranger

  

  Apr. 9, 2024

  Alamogordo / White Sands KOA

  Helpful service

  I messed up thinking I had booked this campground - I hadn’t. It was five minutes to seven pm and the staff called me back and got me a site for less than $50 for the night. It was a nice, level pull through site with water/sewer/cable/electric. I was pretty relieved that we would have somewhere to camp - no one else picked up their phones.

  We didn’t arrive until nearly nine and the same staff person was still working - helping someone back into their site. She was very kind and welcoming.

  The next morning I checked out the campground. The area was pretty industrial, but less than two minutes to the science museum and zoo. Individual spaces were generous (especially the tent sites - they would fit any tent size) and I liked the little patio we had. The playground was newish, the pool looked like it would be nice when filled, the laundry room looked great (but cash only - I prefer the card ones) and there was a lovely store and rec room. There were also showers and a small dog run.

  This KOA had everything you could need - including excellent customer service.

  20-25 minutes to White Sands National Monument.

• 

  Hayley K.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 26, 2021

  Three Rivers Petroglyph Site

  One of my favorite Spots in NM

  This place has changed a lot over the past couple of years! Last time I was here there was only the bathroom and two picnic areas. Now there are upwards of 10 campsites situated for RV’s or tents. Tent camping can be done along the outside of the area because the parking lot is mostly gravel so it would be hard to set up a spot there. Ideal for RV’s though.

  Lots of turnaround space and cheap camping.

  They have a visitor’s center (which wasn’t open due to covid) and they are remodeling their bathrooms. Bathrooms are flush toilets and heated but need updating.

  It is a quiet campground, pretty out of the way so most people just come for the day to hike around the petroglyphs.

  The trail is incredible and filled with over 20,000 carvings. It is windy so be prepared for all sorts of weather. I hiked in a tank top and woke up the next morning to 7 inches of snow.

  The camp hosts are incredibly sweet and helpful. They have firewood for sale when it is permitted but with winds, I wouldn’t trust fires too much.

  There is a tourist style store on the main road turning into this place with an incredible art gallery from a local artist named Cameron Blagg. His Indigenous-inspired art fuels the love and natural history of the area.

• 

  Jacob W.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 23, 2022

  Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground

  Outdoor ambivalence but still outdoors

  We tent camped at Aguirre Spring campground over Father’s Day weekend in June 2022. I don’t know. Maybe it was too hot or I was too tired, or a combination of both with a causal connection. I love the outdoors but I can’t really think of anything good or bad to write about this campground.

  It seemed like a nice place and the vault toilet bathroom was clean and extremely stocked with TP. There is a great trail called pine tree loop from which you can actually see real pine trees on the mountainside above the barren desert basin. We fell victim to the one-way road that other campers bemoaned too. The camp host’s phone is 575-644-9143 (as announced on the BLM’s voicemail greeting) and he was helpful when I called ahead and told me the campground was open (as of 6/22/2022, the Dyrt has an alert that the campground is closed for the season), that there was plenty of space, and that there was a fire ban.

  We pitched our tent without the rain fly. Right when we layed down for the night, it started raining, so we scrambled to overlay the rain fly and then the rain stops. In the middle of a desert drought, if such a thing is a thing. The tent pad barely accommodated our 6-person tent and it seemed like all the sites suffered the same fate. We scouted the whole campground, mainly searching for shade and settled on a decent site with a giant boulder on the western side for some evening shade. The campground was maybe 1/3 full. Overall it was good to get outdoors for father’s day despite the fatigue.