Best Tent Camping near Arrey, NM

Several tent campgrounds surround Arrey, New Mexico, offering primitive sites within the Gila National Forest region. Railroad Canyon Campground provides tent camping with small creek access and is typically open from April to November. Kingston Campground offers free tent sites with basic amenities and toilet facilities. These established campgrounds serve as convenient basecamp locations for accessing wilderness areas and trails throughout the region.

Most tent sites feature dirt or forest floor surfaces with minimal improvements beyond picnic tables and fire rings. Railroad Canyon Campground includes only 3-4 tent sites with basic amenities like vault toilets, fire pits, and trash service. The Kingston Campground provides vault toilets that campers report as generally clean. Limited drinking water is available at select locations like Black Canyon Campground - Lower, but most sites require campers to bring their own water supply. Forest Road access to Rocky Canyon Campground becomes rough and requires high-clearance vehicles, making it suited primarily for tent camping rather than RVs.

Tent campers benefit from the natural settings and relative seclusion of these campgrounds. According to one visitor, "Railroad Canyon Campground has many trails to access the wilderness from, and a small creek running behind each of the three campsites." The small size of these campgrounds contributes to their quiet character, with Kingston described as "a cute little campground" by reviewers. Tree cover provides shade at most sites, and seasonal creek access adds to the camping experience. Rocky Canyon Campground sits directly on the Continental Divide Trail, making it particularly valuable for hikers. Campers should note that several campgrounds in the area may close seasonally, particularly during winter months or periods of high fire danger.

Best Tent Sites Near Arrey, New Mexico (6)

    1. Kingston Campground

    3 Reviews
    Hillsboro, NM
    23 miles
    Website

    "This campground is right off the highway, but not too much traffic. The small creek bed has nice water depending on the time of year. Too hot in the summer. Gets cold I."

    "I walked through Kingstown and which is a friendly, adorable town. It is just up the road from their provided campground."

    2. Railroad Canyon Campground

    7 Reviews
    Mimbres, NM
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 388-8201

    "This campground is a “little” more hidden from the road than other nearby campgrounds."

    "This campground is a “little” more hidden from the road than other nearby campgrounds."

    3. Black Canyon Campground - Lower

    4 Reviews
    Mimbres, NM
    47 miles
    Website

    "It is cool at night, even in August, due to the elevation. We were so cozy in our wool socks and sleeping bags in a tent. It even hailed on us hard one day."

    "Beautiful campground in Santa Fe New Mexico. We came to stay one night to go to Meow Wolf and ended up staying 3 nights I liked it so much."

    4. Rocky Canyon Campground

    2 Reviews
    Mimbres, NM
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 536-2250

    "Definitely tents only Recommend that you have 4wheel drive, motorcycle or atv. Right on the continental divide trail. Very quiet"

    "Was going to camp here on 4/15/2021, but there was what appeared to be from signage, a controlled burn going on at the entrance to Forest Road 150."

    5. Gallinas - Lower

    Be the first to review!
    Mimbres, NM
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 388-8201
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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Arrey, NM

8 Photos of 6 Arrey Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Arrey, NM

364 Reviews of 6 Arrey Campgrounds


  • Mark O.
    Apr. 17, 2021

    Railroad Canyon Campground

    Clean Quick Stop

    This is a solid little campground with 3 (maybe 4?) campsites and few amenities. This campground is a “little” more hidden from the road than other nearby campgrounds. Railroad Canyon Campground has many trails to access the wilderness from, and a small creek running behind each of the three campsites.

    The campground does have a toilet, fire pits, picnic tables, and trash service. Please clean up after yourself, and leave no trace.

  • Jorge G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 4, 2024

    Comfort Well Dispersed Camping

    Low-key dispersed sites

    A handful of sites located on the other side of Skates Canyon from Sapillo Campground. Close to great hiking around the CDT and fishing in Lake Roberts. Most of the sites sit on the shades of ponderosa and there's plenty of space for group camping.

    This is as bare as it gets. No services, no cell signal, no trash disposal, not even a pit toilet. Some sites have rock rings for campfires but that's about it. Please recreate responsibly and leave no trace. Pack out whatever you pack in.

    Quiet during the winter, but gets busy during the summer as evidenced by how well worn the dirt paths around the area are.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2024

    South Monticello Campground — Elephant Butte Lake

    Beautiful, Remote, & Inexpensive

    Situated on the edge of a sprawling reservoir along the Rio Grande river, this park is the perfect place to enjoy the vast landscape of the area. The nearby town of Truth or Consequences, NM is small, but has all the services you might need for food, gas, supplies, or soaking in hot springs. 

    The campground is well spaced out, each spot has a picnic table with shade/rain structure (I’ll let you guess which purpose gets more use) and nearly all have electricity and water. That means NO generators! The bath house is clean and offers flush toilets, running sinks and warm showers. All sites are reservation only, but you can do that when you get there as there is plenty of LTE cell service.  We've never seen this place crowded in the winter months.  For what you get at this campground, it’s a bargain at twice the price. 

    The campground is ideal for solar power, as is the New Mexico weather. We also had no problem connecting with Starlink.  Hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing and all other sorts of desert recreation is available right from the campground.  Definitely worth the visit!

  • Mark O.
    Apr. 17, 2021

    Railroad Canyon Campground

    Clean Quick Stop

    This is a solid little campground with 3 (maybe 4?) campsites and few amenities. This campground is a “little” more hidden from the road than other nearby campgrounds. Railroad Canyon Campground has many trails to access the wilderness from, and a small creek running behind each of the three campsites.

    The campground does have a toilet and trash service. Please clean up after yourself, and leave no trace.

  • M
    Oct. 5, 2020

    Faywood Hot Springs

    Best. Place. Ever.

    I was worried that this place wasn’t open due to the fact there were only two reviews and it had been a while since a review. I can happily share that they are open and thriving. I was driving from Gila Cliff Dwellings towards White Sands NP and needed a place to camp. I passed some dispersed camping along the way, but most of the cultivated sites were closed, I’m guessing due to COVID as New Mexico has really cracked down on their camping and I ran into lots of sites that were either closed or only open to residents. Anyway, this place was a STEAL. For only $21 (the typical price of most regular vault toilet and picnic table camp sites), you get heaven on earth. You wouldn’t expect it driving in from either direction, but the sites themselves are extremely shaded and surrounded by trees and as private as possible given the close proximity to neighbors. I stayed at site #47 and even though I was right next to the pools and bathhouse, I couldn’t be seen at all from those places. There’s a potable water tap at EACH campsite, free showers, unlimited 24/7 access to hot springs (clothing required & clothing optional pools), a clubhouse to wash dishes or cook or simply hang out inside in a comfortable chair to read or play games at a table), several bathrooms, phone service (and I didn’t have any driving in or out), peacocks and other wildlife to admire, friendly staff, firewood for sale, labyrinth maze, short scenic trails to watch the sunset and rise, inside facilities, amazing cabins (cheapest one is only $60 and comes with an hour long soak in a private pool which is otherwise $28 for one hour), etc. I could go on and on about this place. The best $21 I have ever spent to spend the night anywhere in my entire life and I am always camping and traveling. A literal oasis. I soaked from 7pm-11pm and had the pools to myself several times on a Sunday evening. Everyone was respectful and there was no sense of party / loud groups as so common is seen at hot springs. Alcohol allowed.

  • RoadTripEddie V.
    Aug. 9, 2021

    Iron Creek Campground

    One of my favorites in the Gila Forest

    About 10 sites, most of them shaded with picnic tables and fire rings. Has garbage collection, and a vault toilet. Usually peaceful and quiet. Nice hiking trails throughout. No cell signal. Most spots are fairly flat with slight adjustment.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2023

    Lower Ridge Road Camping Area — Elephant Butte Lake State Park

    HUGE state park with many camping options

    General: There are many different camping options at this state park from dispersed (especially on the beach) to those with electric/water hookups. We stayed in the Lions Beach campground with the w/e hookups. 

    Site Quality: Lions Beach is laid out much like an RV park with little to no separation between sites. Each site has a fire ring, and covered picnic table in addition to the hookups. The driveway was paved and level. 

    Bath/Shower: Only vault toilets close to the Lions Beach campground. They are ADA accessible complete with a ramp but although clean, there was no hand sanitizer in any of them. The only restrooms with running water, flush toilets, and showers are located about a mile from Lions Beach and IMO, not adequate for the crowds this park attracts, especially on the weekends. The showers looked sketchy, and I decided not to use them. 

    Activities: If you like to fish or have a boat, this is the place for you! There is a marina. Some hiking trails. We enjoyed Riverbed Hot Springs a few miles down the road in Truth or Consequences. We don’t have a boat or fish so although we stayed for two nights, we chose this campground because it was on our route. 

    Because dispersed camping on the beach is allowed, it is very popular, especially on the weekends but be warned the sand is soft and deep – I’m not sure how vehicles without 4-wheel drive can navigate it without getting stuck. We were told there were wall-to-wall RVs on the beach on the weekend before our arrival (third weekend in April) so thankfully we were not there on a weekend! If we were to return, we would select the sites overlooking the lake on Ridge Road with no hookups but generally, not our preferred camping vibe but for others, it might be different.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 4, 2024

    Rockhound State Park Campground

    Views and Rockhounding

    Rockhound SP, NM: If you like to hunt for rocks, or just be away from everything, this is a good place. Mountains are unique. Can’t get tired of looking at them. Only one trail here. Some nearby. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4 for fine layout in non-electric area Price 2024: $ 10 for non electric site Security: No Usage during visit: Pretty full Site Privacy: Desert vegetation does not offer privacy Site Spacing: Great Pad surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: cg is at the end of the access road. No other road. Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: Available. We were in the non-electric loop . Sites in this loop are generally more private than the electric area Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Out of order. Posting says that a Valero nearby provides free dumping. Potable Water Available: Yes. Near the dump station. Generators: Yes Bathroom: Pit toilet in the day use area is the closest. Flush toilets also available.
    Showers: Nice showers Pull Throughs: Available Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: Nestled against a mountain ridge overlooking other mountains and the desert below. Recent Weather: 40s to 80s with high wind/fire warning pending. Solar: Great Insects: None Host: Yes. Rig Size: Large rigs Sites: All sites in non electric loop are nice and well spaced. 1 and 3 are the best. Large 5th wheel had trouble backing in to #3, having to back up cg road to do so. #2 looks down on#1. Our site here was # 2. #0 looks over the day use area in one direction. #5 is closest to entry road into the cg. However, not much traffic into cg during our short stay.
    I would be pleased with any site in this loop.

    (12,13 nice elec sites )

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 12, 2022

    City of Rocks State Park Campground

    Perfectly private sites!

    General: This state park is aptly named; as you approach it, it looks like a pile of rocks was dumped in a field! There is a mix of electric and non-electric sites; however, the electric sites are lined up like a typical RV park with no privacy. The non-electric ones are the gems in this state park. 

    Site Quality: Again, the non-electric sites are nestled among the rocks and spaced so far apart that for many of them, you don’t even see your neighbors. Each one is unique due to the rocks, and most are very generous in size. A fire ring, concrete benches, and a metal picnic table complete each of these sites. 

    Bathhouse: Vault toilets are spread throughout the campground and are clean. There is a comfort station near the visitor center with flush toilets and showers. 

    Activities: There are several short hiking trails throughout the park. We had enough cell (Verizon) to be able to see where they were. The visitor center is open 9-4 and unfortunately, we arrived at 4:30 pm and departed at 8 am the next morning. 

    I love the uniqueness of this campground and the privacy between the non-electric sites.


Guide to Arrey

Tent camping near Arrey, New Mexico provides access to the Gila National Forest wilderness at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 feet. The area experiences significant temperature variations, with summer daytime highs reaching 90°F while nighttime temperatures can drop 30 degrees cooler. Most campgrounds remain closed during winter months due to snow and limited access.

What to do

Trail hiking from camp: Railroad Canyon Campground serves as an access point for wilderness exploration with maintained trails leading from the sites. "There is a trail along the creek that eventually crossed it, but the water was too high to cross," notes Ginae L., indicating seasonal water conditions affect trail access at Railroad Canyon Campground.

Birdwatching opportunities: The dense forest and creek habitats attract diverse bird species. Black Canyon's ecosystem supports abundant wildlife viewing. "The birds are abundant here. I wore a red winter hat and had at least 10 hummingbirds buzz my head in one day. I could hear their wings and feel the breeze from them they came so close," reports Court M. at Black Canyon Campground - Lower.

Continental Divide Trail access: Hikers can directly access the Continental Divide Trail from Rocky Canyon Campground. "Right on the continental divide trail. Very quiet," shares Peter M., though he cautions about access challenges to reach this particular camping location.

What campers like

Creek-side camping: Many sites feature running water nearby, enhancing the camping experience. At Kingston Campground, Lara S. shares, "The small creek bed has nice water depending on the time of year." This seasonal water feature provides both ambiance and practical benefits for campers.

Wildlife encounters: The area supports various wildlife that frequently visit campgrounds. "Cute wild or domesticated animals walk the space not aggressive just cute and helpful with the leafs and cycle of vegetation foods/leafs in the area," describes Amziah Z. about their Kingston Campground experience.

Temperature variations: Higher elevation camping provides natural cooling during summer months. "It is cool at night, even in August, due to the elevation. We were so cozy in our wool socks and sleeping bags in a tent," explains Tracy C. about camping conditions at Black Canyon, highlighting how temperature drops create comfortable sleeping conditions even during hot months.

What you should know

Seasonal closures: Multiple campgrounds close during winter or due to environmental conditions. "The four campgrounds in this area (Iron Creek, Railroad Canyon, Upper and Lower Gallinas) are all closed in December 2021. Perhaps just for the season. Contact NFS for status," advises Todd J., indicating the importance of checking current status before traveling.

Limited facilities: Most campgrounds provide basic amenities only. "This is a solid little campground with 3 (maybe 4?) campsites and few amenities," explains Mark O., describing the minimal setup at Railroad Canyon Campground.

Water availability concerns: Water sources are inconsistent across campgrounds. "Would be 5 stars but the water spigot only worked intermittently," notes Court M. about Rocky Canyon Campground, indicating infrastructure challenges typical of remote camping areas.

Tips for camping with families

Weather preparation: Temperature swings require comprehensive gear planning. "Nights here are cool. You can plan for at least a 30 degree delta between daytime high and nighttime low," advises Mark O. about conditions at Black Canyon, emphasizing the need for warm sleeping gear even during summer months.

Limited site availability: Most campgrounds feature only 3-4 sites, requiring early arrival. Teresa T. describes Kingston as "really just a couple of spots with a picnic table and not a destination but worthy of stopping if the mountains are cold," highlighting the capacity constraints typical of the best tent camping near Arrey, New Mexico.

Road condition awareness: Access roads to some campgrounds require appropriate vehicles. "This camp site is off a forest service road that gets pretty rough. Definitely tents only. Recommend that you have 4wheel drive, motorcycle or atv," warns Peter M. about Black Canyon Campground - Upper, information critical for families planning their approach.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Small campgrounds limit RV accommodation options. "Only 4 sites available. Some privacy from the road, which was better than the other campgrounds near by," notes Ginae L. about Railroad Canyon, indicating the limited space available.

Leveling considerations: While some sites accommodate small RVs, terrain varies. "We tent camp, but I think you'd be able to park a small camper or trailer," suggests Lara S. regarding Kingston Campground, providing perspective on potential RV suitability.

Seasonal road access: Forest roads become difficult for larger vehicles after weather events. "Area is quiet, and road can get rough for low clearance, non 4WD vehicles," cautions Mark O. about Rocky Canyon access, information particularly relevant for RV travelers considering tent camping near Arrey, New Mexico.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Arrey, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Arrey, NM is Kingston Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Arrey, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Arrey, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.