Best Glamping near Belen, NM

Albuquerque KOA Journey and Turquoise Trail Campground house the most upscale glamping accommodations near Belen, New Mexico. These destinations feature safari-style canvas tents and premium glamping pods equipped with modern conveniences that traditional campers forgo. Turquoise Trail provides climate-controlled glamping options with comfortable beds, linens, and private decks overlooking the surrounding landscape. Both locations maintain dedicated glamping areas separate from standard camping, with Albuquerque KOA Journey offering glamping tents with decorative lighting, furniture, and access to their hot tub and mini-golf facilities. These elevated outdoor accommodations come with electricity, clean shower facilities, and maintained pathways for easy access. According to a camper, "The campground was clean, secure, the staff and other campers were friendly and courteous."

Red Canyon Campground complements its natural setting with basic glamping domes and pods available from April through November. The campground sits adjacent to hiking trails where visitors can spot local wildlife, including deer that frequently visit at dusk. Glamping guests benefit from the campground's vault toilets and bear boxes while enjoying considerably more comfort than tent campers. The glamping sites feature picnic tables, fire rings, and strategic placement for optimal mountain views and stargazing. Beyond accommodations, visitors appreciate the proximity to mountain biking routes on forest roads that connect multiple canyons. One guest noted, "Beautiful campground with large spaces. Not crowded." The area experiences stunning wildflower blooms in season, adding natural beauty to the glamping experience. The mountainous location provides cooler temperatures and pine forest surroundings not typically associated with New Mexico desert camping.

Best Glamping Sites Near Belen, New Mexico (5)

    1. Albuquerque KOA Journey

    47 Reviews
    Monticello, NM
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 296-2729

    "Staff was friendly. Past reviews mentioned that this KOA was in a terrible neighborhood, but it didn’t seem so bad to us and we had no incidents. CG is gated and staffed 24/7."

    "Very tidy, no trash. Nice pull through sites with rock "yards". Bathrooms were clean, staff was friendly. Thr highway noise didn't even bother us. Thanks Albuquerque KOA!"

    2. Red Canyon Campground

    8 Reviews
    Mountainair, NM
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 847-2990

    "The site itself is in a really nice area with lots of pine trees and direct trail access."

    "There are nice fire pits and picnic spots. However, though there are bathrooms at the location, they are really smelly and flies surround them."

    3. Turquoise Trail Campground

    33 Reviews
    Cibola National Forest and Grasslands, NM
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 281-2005

    "they have a dishwashing stations and two bathhouses. The lady at the front desk was helpful and extremely nice. There is a store really close by also!"

    "CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Turquoise Trail Campground, Cedar Crest, NM Turquoise Trail Campground is a small privately owned campground located five miles north of I-40 off Route 14 (exit 175) just outside"

    4. Albuquerque North / Bernalillo KOA

    14 Reviews
    Bernalillo, NM
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 562-3616

    "This is a civilized campground located just a few minutes north of Albuquerque. Amenities include a camp store and laundry room."

    "Staff are friendly, there is laundry and Wi-Fi on site, and the campground connects to a brewery a short walk away!"

    5. Turner Inn & RV Park

    1 Review
    Mountainair, NM
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 847-0248

    "Nice people they have Wi-Fi nice bathrooms there’s a really great grocery store downtown called the B St., Café. It was $36 if I paid cash and that was with a 10% discount"

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Recent Glamping Photos near Belen, NM

15 Photos of 5 Belen Campgrounds


Glamping Reviews near Belen, NM

100 Reviews of 5 Belen Campgrounds


  • Kayla M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2019

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Loved it!

    Enjoyed the site! They had RV, cabins and tent camp sites. My friend and I are tent campers and there was more than enough space for the vehicle and both our tents. They have showers (limited to 5 mins but better than nothing!), they have a dishwashing stations and two bathhouses. The lady at the front desk was helpful and extremely nice. There is a store really close by also! They have charcoal grills at the tent sites and one communal fire pit. We paid about $20. Would absolutely go back again! The sad part is the museum is closed due to lack of funding 😭

  • Alex M.
    Jun. 16, 2022

    Albuquerque North / Bernalillo KOA

    Excellent urban camping

    This is a civilized campground located just a few minutes north of Albuquerque. Amenities include a camp store and laundry room. I arrived without a reservation and was able to find a nice tent site with plenty of shade and wooden fences on three sides for privacy. Water and electricity were also available at my site.

    This being an urban campground, there was some traffic noise from nearby roads and freeways. However, the campground quieted down at night and I slept well. The bathrooms were very well appointed, and required a code to enter.

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 4, 2018

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Clean and close to the mountains and Albuquerque

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Turquoise Trail Campground, Cedar Crest, NM

    Turquoise Trail Campground is a small privately owned campground located five miles north of I-40 off Route 14 (exit 175) just outside the east side of Albuquerque. Tucked along the base of the Sandia mountains, at 6940’ elevation. http://www.turquoisetrailcampground.com/

    There is plenty of visible signage to guide you down Snowline Dr into the campground.

    As you approach the office/museum on the right, the RV/Camper loop is visible on the left (which appeared full). Behind the office building are two tent loops (upper and lower). There are two very clean bathroom/showerhouses located between the office and tent loops. A laundry room and dishwashing sink is located at the back of the office building. *This is also the only water access for the tent loops.

    RV sites have full hookups. Tent sites have only a leveled, gravel tent pad, picnic table and standing grill. Only stove fires were permitted at our visit due to open fire restrictions.

    Tent sites are separated by scrub brush, which offered partial privacy between most sites, but you will hear your neighbors. The outer tent sites back up to a residential area, with a fence separating. Bring earplugs for undisturbed sleeping, as road noise from Route 14 can be heard, along with local dogs randomly in the distance.

    At $20 a night, the campground is convenient and sufficiently met our needs as we traveled west on a tight itinerary.

    Shower tokens are provided with your nightly fee. Each token gives you 7 minutes of shower time.

    There is plenty to do nearby, with bike trails and hiking trails…though nothing of particular interest in the campground itself.

    The bustling city of Albuquerque is the next exit west, so you are still very close to shopping, eateries, and nightlife.

  • Rebecca H.
    May. 2, 2021

    Albuquerque KOA Journey

    Serviceable RV Park with clean bathrooms

    The campground was pretty much a large parking lot, with rows of RVs. Our reservation said we would have a fire ring or grill but were told the one nearby was just for tent campers. There was a communal propane grill, and propane available for purchase, but the store was already closed when we realized the situation. A fire ban prevented us from using our own charcoal grill. On the plus side, my kids enjoyed a game of mini golf, the bathrooms were clean and staff friendly.

  • A
    Dec. 28, 2021

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Great spot

    Great spot to car camp for the night. I definitely appreciated the HOT , running water and nicely kept bathroom.

  • Amanda P.
    Aug. 31, 2016

    Albuquerque North / Bernalillo KOA

    A very handy place to stay

    When campgrounds at higher elevations are closed, this is a really nice option. Staff are friendly, there is laundry and Wi-Fi on site, and the campground connects to a brewery a short walk away!

  • Kim L.
    Aug. 16, 2021

    Albuquerque KOA Journey

    Better than expected!

    We had a good time at this KOA. Enjoyed the pool (hot tub wasn’t working), bounce pad, mini golf, horseshoes. The store was useful too. Staff was friendly. Past reviews mentioned that this KOA was in a terrible neighborhood, but it didn’t seem so bad to us and we had no incidents. CG is gated and staffed 24/7. Showers and bathrooms were nice and clean (although some had a few puddles in them from campers who showered and didn’t fix the shower curtain correctly. Laundry was helpful (quarters needed). I’d stay again.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 30, 2023

    Red Canyon Campground

    Come early

    I’ve been here a couple times. The site itself is in a really nice area with lots of pine trees and direct trail access. The only issue is it seems a lot of people who come here don’t know camp etiquette and leave the sites completely trashed. Fire pits buried and unusable, beer cans and trash everywhere. I’d recommend going before Memorial Day while the sites are still clean

  • Atheena T.
    Apr. 12, 2025

    Red Canyon Campground

    Red Canyon

    This is an amazing campsite. There are nice fire pits and picnic spots. However, though there are bathrooms at the location, they are really smelly and flies surround them.


Guide to Belen

Glamping in Belen, New Mexico offers a strategic base for exploring the Manzano Mountains and surrounding pine forests at elevations ranging from 6,500 to 7,100 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F during the day while dropping to 45-55°F at night, creating significant temperature swings that require packing both warm and cool weather clothing. Most campgrounds in this region experience peak season from May through September when wildflowers bloom across the mountain landscapes.

What to do

Mountain biking forest roads: Red Canyon Campground provides direct access to extensive mountain biking routes. According to John H., there's "Great Mountain biking on forest roads that link canyons" near the Red Canyon Campground.

Wildlife viewing at dusk: The Manzano Mountain foothills offer excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. Jacob S. reports, "We stayed in the camping area near the trailhead. Very green and lush with deer visiting our site at dusk!" You'll find the best wildlife viewing at forest edges around sunset.

Kid-friendly trail exploration: Multiple short hiking loops suitable for families connect directly to campgrounds. Gavin J. notes Red Canyon Campground has "Nice kid-friendly trails adjacent to the campground" making it easy to introduce children to nature without long drives.

What campers like

Quiet mountain settings: The higher elevation campgrounds provide cooler temperatures and tranquility. Carson P. mentions, "The site itself is in a really nice area with lots of pine trees and direct trail access" at Red Canyon Campground.

Clean facilities: Many glamping sites maintain well-kept washrooms and common areas. At Albuquerque KOA Journey, Roxy V. noted, "Restrooms & showers were clean. They offer RV sites, cabin rentals, and tent sites."

Convenient brewery access: Several campgrounds offer easy walking access to local breweries. Doug W. says about Albuquerque North/Bernalillo KOA, "The best part is there is a brewery you can walk to from the campground. They serve organic pizza and cold beer."

Year-round availability: Unlike mountain sites that close seasonally, some lower-elevation glamping options remain open in winter. Turquoise Trail Campground and both KOA locations operate year-round when higher mountain campgrounds are snow-covered.

What you should know

Limited water access: Many forest campgrounds have vault toilets but no running water. John H. warns about Red Canyon Campground: "Toilets but no water so come prepared."

Highway noise factors: Several glamping sites near Belen are convenient but experience traffic noise. Doug W. mentions about Bernalillo KOA, "I would give the place 5 stars but one of the good things, access, means you can hear the interstate."

Bear precautions required: Bear activity necessitates proper food storage. Jennifer A. notes Turquoise Trail Campground has "vault toilets, trash bins, and bear boxes" for safety.

Site cleanliness varies seasonally: Early season camping typically offers cleaner conditions. Carson P. advises, "I'd recommend going before Memorial Day while the sites are still clean" as some heavily-used areas become littered later in summer.

Tips for camping with families

Playground amenities: Multiple glamping locations offer dedicated play areas. Karla D. notes that Bernalillo KOA "has the best swing set and is all sand, very fun for kids of all ages."

Evening entertainment options: Some luxury glamping sites provide outdoor movies. Jennie R. shares that Turner Inn & RV Park had "a nice pool with plenty of shade and an outdoor movie in the evenings which my kids enjoyed."

Pet-friendly accommodations: Most glamping sites around Belen welcome pets with dedicated areas. Katie H. reports at Albuquerque KOA Journey, "Our pups enjoyed the dog park, lots of enrichment items out for them."

Private fencing: Some tent sites offer enhanced privacy for families. At Turquoise Trail Campground, Dave V. mentions tent sites come with "scrub brush, which offered partial privacy between most sites," while Albuquerque KOA has "each tent site is separated by a privacy wall."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Some RV sites require additional adjustment. Frank notes about Albuquerque KOA Journey, "On our full hook up site the dump sight was in a bad place. We would of had to un hook from our truck to fully hook up."

Premium site selection: Higher-quality sites typically cost more but offer better amenities. RichMichelle M. advises, "Stayed twice - once with full h/u, once with W/E. The FHU was a far better location with concrete pad, much less highway noise, and much better bathrooms."

Off-peak benefits: Visiting outside summer weekends provides better site options. Alex M. shares about his experience at Albuquerque North/Bernalillo KOA: "I arrived without a reservation and was able to find a nice tent site with plenty of shade and wooden fences on three sides for privacy."

Grocery proximity: Several glamping locations offer convenient access to supplies. Mary L. notes about Turner Inn & RV Park, "There's a really great grocery store downtown called the B St., Café" just minutes from the campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Belen, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Belen, NM is Albuquerque KOA Journey with a 4-star rating from 47 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Belen, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 glamping camping locations near Belen, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.