Best Campgrounds near Monticello, NM

Pretty rough getting here as neighbors are sabotaging the road making it narrow using loose gravel & boulders on turns. There is now a locked gate on Palomino to keep non-locals out! 😏 once there we so enjoyed the views, sunsets, city lights & stars! 9 wild horses came to visit too!

Due to overuse, trash, and abuse, SFNF has closed this area to dispersed camping.

Follow the directions in the app to avoid the private roads. It’s pretty easy to find. The road in is a little rocky but there is plenty of space and is a nice area.

Very convenient location for traveling through Albuquerque. Beautiful views, good pricing, everything you need around you. On the water and has kayak/paddle launch. Brewery infront you can walk to

The road up to the camping area is decent. There are big ruts headed into the camping area that are impassible to low clearance vehicles but nice spots otherwise.

I actually stayed here for a night -though inadvertently. When I drove in the next night to stay, I noticed that there was a sign up that said "no overnight camping". That being said, I did stay one night and didn't get approached by anyone.

Luckily, there is a large plot of land to the right that is also BLM land that you can stay on. Unfortunately though, several of those sites did have trash on them. And flies. And broken glass. Kinda sketchy. But there were several sites that were fine. Some parts of the road were questionable for cars to drive on, but there's enough road and pullouts where the roads were ok enough to drive on.

Took a minute to find. Not a soul out here on a Wednesday. Very windy, forget using a tent. Not far from town yet remote and quiet.

I didn’t see this but didn’t read all reviews. As you drive down the road the BLM land is clearly identified by the 14 day camping limit signs. You will come to a fence with a cattle guard and when you cross that you are now in National Forest, NO CAMPING on the National Forest side (ask me how I know ;)

Great place to camp if visiting Rio Rancho, Bernalillo and the surrounding area. Super nice camp sites, more than enough room for our 39’ trailer and inexpensive. You are next to the Rio Grande and in walking distance of the Pueblo Kuaua which is cool

This campground is a beast little spot. We were in a water/electric site. No dull hook. Up sites. They are sloped a bit, and the water was on the opposite side of our camper, but we made it work. The spots are large and have a shaded cover in every site. We would stay here again!!

Great location, lots to do nearby. This area was very accessible, in good condition, and tons of available spots, plenty of space between other campers. Felt pretty safe overall.

Almost made to cell tower and end of road. Road got extremely rough towards end. Turned down 192 and found a spot about 1/4 miles in. 4 bars Verizon .

Nice place to stay. Very responsibly priced. Easy check in. Will definitely be back when passing through.

Great little find for a quick place to car camp while driving through Albuquerque without going too far out of the way. The directions in the app were helpful to know to avoid the private roads, as they were not marked private. We took Llano del Norte the whole way around and found the public lands easily.

Great place to stay. Convenient drive to Albuquerque.

We stopped for a night on the way through and it was so nice that we stayed an extra one just to relax and enjoy it. I highly recommend this little stop. The manager and staff were so nice!

Given the area described has piles of trash and little else to recommend it, it seems a shame to be close to gorgeous wilderness and stare at rubbish.

Head out just a bit further and turn onto the well maintained dirt Buckman road?  There are canyons to explore and access to the Rio grande at the road's end, offering water in an area with next to none otherwise. 

If these lowlands are too hot in the summer, drive up Artist Road to Big Tesuque or the ski-way at the end of the road, where shade, cold streams, and elevation keep nights pleasant even in July or August. 

You won't be any further from Santa Fe, although it can take awhile to drive from the river or ski-way to town if you park as far away as possible.  

All of the above sites have fire rings and vault toilets, and Big Tesuque and the ski-way have some sites with picnic tables as well.  Firewood can be scavenged, especially if one gets away from the immediate campsite area.

My wife and I drove in late 9PM Friday night and host was there to meet us. Our 27ft class C RV made it up the hill, but kinda bumpy steep road. Rode our bikes all over Madrid and spent a lot of time exploring Madrid Cemetary, which is Awesome! The view and spot are breathtaking. We will return again.