Best Glamping near Carlsbad, NM

This KOA was a great property in thy it was very clean and had a lot to offer for families with kids, and even adult only patrons. They had a really big “Rec Room” for kids and adults to play ping pong, or a video game. They also deliver food to your site, and they smoke their own BBQ on site! It’s less than an hour from Carlsbad Caverns, and only 15 minutes from Carlsbad proper, in case you need some supplies or want to go find a place to eat in town. The only downside to this place was the sulfur/propane smell from the gas/oil wells in the area, and the fact that there wasn’t much to block the wind.

Nice camping spot only about 5 miles from Carlsbad Caverns. The sites are nice and the vault toilet was very clean. I camped here in February and there was plenty of room. I got here around 5:30 PM.

Nothing special other than is 7 miles from Carlsbad Caverns. Clean facilities, including Grocery Store, laundromat, post office. It’s a dry area so remember to bring your alcohol. No light restrictions. Watch out for splinters in the picnic table. Overall convenient and friendly helpful administration.

Crowded, charming, typical KOA. Located about 30 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Quaint store, great play room (super nice staff- left the playroom open for us an additional hour due to downpour!) Accommodated our family as our reservation was deleted and we had nowhere else to go! :) Great clean restrooms and showers.

Excellent full service RV park. The hook ups are in excellent repair. This particular KOA offers hot food delivered to the sites in Lou of eating inside the facility. Despite the name, it is quite a hike from Carlsbad Caverns if that is your destination. It is very close to Beantly Lake and a very quiet setting. The pads are gravel but level. Excellent staff. Would stay again!

This KOA will start texting you in advance of your arrival, which I found a bit tedious, but it came in handy during our stay.

Check in was simple and informative. The pool is open and was clean. It definitely came in handy during this heat!

The campground is based about an hour away from Carlsbad Caverns, which worked for us so we could drop our rig and make the drive the next morning. Only about 20 minutes from the town of Carlsbad.

On our second night, there was a wicked storm and we started heading loud booms. The park was thoughtful enough to text everyone after hours to reassure us that the pecan fields up the road use air cannons to prevent hail. Not sure about the effectiveness but was so glad to know what was happening.

We would certainly return if we ever need full hook ups in the area.

This was our first time staying at a KOA and in general, we liked it. It’s about an hour from the Caverns which is doable, the staff is friendly and the amenities (shower, laundry, flush toilets) are very nice to have. It’s a great site for those who prefer glamping. However, it’s not very scenic and you are very close to your fellow campers (we listened to a couple fight the whole two nights we were there). There is a lake nearby and the dessert surrounding provides its own type of scenery but it was not my favorite campground.

A very nice campground with brand new bath houses. Nice laundry facilities. Gift store with ice cream, yes. Very convenient to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and to Carlsbad, New Mexico. Nice indoorheated pool and a family-friendly environment. Treats for your dog and several dog parks fort off leash fun. We managed to get one of these shaded sites for our pop-up trailer.

Carlsbad Caverns is amazing! Going during bat season is even more incredible, unbelievable almost. Make no mistake about the location, however. As so many KOAs are not in the town that bears their name, this KOA is no exception. It is not in the Carlsbad limits, it is 30 minutes north of Carlsbad and 1+ hour north of Carlsbad Caverns. ( not sure why another reviewer stated it was only 30 minutes away—maybe they were mistaking it for Carlsbad RV Park, which was formerly a KOA(?) no disrespect meant—people should know before they go, google maps will confirm).

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of cram them in RV parks, but there are few options for camping around Carlsbad and they are all RV parks except for the first come first serve campground at Guadalupe National Park which stands a really good chance of being full before I could ever roll in. This KOA has all the amenities including a pool, clean showers, store, laundry, and hot meals—if you can order hours in advance. The RV sites are spacious for being an RV Park, but by no means “spacious”. They had excellent and easy pull through options and many cabins. The cabins were pricey, but cross between the camping/hotel ease of lodging; of course, visitors bring their own sleeping bags and linens.

We found the staff was neither overly friendly nor rude. It did seem to take a very long time to process anything, however, because anytime we went into the store/check-in, we had to wait, awhile (20+ minutes). While this held true for the weekend we were there, maybe it isn’t typical? Overall, it’s a place to hang one’s hat and enjoy a campfire under the night sky. It’s also a good middle ground between Carlsbad and the Roswell area attractions if that is the goal. If the only plans are to see the national parks (Carlsbad and Guadalupe), I’d recommend considering Carlsbad RV Park—which is right on the southern edge of Carlsbad. While in town, consider checking out Fiesta Drive In Theater. It’s one of the few remaining drive-in movie theaters.

Great small (free) campground very close to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Surprised at how well-kept it was and the restroom is very clean. There are about 5/6 RV/campervan spots and equal tent spots, each with a picnic table under a canopy, a BBQ and fire ring. There were 3 cars parked at the wooden fence as well. Max 5 nights stay. Great spot for a visit to Carlsbad Caverns and if you don’t need water/hookups. Great views, can barely hear the Highway.

Nice campground in the desert, pool, hour or so to Carlsbad caverns, full hook ups, shade shelters

Sunset Reef is great place to spend a night, or a few days exploring the area around Carlsbad. The 10 designated spots with canopies, picnic tables, grills, and fireplaces are top notched and the dry pit toilet is very clean. Additional parking places are available around the perimeter of the camp site, with room for another 10 or so campers if you don’t get there in time for a site with a canopy. There is almost no road noise from the adjacent highway. Hats off to the BLM Carlsbad Field Office for providing this great facility.

Decided to stay here while on our way to Tucson. Great location to launch to Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountain National Parks. Indoor heated pool. Very nice staff throughout the park. Definitely recommend

Stayed here 2 nights while exploring Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains. Was a very nice campground with shaded picnic tables, fire pits, and a fairly nice pit toilet with lots of toilet paper.

We stayed there on a Friday night and there were 2-3 open spots with 3-4 campers that chose to stay around the edge. It’s a nice spot very close to Carlsbad caverns.

Great free campsite between Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks. Just a mile from the road but perfectly quiet. Not the most private sites but they are new and clean (including the pit toilet)

Honestly, I'm just not a fan of KOAs. They're not scenic, and I always regret not just going camping. but I do have to admit, Carlsbad was AMAZING. So beautiful, just not a fan of the campgrounds.

Turds and trash everywhere. Tiny sites, no privacy, nothing worked, no heat in bathroom, took forever to get checked in. Nothing good about this place except proximity to Carlsbad Caverns NP. Would not stay here again. Nope.

We stayed here while visiting Carlsbad Caverns and GIadalupe MoIuntains. Overall this is a nice place. Everything was very clean and the staff were kind and helpful. Be careful if you drink their water, I think it made us sick.

Easy access off of the highway. 6 designated RV sites. All were taken. We pulled up to the west edge and had fantastic views from Guadeloupe Peak to Carlsbad Caverns. 15 RVs spent the night while we were there.