Searching for the best camping near Carson National Forest, NM? Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Carson National Forest, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Carson National Forest and user-submitted reviews.
"This location is so prime for visiting all the sights in Taos, and there are many. The campground is compact but still, private."
"Much more vegetation than you would expect from a campground close to town. The staff are friendly. The facilities were clean. The park is older but in an charming New Mexico way."
$30 - $50 / night
"The spaces are wide and angled enough to allow for great views! There are no trees, so you will be using your AC and awning when it’s hot out. Sites were quite level and hookups are easy access."
"Ratings for this category are based on: Value to cost: 4 Overall grounds: 5 Utility of sites (hookups, layout, accessibility): 5 Local Attraction Proximity: 5 Reservation Process/Ease of Getting a Site"
"Nice park nestled at the foot of the mountains and on the banks of the Red River. Nicely landscaped with two ponds and a river walk."
"Stayed in spot R1 which is pretty small/crowded in, but near river and trees. Lovely duck and geese ponds and river walk, also dog park."
$40 - $60 / night
"Dog friendly, with a small dog park to boot. Easy in and out, hooks ups and wifi. Manager on site and very attentive. We stayed April 1 for one night, was quiet, friendly and comfortable."
"Congrats for getting the most important things done first: full hook up sites, clean, new bathrooms with roomy showers."
"We came up from Albuquerque to do some hiking in some mountains(cooler). We had great rain both evenings and sat under the awning and just relaxed after a long day on the trails."
"Spaces are really close to each other.
However, the bathrooms/showers (Qty 3) were always very clean. The camp host/owner and employees were very friendly and accommodating."
"Tucked in a canyon with a stream running through it, we secured a spot on the water. Large pine trees, tiered spots, walking distance to the cute town of Red River."
"Stayed here for a weekend, this place is tucked away and quiet. Spots are well spaced and grass all around. The river runs through the park."
$25 - $65 / night
"Very large rv park with full hookups, showers, laundry, and community building. Was not busy when we were here, so we did not have anyone next to us, but the sites are very close to each other."
"I had been boondocking up in the mountains in the rain all week and needed FHU to recharge.
Can't remember the price I paid, but it was very reasonable. "
$42 - $150 / night
"A lot of full time residents and everyone was so lovely and helpful. Eagle Nest Lake is literally across the road and a wonderful trail to walk or bike."
$35 / night
"Mostly pull through sites with full hookups, looking out on the Eagle Nest Lake and the mountains around you. Gravel roads, with sites sharing utilities between them. Only twenty sites or so."
"We had 50 amp, full hookups and stayed for a week. Stable power, good water pressure and threaded sewer connectors. The sites are level, decently spaced and easy to access."
$45 - $60 / night
"Pull thru and back in spaces. Water at site. Bathroom/Shower house small but very clean. Self check-in (covid) was simple."
GuideRio Chama RV park in Chama, New Mexico, is at the intersection of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the upper Rio Chama. A nice place to stay May 1 thru mid October. The train passing by twice a day is an exciting event and it's a short walk to the train yard.
Pull through sites have great shade and full hookups with 30 or 50 amp electrical service. Spacious tent sites with full service restrooms nearby. Pet friendly with dog park and free wifi. A great place for fishing, train watching and relaxing.
GuideVery nice RV resort! Full hookup, concrete level pads, huge pull thru sites, great for large rigs. A lot of amenities: playground, tennis courts, hot tub, pool, clubhouse. Very polite and attentive personnel! Only a few miles (10min driving) from the ski slopes. If winter camping - heated water hose is highly recommended! During especially chilly nights be prepared to fill up your fresh water tank and turn off and disconnect the hose from the external water supply! If it is frozen overnight, you will be subject to $150 fee.
LegendI liked the small roadside campground in the Carson National Forest. It’s located near some of the smaller ski slopes about 30 miles south of Taos NM on Highway 518 near Rock Wall New Mexico. The National Forest Service campground has 10 sites along a nice mountain stream. The campground is just off the highway with some privacy between the campsites. They have picnic tables and fire rings and clean Pit toilets. This site did not have a host and works from a self service. The hiking and fishing are the highlights here along with the scenery. I also appreciated this was mostly empty in the peak summer season. This is a nice option if you want to avoid the crowds a do some trout fishing in a relatively quite location. The only downside is the noise from the highway.
LegendI love this campsite. It is definitely one of my favorites on the Questa side of the Carson National forest. The views here are breathtaking and the sound of the river drowns out the noise from the road which is fairly close. The sites are are very nice and spacious with a grill pit and a huge circular fire pit.
The bathrooms are simple vault toilets and there is a small wash station. There are plenty of potable water spots and the rangers here are always helpful.
On one side you have the amazing views of the mountains and the other is just beautiful forest with the river running along side. There are a few trailheads towards the back of the campground with awesome trails. Plus this campground is in between the amazing Red River ski resort and Questa. Red River has some great restaurants including a local brewery that is my personal favorite. They also have a small market, or you could head into Questa or Taos for full size grocery stores.
LegendIf you have a big rig and need a place to stay while exploring Santa Fe and the many national monuments in the area, this is a great location! It's not much more than a gravel parking lot, but it can accommodate your large RV and extra vehicle. Try to get a spot as far from the highway as possible.
Owned by the pueblo, it provides large pull-through sites with 20/30/50A hookups, sewer and water, plus free wifi. There are shops and restaurants across the way.
Bandelier, Kasha-Katuwe, Pecos National Monuments are all nearby as is downtown Santa Fe.
LegendLas Petacas is just east of Taos on Highway 64. The campground is located just a few feet from the highway along a small creek. The campground has about 15 sites located along the creek with some privacy between sites. You should be able to find a site here even during summer peak season. This site is in the Carson National Forest and does have a camp host. The highlight during our visit was a crazy two story hippy bus. I have never seen anything quite like this bus during our two years on the road. Anyway the toilets are clean and sites are maintained. This is a good option if your looking to get close to Taos or doing some hiking in the Carson Forest. The two campers here were local long term visitors. This is a good option if you are traveling through and need a easy to access site.
TravelerNice park nestled at the foot of the mountains and on the banks of the Red River. Nicely landscaped with two ponds and a river walk. Location is great for visiting Rio Grande del Norte NM and the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. Just north of Taos too. Nicely shaded, level sites with full hookups. Nice picnic table and grill. Might be a little tight for big rigs, but my little Casita was quite happy. Very friendly folks in the office. Clean laundry and restroom. My site backed up to the river and the sound of the rushing water was the perfect lullaby.
RangerI loved my stay here. This location is so prime for visiting all the sights in Taos, and there are many. The campground is compact but still, private. There are several pull-thru sites for big rigs, many back-in sites with water/elec. hookups, and some tent sites in the back of the campground and a few sites at the front by the office that are back-in without any amenities.
There is a dump station, a dishwashing area, bathrooms with very hot showers, a playground, and office. No open fires are allowed only propane or other contained fires. Cell phone service and wifi thru the campground is available tho not fast when everyone jumps on at the same time. During my stay everyone was very quiet. My only complaint was a light that stayed on all night for security.
Restaurants are really close enough to walk to and there is an Ace Hardware store across the street for emergency repairs. Old Town Taos is 3 miles away.
ScoutThis is one of only a few RV parks in the immediate area of the city of Taos. This campground had positive reviews, and the photos looked nice, so we chose it. As other people indicated, the park is clean, and reasonably spacious for a private campground. There were buddy sites so your traveling partners could have coaches facing one another, which is also nice.
There was ample room to park both our fifth wheel and our truck. The sites we had were concrete and level(we were traveling with others, and their site at a different area of the park was dirt/rock and much less level). There was good Verizon and AT&T cell service in the park as well.
I don’t use park WiFi, the laundry rooms, or the bathrooms so I cannot comment on that(although people we were traveling with said they were nice). My issue with this park is the way they charge.
Their website indicates a certain charge for 30 amp sites, 50 amp sites, pull-thrus and back-ins. Also, some had sewer, and some did not. Not until we got there did we discover that although we had paid for a premium spot with 50 amp power and sewer, that the cost of the electricity itself was NOT included in the price. This was not prominently indicated on their website. Their policy/procedure was to take a meter reading each day, and that cost was added to the camper’s bill at the end of their stay. I understand that many campgrounds do this for monthly campers, and even weekly. I have NEVER seen this at a campground on a daily rate. I have been all over the country, staying at private campgrounds from coast to coast, and this was the only one that I have ever seen that charged for electricity on a daily rental. I brought this to their attention, and their attitude was, “that’s the way we do it” and was terse about it. The actual dollar amount was not great, about$2/night...but that was based upon our usage.
We had people traveling with us that used their air conditioner(we did not) and it was about$5/night. They have every right to do this, but it goes against the industry standard that I have seen everywhere else. So, I am only giving this campground 2 stars because of that. If it weren’t for that, I would give it 4 stars. Take this information and use it how you choose.
We stayed in a 35’ fifth wheel.
RV camping near Carson National Forest in New Mexico offers a blend of stunning natural beauty and well-equipped campgrounds, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best RV campgrounds in Carson National Forest near Taos, NM?
Several excellent RV campgrounds are available near Carson National Forest and Taos. Taos Valley RV Park & Campground offers a prime location for exploring Taos with pull-through sites for big rigs and full hookups. For a peaceful experience near water, Questa Lodge & RV Resort sits at the foot of the mountains along Red River, providing nicely shaded, level sites with full hookups and great access to Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. For forest camping, Comales Campground in Carson National Forest offers a smaller, more rustic experience about 30 miles south of Taos with sites along a mountain stream.
Can I rent an RV for camping in Carson National Forest near Taos, New Mexico?
Yes, you can rent an RV for camping in the Carson National Forest area. While there aren't rental facilities within the national forest itself, nearby options are available. Angel Fire RV Resort is located just 10 minutes from ski slopes with full hookups and concrete level pads perfect for rental RVs. Another unique option is Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, which offers vintage camper rentals in addition to RV spots. For RV rentals, check with rental companies in Taos or Santa Fe, or use online RV rental marketplaces that connect RV owners with renters.
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Carson National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Carson National Forest is Taos Valley RV Park & Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Carson National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 124 RV camping locations near Carson National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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