Turquoise Trail Campground's pet-friendly sites accommodate tent camping, RVs, cabins, and glamping options just minutes from Cedar Crest. The campground maintains level camping pads with plenty of shade trees, offering full hookups for RV travelers with pets. Leashed pets are welcome throughout the grounds, and the nearby terrain provides excellent walking opportunities. Albuquerque KOA Journey and Hidden Valley RV Park also accept pets with standard leash requirements. Campgrounds in this area typically request that pets remain supervised at all times, with waste properly disposed of in designated receptacles. Tent campers with dogs particularly appreciate the secluded sites that provide more privacy, though nighttime barking should be minimized as sound carries in the mountain setting. The park staff consistently receives praise for being helpful and accommodating toward pet owners.
Dogs enjoy access to numerous hiking trails in the Sandia Mountains surrounding Cedar Crest campgrounds. Most dispersed camping areas like Manzanita Rec Zone and the site off Forest Service Road 542 allow pets without additional fees, though these primitive locations lack dedicated pet amenities. Pet owners should carry sufficient water as drinking sources are limited at dispersed sites. Wildlife encounters with coyotes are common in the area, necessitating close supervision of smaller pets, particularly at dawn and dusk. The higher elevation (7,100 feet at Turquoise Trail Campground) means dramatic temperature drops at night that can affect pets, even in warmer months. Nearby Ale Republic brewery adjacent to Turquoise Trail Campground offers pet-friendly outdoor seating for campers seeking post-hike refreshments. Most campgrounds in the area do not impose breed restrictions but typically limit pets to 2-3 per site.
"The FHU was a far better location with concrete pad, much less highway noise, and much better bathrooms. Sites are decent distance apart, not on top of each other but can certainly see each other."
"Our pups enjoyed the dog park, lots of enrichment items out for them. Very tidy, no trash. Nice pull through sites with rock "yards". Bathrooms were clean, staff was friendly."
"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"
"There were even prairie dogs to greet you at entrance (careful driving!)"
"I got here after dark on my drive from the west coast to NC. There were a couple of other campers at the front of the entrance. I did a little off-roading and drove deeper in for privacy."
"Can make it up to camp with 2 wheel drive low clearance. Maybe some minor scraping as you leave/arrive over a bit of a rough ramp lip."
"We even spotted wild horses nearby as we arrived. Weekend shooting practice is audible in the distance, but well away from camping areas, and we never felt unsafe."
"You’re also pretty close to the sides of the mountain on a winding rock path so larger or trailered vehicles are probably not ideal. The wild horses are active."
$18 - $40 / night
"Operated by the town of Bernalillo, New Mexico. Prices range from $10.00 per night for tents and $20.00, $30.00, $35.00 per night for Rvs. Great view of the Rio Grande and Sandia Mountains."
"Bathrooms are nice, has lots of trails, and has good access to trashcans."
$40 - $75 / night
"We stayed 2 nights there when nothing around was available. When I called the young lady was very helpful getting us a spot. The sites are tight and are terraced up a hill. Nice dog park."
"Easy access to all facilities. Will stay here again when in the area."
"Two bathhouses, laundry, and a dog park make this a nice, safe place to spend a couple of days."
"It has clean bathrooms and is dog friendly. You will see plenty of wildlife as well. My only complaint is goat head stickers getting caught in my dogs paws and fur."
$20 - $60 / night
"There are two fenced in dog parks. While it seemed close to I40 you could not hear the traffic. Showers and laundry as well. Staff was very friendly and accommodating."
"Good place to stop near Albuquerque. Right off the highway but traffic noise wasn’t too bad at night. Showers and laundry were clean. Has an enclosed area for dogs and playground for kids."
"Road was ruff but with our Tundra and 20' long off road camper, no problem. 200 yards from vast mtb trail system. Fantastic ride!"
"A bit less traveled than other nearby campground. Road almost more accessible to this camp ground for low clearance. Might scrape a bit going up final ramp to Cedro peak one, but not terribly either."
"We walked to the brewery next door and made good use of the dog parks."
"Close to highway but easy in/out. Some smaller trees have branches that can damage your rig so be mindful of the space above as you navigate through the sites."
ScoutSuper clean Polite staff Firewood available Brand new playground 20 min from Santa Fe Showers / bathrooms 30/50 amp Fenced dog parks/fire pit areas fenced for pets Lots of space between units
LegendStopped by this KOA to see what it offered for possible future stays. It's a compact campground that provides pull through sites as well as back-in and tent sites. They offer everything from 50 amp electric to cable TV. Sites are clean and neat. There's a dog park for your pets. Bathrooms are clean with hot showers. They have cabins available as well.
Great location for exploring Sandra Fe, Bandelier, and other national monuments.
ScoutStayed only one night on our way west. Beautiful location, stay in the tent (primitive) side for more privacy and quiet. The address is 22 Calvary Cedar Crest, NM. We used the coordinates in Dyrt and pulled onto Cooper Road. Don’t do that!
LegendCAMPGROUND 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.
TravelerThis campsite was efficient, friendly, and had plenty of entertainment available. We walked to the brewery next door and made good use of the dog parks.
GuideStayed 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. Sites are decent distance apart, not on top of each other but can certainly see each other. Sites are all nice and flat. Not much tree cover. COVID ops means amenities are limited but nice dog park.
GuideWe just spent a couple of nights here. Enjoyed our site, very level. Nice dog park and walking trail. Would of liked to of heard the music tomorrow night, but alas we have to get home.
TravelerWe’ve had a great time at the campground. The sunsets are amazing! Full hook ups, clean campground, laundry, dog park, walking trail that goes around campground Sites are a little close but they have a nice concrete patio with table and chairs. Friendly staff! Would definitely come back!
GuideAll sites have full hookups and most are pull through. There are two fenced in dog parks. While it seemed close to I40 you could not hear the traffic. Showers and laundry as well. Staff was very friendly and accommodating.
The Sandia Mountains around Cedar Crest provide camping options at elevations between 6,000-7,500 feet, creating significant temperature variations between day and night throughout the year. Cedar Crest's location on the eastern side of the mountains means campers often experience strong morning sun with afternoon mountain shadows, particularly at west-facing campsites along Forest Service roads.
Mountain biking at Manzanita Recreation Zone: This dispersed camping area connects to an extensive mountain bike trail system with varying difficulty levels. "200 yards from vast mtb trail system. Fantastic ride!" notes Anita T., who camped here with an off-road setup despite the challenging access road.
Brewery visits near camping: Turquoise Trail Campground offers easy access to local craft breweries. Alex mentions, "It's located next to a little brewery and pizza place. The pizza and beer were both really good I would check that place out while you stay. Ale Republic it's called."
Rio Grande recreation access: Coronado Campground provides water activities with riverside camping. Mike M. shares, "You are next to the Rio Grande and in walking distance of the Pueblo Kuaua which is cool," making it convenient for paddling, fishing, or historical exploration.
Dark sky stargazing: The Top of New Mexico dispersed site offers exceptional astronomy opportunities. Lauren I. reports, "You can clearly see the Milky Way. No light pollution except the beautiful view of the city far away," highlighting its status as a dark sky sanctuary.
Wildlife encounters: Several dispersed camping areas feature regular wildlife visits. Josh F. describes his experience: "My first morning I was surrounded by a group of 5 cows grazing. They ended up laying 30 feet from the trailer all morning," while others report wild horse sightings at higher elevation sites.
Shade availability at RV parks: Albuquerque North / Bernalillo KOA receives positive reviews for its shade trees. Karla D. notes, "Easy pull through spots. The playground has the best swing set and is all sand, very fun for kids of all ages," with mature trees providing relief from summer heat.
Road conditions for dispersed sites: Most free camping areas require careful vehicle consideration. At Dispersed Camping off FS 542, Ashley T. cautions, "You definitely need something high-clearance with 4x4 as there are large ruts on either side, potholes, and large rocks."
Temperature fluctuations: The elevation causes significant overnight cooling even in summer. When camping at dispersed sites above 7,000 feet, temperatures commonly drop 30-40 degrees from daytime highs, requiring appropriate sleeping gear year-round.
Water availability concerns: Most dispersed camping options lack water sources. "Primitive camping no water no outhouse," explains Lily H. about Forest Service sites, recommending campers arrive with all necessary water for drinking, cooking, and cleanup.
Playground access: Several established campgrounds provide dedicated child-friendly areas. At Albuquerque North / Bernalillo KOA, Jennie R. found that "They had a nice pool with plenty of shade and an outdoor movie in the evenings which my kids enjoyed."
Bathroom facilities: When camping with children, bathroom access becomes important. Alex M. notes about Bernalillo KOA: "The bathrooms were very well appointed, and required a code to enter," providing security and cleanliness for families.
Educational opportunities: Position your family camping trip near historical sites. "We stayed here for our annual Cub Scout camp out. We tent camped around a group site. It's next to the Coronado Monument and the Rio Grande with an awesome view of the Sandia mountains," shares Jennifer A. about the dog-friendly Coronado Campground.
Full hookup positioning: At dog-friendly campgrounds near Cedar Crest, hookup placement varies. Sarina at Coronado Campground advises: "We were in a water/electric site. No full hook up sites. They are sloped a bit, and the water was on the opposite side of our camper, but we made it work."
Limited-access military option: Kirtland AFB FamCamp provides security for eligible campers. Ric P. highlights, "The RV sites are huge. You could easily park two full size vehicles and a large RV with ease," though it requires military ID for access.
Pet-specific amenities: RVers with dogs note specialized facilities at certain parks. Drew S. from Albuquerque KOA Journey reports, "We stayed in a large pull thru site that actually had a dedicated 'pet suite' with astroturf for our dog," representing an upgrade from standard pet-friendly accommodations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Cedar Crest, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cedar Crest, NM is Albuquerque KOA Journey with a 4-star rating from 46 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Cedar Crest, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 79 dog-friendly camping locations near Cedar Crest, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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