Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Conchas Dam, NM has a lot to offer. Conchas Dam is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Conchas Dam, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$15 / night
"Catch the cool evening desert breezes from the Rocking Point loop, which sits across the dam and above the lake. The drive to the park from I 40 is on a nicely paved road so the distance feels less."
TravelerThis canyon is a too little known gem tucked away in a corner of the state too few travel, as the near ghost town of Roy demonstrates. for those wondering why I'd part with secrecy and reveal a local treasure, that's why: we've far too few tourists, unlike Barcelona.
Back to the canyon, the key attractions are the river, often a rippling stream, and sometimes mere puddles, but still, water in a dry land, and the ruins of a thriving orchard and stagecoach stop, complete with an impressive hotel. The hotel is the largest ruin, abandoned after a flood destroyed the business more than a century ago. There are other stone buildings scattered about for those motivated to hike around the valley.
The canyon remains hidden until you reach the rim and peer down (an excellent method for spotting ruins), and the first Forest Service campground is there, and best for those with larger trailers or lower clearances.
The second Forest Service campground is by the river, complete with picnic tables, iron fire rings, and vault toilets. Both are free as of this writing.
I've never seen any explicit regulations beyond the obvious (don't do damage that gets us all a bad name) and 4x4 paths exist to get one further up and down the canyon for dispersed camping.
I'd certainly camp away from large or loud groups if I needed, but neither campground gets a rowdy crowd, or, indeed, much of a crowd.
p.s. If you read this far, I'll throw in some nearby treats: Charette Lake, Fort Union, Pecos National Monument and Sugarite State Park all offer insights into the history and natural beauty of this part of NM.
LegendGood overnight stop! It was a quiet rv park with clean bathrooms and hot showers. The staff was super friendly at check in and if you like the little touches they offer free coffee and tea! I always think that's nice.
Flat spot, cell reception, right by a gas station and a neat place to explore route 66. Highly recommend La Cita, for New Mexico Mexican food. Very good, friendly staff and also the coffee house is ran by the nicest husband and wife couple with incredible baked goods!!
ScoutI stayed in Rocky Point , A loop. Nice campground in desert setting overlooking the lake. A lot of pull thru sites as well as back ins. Electric was all thru the loop, however water hook ups were not. A pump was located a little ways down the loop, however. Some sights had covered picnic tables, others not. If shade is important check the details before booking and it will tell if you have water and the pic will show the picnic table. Nice trails. Enjoyed the scenic lake loop. Juniper campground was walk-in only and looked to be much more secluded but without amenities. There was also a primitive camping area.
GuideThis is a horse and human RV park. There is a horse hotel, Laundry, and dog park on site. Our site was level on a moderate size rock pad. A fire ring or picnic table was not provided. We did have FHU with 30 amp service. The nearest grocery store was within 5 miles. This park does offer WiFi which had great speeds!
ScoutI stayed at the North Campground in the park and it was great. The bath house was recently renovated and very clean. The only downside to the park was that the tent pads we rock and gravel making it very difficult to stake a tent. Each site had a covered picnic table and a charcoal grill. There was easy access to drinking water and there was an access road to the lake close by.
GuideThis is a great place to hang out on the weekend in Eastern New Mexico. The water is great and it's pretty clean lake. When the wind kicks up it can get pretty rough but overall nice. The grounds are well taken care of as well. I would recommend staying on the South side of the lake if you like it quiet, you can also find more "trees". Try to keep your elevation low because the wind always blows in New Mexico.
TravelerI stayed in Beaver Cove. There are 4 campsites with a vault toilet, and a water spiket. Each site has a cement picnic table under a shelter. The ground is pebbles. A good spot for one night
GuideWe spent two nights and it only cost us $16. We were parked right on the lake, and being right after a holiday the lake was pretty much empty. They have several different campsites, with a website that makes it easy to reserve a spot. However, we called to ask, and ranger let us know we could come for first come first serve. They have signs that make finding your way around easy, also having stations that you can pay(cash only) for your campsite. The rangers were sweet and helpful as well as having a host, who was there all night in case of an emergencies. The restrooms/showers were clean and it looked to be recently remodeled. Also they had ramps going into the water for boats and a dock for fishing. Something else we learned about New Mexico, not being from here, April-May is a rainy and windy season. So be sure to check the weather before heading out
GuideUnable to reserve and pay for a spot online but decided to go anyway and check for availability at the office. Office closed when we got there, but a camper told us to pick a spot without a reserve ticket on it and use the honor system dropbox. Only the Juniper campground was open, but lots of open spots. We lucked out with one, though not very level, it gave us a beautiful view of the lake. Restrooms located by camp host. We had a dry camping spot, but there is a dump station and non-potable water in campground. I was told a few spots have electricity but ours didn't. Each spot has a covered picnic table and bbq grill, where you would have to have your fire if you brought wood. A bit of a stretch from the highway, but easy to find following the directions off the Maps app, and so worth the drive. We'll definitely be back!
Tent camping near Conchas Dam, New Mexico, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Conchas Dam, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Conchas Dam, NM is Central Recreation Area Campground with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Conchas Dam, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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