Best Cabin Camping near Continental Divide, NM

A fun little campground with space to park an RV or rent a cabin. There are no hookups but you’re in a remote part of New Mexico under pines with a Giant night sky above. Plus you’ve got easy access to two fun little explorations... a 1.5 miles hike to the rim of the Bandera volcano and a 1/4 mile hike to the ice cave. It’s a family run business and they have a nice little gift shop and market with a few supplies. Once the park closes for the night, you have the hikes to yourself to take in sunset with lava rock surrounding. It’s a really beautiful area with a lovely family running the business. They charge $20/night for trailer parking but I’m not sure the price of the cabins. They’re also right by Malpais and El Morro national Monuments. Highly recommend for an overnight along your journey through New Mexico!

This was the only lake we saw on our trip to the cattle ranch in New Mexico ;) The park is lovely and we truly enjoyed our time here. There is a nice beach as well as boating and fishing. The campground is broken up into a couple areas. Our site was somewhat shaded, which was nice in the heat of the summer. Very cool sites overlooking the lake. I wouldn’t say the sites are secluded, but it’s still a neat place. I haven’t been to many state parks in New Mexico so it was a unique experience!

General: There are several options here: RV and tent camping, and cabins. As members of Harvest Host, we were able to stay here for free with the expectation that we would patronize the business. 

Site Quality: The tent section is behind the cabins, but RVs park in the gravel parking lot with no clearly defined spaces. The section at the top of the fence away from the trading post appeared to be level but otherwise, the lot is sloped. We opted to park closer to the trading post in our campervan, which was also closer to the pit toilet. 

Bathhouse: During the high season, there is a bathhouse and shower, but it was not open when we were there, but the pit toilet was very clean. When the trading post is open (9-5, later in the summer), there are restrooms inside. 

Activities: There is a trail to the ice cave (short but there are stairs) and a loop trail leading to the volcano (about 1.5 miles but wear sturdy shoes and you should be in reasonable shape). It was recommended that we do this hike in a counterclockwise direction and this was good advice. The fee is $12 for both and there are markers with an interpretive pamphlet explaining the history and geology of the area. There is a trading post with souvenirs and a small kitchen area where you can purchase some food and beverages. 

We were the only campers there on a VERY cold late March night so I imagine it would be very different during warmer months. We only heard an occasional car but otherwise, it was very quiet, and the night sky was beautiful. This is a family-run business, and everyone was very welcoming.

The camp sites are well laid out with picnic table. The bath room was primitive and I didn’t check out the showers. The lake and the area is enchanting!! It was my first visit to New Mexico and for sure I will be back! The lake is large and has fishing.

We were so grateful to stumble upon USA RV Park on our recent trip through New Mexico.  We were dealing with snow all the way from Colorado to Gallup, and decided about an hour out of Gallup to stop for the night.  We called USA RV Park, and while no one answered, they returned our call within the half hour.  They graciously accommodated our 2 trailers last minute with full hookups!  The campsite itself is large, clean, well marked, and very nice restrooms!  The store was well stocked with what we needed (including a tent repair kit for our pop up!).  The owner, John, was very kind, helpful, and a delight to chat with.  We filled our propane tank up on site and were on our way the next day!  Highly recommend! :)

Needed an overnight stay along Interstate 40 in New Mexico.  Check-in was quick and easy, the sites are arranged so that RV doors are not facing the neighbor's sewage pipe, which is something I always appreciate.  Most of the sites are pull-through.  The park is well laid out and covered with an attractive reddish-brown gravel.  The facilities were clean, the staff was pleasant.  The park felt safe though the neighborhood around it is economically distressed.  The park is family friendly; there is a dog-park, a nice pool, and attractive common area near the office with tables and statuary with a cute bear theme.  The only negatives are not under the control of the park: trains pass by frequently day and night, and in the evening the mosquitos are voracious.  My wife and I agree that we would return here.

Campgrounds easy to access.  I did not have a site reservation, buit there were lots of vacent pads available.   Nice view of the lake.   Only drawback was the all night  incessant  winds.  They were strong, gusty and loud.  So strong they collapsed my tent on top of me. Notmuch sleep that night.  It might have been where I was (pad 44),  They were still strong in the morning, but I noticed they were less/non existant at the campsites near the main entrance.  Just bewaye and be prepared.

Found this campsite heading west on I-40 on a memorial day weekend road trip last minute. Had 40 designated campsites with about 1/2 reservable online and 1/2 first come first serve. They also allow dispersed camping along the lake and there were probably 50+ groups of people in RVs and trailers comfortably spaced.

Wild horses roaming around the lake were also pretty cool.

We took a designated campsite overlooking the lake and added this park to the list of places to return to.

Not far from I40. Very quiet and beautiful lake view for only $8 (dry camping). Hook up optionally available.

If I offered s as my advise, check the fires before committing. Limited electric sites. I think more than 60% of sites were not level. We’re self-leveling but took site B - dry camping, level and fitted between 2 ADA sites. We loved being so remote. Verizon/Visible/ Starlink all worked great

Great staff. Patrolled by rangers frequently, so felt safe

Area is very well maintained! Restrooms and showers were immaculate.

Watch out for the wild horses and their droppings.

Plenty of spots if you’re sleeping in a hammock.

This place was fantastic. The rates are dirt cheap, but the park is worth many times more. I came in without a reservation and found a huge pull-through campsite on the hill, with a clear view of the lake (it is indeed blue). There was a deep and broad terrace for picnic table and tent, and some pines for shade. It was a little windy when I visited, but not uncomfortably so. It was dark and quiet at night, and I slept well.

The bathroom nearest my campsite was a vault toilet, but a clean one. Real bathrooms are available at the visitor center, a long walk north of my tent.

I recommend following the trail at the north end of the campground for a nice view of the dam (it was a 10 to 15 minute hike for me, narrow but level). The lake is also open for boating and fishing, with a launch ramp near the campground.

The only downside I can think of was the trash I found at my campsite, mostly bottle caps. I spent a few minutes picking it up before I left.

Good campsites. Clean showers and full hook ups as well as low key pull through sites. None of the sites are close to the water but only a short hike or drive. Catch release Tiger Muskie was the fishing my husband was after.

So we were very lucky that we decided to check out this campground, it is absolutely gorgeous! There was not a single other camper here so we got a nice level spot with power. It was a bit cold, got down to 15, there was some leftover snow in some spots but nothing that was a problem. Last night something was bugging the dogs so I looked outside to see a herd of wild horses grazing next to our camper! There are lots of good hiking trails. The water is still on here and the dump stations are open if needed.

In was a dreamy March evening, Colton, Elliot, and Ed drove in to Bluewater lake state park at 9:30 PM. It was post staff hours but we were allowed to park outside and do an easy, flat hike into the camp site. Lots of clean, empty sites, plus clean bathroom . The campsite numbers were hard to find but it’s chill. Got super cold during this time of year at night, so come ready with hats, gloves, and sleeping pads.

Fishing, camping, hiking! During Pinon season you can expect some yummy seeds!

Uncrowded when we were there State park located right on a man-made lake. unfortunately, the lake level is extremely low! Decent sites each with picnic table and fire pit some with shade canopies others with a little natural tree cover, not a lot of privacy. Pit toilets, no drinking water available except at maybe the RV sites with hookups and at the pump outstation? Weak cell signal. Seems more suited for RV's.

Various campsite types at this lakeside park. Most are non electric but I got an electric site as it was hot. A few trails and a nice family atmosphere. Unfortunately lake was choked with algae (seasonal) so I didn’t swim. Also some trash around. Good prices and sites though.

Looked like a cool place to stay, but when we arrived at 5:45pm the gate was locked!!

Not sure why they need a gate, but it closes at 5pm in the off season

Easy off the 40. Sites are a little close for me. Only vault toilets are open. Only around 15 electric sites and most aren't level. But the views and sunsets are beautiful. The water is nice. Only 5 other campers here. Paid $14.00. Well worth that.

At first we thought we were the only ones here. The bathrooms were closed and locked. Didn’t care for the ‘outhouse’ (not the name they were called).

We stayed away from lake because of our dogs. They tend to bark if people go by. The space was nice but the sites were too close for us. I preferred more space for privacy but we’re new to RVing, so perhaps this is normal. Park Ranger was very nice and helped us settle in. The view to the canyon and hills was beautiful. I’m not sure we’ll stay again because we’d like more space and water hookups. But other than that, it was a beautiful spot!

Great area to camp in although it is monsoon season so we got rained out for six hours the first night. This park has a lot of campsites primitive, no electric, electric, full hook ups, seen a lot of RVs parked right next to the lake. They have showers facilities with warm water, bathrooms located throughout the park,