Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Continental Divide, NM

Six Mile Canyon dispersed camping areas allow pets throughout multiple camping spots along a dirt road near Continental Divide, New Mexico. The road follows Interstate 40 but provides enough distance to minimize highway noise at most campsites. Primitive camping is available with no amenities - no drinking water, toilets, or trash service is provided. Several established fire rings can be found at various pullouts along the route. The road can become impassable after rainfall, with multiple reviewers reporting getting stuck in muddy conditions during or after storms. Four-wheel drive is recommended, especially for accessing sites beyond the first few camping areas.

Bluewater Lake State Park Campground accommodates pets at its tent sites, RV spaces with hookups, and cabin rentals. Located near Prewitt, this established campground features modern amenities including electric hookups, water connections, showers, and a sanitary dump station. USA RV Park in Gallup and Grants KOA Journey also welcome pets with full hookup sites and cabin options. Joe Skeen Campground in El Malpais National Conservation Area offers free camping with pets allowed, providing picnic tables and vault toilets in a natural setting. During winter months, travelers should note that Six Mile Canyon's access gate closes annually from December 15 to March 31, though some campers report being able to park outside the gate without issues during closure periods.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Continental Divide, New Mexico (23)

    1. Six Mile Canyon - Dispersed Camping

    31 Reviews
    Jamestown, NM
    9 miles
    Website

    "Some highway noise if you stay near the entrance but once you head back, it gets quiet. No services or amenities so pack in and pack out. There’s a gas station about 7 minutes away."

    "Quick drive to this surprisingly secluded place to spend the night on our way through."

    2. Bluewater Lake State Park Campground

    36 Reviews
    Prewitt, NM
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 876-2391

    $15 - $90 / night

    "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."

    "Beautiful New Mexico sunset."

    3. Quaking Aspen Campground

    15 Reviews
    Fort Wingate, NM
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 287-8833

    $5 / night

    "I hadn't spent much time in this part of New Mexico, and assumed that the trip was going to be hot and sun-bleached, similar to the desert exposed in nearby Gallup, NM."

    "Having four dogs who love to bark when they hear/see someone, we really appreciate campsites with lots of space. Dogs didn’t bark once!"

    4. USA RV Park

    60 Reviews
    Mentmore, NM
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 863-5021

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Needed an overnight stay along Interstate 40 in New Mexico. "

    "A dog park, showers, rest rooms and laundry available"

    5. Turkey Springs

    7 Reviews
    Fort Wingate, NM
    12 miles

    "Easy to get to with no four-wheel drive needed. Many pull-off spots and several pull throughs with lots of shady pines and wonderful breezes and wildlife."

    "I decided to stay at the nearby Quaking Aspen Campground (0.5 mile away) due to this dispersed camping area kinda being a mudpit after the rain 😂 Would be awesome during a dry time!"

    6. Red Rock Park & Campground

    17 Reviews
    Rehoboth, NM
    18 miles
    Website

    "I have stayed at this campground several time it was a New Mexico Stae Park, it has since been turned over to the city of Gallup as a city park."

    "My first visit to New Mexico and the southwest. Red Rock Park is in Gallup, NM right on the Arizona state line in between Albuquerque and Flagstaff."

    7. Six Mile Canyon Road Dispersed Site

    4 Reviews
    Jamestown, NM
    9 miles
    Website

    "We did have to drive a couple miles to get away from other campers. Was perfectly fine after a day of cross country driving. Camped in a Jeep."

    8. Grants KOA Journey

    20 Reviews
    Grants, NM
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 287-4376

    $45 / night

    "General: Conveniently located close to I40, there are 20 pull-through 50-amp sites, 16 pull-through 30-amp sites, five back-in water/electric sites (ok for tents), five tent-only sites (no hookups)"

    "Close to Hwy 40. There is a walking path next to the campground that is in a lava field and there are signs along the path with fun facts of the history of the lava field."

    9. Joe Skeen Campground - El Malpais NCA

    25 Reviews
    San Rafael, NM
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 280-2918

    "Gorgeous drive in from 40 to the campsite. Awesome pull-through site.

    Only saw one person doing tent camping. Looked like a cold stay Oct 30th-31st."

    "BLM dirt road near the entrance you can walk / hike down. Brochures of El Malpais at the entrance to the campground. Got there at 4 pm and only half the sites taken."

    10. Gallo Campground — Chaco Culture National Historical Park

    27 Reviews
    Nageezi, NM
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 786-7014

    $20 - $60 / night

    "This campground is not easy to get to, so get your head around that. The last 5 miles of the unpaved road getting to the park boundary will be a challenge, so take it slllooow."

    "They are peaceful and tucked under an amazing starry sky. The ruins are unlike any other; visitors walk through the rooms sculpted by the puebloans a whole millienium earlier."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Continental Divide, NM

325 Reviews of 23 Continental Divide Campgrounds


  • Michael M.
    Aug. 30, 2017

    Coal Mine Campground

    Great for a weary traveler

    Visited the coal mine campground after driving a 500 mile day, so it was a set-up eat and crash situation. I did make a reservation on line, but that cost more than the $5 per site fee and was not necessary even though it was memorial day weekend. The fee is great because it is primitive, no electricity, no water at all, not just hookups, but the bathrooms were nice and clean with no sinks.

    If you are prepared for a primitive camp with your own water and batteries for your electronics it is great. They have fire rings, grills, picnic tables and level places for tents.There are also nice back-in sites for boondocking RVs and the road up to the campground is fine for big rigs.

    I ran into two mountain biker's here from Ireland that were riding the Continental Divide trail from The Mexican border in New Mexico to the Canadian border in Montana. They were staying here since the Trail goes through here. Paddy & Conner were very interesting people and I was fortunate to have run into them here.

    I enjoyed my stay with a peaceful quite nights sleep and a short hike in the morning before breakfast cooked on the campfire. I would recommend this over a hotel stay if your passing through Grant's New Mexico on I40. You can probably get a site for the night anytime your passing through.

  • Glen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2024

    USA RV Park

    Clean, organized, and reasonably priced

    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.

  • Mike V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 3, 2025

    Forest Service Road Large Camp

    Good Open spot with fire ring

    This spot is fairly wide open spacious, right off the Continental Divide Trail, and has two fire rings. You can drive to this location Via forest service road 456 until it turns into FSR 239.

  • Taylor D.
    Oct. 26, 2020

    USA RV Park

    Dirt Sites with Some Amenities

    Not much here to write home about, but this park does offer a small, enclosed dog park, pool, a small grocery in their office building, and a “cookout” concession stand like you would find at a theme park or stadium. Their stage was being used to display a patriotic homage to the US military. No pets allowed in the amenities area. Room for improvement would be adding trees and cactus appropriate to this climate to beautify the park, because it’s pretty barren. Staff did not wear masks indoors during the rising Covid pandemic.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 27, 2025

    USA RV Park

    A great park

    Full hookups with military and good sam discounts. We've stayed here before and we will again. A dog park, showers, rest rooms and laundry available

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2025

    USA RV Park

    Great for overnight layover

    Friendly staff, well stocked store, clean sites. Perfect for an overnight stay along the route. Big dog park for the puppers to do their business. No frills, but we didn’t need any.

  • Jody J.
    Jul. 20, 2021

    USA RV Park

    Nice Campground for a couple nights

    We were in Site 113 in the back of the park.  Pull through gravel site.  Sites are very close.  No privacy. We had a nice chat with our friendly neighbors though. Fenced Dog Park but it was dirt. No grass. Nice, clean pool!  Laundry facility was nice.  AT&T, T-Mobile Cell Service great. Drove to the Historic El Rancho Hotel & 49er Lounge for entertainment one night.  BBQ dinner at the park on Tuesday evening was pretty decent. Would recommend this park!

  • kristin S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2020

    Ice Cave & Bandera Volcano

    Beautiful, cheap and quiet boondocking

    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!

  • Tyler G.
    Jun. 23, 2016

    Quaking Aspen Campground

    Wonderful Base to Explore the Hidden Beauty of the Zuni Mountains

    We used this campground as a starting point for a research trip sampling Precambrian rocks of the Zuni Mountains. I hadn't spent much time in this part of New Mexico, and assumed that the trip was going to be hot and sun-bleached, similar to the desert exposed in nearby Gallup, NM. I was surprised to drive into a beautiful forest just a few minutes off I40.

    The campsite includes basic forest service amenities: pit toilets, picnic tables, and metal-rimmed fire pit/grill sites. What set this apart from other non-hosted campsites for me was the condition of the grounds. The tent camping sites had well maintained, leveled tent pads, maintained gravel roads, and clean facilities. The Sites offered a reasonable degree of privacy, although some of the sites near the middle of the loop road place you in close proximity to your neighbor. The area is moderately wooded with pine and aspen, providing shade throughout the day and easy access to the dirt road that transects the Zuni Mountains, letting you out near the Bandera volcano and ice cave, which is a wonderful drive if you have a high clearance/4x4 and time to drive through.

    We saw abundant wildlife while working in the Zunis, including several brown bears, deer, and elk. While we didn't have any run ins with these guy in camp, be aware that large animals are present in the area and be sure to take necessary bear-proofing precautions.

    Camp fees were $5/night, which is quite the bargain given the well-kept grounds and wonderful scenery. If you're looking for a less-traveled escape from Albuquerque, or just want the chance to explore the under-valued Zuni mountains and western New Mexico landscape (and some pretty interesting geologic features such as orbicular granite), this campground is an excellent place to spend some time on the cheap.

    Photos included are from the Zunis south of the campsite, as I didn't think to take any photos while we were at camp.


Guide to Continental Divide

Continental Divide dispersed camping areas near Six Mile Canyon sit at elevations between 7,000-8,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal temperature variations with cool nights even during summer months. Access routes through the area often follow unpaved roads that cross pine-covered mesas and high desert terrain. Winter conditions can reduce available camping options with some gates closed from mid-December through March.

What to do

Hiking through lava fields: Joe Skeen Campground provides access to El Malpais National Conservation Area's unique volcanic landscape. "Great free campground in a marvelous place. Great sunsets, clean toilets. Water only at ranger station," notes Christoph R. The campground offers established sites with covered picnic areas close to multiple hiking trails.

Mountain biking on forest trails: Quaking Aspen Campground connects to trail networks through the Cibola National Forest. "Amazing hiking and mtb'ing trails. And, a nice lake," reports Tommy B. The campground sits at 8,000 feet elevation, providing cooler temperatures for summer riding.

Night sky observation: The remote location allows exceptional stargazing opportunities. At Six Mile Canyon Road dispersed sites, campers note the lack of light pollution. "The stars were bomb dot com," according to Nat&Rach C., who appreciated the secluded nature of this free camping area with established fire rings.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Grants KOA Journey maintains well-kept bathrooms and shower facilities. "Very friendly staff and campers, exceptionally clean," reports T.O. The campground also offers a walking path through a lava flow within the park boundaries.

Wildlife encounters: Turkey Springs camping area provides habitat for various wildlife. "Spots aren't marked so be observant," advises Roger J., who enjoyed the "large Ponderosa Pines with White Cedar and Oak scrub" that characterize the landscape and provide shelter for local animals.

Affordability: Joe Skeen Campground offers free camping with amenities beyond most no-cost sites. "Each site has a covered patio with picnic table and a fire pit," notes Jessica S. The campground provides vault toilets without requiring payment or permits.

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to Six Mile Canyon dispersed sites requires careful planning during wet weather. "I drove my Prius in during the summer and it was fine. Granted, I could see how this would be hazardous if the ground was soft and muddy," explains Gordy Y. The road becomes increasingly difficult beyond the first few pull-offs.

Seasonal closures: Turkey Springs follows forest service schedules that limit winter access. "This site is closed from December 15 to March 31," reports Dave B. Similar closures affect other dispersed camping areas throughout the region.

Limited amenities: Most dispersed camping locations provide no services. "Nothing fancy. Close to I-40 but you can get far enough away to limit road noise. Road is good enough to drag a camper back," explains Jeff K. about Six Mile Canyon, noting the trade-off between convenience and services.

Tips for camping with families

Space considerations: Red Rock Park & Campground offers designated sites near sandstone formations. "Church Rock Trial and Pyramid Rock Trail are both about 3 to 3 and a half miles round trip from the campground. You're surrounded by desert on one side and dark red stone on the other," explains Fain H., highlighting kid-friendly hiking options.

Swimming access: During summer months, Bluewater Lake State Park Campground provides lake activities for children. "Great state run campground with options from primitive to full hook ups at great prices. The primitive camping is all along the lake so you can park and walk right in with your canoe or SUP. Playground for the kiddos," notes Sara S.

Educational opportunities: Pet friendly camping opportunities near Continental Divide include sites with access to cultural landmarks. "The ruins are worth the long drive on 21 mile access road from the highway," explains Robert C. about Chaco Culture National Historical Park, where families can explore ancient architecture alongside their pets.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling: Finding level spots presents challenges at some campgrounds. "Most sites have a level, gravel tent pad, table and fire ring," notes Jennifer W. about Bluewater Lake State Park Campground, adding that "Some large level pull thrus" are available for RVs needing more space.

Utility connections: USA RV Park offers full hookup sites for those seeking pet-friendly camping near Continental Divide with amenities. "Full hookups with military and good sam discounts. We've stayed here before and we will again. A dog park, showers, rest rooms and laundry available," reports Jeanne A.

Size restrictions: Larger rigs face limitations at some sites. "The wash to get into the campground is steep on both sides. We drug a bit on the way in and a lot on the way out. We have a silverback 37bh that specs say is 39'11". Would not try it again," warns Jennifer P. about Joe Skeen Campground, despite its otherwise "amazing dark sky view of the stars."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Continental Divide, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Continental Divide, NM is Six Mile Canyon - Dispersed Camping with a 3.8-star rating from 31 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Continental Divide, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 23 dog-friendly camping locations near Continental Divide, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.