Best Campgrounds near Cuba, NM

currently closed so we couldn’t stay. it looks like 50% or more of the trees have been cut down and stacked, perhaps thinning the forest.

A bit of a rough drive to the dispersed sites further in, but worth it! Nice, quiet, and saw lots of elk during our stay.

I've camped this area several times. In my van and with Grandkids & dog in a tent. We had a rock campfire ring and I bring my folding table & chairs. The kids love to hang hammocks in the cedar trees.
Bring it in and cart it out.

Make sure the dirt road is dry enough in monsoon season so you don't get stuck.

We stayed a few nights to explore Los Alamos and the park. It's convenient to have the grocery store within walking distance, and there's a YMCA in Los Alamos where you can purchase shower passes for $5. Nice staff at the visitor center as well.

Campground is nestled in a bug group of dense pines and only a 15-20 minute drive from Los Alamos. Quite a few hiking trails in the areas to explore the high desert mesas and escape the heat of Albuquerque.

It's a lovely location, and the camp is hosted by the Army Corps. They do a good job, the facilities and grounds are very well maintained. Drinking and marijuana consumption is strictly prohibited, with the hosts making regular rounds. The sites are so close together it may as well be one big group camp; I could hear everything going on in the sites around me at all hours of the night. Even when folks were in their tents and campers. Forget trying to enjoy a quiet evening stargazing. Was surrounded by large family groups who were having a great time, which I'm glad about, but it is not my cup of tea for camping.

We just happened upon this 1st come 1st serve campground & so glad we did! The camp host "Brad" was so very nice & helpful. He gave us info on all the things to do and see in the Jamez area (which is alot)  Our campsite #12 was really nice. It has a large covered pavilion (not all sites have the covered pavilions) with oversized picnic table & a short path down to a private area at the Jamez River (which is really more like a creek) from our site. We left our chairs down there & frequently enjoyed relaxing there. The area is scenic & campground was very clean. There are water pumps outside the bathrooms. The cost for us was $5 per night using our America the Beautiful Senior Pass. This is a great home base for visiting the area. Would defiantly visit again!

This campsite is beautiful and right next to the lake. Perfect for some chill camping. There are multiple clearing along this road. Each one is big enough for several cars and even a couple groups. The clearings are far enough apart that you can make some noise without bothering the other campers. You need a bit of clearance to be able to drive the road but not much as my Crosstrek did it great. Even on July 4th this site wasn’t busy. We only saw one other camper since most people choose to pay for a campground right on the lake

We have stayed on the Pedernal loop multiple times and it has always been great.   The sites are well laid out, with plenty of room between neighbors.  Access to the campground is restricted (closed 10pm-6am), so it is always quiet, with just those camping driving around.  Rangers and sheriff patrolled a few times.  Camp hosts were very friendly and helpful.   All the grounds are clean and well maintained, trash cans at every site.  The electrical pillar for our site was new and worked perfectly.  Water also worked with no issues.  Shower house is clean and well maintained.  Access to a few trails, but water access requires a bit of a drive.  Amazing views.

Vista Linda NM : Adjacent to the highway. Don’t be fooled, though. Beautiful, peaceful, clean, and the most helpful host.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

Overall Rating: 4 Security: No Usage during visit: the host tells me that usually fills up Site Privacy: good Site Spacing: very good Pad surface: blacktop Reservations: First, come first Campground Noise: Quiet, campground Outside Road Noise: along the highway. Through Traffic in campground: no Electric Hookup: no, Sewer Hookup: no Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: yes Generators: allowed Bathroom: very clean pit toilets. Showers: no Pull Throughs: yes. Cell Service (AT&T): no bars Setting: beautiful setting. Along in Canyon wall. Would love to stay here Recent Weather: 70s during the day Solar: very good Insects: none during our visit this time of Host: yes sky Rig Size: around 40 feet Sites: many nice sites. See the pictures. Site seven was our favorite site. Very nice. Flowing Creek adjacent to that site.

Juniper CG @ Bandelier NM: May 2024

Juniper CG @ Bandelier NM: May 2024 Visited El Chamayo, Los Alamos, and the beautiful Valles Caldera National Preserve

(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

Overall Rating: 3.5 Price 2024: $ 10 w interagency pass Security: No Usage during visit: Heavy Site Privacy: Some sites are good in this respect Site Spacing: Okay, better for some sites Pad surface: Bkacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes.
Potable Water Available: Yes Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Yes. Showers: No Pull Throughs: Some pull overs Cell Service (AT&T): Not good Solar: Abert’s loop will have better solar, though our site and many others in Coyote Loop was adequate during our stay.
Insects: Not this time of year. Host: Yes Sites: Sites that looked good in Abert’s Squirrel Loop(drive through): 1,4,5,6,7,8, 15,16. Coyote Loop among best: 40,41,43,46

Cochiti Army Core of Engineer CG: Good location to visit both Albuquerque (50mins) and Santa Fe (35 mins). Bandelier National Monument is 1 1/2 hrs away. El Moro and El Malpias National Monuments could be visited with a full day of driving.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

Overall Rating: 3 (should be a 4 but for poor bathroom cleanliness) Price 2024: $ 6 w interagency pass for non Electric Site Security: Check in stations active on weekends Usage during visit: 1/3 to almost full (weekends) Site Privacy: Open Site Spacing: Pretty good Pad surface: Concrete Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: Some sites Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: There are several spigots in each loop.
Generators: Allowed during specific hours Bathroom: Flush toilets. Only one cleaning and attention during our 7 day stay. Also, repair needs of bathroom fixtures is ignored .
Showers: Not kept even close to adequately clean.
Pull Throughs: Not in our loop (Cat Tail) Cell Service (AT&T): 1-2 bars in our loop Setting: Set off of Cochiti Lake which is not particularly attractive. Mountain range to the north is pleasant to look at Recent Weather: Sunny and occasionally windy. Solar: Excellent Insects: None this time of year.
Host: Yes Rig Size: Large RVs present Sites: Ringtail is overall best loop in my opinion. Sites w a View: 51, 53, 50, (57,58)

Also liked: 48, 46,45, 45,43

We visited Bandolier for the first time for 3 days in April, staying in the Juniper campground. This is such an amazing place. Firstly, the campsites are lovely, and somewhat spaced apart. While there were campers next to us, it didn't feel like they were right on top of us because we had open space behind our campsites. Secondly, the hiking right from the campgroud is great - the two hikes are definitely worth doing. We loved the tribute to the workers in the Civilian Conservation Corps right in the campground. The CCC also built the visitor center (well, parts of the old building). The hiking from the visitor center was great! We enjoyed visiting the ancient Pueblos, especially climbing the 140 feet to the Alcove house. I found myself hiking and wondering about the lives of the indigenous people who lived and thrived in this canyon. We also took a 1/2 day trip to Los Alamos that was so worth it. We enjoyed the do-it-yourself walking tour (pick up information at the volunteer-staffed visitor center). This trip was a tag-on to our TX eclipse trip and so very worth it! Note: It was already a bit hot in mid-April for some of the hiking.