Best Campgrounds near Cubero, NM

Several established campgrounds dot the landscape surrounding Cubero, New Mexico, including Joe Skeen Campground, Sky City RV Casino & RV Park, and sites within Cibola National Forest. The area offers a range of camping styles from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spots and cabin rentals at places like Grants KOA Journey. Most campgrounds are situated along the I-40 corridor, providing convenient access for travelers exploring the volcanic landscapes of El Malpais National Monument and cultural sites like Acoma Pueblo.

Camping conditions vary significantly with the seasons, with most facilities open year-round but experiencing different weather patterns. Joe Skeen Campground provides free camping with vault toilets but no water sources, while developed RV parks like Dancing Eagle offer full hookups with electric, water, and sewer connections. Many campsites feature picnic tables, fire rings, and trash collection, though primitive sites have limited amenities. Summer temperatures can be hot, while winter brings cold nights at higher elevations. "Very quiet and easy to get to. Each spot has a flat dirt area and a large covered area with a picnic table. There are clean vault toilets and trash bins," noted one visitor about Joe Skeen Campground.

Campers frequently highlight the striking desert landscapes and volcanic features that make this region unique. The area's proximity to lava fields, volcanic formations, and Native American cultural sites creates distinctive camping experiences. Several visitors mention the peaceful atmosphere and dark night skies as major draws, particularly at campgrounds further from the interstate. RV parks associated with casinos like Sky City and Dancing Eagle provide convenient amenities for travelers, including showers, laundry facilities, and nearby dining options. A camper staying at the Ice Cave & Bandera Volcano area described it as "a remote part of New Mexico under pines with a Giant night sky above," noting the accessibility to nearby natural attractions. The region's campgrounds serve as ideal basebases for exploring El Malpais National Monument, El Morro National Monument, and Mount Taylor.

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Best Camping Sites Near Cubero, New Mexico (40)

    1. Sky City RV Casino & RV Park

    10 Reviews
    Cubero, NM
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 552-7965

    "$18 rate if you mention the billboards on the highway, but $22 otherwise so it's a good deal. Park is close to the casino, pretty level sites, clean, with full hookups (including sewer), no riffraff."

    "Level spots, electric, water and sewage hookups, huge field for you to walk your dog, Casino within walking distance or you give them a call and they come pick you up."

    2. Joe Skeen Campground - El Malpais NCA

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

    "We walked to the top of the adjacent hill for sunset which was very nice."

    "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."

    3. Grants KOA Journey

    20 Reviews
    Grants, NM
    20 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."

    4. Joe Skeen Campground

    13 Reviews
    San Rafael, NM
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 280-2918

    "It was dead quiet from the time we arrived until we left at 1:30pm the next day even though there were campers close by. The surrounding landscape was beautiful."

    "The campground: It's about a fifteen minute drive off highway 40. Once inside the campground the road is gravel and fairly easy to navigate."

    5. Dancing Eagle RV Park

    1 Review
    Laguna, NM
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 552-7730

    $18 / night

    "There’s a casino nearby if that’s your flavor. There’s also a gas station, grocery store, DQ, and all kinds of things as close as across the street!"

    6. Coal Mine Campground

    5 Reviews
    San Mateo, NM
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 287-8833

    $10 / night

    "Visited the coal mine campground after driving a 500 mile day, so it was a set-up eat and crash situation."

    "There is a nice hiking trail available from the campground. La Mosca lookout is a nice drive from the campground with beautiful views."

    7. Lavaland RV Campgrounds

    7 Reviews
    Grants, NM
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 287-8665

    $40 - $50 / night

    "It’s not scenic by any means but, it is close to Mal Pais National Monument (across the street) and the people that work here are super nice."

    "Sites are very close to each other and there are no tables. The dog run is very small. Road noise from I40. There is a small brewery on site, hence upgraded to 4 stars."

    8. Cibola National Forest Lobo Canyon Campground

    2 Reviews
    Grants, NM
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 287-8833

    "The surrounding area is gorgeous! The camp spot is nestled in the trees and has plenty of shade for the summer months. Currently in April the picnic area was closed."

    9. Bluewater Lake State Park Campground

    35 Reviews
    Prewitt, NM
    36 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."

    10. Blue Spruce RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Grants, NM
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 287-2560

    $40 / night

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Recent Reviews near Cubero, NM

259 Reviews of 40 Cubero Campgrounds


  • Robert N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Bluewater Lake State Park Campground

    Calm and quiet

    It is after Labor Day, the Canyonside Campground is deserted except for myself. I can hear the breeze moving through the pinions. Beautiful New Mexico sunset.

  • K
    Jul. 20, 2025

    High Desert RV Park

    Beautiful rv park

    We have stayed at this rv park a couple times and every single time it’s clean, easy to access, mimi is so kind. Would recommend to anyone!

  • Janie O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2025

    Joe Skeen Campground - El Malpais NCA

    Car camping newbie

    This was my first car camping site, and it was beautiful. It was very clean. The compost commode was very clean, a campfire ring was available, and there was a covered picnic table area. Overall an excellent site.

  • Edith L.
    Jul. 9, 2025

    Grants KOA Journey

    Excellent RV Park

    We were happy to end up at this RV park, when we needed a place to figure out what to do after our tow vehicle broke down. We have been here for 5 nights and have been grateful for their help. The staff and the person who runs it have been immensely friendly and helpful. Kevin, the owner, even drove my husband to get a U-Haul and waited for him at the post office to get a part we needed delivered. He wouldn't take any money for the ride. Other staff helped us research options and were always courteous and friendly. In terms of the park, it is well run and has a walking path through a lava flow in the park. It has excellent bathrooms and showers, which are set up in separate rooms. Their wireless connection and speed were the best! They have the normal KOA set up with long leveled gravel drive throughs with hookups, cabins, tent sites, and some sites have small trees. They have dog areas and a small playground. They also have a store with souvenirs, local pottery, and essentials, and a reasonably priced coin-operated laundry. They provide free breakfast with pancakes and you can order dinner to be delivered to your site. Their brisket and ribs were delicious! It is a high desert location, with the corresponding vegetation in the surrounding areas. The mesas and the volcanos in the background were beautiful at sunset, along with the distinct lava rocks. We are the forest-campground type, but appreciated the conveniences of this excellent RV park. The only downside was that the water didn't taste great. Even as it got hot during the day, it cooled nicely at dusk and in the evenings. Overall, we highly recommend it!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2025

    Sky City RV Casino & RV Park

    Excellent overnight stay!

    This was easy to find, clean, lots of spots and easy check in at the hotel. Make sure you mention the billboard for the cheapest rate of $19 per night otherwise it’s $29 per night

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 12, 2025

    NomadLand RV Stay

    Great hidden gem!

    Great hosts with a great site and plans in progress to make it even greater.

  • 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.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2025

    Coal Mine Campground

    USFS, 3.5 overall stars, quiet, clean restrooms, near Grants, NM

    No reservations accepted, but no one there so we had our pick (showed up on a Tues. in late May). Mens/womens restrooms look new, 2 of each, side by side. Sporadic 4g Verizon network (was VERY slow when it was up), sometimes no service. But, we were surprisingly able to watch end of game 4 Knicks/Pacers playoff, once it finally loaded! Short walking trail that is not marked well; took a side trip where it forked at the beginning and not sure where it went so, turned around. Right next to Hwy, but there was minimal traffic so no noise. Sheriff drove through once in evening. Some trees, some spots have some shade, elevation ~7000' or so (estimate). Some spots had nice space for multiple tents/sun shades. Most spots are level; those that weren't, were level enough, really not bad. Seemed safe enough. No water available, no hook-ups, no dump station.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2025

    Bluewater Lake State Park Campground

    Lovely Quiet Camping

    Nice host greeted us and explained where the best sites were for our very large 5th Wheel. The sites with power were already taken, but we can boondock and the pull-through sites were great. Lovely view of the lake with a gorgeous sunset. We wish we weren't just passing through and could stay more than overnight ($20). Pricing differential for NM residents ($15). Prices go up and online reservations begin May 1.


Guide to Cubero

Camping near Cubero, New Mexico, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to relax or a place to explore, there are several campgrounds that cater to different needs.

What to do:

  • Hiking: There are great trails nearby, especially around Joe Skeen Campground - El Malpais NCA. One reviewer mentioned, "The hikes are nice because the water is low you can walk all the way around the lake almost."
  • Fishing: Bluewater Lake State Park Campground is a popular spot for fishing. A camper noted, "Nice view of the lake," making it a perfect place to cast a line.
  • Exploring: Check out the Ice Cave & Bandera Volcano for a unique adventure. One visitor shared, "The trail views are incredible and it's secluded and peaceful," highlighting the beauty of the area.

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. One reviewer at Grants KOA Journey said, "Clean facilities, free showers, free breakfast!" This is a big plus for families and travelers.
  • Quiet atmosphere: Many campers enjoy the peacefulness of places like Joe Skeen Campground. A visitor mentioned, "It was dead quiet from the time we arrived until we left," making it a great spot for relaxation.
  • Friendly staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. At Route 66 RV Resort, one guest said, "Staff were lovely," which adds to the overall experience.

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Joe Skeen Campground, do not have drinking water or showers. A camper noted, "There are clean vault toilets and trash bins," but be prepared to bring your own supplies.
  • Reservations recommended: Many sites fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. One reviewer at Grants KOA Journey advised, "Make sure you get here early," to secure a spot.
  • Weather considerations: The winds can be strong at places like Bluewater Lake State Park Campground. A camper warned, "Only drawback was the all-night incessant winds," so be prepared for changing weather conditions.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for places like Route 66 RV Resort, which has amenities like a pool and dog washing facilities. One family shared, "The pool is resort style with hot tub," making it fun for kids.
  • Plan for activities: Bring games and outdoor toys to keep kids entertained. A reviewer at Grants KOA Journey mentioned, "Playground for the kiddos," which is a great way to keep them active.
  • Pack snacks and meals: Having food ready can save time and keep everyone happy. One camper noted, "Dinner available to order from resident kitchen," which is a convenient option for families.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the campground's sites. A reviewer at Joe Skeen Campground mentioned, "There are spots to accommodate up to 50'," which is helpful for larger rigs.
  • Be cautious on the roads: Some campgrounds have rough access roads. One RV traveler warned, "The road coming in was a bit rough and has quite a deep dip," so be prepared for that.
  • Utilize amenities: Take advantage of facilities like showers and laundry at places like Grants KOA Journey. A visitor said, "The toilets & showers are unisex however they’re in individual little restrooms," which adds privacy.

Camping near Cubero, New Mexico, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're looking for adventure or relaxation, there's something for every camper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Cubero, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, Cubero, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 40 campgrounds and RV parks near Cubero, NM and 4 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Cubero, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cubero, NM is Sky City RV Casino & RV Park with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cubero, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Cubero, NM.