Best Tent Camping near Deming, NM
Tent camping opportunities near Deming, New Mexico include several established sites and primitive areas within driving distance. Railroad Canyon Campground offers tent-friendly sites with basic amenities, while the Gap Tank dispersed camping area provides free primitive camping in the Chihuahuan Desert within the Desert Peaks National Monument on BLM land. Kingston Campground, located in a small historic town, serves as an accessible option for tent campers when higher elevations are too cold.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities but require campers to be self-sufficient. Railroad Canyon includes vault toilets, picnic tables, and trash service across its 3-4 campsites. Gap Tank dispersed area permits fires but offers no facilities whatsoever, requiring campers to pack in all water and supplies. Kingston Campground provides vault toilets and trash collection but lacks water hookups. The surface at these sites varies from flat dirt pads to natural terrain. Seasonal considerations affect availability, with Railroad Canyon typically open from April to November, while some sites may close during winter months.
Tent camping in this region offers distinct advantages over other accommodation types. The small size of most campgrounds creates an intimate experience, with Railroad Canyon featuring only a handful of sites tucked between a road and a small creek. Gap Tank dispersed camping provides exceptional night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. Kingston Campground sits near a small creek that runs depending on seasonal conditions. A recent review noted, "The sky was dark at night and we couldn't see any electric lights. Kind of cool so close yet so far from El Paso." Another camper mentioned that Railroad Canyon has "many trails to access the wilderness from, and a small creek running behind each of the three campsites."
