Dexter, New Mexico sits at approximately 3,500 feet elevation in the Pecos River Valley, creating a desert climate with mild winters and hot summers that regularly reach 100°F in July and August. Camping options cluster primarily around Roswell (12 miles north) and Carlsbad (60 miles south), with limited shade available at most facilities. Water conservation rules apply year-round at rv parks near Dexter, New Mexico due to the region's arid conditions.
What to do
Wildlife viewing: Red Barn RV Park offers unique opportunities to observe migratory birds. "We stayed at the Rv park for 3 days and it was quite clean and comfortable. The best part was seeing all the Canada geese and Sandhills cranes land in the fields right next to the property. There were hundreds and listening to them come and go throughout the day was so peaceful," notes Richard F.
Farm exploration: 4 miles from main highway. The small hiking trail out the back of Red Barn RV Park "leads you down a dirt road with Rye and winter wheat fields. Great to go for a walk as long as you stay on the roads," according to Richard F.
Stargazing: State park offers unobstructed views. At Brantley Lake State Park, Joseph W. reports "Super Quite/ Amazing Stars" and mentions "with my NM state park pass my stay was only $4 per night with 30amp and water."
What campers like
Sheltered picnic areas: Concrete pads with shade structures. Jules S. highlights that at Brantley Lake State Park, there's a "Shaded pavilion over every campsite picnic table. Also have good cell service (AT&T), didn't even put up my starlink."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms. At Trailer Village RV Park, "The restroom and laundry facilities were very clean and working properly. Great little stay to explore Roswell for a couple of days," according to David P.
Easy access: Level sites on gravel. Kent S. describes Town & Country RV Park as "very clean, has full hookups and the staff are friendly and courteous. Spaces are gravel and pretty level with some shade trees."
Affordable overnight parking: Budget-friendly prices. Richard from Town & Country notes that it has "Very affordable rates. We stopped in for the night on our way through. It is a small park but has plenty of room to turn around."
What you should know
Weather extremes: High winds common year-round. At Brantley Lake State Park, Shawn noted it was "Way off the beaten path. It happened to be extra windy the day I was there. Nice desert/lake view."
Varied tent camping policies: Not all RV parks accept tents. John H. warns about Trailer Village: "Many RV parks on this app show that tents are allowed but when you arrive they treat you like vagabond scum because you don't have a $100,000 RV. This is one of them."
Limited shade coverage: Desert environment. At Brantley Lake State Park, Brittany N. points out "Beautiful sunsets. Can fish, swim, boat etc….No shade f.y.i."
Industrial impacts: Oil field operations nearby. While camping at Carlsbad KOA, one visitor noted "the only negative to the location is the proximity to the oil fields and the smell that rolls in from the methane burnoffs."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Organized activities for kids. Carlsbad KOA offers family-friendly amenities. Tim F. reports "the sites were spacious and the playground was great for the kids."
Swimming options: Lake access 30 minutes away. Rock E. notes about Brantley Lake: "not that easy to swim in the lake on this campground. There are designated swimming areas though a few minutes drive away."
Indoor recreation: Game rooms available. At Carlsbad KOA, Jennie R. mentions there is "a pool, laundry, all the amenities you need if you are RVing, a game room and food on site."
Wildlife spotting: Great for nature education. Red Barn RV Park has abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Richard F. describes watching "hundreds of Canada geese and Sandhills cranes land in the fields."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Pull-through accessibility. At Alamo Road Dispersed camping area, Brenda Y. advises "We stayed for 5 nights--there's a spot immediately to the left off of Alamo road. We pulled in during a freak snow, so went exploring in the truck the next day. That immediate spot was easy to pull into with plenty of space."
EV charging: Some parks accommodate electric vehicles. Kurt Z. reports Red Barn RV Park is "Clean, comfortable, EV-friendly" and mentions "Lee is a wonderful host who allowed us to charge our EV from the 50 amp outlet at our site."
Lot spacing: Check site separation. Brittany V. notes that at Town & Country RV Park, "Paved roads throughout the campground and sites are 95% level rock. Biggest downfall would be that all sites are buddy sites."
Dump station availability: Call ahead for status. Several reviewers note temporary dump station closures at rv parks near Dexter. Shawn comments "No working dump station right now" at Brantley Lake, while other parks maintain functional facilities year-round.
