Best Tent Camping near Dexter, NM
Dispersed tent camping in the desert landscape near Dexter, New Mexico centers around three primary areas. Alamo Road Camp offers primitive tent camping across from Bottomless Lake State Park, providing spacious sites with minimal development. Mescalero Sands North Dunes OHV Area and Haystack Mountain OHV Area both accommodate tent campers seeking desert terrain with varying amenities.
Tent sites at Alamo Road Camp feature flat, unimproved desert terrain with no designated camping pads. Access requires navigating a bumpy dirt road that becomes problematic during rain events. The area lacks drinking water, toilets, or trash service, requiring complete self-sufficiency. Campers should plan accordingly by bringing all necessary water and supplies. Cell phone coverage for T-Mobile and Verizon networks remains strong despite the remote setting. Sites are widely spaced, offering substantial privacy. A ranger occasionally patrols the area to check on campsites.
The surrounding terrain provides expansive desert views, particularly at sunset. Mescalero Sands North Dunes area includes basic amenities such as toilets, trash service, and picnic tables not found at the other locations. A visitor noted, "This is such a nice sleep-over in my van with stunning sunsets." Weekday visits generally offer greater solitude compared to weekends when OHV traffic increases significantly. The proximity to Bottomless Lakes State Park provides additional recreation options for tent campers. Haystack Mountain OHV Area permits tent camping on desert terrain but prohibits fires, unlike the other locations. Weather conditions include significant wind exposure in all camping areas, with fine dust accumulation on gear. A camper reported, "The dust here is very fine, and builds fast on surfaces."
