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Best Campgrounds near Gila, NM

286 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Camping opportunities near Gila, New Mexico range from developed RV parks to primitive dispersed sites across the surrounding Gila National Forest. The region includes several established campgrounds like Cherry Creek Campground and Bear Mountain dispersed camping area, offering visitors both tent and RV accommodations. Silver City RV Park provides full hookup sites with cabins approximately 30 miles southeast of the Gila area, while Buckhorn RV Park offers 17 RV sites with electric hookups about 30 miles west. For those seeking a more rustic experience, dispersed camping is available throughout the national forest, particularly in the Bear Mountain area.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the camping areas, with many forest roads requiring high-clearance vehicles. Bear Mountain dispersed sites provide free camping with primitive amenities, though accessing them requires navigating narrow, rocky forest roads. Seasonal considerations affect campground availability, with many higher elevation sites experiencing cooler temperatures even during summer months. Cherry Creek Campground provides vault toilets and fire rings but no hookups or running water. Several campgrounds near Gila Hot Springs offer proximity to natural thermal features. According to one visitor, "Bear Mountain has 4-5 dispersed spots on road 4242d before reaching the summit. A narrow, rocky road with some low-hanging trees. Our sprinter made it but it was tight."

Most campers highlight the natural beauty and tranquility as primary attractions in the Gila camping area. The higher elevation sites provide relief from summer heat, with pine forests offering shade and scenic mountain views. Several visitors mentioned clean facilities at Cherry Creek Campground despite its simple amenities. Bear Mountain dispersed camping receives positive reviews for its quiet atmosphere and stargazing opportunities, though visitors note varying levels of previous campsite maintenance. Campers reported cell service is limited throughout much of the region, particularly in the more remote dispersed camping areas. The proximity to Gila Hot Springs Campground provides an additional attraction for many visitors looking to enjoy natural thermal features after a day of hiking. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campers appreciate the spacious sites at Rose Valley RV Ranch, noting it's "far enough from town for a great view of the stars but not too far to get something to eat."

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Best Camping Sites Near Gila, New Mexico (82)

    1. Bill Evans Lake

    1 Review
    Gila, NM
    6 miles

    "A man made lake for everyone to enjoy. You can boat, paddleboard, canoe, fish and swim here. The views are spectacular and the road in was easy for our 35 foot trailer."

    2. Buckhorn RV Park

    1 Review
    Buckhorn, NM
    10 miles
    +1 (575) 313-2043

    $30 - $35 / night

    "Everything is clean, spacious, and peaceful with gorgeous views all around. They truly go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and at home."

    3. Bear Mountain

    4 Reviews
    Silver City, NM
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 388-8201

    "It is a tight squeeze to get a truck back there, Tacoma, but we got tucked in just fine. Also there’s a woodsy sign leading into the forest! Cool to see an iconic owl!"

    4. Silver City RV Park

    8 Reviews
    Silver City, NM
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 538-2239

    "It’s close to downtown. There’s a grocery store within walking distance as well as a Dairy Queen and a Lottaburger. Very quiet. Hot showers. Full hookups. All for $35/night plus tax"

    "Great location walking distance to everything. There’s a grocery store around the corner. Super quiet. Woke up to the birds chirping away. Priced fairly and would stay here again."

    5. Rose Valley RV Ranch

    7 Reviews
    Silver City, NM
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 534-4277

    "Walking around will also involve walking through dirt areas to reach your destination. All in all though it’s a nice, private, roomy park that puts you right near Silver City’s local shops!"

    "The woman behind the counter was so accomodating and the spot we got for 2 nights was huge and very private. The showers were large and clean as well as the rest of the park."

    6. Silver City KOA

    9 Reviews
    Arenas Valley, NM
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 388-3351

    "It’s also a perfect base for exploring Gila Cliff Dwellings and downtown Silver City. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a peaceful, comfortable stay in southwest New Mexico!"

    "Close to town and a ton of hiking! Super clean!! Would definitely stay here again."

    7. Cherry Creek Campground

    4 Reviews
    Arenas Valley, NM
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 388-8201

    "There’s a short, informal trail at the north end of the campground past the bathroom. The trail goes about 0.25 miles out; so 0.5 mile round trip. A nice evening or morning stroll or both."

    "My only complaint would have to be that it’s pretty close to the Main Street so you will hear some cars passing by but other than that, it’s a great place to camp"

    8. Gila Hot Springs Campground

    12 Reviews
    Gila National Forest, NM
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 536-9551

    $7 / night

    "I’ve stayed here many times over the years (last time was in 2007 however) and depending on how much water is, or recently was in the Gila River, some of the hot springs could be washed out as they get"

    "Gila Hot Springs is a great place to relax and recover. Not a party spot. Well managed, and a respectable surrounding community."

    9. Continental Divide Park & Camp

    3 Reviews
    Arenas Valley, NM
    21 miles
    Website

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Nice Park just outside/south of the Gila National forest. Perfect spot if one wants to park and then drive into the Kila forest or cliff dwellings."

    "Perfect location to leave our trailer and go out exploring!"

    10. Manzanos RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Arenas Valley, NM
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 538-0918

    "Nice RV park just outside of Silver City with large spaces and junipers between the spaces. We were in #16 which was huge. Full hookups, laundry. Only one bath with a shower."

    "Great place and close to sights, yet nestled in a lovely spot."

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Recent Camping Photos near Gila, NM

48 Photos of 82 Gila Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Gila, NM

286 Reviews of 82 Gila Campgrounds

  • Jeff V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 20, 2025

    Gila Hot Springs Campground

    A hidden gem

    It's off the road by a quarter mile at most, but a steep descent.  Smaller campers should be fine, larger ones should park and walk it first.   Email ahead, the owners do reservations online and have for years.  

    Both main roads have windy, tight turns.  It takes awhile to navigate the 30 or so miles of mountain twists, so go slow, and pull over for speedier folks and you should be fine.  It's paved until the last hundred yards or so.

    There are 3 hot spring pools, each roughly two feet deep, and capable of hold a half dozen strangers, more if it's friends.   

    The remote location keeps things chill and I've been there for thirty odd years now, since the 1990s.  Bring what you want or need, the local store might or might not be open and might or might not have much you want.  

    The Gila Cliff Dwellings are worth the drive, and local canyon hikes abound.  otherwise its a sleepy place, just a few cabins scatter about.  

    There's a fair amount of exploration possible using the hot springs as a base camp, and, although the Gila was the first wilderness area, over a century ago,, it still flies below the radar.

  • F
    Nov. 19, 2025

    Bear Canyon Reservoir

    Great little lake! Nice, Clean fun camping

    Great little lake, camping is free. 14 day limit. Lots of fish. Catfish, , LMB, Trout.

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2025

    Cattlemen Trail - Dispersed Camping

    Pros and Cons

    Very private as we drove our jeep across the creek bed. Someone had assembled wood to start a fire. thanks! Flat spot for our tent. Unfortunately, there are millions and millions of stickers. We managed to keep them out of the tent. Road noise was audible.

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Lordsburg KOA

    No Frills KOA

    We had a minor problem with our camper and needed a place to stay so we could do the fixes. This KOA was close so we landed here. The road to the park has a few abandoned building but once you get here it is safe a secure. The sites are graveled and they are close together, but we came in October and it was fairly empty. Although they do seem to have a few long term campers. It is quiet at night in the park, but you can hear the train and the I10 freeway close by. The park has a great laundry room although I picked the day all the full time residents were doing laundry as well so it was crowded and took longer that I expected. They have a clubhouse, store, playground, pool and super clean bathrooms. They offer WIFI and cell coverage is decent. Staff was helpful and even came over to the office to check us in during their lunchtime. The tent site area has an outdoor sink and the have 3 small cabins and a larger one as well. Overall it was a good stay!

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Mesa Campground

    Camp on the Lake in New Mexico

    Okay so not right on the lake but you can hike down and the view is amazing from up above. The campground has sites on the outside of the road that are dry camping while the inside of the campground has electric and water hookups. The road is easy and big rig friendly. There are bathrooms, fire rings, tables, and garbage bins. The back part of the campground has sites that overlook the lake. There is a trial that takes you down to the lake. There is even a site that is ADA. The sites are level and the camp is very clean. Great spot for viewing night sky!

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Lake Roberts

    Not a place to camp but other things to enjoy

    This isn’t a campground. It is a boat launch and picnic area. There are lots of no camping signs but if you travel east or west you can find two campgrounds. This is a great spot to launch your boat into the lake. The launch has bathrooms and even a fish washing station!
    Be sure to check out the tree covered in lures next to the launch. The area to launch your boat is huge plenty of room to navigate down toward the water. There is also a dock extending out over the water if you don’t have a boat. The area was clean and had garbage bins. Can’t camp here but there was plenty of other things to do.

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Upper End Campground

    Hidden Gem

    This place is fantastic. So many great amenities for campers. It does have a host although we were here in Oct and the host was gone. We had the whole campground to ourselves except for the herd of Mule deer enjoying the grass growing around the camp sites. It has bathrooms, fire pits, barbecues and tables. Some spots have tent pads. The sites are level. There are several water spigots along the road. They have a huge garbage bin and they have a trail that connects to the lake. This place is nestled in the trees right up against the side of a mountain. It is magical! The road in is easy, but there is no cell service at this camp which is okay since there is so much to do and enjoy! ATV riding is endless as is the night sky! Definitely worth a stop and stay if you are looking for an out of the way location in the mountains.

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Sapillo Campground

    Quiet Camping

    This is a campground right next to the dispersed camp. It looked like only tents were in this part of the park. When we were here there was some guys with DNR and they were cutting back all of the dead trees from a fire. The wood they cut was all around in stacks for campers to use while camping. The sites are clean and spread out with level spots for your tent. They have fire rings and tables. Pit toilets and garbage is also on site. The night sky is incredible and you can see the Milky Way. There is no cell service here. The road in is graveled but it is nice and no car or suv would have trouble navigating. There is a hiking trail head near the back of the campground. It is peaceful and relaxing here!

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Sapillo Dispersed Camping Area

    Peaceful Park

    This park is nestled about 2 miles off the mail road. The road is graveled but easy for big rigs. There are hiking trails close by and tons of ATV trails for the off road enthusiast. It is cooler here so it was a nice respite from the heat of the desert. Trees provide shade no matter which spot you choose. Spots are level with fire pits and tables. They also have garbage bins, bathrooms and spots are fairly level. No cell service here and the Forrest service has gone through and cleaned up from a fire and there are stacks of firewood everywhere so no need to bring your own.
    It is worth staying just to see the beauty of the night sky!

Guide to Gila

Camping near Gila, New Mexico, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. With stunning landscapes and various campgrounds, it’s a great spot for families, solo travelers, and RV enthusiasts alike.

What to do:

  • Explore hot springs: The Gila Hot Springs Campground is famous for its relaxing hot springs. One visitor mentioned, "Love the hot springs, great hosts, calm, and not too many people."
  • Hiking: The area is packed with trails. A camper at the Upper Scorpion Campground noted, "This campground is really nice for being free. There are a couple of sm water spigots and a very clean bathroom."
  • Wildlife watching: The Cattlemen Trail - Dispersed Camping is a great spot for seeing local wildlife. One camper shared, "Cows were all around minding their own business."

What campers like:

  • Peaceful surroundings: Campers appreciate the tranquility of places like the Sapillo Dispersed Camping Area. A review stated, "This is one of our favorite springtime camping spots. There aren’t any numbered sites, but there are makeshift campfires and flat areas all around."
  • Clean facilities: Many campgrounds, such as the Silver City KOA, are praised for their cleanliness. A visitor remarked, "The facilities are very clean."
  • Friendly hosts: Campers often mention the welcoming atmosphere. One review for the Rose Valley RV Ranch said, "Owner is great and park is well kept with a good amount of space between sites."

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like the Forks Campground, lack running water and cell service. A camper noted, "No running water, no cell service, no WiFi and they have vault toilets."
  • Reservations recommended: Popular spots like the Gila Hot Springs Campground can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. One visitor advised, "You really need a reservation especially for the weekend."
  • Weather can be unpredictable: Nights can get chilly, so be prepared. A camper at the Silver City KOA mentioned, "Can get cold at night if you are in a tent, bring warm clothing."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: The Silver City KOA is noted for being great for families. One reviewer said, "Very friendly staff and owner. I’ve steered clear of KOA before but will check them out after this visit."
  • Plan for activities: Look for campgrounds near hiking trails and water activities. A camper at the Lower Scorpion Campground mentioned, "There is a canyon that we hiked up behind the campground."
  • Pack extra blankets: Nights can be cold, especially in the mountains. A visitor at the Black Canyon Campground - Lower noted, "Nights here are cool. You can plan for at least a 30 degree delta between daytime high and nighttime low."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check road conditions: Some campgrounds have rough access roads. A reviewer at the Cattlemen Trail - Dispersed Camping warned, "If coming from the east your GPS might try to take you via White Water Rd - DON’T!"
  • Look for big rig-friendly spots: The Silver City RV Park is noted for accommodating larger RVs. One camper said, "Nice RV park with many pull-through spaces."
  • Be prepared for limited services: Many campgrounds don’t have hookups. A visitor at the Rose Valley RV Ranch mentioned, "There is only one dumpster and it was very far from our site."

Camping near Gila, New Mexico, offers a mix of adventure and relaxation, making it a great destination for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Gila, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, Gila, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 82 campgrounds and RV parks near Gila, NM and 21 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Gila, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gila, NM is Bill Evans Lake with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 free dispersed camping spots near Gila, NM.

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