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Best Campgrounds near Gila, NM

269 Reviews

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 (81)

    1. 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."

    2. 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!"

    3. 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."

    4. 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."

    5. 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"

    6. Silver City KOA

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

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

    "Just not liking the noisy geese at a pond nearby. Nothing they can do about that though!"

    7. Gila Hot Springs Campground

    11 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."

    8. 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!"

    9. 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."

    10. Bill Evans Lake

    Be the first to review!
    Gila, NM
    6 miles
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Recent Camping Photos near Gila, NM

46 Photos of 81 Gila Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Gila, NM

269 Reviews of 81 Gila Campgrounds

  • Sherry M.
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Mesa Campground

    Lots of space

    Fairly large spaces, walk to lake, fall is beautiful and cool.

  • William B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Stagecoach Flats

    Appears to be closed

    Drove to the end of Rose to a no access fenced in lot and the end of the road was closed off. Had to find a new location. Ended up at Walmart in Deming.

  • Kenny R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Cattlemen Trail - Dispersed Camping

    A little too low desert for me, but still nice!

    Easy access, plenty of hidden spots behind/among the scrub brush and low trees. This is lower desert so there won’t be any tall pines/sprices, but still a few slightly shady spots for the sides of your camper to stay cooler.

    Probab

  • Kenny R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Bear Canyon Road Camp

    Pretty area!

    Pulled my 24 foot (tip to tip) travel trailer up the mountain. Curvy, narrow roads… just be careful and go slow.

    Plenty of campgrounds along the way, as well as these dispersed areas. Plenty of well used sites, as well as some that are less obvious (slightly overgrown but still accessible). I chose the more overgrown one with big open sky for Starlink signal.

    Beautiful area and nice to escape a little bit of the heat in the summer compared to silver city or south of there. About 5-10 degrees cooler and lots of shade.

  • Kenny R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Bear Mountain

    Ehhh...

    I eventually found the campsites thanks to another reviewer mentioning it was not at the coordinates listed. It is just before you reach the summit on road 424D or something like that. Not listed on maps - just a little brown sign on the left as you are driving along. Very tight squeeze of a path. Did not feel like taking my truck through there. 

    Not the prettiest area... and a pretty rough road. You won't need 4x4 or high clearance necessarily, but just not fun to drive on at all. The benefit is that you will not see hardly anyone else because of that lol. The other side of Pinos Altos is MUCH nicer roads, landscape and environment. Try Meadow Creek area. That whole road. Happy camping!

  • M
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Granville Campground

    Nice and quiet

    Shady, quiet and a great place for birding. Well maintained pit toilets. We were the only campers there. The campground is close to the road, but there was hardly any traffic. It was perfect for our 19ft camper van.

  • Manuel P.
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Sapillo Dispersed Camping Area

    Quiet getaway

    Went here without knowing where to stay. During the day there were a lot of UTV's and ATV's, however, it got pretty quiet during the night. People were very respectful and bathrooms were clean. We left our kayaks to go venture around and they were still there when we returned. Also found plenty of firewood around.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    City of Rocks State Park Campground

    Little known Gem! One of our favorites

    We've stayed here several times since 2021. It really is a little known campground that is a hidden gem. Biked to the paek on the last stay. Small hikes and a blast for the kids to explore the rock formations. We've stayed at several sites. This last time we stayed at the RV sites with hookups. No dump station on site. There are very clean bathrooms and showers though.

  • John H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 5, 2025

    Dipping Vat Campground

    After a torturous drive in, the campground was... meh.

    We were warned.  The trip to the campground was 50ish miles of very rough dirt roads.  Took over two hours to make the drive.  We arrived at the campground mid-day and were pretty surprised.  As mentioned in another review, there are two loops.  There is a sunny loop and a shady loop.  We opted for the sunny loop for the view of Snow Lake.  We tow a 19' travel trailer and there were very few sites that would accommodate it.  I have to say that the sites were very overgrown and far from level. In the sunny loop, you can see every other camper there.

    The shady loop seemed pretty nice although again, the sites were smallish and not at all level.

    The bathrooms were clean and well cared for and there were well maintained water spigots for drinking water.

    Dripping Vat is on the Continental Divide Trail (hiking) and we had a steady stream of through hikers.

    Snow Lake is a small 90-acre lake with a nice boat ramp.  The scenery was spectacular and overall, we enjoyed our stay.  Its Just not a place we will return to.

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 81 campgrounds and RV parks near Gila, NM and 20 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 Buckhorn RV Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Gila, NM.

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