Best Campgrounds near Hillsboro, NM
Campgrounds near Hillsboro, New Mexico range from rustic forest sites to full-service RV parks, with most locations situated within a 30-mile radius of town. Visitors can choose between established campgrounds like Kingston Campground for tent camping or Hillsboro RV Park for vehicles requiring hookups. Several locations in the Gila National Forest offer free primitive camping while state parks like Percha Dam and Caballo Lake provide developed facilities with electrical and water hookups. The surrounding landscape includes desert terrain, mountain forests, and lake shorelines, creating diverse camping environments for both tent and RV users.
Road conditions vary considerably between developed and primitive campgrounds, with forest roads often requiring high-clearance vehicles. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, with Iron Creek, Railroad Canyon, and Luna Park Campgrounds typically open from April through November. Summer temperatures can reach extreme highs, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons. Most forest service campgrounds feature vault toilets and basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, while state parks offer more comprehensive facilities including showers and dump stations. A visitor described Kingston Campground as "really just a couple of spots with a picnic table and not a destination but worthy of stopping if the mountains are cold."
The most highly-rated camping areas include Luna Park Campground, which receives praise for its rock climbing opportunities, stargazing conditions, and relative seclusion. Campers frequently mention the peaceful settings and natural features like flowing creeks at Upper Gallinas and Railroad Canyon campgrounds. Several visitors noted the small size and quiet atmosphere of forest campgrounds as particular advantages. One camper described Railroad Canyon as "a solid little campground with 3 (maybe 4?) campsites and few amenities" with "many trails to access the wilderness from, and a small creek running behind each of the three campsites." Campgrounds closest to water sources consistently receive positive reviews, with locations near streams being especially popular among tent campers seeking natural settings.
