Lemitar is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Lemitar is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Lemitar. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$18 / night
The 640-acre Box Recreation Area is a highly scenic, rugged area which is very popular for technical rock climbing and bouldering. The five cliffs on either side of this box canyon provide popular rock climbing for even highly skilled technical climbers. Challenging climbing opportunities include the Waterfall Wall, Corner Block and the Fillet a Papillon Wall. There is a developed parking area with a trailhead, kiosks, and restroom. Drinking water is not available. Special Rules: Camping in designated sites only. No shooting of weapons. Remember, that climbing is a high-risk activity. For safety, climbers should not attempt climbs beyond their abilities.
This campground is located at an elevation of 6,800 feet in the Magdalena Mountains.
San Lorenzo Canyon is jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management as a primitive recreation area. This scenic east-west canyon offers ample outdoor opportunities for hiking and primitive camping. Not only a destination for hikers, the Canyon offers outstanding opportunities for photographers. Millions of years of Earth’s history unfold in San Lorenzo Canyon, a picturesque area of sandstone cliffs, arches, and hoodoos. The cottonwoods indicate there may have been a reliable water source at one time in the area. The area has remnants of old ranches and homesteads; springs and tiny creeks are hidden in the canyon bottoms and washes. High clearance and/or 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended. There are no restrooms or drinking water.
San Antonio Park is the southernmost park and is adjacent to the Hwy 380 Bridge. This park has 5 tables, 5 grills and is located in a beautifully restored Bosque that is about 60 years old (it dates from the last major flood of the Rio Grande in the 1940’s). San Antonio Elementary School adopted the park in 2007 and uses the park as an outdoor classroom and community service project. The site is also maintained by citizens of San Antonio who use the park for evening strolls along the river. The cottonwood stand was restored by removing the salt cedar, burning the slash and then treating the re-sprouts with herbicide (a common method to control the re-sprouting of salt cedar roots).
$5 - $14 / night
$18 / night
The 640-acre Box Recreation Area is a highly scenic, rugged area which is very popular for technical rock climbing and bouldering. The five cliffs on either side of this box canyon provide popular rock climbing for even highly skilled technical climbers. Challenging climbing opportunities include the Waterfall Wall, Corner Block and the Fillet a Papillon Wall. There is a developed parking area with a trailhead, kiosks, and restroom. Drinking water is not available. Special Rules: Camping in designated sites only. No shooting of weapons. Remember, that climbing is a high-risk activity. For safety, climbers should not attempt climbs beyond their abilities.
San Lorenzo Canyon is jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management as a primitive recreation area. This scenic east-west canyon offers ample outdoor opportunities for hiking and primitive camping. Not only a destination for hikers, the Canyon offers outstanding opportunities for photographers. Millions of years of Earth’s history unfold in San Lorenzo Canyon, a picturesque area of sandstone cliffs, arches, and hoodoos. The cottonwoods indicate there may have been a reliable water source at one time in the area. The area has remnants of old ranches and homesteads; springs and tiny creeks are hidden in the canyon bottoms and washes. High clearance and/or 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended. There are no restrooms or drinking water.
San Antonio Park is the southernmost park and is adjacent to the Hwy 380 Bridge. This park has 5 tables, 5 grills and is located in a beautifully restored Bosque that is about 60 years old (it dates from the last major flood of the Rio Grande in the 1940’s). San Antonio Elementary School adopted the park in 2007 and uses the park as an outdoor classroom and community service project. The site is also maintained by citizens of San Antonio who use the park for evening strolls along the river. The cottonwood stand was restored by removing the salt cedar, burning the slash and then treating the re-sprouts with herbicide (a common method to control the re-sprouting of salt cedar roots).
Guide
It was hot in the valley so we retreated to the nearest mountains. What a quiet little camp. No huge RV’s or anything. Our 6ft wide, 20ft long trailer seemed too big. Our spot accommodated us well. The trails are fabulous. There’s a Track Trail that just opened and a motorized track wheelchair making this park very accessible. Not very many electric sites but that was ok as the temps were cooler (60’s at night)
Scout
Overall a nice place to camp. Most beautiful drive into the campsite. Some of the campsites had concrete picnic tables and bear containers. They were up a walkway and some stairs though. The vault toilets were clean. We were approached by a guy letting us know there was a boar and a bear coming down the canyon. He said they were about 700 yards away.
Legend
Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a bird nerd’s paradise during the winter. Snow Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and thousands of others congregate in this wetland wonderland. Here, the Rio Grande pauses on its long winding path to the Gulf of Mexico and allows these waterfowl and other migratory birds a place of rest and safety during their bi-annual migration. It’s an amazing place, but it does not allow camping within the park.
Just a few miles to the north of the visitor’s center, in the quaint hamlet of San Antonio, lies Riverine Park. Slightly difficult to find in the dark and with a steep entrance, the few campsite spots offer visitors a great place close to the National Wildlife Refuge for the night within striking distance of the dawn patrol show (when the flocks take off for the day). Dawn and dusk are something to behold, so get your cameras ready!
The campsites themselves are loosely defined, but a few actually have developed campfire pits and picnic tables. There are no toilets here, but there are lovely facilities in the park itself. There’s not much room for a trailer longer than 20 feet, but feel free to give it a looksee before committing to the downhill entry point– which is short and steep. With big cottonwood trees scattered throughout the area, we got some solar charging with our rooftop panels, but needed to move our portable solar panel around to collect a bit more. Starlink worked well though!
In addition to birdwatching there are numerous, unlabeled trails and access roads all along the river bank and the canal for walking, or biking. The opportunities can also be found within the wildlife refuge as well. Nearby services can be found in San Antonio, Socorro, or Truth or Consequences, NM, with the latter being the biggest town within an hour’s drive.
LegendWe stayed here a few years ago and it was the same sad, uncared for park then as it is now. The grass is overgrown and the fire pits are broken, but it’s free, and right off the main road so it makes for a great place to stop for the night. Would definitely not recommend this place as a destination for a camping trip.
There are maybe 7 or 8 sites here, and a skoolie and a car camper were here when we arrived late afternoon, and a truck camper pulled in after us. The road down into the campground is steep and raggedy, but we did ok (i.e. didn’t scrape) in our 26ft class c.
Good cell service. You can hear road noise but it’s not too bad, it’s not too busy of a road. There are walking paths where you can walk to the river. Mosquitoes / other bugs not bad when we were there in early December. No trash bins and no bathrooms. Please pack out your waste! Park is pretty clean and free from trash, which is so nice to see.
Scout
First night (Friday) was great. Quiet. Saturday was quiet as well. Not much to catch at the lake. 3pm someone rolls up next to us. Definitely in the wrong spot and he would have known that if he was aware of the “back in” policy. Gave the lake caretaker a call, no answer. No big deal they were quiet. Until 10pm. Loud music. Karaoke with children screaming into the mic with the already loud sound system. Tried calling the caretaker, no answer mailbox full. Didn’t want to bother the police department so decided to wait and see if one of the kids woke up and then I’d call, figuring then I’d be super late. The music stopped suddenly my guess is around 12-2am. I guessing someone called the police or got a hold of the caretaker. Will stay again, however the campsite needs to be checked on by the county imo. If this were to happen again, I’d call non-emergency PD to deal with it.
TravelerRemote, wooded, serene. Sites are gravel, but not very level. Each site has a picnic table, grill & fire pit. Some sites have power, but none have sewer or water hookups. There is a dump station & drinking water. If you want to get away from it all, this is the place.
GuideVery nice campground, and only $18/night for water and electric. Beautiful mountain setting with lots of pine trees and cool mornings. Had hoped to do some road biking but the steep gravel proved intimidating for the less experienced in the group.
TravelerReally a pretty cool spot that can be warmer than Albuquerque, and especially warmer than Santa Fe. 100% no fire, even smoking banned they claim. May help keep numbers low. Only person I saw appeared to be road construction exploring where the road went (think they were working on Rio grande bridge maybe). Lots and lots of space in the big trees by the river, but if you look in there at night with a flash light you may notice a lot of spider eyes shining back at you. I actually parked right by river, probably not exactly correct spot probably (would be very tight fit with trailer). No spider eyes. Plenty of room for car/truck to turn around. Probably stayed 3 nights total. The turn offs from the braised berm down to camp areas can be steep looking, just choose your angle wisely. The roads seem to loop back up to berm after winding through trees, some tighter areas to maneuver around for sure. I doubt anyone would give you trouble sleeping on the unpaved road itself opposite side of trees either. Very little traffic. Weekends may have some local traffic non overnight traffic too, fishing, skeet shooting, etc. Based on debris around river, and the most traffic I saw was on Sunday (2 -3 trucks at once rather than 1/48hours.
I’d crash here again for the price.
Traveler
I enjoy camping here very quiet and peaceful. No bathroom and water
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! The Manzano Mountain Retreat is a large venue with tons to check out and nearby mountains to enjoy. Check them out and leave a review about your stay on the Dyrt!
Traveler
Stopped here since I was tired and couldn’t make it to the Box area. The sites are nice enough etc. Woke up to the sound of birdshot raining in around me. I confronted the hunters saying they ought to mind their aim because there’s a campground. They responded with “it’s duck season”.
After returning to my site it rained in yet again and it seemed intentional. I am a hunter and can say that is entirely unacceptable. I should’ve called the police on them in hindsight but instead I decided to leave immediately so I could get on with my day.
It’s idiots like that which give hunters a bad rap.
Scout
I feel this is a great place to camp, it's quite wild, when camping you can also kill time by playing duck life.
ScoutThanks for share many in4 about The Sherwood Escape. I think this place will be able to do a lot of outdoor activities. I will also bring getaway shootout here to enjoy. Thanks
Traveler
Got site number 6, which has the best view to the SE. The site has a tent shelter which was much needed for the high winds experienced at night. The pit toilet was clean. The deer were abundant. A hiking trail was close. And the views were fantastic.
Scout
Th e area has been burned in the 2022 fires. The road was closed for a long time, and if it is open now, there will be floods in the burn scar. Check with the Forest Service for more info before you go. Mimbres Ranger District of the Gila National Forest.
TravelerOnly did about 10 minutes of driving around. Several small spots a couple feet off the main road. Nothing that would support 30'+ trailers. It's open desert with low shrub. Seems to be a popular ATV road so expect lots of dust and noise. I would only camp here if I had an ATV with me.
TravelerVery tall weeds and lots of mosquitos. It is well protected from wind. It's free and a good place to crash overnight.
Traveler
We stayed in the camping area near the trailhead. Very green and lush with deer visiting our site at dusk!
ScoutNight one was decent, but the rest of the nights I had to hold the side of my tent up to keep it from collapsing despite multiple points staked to the ground. I’m happy I had strong stakes or the tent would’ve been gone. The wind comes in waves like hurricane bands. In one week we had the crazy wind every night, hail, and saw a dust twister at the base of the mountain. Lots of flies as well. At one point we had the back circle all to ourselves, but Friday large groups came out and were very loud until 1am. During the week everyone was quiet. The site layout was nice, private despite being close to the next site over. It’s pretty hot during the day and dips to the 40s at night. We liked the sound of the clicker bugs, they were pretty cool even though we never actually saw one. The trails are nice, vault toilet area is clean. The front office was closed our whole visit. I’d say it’s a cool place for a trailer or RV although the road is difficult in rain. Tents are fine, but be ready to move to the car for the wind or hail.
TravelerI’ve been here a couple times. The site itself is in a really nice area with lots of pine trees and direct trail access. The only issue is it seems a lot of people who come here don’t know camp etiquette and leave the sites completely trashed. Fire pits buried and unusable, beer cans and trash everywhere. I’d recommend going before Memorial Day while the sites are still clean
ScoutStopped here as an in between on a road trip. We arrived just after dark and there was only one other truck with someone else tent canping on the other side of the camping area. We set up our tent and a little while later the people in the truck packed up and left. The site is near busy road and train tracks so it was pretty noisy but we went to sleep thinking everything was alright.
Right around 3am a van with a search light came through revving its engine with a man (who sounded drunk) screaming security, to wake up and come out with our hands up. We stayed in the tent and after a few mins of this he drove away, although we could see him go to the other side of the park and could still hear him yelling. This freaked us out but we hoped it was just a one time thing and decided to stay until the sun rose. About an hour later a different truck, also with a search light, came through. This one just quietly circled around and promptly left but it was freaky nonetheless. We decided to pack up and leave even though it was 4am and while we were getting everything back in our vehicle another car came through and circled the lot as well. We got out as soon as we could because it felt very unsafe with the harassment and the amount of vehicles coming through for seemingly no reason.
Aside from these occurrences the campground was okay. The bathrooms were gross with overflowing trash and the noisiness were not ideal.
We stayed here because we didn't see any safe BLM camping nearby so we decided to spend a few dollars for an established area but were very disappointed by the harassment and fear we experienced. Would not recommend staying here
Guide
This area is very wooded. Could get muddy when it rains. Lots of sites. Big rig friendly
RangerLoved this campground! The drive in is beautiful and because it’s so remote, it is really quiet. The sites are pretty large and secluded. The trails around the campground are well maintained and easy enough for all levels. If we’re back in the area again, would definitely stay here.
RangerLike the other two reviews noted, the maintenance has long been let go. One little dirt road runs on top of a long berm with the Rio Grande on the right to the east. There is another road that runs parallel and is at a lower level and right on the canal. The road by the canal has a sign that says the road is not maintained. The upper road doesn't have any signs because it's not maintained at all. There seem to be some clearings below the upper dirt road closer to the Rio Grande. I drove down 180 far enough to cross the Rio Grande. It looks like it was really full. This made me think the clearings on the riverbank could flood. Very disappointing so far but at least I haven't seen any other campers. I'll be gone in the morning
Traveler
Stopped at the first parking area and it was flat, empty and quiet. We didn’t travel up the road to the spot the other reviewers stayed but we enjoyed the easy drive in.
ScoutI would not recommend anyone with an rv or travel trailer to use this site. I was hopeful from the one picture that there would be some nice green trees which is hard to find in New Mexico. I arrived there's a steep decline to go into the park. There are a few big pot holes to be weary of. Most of the area looks to be overgrown and most of the trees look dead. I didn't see any budding in early spring and no signs of greenery. It was also very difficult to turn around. I ended up with a few scratches on the travel trailer.
Traveler
Campground has great  showers and restrooms. Very little shade. Great prices. Bird watchers area.
Camping near Lemitar, New Mexico, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to unwind or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Lemitar, New Mexico, has its quirks, but with the right preparation, it can be a rewarding experience. Whether you're in an RV or tent camping, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lemitar, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lemitar, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 35 campgrounds and RV parks near Lemitar, NM and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lemitar, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lemitar, NM is Escondida Lake Park & Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 12 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lemitar, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Lemitar, NM.
What parks are near Lemitar, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Lemitar, NM that allow camping, notably Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands and Cibola National Forest and Grasslands.
