Best Campgrounds near Los Alamos, NM
Are you in need of a campground near Los Alamos, NM? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Los Alamos. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Los Alamos camping trip.
Are you in need of a campground near Los Alamos, NM? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Los Alamos. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Los Alamos camping trip.
$20 - $50 / night
"Campground is nestled in a bug group of dense pines and only a 15-20 minute drive from Los Alamos."
"Juniper CG @ Bandelier NM: May 2024
Juniper CG @ Bandelier NM: May 2024 Visited El Chamayo, Los Alamos, and the beautiful Valles Caldera National Preserve
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)"
"Drive up is a bit winding and steep, but we managed just fine in our Subaru and saw a ton of passenger cars heading up the mtn. Not sure I’d want to drive it in any inclement weather though."
"We ended up camping to the right in the field because the road got a little rough further in...although we walked in later and it wouldn't be too difficult to access the nicer sites further in."
"Wide open space to pick your spot next to a Juniper or two.
Hardly anyone here, just the coyotes howling. Appreciated access to a pit toilet."
"That road leads around most of the camping area and you can avoid the side roads with the steep entrances. "
$15 - $20 / night
"Some sites in Buffalo Grove are drive through or back-in."
"Visitors center has lots of information, and there are hiking trails. Not close to any major shopping, but there is a small store nearby and a laundry mat next to the store."
$20 / night
"This is one of the places to camp in New Mexico"
"Jemez is a short drive out of ABQ and close enough to be convenient for Santa Fe and Los Alamos residents. We drove up on a Sunday afternoon and found a clean campground to setup in."
"Given the area described has piles of trash and little else to recommend it, it seems a shame to be close to gorgeous wilderness and stare at rubbish."
"Close by, easy to find, plenty of space. Little trash left behind by some people. Overall, a great place for the night."
$20 / night
"We stayed a few nights to explore Los Alamos and the park."
"The ranger at Manhattan project site in Los Alamos referred me to this campground as the perfect lunching point to bandelier National monument."
"Probably not a must have, but I highly recommend a four-wheel-drive high clearance to get back into the camp spots here, but there are a handful of spots."
"We camped close to the entrance. We explored and found some amazing sites further back"
$71 - $91 / night
"The location is close to stores and restaurants that are about 10 minutes away...that we needed after discovering a damaged tire."
"This campground will be rated as a Basecamp — grounds that offer a comfortable home base that you’re happy to return to after a day of exploring the surrounding area."
$10 / night
"Lots of trails nearby for hiking and mountain biking."
We’ve had a great time at the campground. The sunsets are amazing! Full hook ups, clean campground, laundry, dog park, walking trail that goes around campground Sites are a little close but they have a nice concrete patio with table and chairs. Friendly staff! Would definitely come back!
This area is in the Santa Fe National Forest and is managed by the Cuba, NM ranger district. It is widely disbursed with lots of shaded and sunny areas. It is fully primitive so come prepared. The nearest water would be at the Rio de Las Vacas or San Antonio campgrounds on hwy 126. We have camped here dozens of times and it never disappoints. There are 50 or more established sites with primitive fire rings near the junction of FR 103 and FR 69. A bit of exploration will uncover so many more great sites.
I found this campground on the Dyrt before visiting Los Alamos, NM. I checked out the website a little bit too, but didn’t see that reservations could be made ahead of time. Everything I read on the Dyrt said it was first come first serve. When we got here, there was a QR code on the electrical box that took me to an online reservation site. I called the parks department and the lady I talked to said they changed it about 6 months ago and it was no longer first come first served. Luckily she was able to tell me which two sites were available for the time I wanted to stay, and I was able to get it reserved online after that. There were several sites that were empty, and stayed that way overnight into the next day, even though they were “unavailable” online. Someone else kept changing their spot to try and have more room, so I’m guessing a lot of people still assume it’s first come. If you don’t want to risk it, make a reservation ahead of time.
The park (parking lot) is very basic with electrical hookups at each site. There is a dump station and a water station to fill tanks as well. The spaces are pretty narrow, so an awning can’t be fully extended. All spaces are pull-through and have plenty of room for long rigs and vehicles. Some spaces are decently level, but others need leveling blocks.
There’s a dog run area with artificial turf and a water pump and bowl. It was clean and well kept.
There is a shuttle area with bathrooms nearby, but the bathrooms were locked and there was no shuttle service when we were here.
Overall, this was a good short-term RV park for our quick visit. It had everything we needed.
I loved it because it was next to a little river and the sites are so spaced out!
Plenty of space for the truck and several tents. Nice fire pit. Overview of the canyon. Trailers probably can’t get here. Four-wheel-drive recommended.
2 wheel drive accessible, fresh water source, fire pit ring, room for 3 vehicles near camp, very peaceful, and zero noise and no light pollution.
Really nice area but you can find better spots nearby without all the restrictions and people.
This campground is amazing, very clean, friendly staff, many amenities.
We stayed here just after Memorial Day weekend in late May, and again in mid-June. Such a great campsite! Although at 8,000 feet of elevation, prepare for cold nights and intermittent rain, hail, and high winds, even during the "summer" season. We experienced day time temps of 70s - 80s and nighttime drops to the low 40s on both trips. There was a burn notice in effect in May, which was lifted for our June trip - probably because the significant afternoon hail storms on the first two days of our trip nicely saturated everything! ;) Day time weather was usually clear until noon, and then intermittent afternoon storms would set in, usually clearing by 6 pm. Basically, typical New Mexican mountain weather!
The sites are very well maintained, and the Camp Host was incredibly friendly and made regular rounds. FYI - there is NO cell signal at any of the tent sites, although we were able to get a signal (Verizon) within 50 feet of the ranger station if you need to check your phone.
A note about the various campsites. There are four main loops past the RV/electric hookup section. Loop 1 (sites 1 - 9), loop 2 (sites 10- 14), loop 3 (sites 16 -18), and loop 4 (sites 19 -30). Each of the four main areas have their pros/cons and would be ideal depending on personal preference.
Loop 1 - this is where we stayed in both May and June. It's the easiest walk to the lake, but also has the oldest vault toilet. This toilet locked itself a couple times after people left, and we had to ask the camp host to open it back up. Ultimately, he taped the lock in the unlocked position which worked fine. Several of the toilets have been upgraded throughout the site, but this one is still on the list.
Loop 2 - there's a playground next to site 14 and this is a GREAT loop for folks with kids. If you're not a kid person, you'd probably prefer a different loop.
Loop 3 - this is a beautiful loop with a brand-new vault toilet. With only sites 16, 17, and 18 sharing this loop, it seemed a little quieter.
Loop 4 - the final loop. Furthest away from the lake, you'll get less traffic from folks going up and down the road to their site.
Honestly, all of the sites are beautiful and your favorite site will depend a lot on personal preference. The river runs along the south side of the campsite road and we saw folks fishing - and catching fish! - at those campsites that backed up to the river.
This is a beautiful campground and we will definitely be back!
Camping near Los Alamos, New Mexico, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to unwind or a base for outdoor adventures, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping near Los Alamos, New Mexico, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just be sure to plan ahead and enjoy the stunning scenery!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Los Alamos, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 140 campgrounds and RV parks near Los Alamos, NM and 42 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Los Alamos, NM is Juniper Family Campground — Bandelier National Monument with a 4.7-star rating from 30 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 42 free dispersed camping spots near Los Alamos, NM.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Los Alamos, NM that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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