Best Tent Camping near Los Lunas, NM

Looking for an adventure where you can explore Los Lunas and then fall asleep in your tent? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.

Best Tent Sites Near Los Lunas, New Mexico (11)

    Macay S.'s photo of tent camping at Dispersed Camping off FS 542 near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Dispersed Camping off FS 542 near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Dispersed Camping off FS 542 near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Dispersed Camping off FS 542 near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Dispersed Camping off FS 542 near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Dispersed Camping off FS 542 near Tijeras, NM

    1. Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    23 Reviews
    40 Photos
    440 Saves
    Tijeras, New Mexico
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Dispersed
    Michaela M.'s photo of tent camping at Mother Bosque Gardens near Albuquerque, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Mother Bosque Gardens near Albuquerque, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Mother Bosque Gardens near Albuquerque, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Mother Bosque Gardens near Albuquerque, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Mother Bosque Gardens near Albuquerque, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Mother Bosque Gardens near Albuquerque, NM

    2. Mother Bosque Gardens

    7 Reviews
    93 Photos
    42 Saves
    Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Mother Bosque Garden , in Albuquerque , NM USA 87107

    We are on Google, and Google Maps, easy to find. We are in the North valley , in the Griegos neighborhood .

    Urban Organic Permaculture in an Urban / Suburban Setting, We are 2 miles East of the Rio Grande River. and walking, bike paths . The paths starts at our neighborhood.

    contact , Michaela and Ernesto Maestas . 505 688 9721, text is best

    6 camp sites only , 8 x 8 is the largest tent . $45- per night, 2 adults . 2 Inside rooms too.

    NO RVs , We take vans, cars , truck, bikes . You may sleep in your van , truck or car.

    We are NOT an RV park . We are Not a camp- ground. We are organic gardens .

    Urban Permaculture, with Fruit trees , flowers, cactus and herbs.

    We are a wildlife safety zone , we feed birds and provide water .

    A Clean shared bathroom , inside toilet / shower , includes towels, soap , shampoo.

    We have a shared kitchen / laundry room you can use . we ask for $3- to do laundry , cash .

    We are 7 Mins. from Route 40 and 25.

    No smoking, no drugs , no parties , dog friendly , 420 ok.

    We are 10 mins. from Old town and 15 mins. from Downtown .

    We are close to the Rio Grande Nature Center .

    There are gas stations and stores within a 2 mins. drive .

    We are one hour to Santa Fe , NM and 3 hours to Taos, NM.

    We are 2 hours to T or C, NM and 5 hours to Silver City , NM .

    We are dog friendly, must be on a leash and please clean up poo. We will give you bags .

    We have trash cans, and recycling and compost.

    Our tent sites are private , if you choose to sleep in your van or car , you are in a parking area but may use the house and gardens . There is a public pool , 2 mins, from the house . A city pool , that is awesome.

    • Pets
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    • Trash

    $45 - $50 / night

    Camper-submitted photo at New Canyon Campground near Mountainair, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at New Canyon Campground near Mountainair, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at New Canyon Campground near Mountainair, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at New Canyon Campground near Mountainair, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at New Canyon Campground near Mountainair, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at New Canyon Campground near Mountainair, NM

    3. New Canyon Campground

    5 Reviews
    7 Photos
    78 Saves
    Mountainair, New Mexico
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Tents
    • Equestrian
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    • Trash
    Camper-submitted photo at Manzanita Rec Zone Dispersed Camping - Sandia District near Ponderosa, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Manzanita Rec Zone Dispersed Camping - Sandia District near Ponderosa, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Manzanita Rec Zone Dispersed Camping - Sandia District near Ponderosa, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Manzanita Rec Zone Dispersed Camping - Sandia District near Ponderosa, NM

    4. Manzanita Rec Zone Dispersed Camping - Sandia District

    2 Reviews
    5 Photos
    39 Saves
    Ponderosa, New Mexico

    Please consult the Manzanita Mountains Trail System Map to find a dispersed site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd555098.pdf

    Look for Motorized Dispersed Camping info in the bottom left portion of the map. **When looking for the Dispersed Camping Sites, look for small, rectangular boxes with a site number in it and a pointer that directs you to the site.

    There are NO AMENITIES at these sites. Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed. It is the recreationist’s responsibility to use a map if you choose to explore the area. It is a multi-user area. Trail(s) that are associated with each dispersed site are open for the following uses: Hiking, Mountain Biking, 2 Wheel Motorized Vehicles and Horseback Riding.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo at Cedro 2 Track 13 Dispersed Site near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Cedro 2 Track 13 Dispersed Site near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Cedro 2 Track 13 Dispersed Site near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Cedro 2 Track 13 Dispersed Site near Tijeras, NM

    5. Cedro 2 Track 13 Dispersed Site

    1 Review
    3 Photos
    26 Saves
    Tijeras, New Mexico

    Individual BLM Field Offices may have additional or supplemental special camping rules or guidelines. Please call our Field Offices or visit our individual recreation websites for this information.

    BLM's overall policy is to allow dispersed camping on all the lands it administers with the following conditions and exceptions:

    Dispersed camping is generally allowed on public lands in New Mexico for no more than a period of 14 days within any period of 28 consecutive days. The 14-day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28-day period. After this time period, you must relocate to another site at least 25 miles away. The purpose of this is to prevent damage to sensitive resources caused by continual use of any particular areas.

    Camping is prohibited within 900 feet of any developed water source such as a guzzler or watering trough so that the water is accessible to wildlife and livestock. Please do not park your vehicles near these waters or take any actions that would disturb wildlife or livestock from using these waters.

    Campfires must be attended at all times. Campers must comply with all fire restrictions.

    When using a motorized vehicle for camping access please park your vehicle near existing roads or existing undeveloped campsites.

    Camping is permitted within all units of the National Wilderness Preservation System administered by the BLM in New Mexico. However, all motorized and mechanized vehicles and equipment are strictly prohibited in these areas. Campers must not dispose of refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or gray water, in any manner that would pollute the surrounding area. Please pack it out, and dispose of those materials properly.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo at Coyote Trailhead near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Coyote Trailhead near Tijeras, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at Coyote Trailhead near Tijeras, NM

    6. Coyote Trailhead

    1 Review
    2 Photos
    15 Saves
    Tijeras, New Mexico
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Equestrian
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    Camper-submitted photo at Deadman Campground near Ponderosa, NM

    7. Deadman Campground

    1 Review
    3 Saves
    Ponderosa, New Mexico
    • Tents
    Camper-submitted photo at Continental Acres RV Park near Albuquerque, NM
    Camper-submitted photo at New Canyon Campground near Mountainair, TX
    Camper-submitted photo at New Canyon Campground near Mountainair, TX
    Camper-submitted photo at New Canyon Campground near Mountainair, TX

    9. New Canyon Campground

    1 Review
    2 Photos
    23 Saves
    Mountainair, New Mexico

    West of the community of Manzano. __

    • Tents
    Camper-submitted photo at Tajique Campground near Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands, OK

    10. Tajique Campground

    Be the first to review!
    4 Saves
    Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands, New Mexico

    Small (6 unit) site at 6800* near Tajique Creek No trailers; pronounced "Tah-HEE-key"

    • Tents
    • Picnic Table
    • Toilets
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Showing results 1-10 of 11 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews near Los Lunas, New Mexico

327 Reviews of 11 Los Lunas Campgrounds


  • Kayla M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Turquoise Trail Campground
    May. 31, 2019

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Loved it!

    Enjoyed the site! They had RV, cabins and tent camp sites. My friend and I are tent campers and there was more than enough space for the vehicle and both our tents. They have showers (limited to 5 mins but better than nothing!), they have a dishwashing stations and two bathhouses. The lady at the front desk was helpful and extremely nice. There is a store really close by also! They have charcoal grills at the tent sites and one communal fire pit. We paid about $20. Would absolutely go back again! The sad part is the museum is closed due to lack of funding 😭

  • Carly R.
    Camper-submitted photo from Turquoise Trail Campground
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Convenient clean campground

    Clean facility overall. Tent sites have their own loop with trees separating. Each spot has a gravel tent pad, picnic table and grill. Cost was $20 and included a shower token (5 min).

    There were quite a few RVs and tent camping was about 50% full. Great spot while we were passing through.

  • Roxy V.
    Camper-submitted photo from Albuquerque KOA Journey
    Jun. 6, 2020

    Albuquerque KOA Journey

    Nice Campground

    We stayed here only overnight as part of our cross-country trip. Overall, nice for a quick stay but would not for an extended visit.

    Pros: Everyone there was friendly and accomodating. They have personel maintaining the gate 24/7. Restrooms & showers were clean. They offer RV sites, cabin rentals (which we were told they were all booked but saw no one there- possibly closed due to pandemic though), and tent sites. We tent camp. The site had a fire ring, picnic table, a shaded area, and is covered in pea gravel. The shaded area is not waterproof or "fully" covered. But seems it would help with the heat to provide some shaded comfort. It rained the night we were there, and I was unable to get all of our tent spikes into the ground for our rainfall (think there may have been concrete a few inches below). If you are staying for an extended time, I recommend bringing a tarp that you can tie to the shaded area to help with heat / rain. Each tent site is separated by a privacy wall (see pic). The best part was the sunrise! Absolutely stunning as you are literally at the base of the mountains. You just have to ignore the giant Geico billboard on highway in your view.

    Cons: EVERY review will tell you about the noise from highway, and it is no joke!! We were so tired we did not care. But it is BAD! If you are looking for peace and quiet - THIS IS NOT THE PLACE! You can see the highway wall in my pics. It appeared to be in what seemed as "not the best part of town". It is fully gated 24/7 which I appreciate, but makes you wonder where you are staying. However, we did not have any issues, and the few people we saw were all very polite. We arrived later in the evening and ran out to get a quick bite, but everything closes at 9p so be mindful.

    Pandemic note: We stayed here 6/1/20-6/2/20. Everyone was wearing masks, VERY mindful of social distancing, and you could not even go in to the office - they come out to you.

    I would recommend this only as a quick stop-over / last option campground.

  • Jennifer  A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Coronado Campground
    Aug. 8, 2019

    Coronado Campground

    Urban campground

    We stayed here for our annual Cub Scout camp out. We tent camped around a group site. It’s next to the Coronado Monument and the Rio Grande with an awesome view of the Sandia mountains.

  • Jayston M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Mother Bosque Gardens
    Mar. 2, 2024

    Mother Bosque Gardens

    Wonderful hybrid camping concept

    Airbnb for tent camping, overnight parking for van camping, full access to home amenities - this was exactly what we needed for a one night stop. The hosts were quick to respond, communicative, warm and accommodating; the site is peaceful and has a genuinely good energy. I love the whole setup and would definitely stay there again.

  • Dave V.
    Camper-submitted photo from Turquoise Trail Campground
    Sep. 4, 2018

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Clean and close to the mountains and Albuquerque

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Turquoise Trail Campground, Cedar Crest, NM

    Turquoise Trail Campground is a small privately owned campground located five miles north of I-40 off Route 14 (exit 175) just outside the east side of Albuquerque. Tucked along the base of the Sandia mountains, at 6940’ elevation. http://www.turquoisetrailcampground.com/

    There is plenty of visible signage to guide you down Snowline Dr into the campground.

    As you approach the office/museum on the right, the RV/Camper loop is visible on the left (which appeared full). Behind the office building are two tent loops (upper and lower). There are two very clean bathroom/showerhouses located between the office and tent loops. A laundry room and dishwashing sink is located at the back of the office building. *This is also the only water access for the tent loops.

    RV sites have full hookups. Tent sites have only a leveled, gravel tent pad, picnic table and standing grill. Only stove fires were permitted at our visit due to open fire restrictions.

    Tent sites are separated by scrub brush, which offered partial privacy between most sites, but you will hear your neighbors. The outer tent sites back up to a residential area, with a fence separating. Bring earplugs for undisturbed sleeping, as road noise from Route 14 can be heard, along with local dogs randomly in the distance.

    At $20 a night, the campground is convenient and sufficiently met our needs as we traveled west on a tight itinerary.

    Shower tokens are provided with your nightly fee. Each token gives you 7 minutes of shower time.

    There is plenty to do nearby, with bike trails and hiking trails…though nothing of particular interest in the campground itself.

    The bustling city of Albuquerque is the next exit west, so you are still very close to shopping, eateries, and nightlife.

  • Emily C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Hidden Valley RV park
    Jul. 14, 2021

    Hidden Valley RV park

    Sweet little spot

    We got there during night check in but went in to talk with the camp host in the morning. She was very sweet and kind! The bathrooms are being remodeled and are so pretty! Best showers ever! The tent sites were small but nice for a night. However it was bright with a light right outside the tent.

  • Jason J.
    Camper-submitted photo from Turquoise Trail Campground
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Great location

    Excellent for a my stop into Albuquerque to see the Sandia Mountains (the view from the top of the tram is better than the view from the top of the road up, by the way - if you are hiking, you’ll see both; If not, maybe that will affect your decision on how to go up) and Petroglyph National Monument (well worth your time). Campground tent sites were spaced fairly well and level. Facilities were sufficient. Overall, a pleasant experience and provided what I needed.

  • Alex M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Albuquerque North / Bernalillo KOA
    Jun. 16, 2022

    Albuquerque North / Bernalillo KOA

    Excellent urban camping

    This is a civilized campground located just a few minutes north of Albuquerque. Amenities include a camp store and laundry room. I arrived without a reservation and was able to find a nice tent site with plenty of shade and wooden fences on three sides for privacy. Water and electricity were also available at my site.

    This being an urban campground, there was some traffic noise from nearby roads and freeways. However, the campground quieted down at night and I slept well. The bathrooms were very well appointed, and required a code to enter.

  • Sue H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Escondida Lake Park & Campground
    Jan. 21, 2021

    Escondida Lake Park & Campground

    Better than expected!

    I didn't stay but I did drive through to check it out for future stops. First impression was very clean! There are two basic areas, the fishing area around the pond which is good sized and shaped so that there's lots of shoreline. The other area is the camping area with hookups and tent sites. In between was the playground and bathroom area. There is a group shelter, and trees. It's a bit off the main highway but easy access. The river is nearby and there are some primitive access roads.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Escondida Lake Park & Campground
    Dec. 10, 2019

    Escondida Lake Park & Campground

    A fishing pond and inexpensive sites

    This is a state park campground that offers everything from basic tent sites to full hookups near a small pond for fishing (no swimming or boating). There's a picnic table (numbered with the site so there's no question which one is which) and fire ring. Bathrooms offer flush toilets, no showers and it is not heated. Numerous portable toilets also got the park around the pond and play area. In early December only 4 of the sites are occupied and one person was fishing. It's handicapped accessible with a paved path to a small dock.

  • Jennifer  A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Canyon Campground
    Oct. 6, 2021

    Red Canyon Campground

    Nice Campground, loud nighttime visitors

    There are vault toilets, trash bins, and bear boxes. This campground is nice with sites for RV and tent camping. We camped here one night with our scout troop. I did have spotty T-Mobile service, others had phone service as well but I’m not sure of their provider. We had a great night with a campfire and a good view of the stars and moon. All was well until someone started illegally cutting down trees at 2 in the morning. After an annoying couple of hours they were gone, most of our group were wide awake and tried to go back to sleep. We stayed at the site till afternoon with no other problems, just a group of tired scouts.

  • Karen  B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Turquoise Trail Campground
    Jul. 11, 2020

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Good location

    Not too far off the highway and only about a mile and a half to a decent grocery store. Location is secluded and quiet. Staff was friendly and got us to our site quickly. We have a small RV which fit nicely into our spot but larger RVs were stacked close together as the space between sites was small. Looked like lots of sites had multiple vehicles so seamed crowded. RV sites are gravel with a little grass between. Not much shade and it was very hot in July. Could use some updates and additional spacing.
    Tent sites were not being used but liked a little shadier and had trees between. Some small cabins available. Showers and bathroom was basic but clean.

  • Mauriel O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Coronado Campground
    Oct. 19, 2018

    Coronado Campground

    Pretty Nice little spot

    Found this Campground to be pretty nice overall! Mainly RV's and Campers, in fact I didn't see a single tent or tent site during our stay. The Lots are fairly close together and all have a little covered picnic table area next to the drive through RV slots. Bathrooms and showers worked just fine, though my girlfriend said the womens shower would turn itself off every 30 seconds or so (the mens worked just fine).

    It's about 20 minutes north of albuquerque which is nice since you're far enough away to be out of the hustle and bustle but close enough to explore the city. We went for the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and we could see the balloons from the campgrounds early in the morning.

    There's also a Bad Ass Coffee down the street which is one of my favorites!

  • Randy T.
    Camper-submitted photo from San Lorenzo Canyon
    May. 23, 2022

    San Lorenzo Canyon

    Camp in the red Rock canyon

    DONT FOLLOW GOOGLE MAPS! You will end up at a closed gate with instructions on where you are supposed to go, wasting 30 mins in the process. We took a 20 ft Jayco Feather Micro travel trailer. Don't attempt unless you have 4 wheel drive and/or sand mode if you plan to pull a heavy trailer. Otherwise, most other vehicles out tent camping didn't seem to have too many problems. Camping pull off spots are numerous but beware the sand is even more treacherous. Try to pick a spot that won't require backing up maneuvers if you have a trailer. There are many campers but plenty of distance between you and the next camp site. Amazing views make it worth it. If you're trying to show off on your IG... this place is for you!

  • Katriza L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Manzano Mountains State Park Campground
    Jul. 30, 2021

    Manzano Mountains State Park Campground

    Our new favorite spot!

    We love it here! We stayed for a weekend at campsite #6. Ours and A few other sites have RV hookups (electric only). No sewer hook up but dump station on site with water. There are multiple Drinking water spigots available; one next to our campsite 6, at the group shelter, by the dump station, and another spigot at the office / visitor center (closed right now) but that had a lock on it. Some sites have a nice brick and metal shelter and a charcoal grill, but all sites seem to have a picnic table, and fire ring. This is a pretty small electrical loop campground and some sites are pretty close, separated by trees, and vary in driveway length. There’s tent sites (some have good privacy) as well as day-use only sites that look very clean and with shelter. Our site had the picnic table and charcoal grill on one side of the driveway and the fire pit on the other side which is kind of weird but that just means we can drive in or back in depending on our awning side preference. I saw in some reviews that this was a problem for people.

    Behind our site there’s a horseshoe area and group site not too far after. The group site has a small parking lot across the way for it and has a large shelter area with nice cement tables and large grills. Next to the office there’s a trail for the outer loop and nature trail. There are several trails within the park and all are pretty easy (kid-friendly) and not too long. This is a pet-friendly campground with dog stations to pick up after your pet. Make sure to bring your own firewood and kindling as gathering is not allowed in the area. There is phone signal for t-mobile and Verizon as well. Vault toilets were clean but no showers.

    There is no lake or stream/river in the state park. The nearest lake is Manzano Lake it’s about 10 minutes from the campground in the small town of Manzano. Fishing and picnicking, not a very large lake - more like a pond really but still beautiful and something to see and do. Currently the lake just opened and there’s a sign at the entrance that the fish have not been stocked. Not much for some decent stores around but a grocery store in Mountainair (25 mins away) Also nearby is the Quarai Ruins (15 mins) to check out which has some trails and also pet friendly so long as they’re on a leash.

    Also, getting here by GPS, just takes you to where the pavement ends on HWY-131 but you’ll need to go another mile on unpaved road to get the the campground. Just follow the signs for the state park. Also, make sure to check on weather because although the unpaved road is typically well-grated and maintained; when it rains hard - it tends to wash out which makes the last mile to the state park hard for some. Also, there’s not gas stations nearby to this camp.

    Overall a great and beautiful place to stay. Definitely bring some bug spray and repellent, lots of flies and mosquitoes to be had! There’s not a whole lot to do besides relax, eat, and check out some trails so bring your own entertainment as we brought a remote control all-terrain car, frisbees, lawn darts, board games, card games, etc to entertain the kids. We would definitely recommend the place and we will certainly be back!

  • Bradley H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Coronado Campground
    Jul. 12, 2021

    Coronado Campground

    Coronado Campground

    Very nice RV/Tent park. Operated by the town of Bernalillo, New Mexico. Prices range from $10.00 per night for tents and $20.00, $30.00, $35.00 per night for Rvs. Great view of the Rio Grande and Sandia Mountains. Just 15 minutes from Albuquerque. All RV sites have electric but most have electric(30 amp) and water. None have sewer hookup but there is a dump station on the property. We stay here every time we come to New Mexico. Highly recommend this campground!

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Mother Bosque Gardens
    May. 12, 2019

    Mother Bosque Gardens

    Tranquility near Old Town

    Mother Bosque Gardens is a little retreat in an urban Albuquerque neighborhood. I’ll admit, for me, it was a first for camping in a backyard (that wasn’t my own). Ernesto and Michaela, our hosts, were immediately welcoming and kind. They feel like we could have known them for a lifetime, even though we’ve only met for minutes. Upon arrival, they gave us the tour, and even offered to share a bowl of the aromatic soup simmering upon their stove.

    Campsite and Amenities

    The campsites (I believe there are two tent sites) are located on the two opposite sides of the house. They are both very private and remarkably quiet. The quiet was surprising being in a city, but it was quieter than many campgrounds we’ve stayed where other groups of campers may be playing music or chatting (loudly) by the fires. The campsite has a private entrance through a gate; parking is off the street. Our campsite space in the side yard, had a table, a couch, and a grill. As stated on the website, and in the Dyrt details, there are no campfires allowed. Michaela and Ernesto welcomed us to use their kitchen, although we preferred some mother and daughter time outdoors during our stay. The tranquil backyard is towered over by old growth trees, and the gardening is exquisite. We shared the space with hummingbirds and roses. The clean bathroom is inside the home where there is a shower available. Michaela and Ernesto even offered the use of their towels. My daughter quickly pointed out that there is Wi-Fi.

    Location

    The location is very near to the Rio Grande River and the Bosque, which is the natural forest that runs along the Rio Grande. My daughter and I left early in the morning to explore the banks of the flooded Rio Grande (May), and noted the many remarkable birds: violet green swallows swooping along the river exposing their vibrant colors, ducks, egrets, herons, a red-tailed hawk, and several Canadian Geese. We sadly missed the wily roadrunner with three babies in tow. The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park was an excellent starting point for the Bosque. 

    Mother Bosque Gardens is also located only a few miles from the heart of old Albuquerque, including Old Town, the zoo, the botanical gardens, and the excitement of Central Avenue.

    Practical Pointers

    As noted on the website, the camp space can only accommodate an 8X8 tent; it may accommodate two smaller tents. We’ve shared a photo of a standard 2-person backpacking tent set up in the space. I believe the website lists a maximum of three campers in the site. A family with children exceeding a total of 3, who can manage to sleep in tents that meet the size restriction, might consider contacting Michaela and Ernesto for permission to bring more than three. Finally, there is a small walk from the parking at the front of the house to the campsite, so plan to make sure your gear is portable enough to carry it the 75-ish feet (I’m not a good judge of distance so it may be anywhere from 40 feet to 100).

    Final Impression

    My daughter and I planned to spend a day in Albuquerque for some quality time. In honor of new experiences, we tried something new for us by staying at Mother Bosque Gardens. We were both incredibly happy that we did. We had a wonderful experience not only camping in a beautiful garden, but from the opportunity to meet Michaela and Ernesto. We were welcomed strangers, but I couldn’t help but feel like we departed from friends.

    Fine print about my ratings 

    When I use a star rating system, I truly do consider 3 out of 5 to be average and expected. Anything above three stars is superb and awe-inspiring. I save 5 out of 5 for what I feel is the most enchanted locations. After all, dishing out a 5 for every spot I like wouldn’t help other campers (as it doesn’t help me in return). I consider it rather difficult to provide a star rating for Mother Bosque Gardens because it was such a unique experience for me. As hosts, I would absolutely give Ernesto and Michaela a 5 out of 5. The campsite has some natural limitations as compared to a traditional site, so while the campsite was very comfortable, when compared with large campsites surrounded Giant Sequoias or a serene alpine lake, well…that’s just hard to beat. So, I’ve settled on a 4 out of 5.

    Booking with The Dyrt

    I had the honor and pleasure of booking this trip through The Dyrt even as they were still rolling out the bookings. I found the process to be simple and effective.

  • Junaid A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site
    Oct. 22, 2024

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    My True Review about Top of the New Mexico

    Top of New Mexico" near Albuquerque is a fantastic camping spot if you love open spaces and beautiful desert views. The sunsets here are breathtaking, and you might even spot wild horses roaming around. There's plenty of space for tents or RVs, and it's quiet and well-maintained, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. It can get a little windy, but that just adds to the experience. The road to get there winds through some houses, but once you arrive, you're surrounded by pure nature. also the food is so good, there are many food brands like subway menu who offers quality fast food services.

  • Michelle W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Albuquerque KOA Journey
    Jul. 21, 2019

    Albuquerque KOA Journey

    Land of enchantment

    New Mexico is a land of wonders and beauty in every turn. From its famous green or red chili and the smell of roasted chiles in the streets to the beautiful sandia mountains that shimmer at sunset to the many parks and recreation areas to explore. New Mexico truly is like no other state and must be on your to bucket list!

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    Camper-submitted photo from Hidden Valley RV park
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Hidden Valley RV park

    Mismanaged & Poorly Maintained Dump

    I feel bad for anyone who gets tricked into staying here - the website says it’s a beautiful resort with amenities you would find at a retreat, but in reality the place is a ghetto rv park for longtermers that is falling apart. It’s gross & trashy, with most of the “amenities” broken and dirty and the basic utilities malfunctioning. 

    Most sites are extremely narrow, short & unlevel, with barely enough room to pull in and definitely not enough for awnings, slides, steps or your car. Most of the larger sites are occupied by people who live there or are double occupancy so you can't pull-thru. There are no fire rings or picnic tables- if you want to sit outside you have to put your chairs in the road, very close to neighbors.

    There are very few 50 amp sites and many electric boxes exhibit signs of fire & melting. Breakers blow with a minimal load and some areas of the park have repeat blackouts. Sewage hookups and water spigots are on opposite sides, shared with neighbors and water pressure is very low. 

    There are frequent water leaks under the ground, making it's drinkability questionable. It also gets shut off for long periods of time without warning. There are septic tanks randomly scattered all over the property that are very smelly and some sites have sewage leaking out onto the ground. 

    Most signage is faded or completely missing so good luck finding your site or even the campground. The road in and to upper lot are very steep and narrow - there's giant broken speedbumps and throughout the park there is no gravel so it's muddy with lots of potholes and deep ruts. The campground isn't visible from the interstate but you can still hear all the traffic.

    There are tons of signs that say that the speed limit is 5 mph and say Wrong Way, but people still speed without getting into trouble. When the road is dry it kicks up lots of dust, and with the limited space inside sites it seems dangerous to be outside with children and pets because there is no where to hang out but in the road.

    The grass was all dead and uncut with lots of very tall weeds everywhere. There are very pokey seedheads and goat heads that stick in your feet and get tracked into your RV. Pets walking there are in constant pain due to these pokeys sticking in their paws. Many trees were dead or dying, so be careful where you park because overhead branches could come tumbling down on your RV. Shade is hit or miss.

    There is very little to do at this RV park. There was a small basketball court with busted and dirt covered concrete, a tetherball pole with no ball, and a couple of broken picnic tables scattered about. The playground had a small swing set that is not anchored to the ground so the smallest amount of swinging can make it tip over. A short hiking trail that runs the length of the park has low hanging branches and big rocks that make walking it difficult.

    The swimming pool is bright green and closed, the clubhouse appeared to be empty other than belongings from a very smelly & messy homeless family that seemed to be living in it. It was extremely hot, as were all other indoor areas other than the office. All the bathrooms and showers are absolutely filthy, obviously not cleaned regularly, and smell like backed up sewage. The trashcans were overflowing and garbage blowing in the wind with trash lining the woods around the whole park.

    The dog park is covered in poop with no baggie dispenser and a trashcan piled high with bags of feces. The laundry room was dirty - all of the machines were old & several out of order. The only place in the RV park that was clean and not crumbling was the inside (outside looks rough) of the office, but it's basically empty and not a place to hang out.

    There are a couple of tent sites that are level but very close together - they have power, water and a picnic table but campfires are not permitted anywhere in the park. There are no tent or RV sites that are dry camping even though they advertise that there are. 

    All of the lights throughout the park are burnt out, so it's pitch black at night. With the large amount of ditches, holes, dirt piles, scattered rocks and trash debris everywhere it's dangerous to traverse at night. There are also lots of coyotes and snakes, so keep your kids and pets indoors at night. 

    All of the people employed (I'd say working but there is obviously NO work being done) there appear to be on meth. They act paranoid and sketchy, talking fast while grinding their teeth and unable to make eye contact. There were lots of people who looked homeless & high coming and going in broken down vehicles and hanging out with the managers, so it seemed like they were selling drugs out of the RV office.

    The office hours constantly change depending on when the druggie managers feel like opening it. Some mornings it's closed when it's supposed to be open, some nights they are in there until really late. The two of them do weird stuff at all hours, outside being loud in the middle of night and sound asleep in the middle of the day when they are supposed to be working. They are incredibly irresponsible and lazy, and seem to lack any skills or knowledge about RVs or park maintenance.

    This RV park was recently purchased by an investment company out of Texas and have nobody on the grounds making sure that things are running smoothly. They have not invested any money into repairs or improvements; previous owners allowed the property to decay, refusing to spend money on fixing anything or paying for decent help.

    Many visitors complain that the cost to stay ends up being MUCH higher than is advertised. All kinds of additional fees and taxes are tacked on so expect to pay 25-50% more than you were quoted when checking in. Discounts for being in various clubs may not be honored, changing all the time. 

    Crime and theft in the RV park were rare until the methhead managers took over and have attracted bad apples to the area. Now people associated with that lifestyle have free reign, taking over community spaces, sleeping in cars, being allowed to camp for free, and hanging out at the office, eyeballing your stuff.

    They smell awful and make nasty messes everywhere they go. You can see them digging through the trash in search of metals and spreading all of their broken belongings out. So I wouldn't leave your site unoccupied or anything of worth outside nowadays.  

    I really cannot recommend that anyone stay at this RV park, but especially if you are looking for a vacation spot because you will be extremely disappointed. Photos on the website must have been taken a long time ago during better days, and amenities advertised are now so broken down that they are no longer usable.

    It's really unfortunate that this RV park has fallen into disrepair and isn't being managed by capable people, because otherwise it's a great location surrounded by forest. It's close enough to Albuquerque and Edgewood for groceries, restaurants and entertainment, but far enough away to escape the hussle and bussle. The local mountain towns don't have much to offer but are quaint, and the campground is near to Sandia mountain and outdoor recreation like hiking.

  • Berton M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Escondida Lake Park & Campground
    Oct. 11, 2022

    Escondida Lake Park & Campground

    Simple Campground Next to Train Tracks

    This is a basic campground located about a mile from I-25. The campground has the basics but that's it. It's a good place to stop while traveling thru New Mexico. There's a baseball field and a small lake adjacent to the campground. The trains do blow their whistle in this area. 

    Cell Coverage: Good

  • Rio J.
    Camper-submitted photo from La Vista RV Park
    Feb. 9, 2021

    La Vista RV Park

    Beautiful and Affordable NM Stop

    We stayed at La Vista for one night on our way through New Mexico heading to Utah. The owners are extremely friendly and were very helpful. They are a couple who own the park independently and you can tell the long term renters are happy there.

    We woke up to a gorgeous view of the nearby scenery and were just a half mile from a Loves to gas up and head out for another day of driving.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Turquoise Trail Campground
    Nov. 28, 2023

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Nice off road camping

    Easy access and decent site for tents. A little old, and I recommend spring to fall for tents. Winter Temps get down to 16 degrees F. Great for RVs though, and usually full.

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    Camper-submitted photo from Manzano Mountains State Park Campground
    Jun. 10, 2023

    Manzano Mountains State Park Campground

    High winds tough for tents

    Night 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.


Guide to Los Lunas

Tent camping near Los Lunas, New Mexico, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Local Activities for Tent Campers

  • Enjoy hiking and rock climbing at the well-reviewed New Canyon Campground, where you can explore scenic trails and witness stunning views.
  • Experience the peaceful atmosphere and beautiful gardens at Mother Bosque Gardens, ideal for relaxing after a day of outdoor activities.
  • Take advantage of the nearby wildlife and hiking opportunities at Coyote Trailhead, where you can immerse yourself in nature.

Tips for Tent Camping Near Los Lunas

Local Attractions to Explore

  • Visit the enchanting gardens and enjoy the hospitality at Mother Bosque Gardens, where you can unwind and connect with nature.
  • Discover the beauty of the Cibola National Forest while camping at New Canyon Campground, which offers a serene environment and opportunities for wildlife viewing.
  • Experience the tranquility of Continental Acres RV Park, known for its peaceful setting and access to outdoor activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Los Lunas, NM?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Los Lunas, NM is Dispersed Camping off FS 542 with a 4.3-star rating from 23 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find tent camping near Los Lunas, NM?

    TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Los Lunas, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.