214 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options around Medanales, New Mexico range from established campgrounds to dispersed sites on public land. The area includes Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, which offers tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin accommodations. Other nearby camping areas include Riana - Abiquiu Lake and Ghost Ranch with similar mixed-use facilities. Several dispersed camping zones can be found on Forest Service and BLM land, including sites along Forest Road 558 and Sante Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62, providing more primitive camping experiences.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping near Medanales. Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules, with Riana - Abiquiu Lake only open from April 15 to October 15. Winter brings snow to higher elevations, while summer temperatures can be extremely hot at lower elevations. Access to dispersed camping areas may require high-clearance vehicles, particularly during wet weather periods. Cell service varies considerably throughout the region, with better coverage near established campgrounds than in remote areas. A camper noted, "Areas farther from town may be quieter but lack proximity to swimming or boating areas."
The mineral hot springs represent a primary attraction for many campers in the region. Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa receives consistently positive reviews for its soaking pools and proximity to hiking trails. A visitor commented, "We absolutely loved our stay at Ojo Caliente. The best part is that you get early access to the pools, you'll have them nearly to yourselves 7:30-10am." Campgrounds near Abiquiu Lake provide water recreation opportunities with scenic views of the surrounding landscape. Some campers mention that while developed sites offer amenities like showers and hookups, the dispersed sites trade comfort for greater solitude and typically free camping. Public lands camping areas, while more rustic, generally offer more privacy and fewer restrictions than established campgrounds.
"The camping area is more of a campground than an RV park, in a positive way. Many of the sites are shaded with mature trees."
"The spots further from sitting have most privacy and are still only a 5 minute walk to entrance (I timed it from our site)."
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability"There are nice trails that you can hike or mountain bike. Some are near cliff edges and not for the beginners. The lake is nice for New Mexico and sees a lot of use."
"Good views of lake & surrounding area from site. Vault toilet & drinking water a short walk away. Juniper provided minimal privacy. Site has lantern poll, fire ring, trash can & table."
from $10 - $80 / night
Check Availability"There are trail heads that are a short walk from the campground including a 1.5 mile trail to the visitor center The spots have picnic table and fire rings, there is potable water and vault toilets throughout"
"Shuttle bus takes you to visitor center Where ruins are and access to trails. There is a lovely 2 mile trail from campground that you can also walk to center. Ruins are interesting."
from $20 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Recommend arriving not too late to see if you can get a good spot, we didn’t have shade so had to go find a nice shady bench away from our site for eating lunch / relaxing after our hike."
"All in all we got three meals for our family of 4 and a nights stay while we hiked around trails on the property for less than $100 all in, and the food (upscale summer camp type) was very good."
"We had no clue that this gem was close to us we went for a quick weekend camp we were right next to the creek with amazing views of the mountains."
"Seems to be a common problem, which is too bad because it is a pretty place and convenient to the large rock climbing area nearby."
from $225 / night
Check Availability"While most of the trees in this area were burnt by fires less than 10 years ago, it still provides great views of the valley below and the highest mountains in all of New Mexico! "
"We stayed in site fairly close to the entrance and off to the right on the East spur for 6 days in a 36’ motorhome and Cherokee Trailhawk."
"New Mexico, in general, has some of the least expensive camping in the contiguous 48 states. The road in is a little rough in spots, but a pretty short drive along dirt from the pavement. "
"As others have said, you can get water at the North Lake campground, but there's a pass you'll need to buy to get in. "
"Driving into the camp, you have three options: Walk-In Camping, Camping With Parking Access & Limited Access."
"To begin, the lots are far enough away from fellow campers that you're seldom disturbed by noise or movement."
from $20 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
RangerNice site, clean restrooms, literal hummingbird nests in the trees by our spot, they charge you for your electricity usage (yes, even one night) and seem to think about billing more like a hotel Than a typical RV park. Nice gravel, but is essentially a parking lot. Playground is functional.
LegendThis is a great stop if you need full hook ups in the Santa Fe area. We stayed three nights to eat and explore the area. Quiet, friendly staff, and a nice chance to do laundry. It’s a bit outside of Santa Fe proper but close enough. The night skies were great. Would stay again if in the area.
GuideI visited mid-week so it was almost empty. I did have to remove an entire trash bag of garbage from one campsite, but the rest of the area is very clean so it was clearly just one disrespectful camper.
TravelerFirst of all, Google Maps tells you that you have to park and walk in. Not true. It was so clean and quiet ! I parked where there are 2 fire rings close to each other and found a sweet spot by the river. There is lots of space at the end of the camp road for big rvs. Roads are okay. I drove a RAV4 with no problem.
GuideWhat a beautiful site! It was easy to access (I’m in a minivan) and had many, many sites available. It is primitive, self-contained, boondocking camping, so bring everything you need with you.
GuideI am a new New Mexican and have committed to spending the next couple of years learning my favorite sites to stop and to linger, using Dyrt as my primary guidance..
This is a good site for me to stop, but the proximity of traffic sounds (I camp in a converted minivan, so I took a spot relatively close to the road) means it’s not a great place for me to linger. If you have something that can tackle rough roads, try higher up. It might be quieter up there.
Now, at night, it’s very quiet m, even down here. Hardly anyone is on the road at night so once it gets dark this spot is quite peaceful.
And it is pretty and the first few spots are level enough for me (not super level but not falling-out-of-bed slanted). I travel self-contained. There are no amenities here, just ground you can park on, so it’s a boondocking stop.
It’s only 7 minutes to Cuba, which makes this an excellent stop before or after re-stocking.
Clean and pleasant. But loud during the day. I got enough cell signal (Verizon) to work on homework and writing. I could watch videos but with a lot of buffering time first.
TravelerThere are so many spots to choose from. There were so many driving paths to go down to find a spot, not sure how many or how far it goes back but plenty of room for lots of campers. Some spots had fire rings made up, and other spots did not. I saw a few spots with trash, but most looked well kept. Beautiful views of the NM landscape.
GuideThis is just about the closest you can legally camp to Santa Fe. Other than free dispersed camping a bit further out, this is also the best value when it comes to camping near Santa Fe. Full services: trash, well maintained pit toilets, regular camp host/ranger patrols, and generally well behaved neighbors with decently spaced sites.
Pet friendly (on a leash, please!) and well appointed with hiking trails to tire them out. I had never given this place a chance because of how close it is to the city, but this stay was wonderful, not crowded at all despite being close to peak season.
GuideWe parked before the gate. Reasonably level, shielded from the road by trees. Minimal traffic noise at night. There is logging going on, but we saw no trucks. It looks like there would be some nice spots a ways up the road if you’re in a small camper, but we didn’t see a good turnaround for the trailer.
Camping spots near Medanales, New Mexico range from primitive dispersed sites to established campgrounds, with elevations varying between 6,000-8,000 feet throughout the region. The area experiences dramatic temperature swings between seasons, with summer highs reaching 90°F and winter nighttime temperatures dropping below freezing. Cell reception varies widely between designated camping areas and more remote forest service roads.
Hiking trail access: The Chimney Rock hike at Ghost Ranch provides panoramic views and geological features. "From our campsite you could see the lake! Beautiful to drive around too. Pueblo land, be respectful!" notes a camper at Riana - Abiquiu Lake about the surrounding area.
Morning soaks: Wake up early for the best hot spring experience. "The best part is that you get early access to the pools, you'll have them nearly to yourselves 7:30-10am and 20% off admission," reports a camper at Ojo Caliente. Many pools have varying mineral content and temperatures.
Mountain biking: Several forest service roads offer technical rides through pinyon-juniper terrain. "There are nice trails that you can hike or mountain bike. Some are near cliff edges and not for the beginners," cautions a visitor to Riana - Abiquiu Lake.
Evening astronomy: The clear, dry air and minimal light pollution create excellent stargazing conditions at higher elevation sites. "I had full service too which was nice. From my site you could see the town below but thankfully it did not impede my view of the stars," notes a camper at Pajarito Springs.
Convenient access to hot springs: Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort offers unique camping-spa combinations. "Great place to soak your cares away. We've stayed here about 6 times. They've definitely upgraded the campground over the years. There is now a separate bath house for the campground," explains a returning visitor.
Private dispersed options: Forest roads provide seclusion for campers seeking quiet. "Wide open dispersed desert camping. FS-558 runs for several miles south of HWY-285. We stayed closer to the highway which is safer without 4WD," explains a camper at Forest Road 558.
Historical connections: Many sites offer proximity to culturally significant locations. "This is one of the nicest Army Corp of Engineer campgrounds I've stayed in. Bonus Tip/ visit Ghost Ranch to learn about the vibrant history of the area," recommends a camper at Riana - Abiquiu Lake.
Year-round options: Unlike some mountain locations that close seasonally, several areas remain accessible throughout winter. "I arrived after dark on December 28th... It was beautiful! I woke up to an inch of snow!" shares a winter visitor to Sante Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62.
Campground closures: Verify operating seasons before planning your trip. "The campground is open April 15-Oct 15," warns a camper about Riana - Abiquiu Lake, while other areas may close during winter months or have limited services.
Access limitations: Many dispersed camping areas require suitable vehicles. "Very inaccessible, was crowded when I got there. Would be good for backpack camping. But not RV's or larger trailers. You'll need good 4x4!" advises a visitor to Pajarito Springs.
Local regulations: Some campgrounds have specific rules about alcohol and fires. "There is NO alcohol allowed in the park so don't get caught with any they will pour it out. 2 Older men were having a beer in their site & they made them pour out 2 cases of beer," warns a visitor to Juniper Family Campground.
Inconsistent amenities: Facilities vary widely between established and primitive sites. "We did have a nice frosty trail run out along a frozen pond and then up the hill to the archeological sites a little to the west- really interesting. In terms of the camp, I was disappointed that the only other vehicle to roll into the campground that night parked at the site right next to mine," shares a camper at Ojo Caliente.
Age restrictions: Check policies before booking with children. "I would have given this property 5 stars but they've become unfriendly to families. Children under 13 are not allowed in the hot springs," notes a visitor to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa.
Meal planning options: Some locations offer unexpected dining conveniences. "Most guests stay in housing/lodging, so the ranch has a dining hall that serves three meals a day. $16 per person per meal but $30 for three meals on a 'meal plan' when you book, and kids eat for free!" shares a parent who stayed at Ghost Ranch.
Safety considerations: Prepare for wildlife encounters, especially in more remote areas. "You're likely to encounter wildlife in the evening if there aren't many campers, as bears are everywhere here. While HIKING at this location in the off season my wife and I encountered large mountain lion tracks," warns a visitor about Black Canyon Campground.
Site positioning challenges: Hookup placement may require extra equipment. "The spaces only had electric and water. The electric and water outlets were placed in an odd location for the site and a dump station is available for extra $20," notes an RV camper at Ghost Ranch.
Accessibility concerns: Carefully research road conditions and site sizes. "Our rig is 29 feet, 3 inches, and we were in a spot that maxed out at 32 feet. We barely fit. We saw very few sites that could have accommodated much more. I don't think any site would have been able to handle more than 35 feet," reports an RVer who stayed at Black Canyon Campground.
Resources for extended stays: Limited services mean planning ahead. "The nearest grocery/convenience store is just down the road, but the selection is pretty limited. The closest town with full services is in Espanola about 30 minutes away," mentions a camper at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa who stayed for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Medanales, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, Medanales, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 214 campgrounds and RV parks near Medanales, NM and 56 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Medanales, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Medanales, NM is Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa with a 4.4-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Medanales, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 56 free dispersed camping spots near Medanales, NM.
What parks are near Medanales, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Medanales, NM that allow camping, notably Abiquiu Lake and Santa Fe National Forest.
Keep Exploring
