Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Mesilla, NM is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Mesilla, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
"BLM managed area . Drive to the trailhead has about four areas set up for camping. Plus room for more at the cul-de-sac at the end."
"This site has 6 solitary spots away from other campers and 1 large spot for 5 or 6 campers. The large spot can get kind of crowded so get there early if you want a spot away from other campers."
"Great place to rest for the night before attempting any hikes in Organ Desert Mountains National Monument. "
"The sites are off a single dirt road with pull offs for the sites. There are about 10 or 12 sites as you follow the road. More if your neighbors are friendly."
"Coming in off of Dripping Springs Rd, you pass a large flat parking area with small sites you can pull off into, and this area is easy for any rig to access."
"Sierra Vista’s Back Side Dispersed camping offers a pristine, serene outdoor experience."
"If you keep going down the road a bit farther, turn left onto a BLM dirt road (this camping area is listed on iOverlander app). There are a handful of dispersed sites just off the road."
"You can car camp in the lot or hike out and tent camp. Beautiful view and generally quiet, albeit windy. Very easy to access from the road with my 2WD car."
"Safe. Beautiful view. No complaints."
"I spoke to the security guard and he said that the rest area is very safe. He said that he is mostly here to ensure that semi trucks do not park across car spots."
"Pretty good about 4 spots to pull off maybe more if you have a higher clearance vehicle and can make it back in farther my Camry couldn’t lol but still a nice place to stay a couple days good view of the"
"Never see anyone here, besides a ranger this time. Good spot under open sky."
"I would definitely try to get spots here before Sierra Vista or Baylor Pass trailhead as you don’t have to deal with the traffic trying to get to the parking area to hike."
"Additionally, the sites are quite close to another nearby main road that is primarily parallel to the road you camp off."
LegendFirst off this is a parking lot but you are able to camp here for free. There were trailers, RVs and even car camping in this BLM area. There are other spots along the way such as Sierra Vista Trailhead and Baylor Canyon Road as well as multiple pullouts along the Dripping Springs Road.
You're basically at the foot of the Organ Mountains and the view is awesome, even the city lights in the distance were nice.
There are no amenities here. Cell reception good with AT&T and Verizon.
Nice place to stay if you plan on hiking the Organ Mountains or heading the next 40 miles to White Sands National Monument.
GuideGreat place to rest for the night before attempting any hikes in Organ Desert Mountains National Monument. I had a little trouble with the road driving a low clearance 2WD Ford Fusion, but was able to navigate to a fire ring about 2 spots in where I made camp for the night. Tent camped although the ground is quite hard for spikes and spot can be very windy in the afternoon but views were worth it.
LegendComing in off of Dripping Springs Rd, you pass a large flat parking area with small sites you can pull off into, and this area is easy for any rig to access. But if you keep going all the way to the trail head and turn left, you can access more dispersed and remote camp sites just around the bend. You will need a high clearance 4x4 to get to these sites, or you can park in one of the sites in the beginning lot and hike in. There are several large flat spots that are great for camping. There are small rock fire rings and hiking trails throughout. Good Verizon and AT&T reception.
RangerGap Tank is located in the gap between Mt. Riley and the E. Potrillo Mountain ridge in the Desert Peaks National Monument on BLM land in the Chihuahuan Desert. Very few people out there. Very primitive. No campground. Little to no shade. I’ve camped here twice in my truck bed—once in 2017 when I climbed Mt. Riley and once in 2020. Close to Mexican border but I didn’t have any problems. Probably not conducive to RVs because difficult to pull off county road.
LegendFirst off, views of the mountains are great! The sites are off a single dirt road with pull offs for the sites. There are about 10 or 12 sites as you follow the road. More if your neighbors are friendly. You shouldn't a need 4x4 unless it rains, but some there are some larger rocks that might scrape if you don't have a high clearance. You could potentially maneuver around them.
I saw some trailers up the road, however it does get narrow at points, so a large RV might have some issues. I'd say these site are more tent, car, and campervan friendly.
There are no services, pack in pack out. Verizon service was good.
RangerConveniently located to town. Easy to get to. Would recommend high clearance vehicles, but manageable for others. Spectacular views of the organ mountains and plentiful hiking opportunities. Great spot to boondock. We had great service for work and virtual classes.
LegendI would definitely try to get spots here before Sierra Vista or Baylor Pass trailhead as you don’t have to deal with the traffic trying to get to the parking area to hike. The road is a bit rocky and the middle section has some bigger rocks protruding but if you can get camping spots in the first four sites from either side your gold, have high clearance then no troubles at all. Able to get our 39’ toy hauler into this location without any issues.
LegendThis area is about 20 minutes west of Las Cruces. It's directly off the highway and is a gravel/dirt area. There aren't really any sites, more just areas to pull a vehicle through. Large enough for any kind of camper (RV, Trailers, ect). You could also tent camp if you wanted.
This area was nice to stop for the night because I was getting tired. Lots of highway noise, and the area is a bit trashy. For a stop to rest and eat, it worked perfectly. There is a gas station nearby, but the area is dispersed, so there are no services. Verizon service was good.
If you want a free site that you can spend a few days at, there are some great dispersed campgrounds on the east side of Las Cruces. They have hiking trails nearby at the Orange Mountains.
GuideThere are many sites off this road, but it was super crowded when I went in April. Additionally, the sites are quite close to another nearby main road that is primarily parallel to the road you camp off. I didn’t hear much car noise from that road, but I could easily see the cars driving by from my tent. With these things in mind, I wouldn’t necessarily say I felt isolated when camping here in my tent, and it is definitely not “out there” in nature, but the views of the Organ Mountains are wonderful!
The road in is very bumpy/rocky. I’m kind of a risk-taker with my Toyota Corolla and was able to make it the full way from one end of the road to the other (driving VERY slowly and carefully), but had to get out of my car quite a few times to move large rocks out of the way.
In all, I recommend this spot due to the beautiful views and convenient location, but be aware that it might be pretty crowded and the road doesn’t necessarily suit normal cars (shout-out to my fellow non-camper/van/jeep peeps!).
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Mesilla, New Mexico, where nature meets tranquility. With stunning landscapes and a variety of sites, this area is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Mesilla, NM is Sierra Vista with a 4.7-star rating from 30 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 15 dispersed camping locations near Mesilla, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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