Best Dispersed Camping near Mountainair, NM

Planning a dispersed camping trip near Mountainair? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your New Mexico excursion.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Mountainair, NM (10)


Recent Dispersed Reviews in Mountainair

29 Reviews of 10 Mountainair Campgrounds


  • Naoshad Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Oct. 29, 2024

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Easily accessible with peace and quiet. Decent views as well!

    Road is easily traversed but would be more comfortable in a truck/suv. Some rough rutted areas after rains when I went. There are plenty of spots to pull of to along the side of the road. Designated areas with fire pits are bit difficult/narrow to get to if you are towing anything.

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Jun. 21, 2024

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Roads are a little rough

    Nice place to stop. I was the only one there. There’s a couple spots when you first get in, and then there’s more further up but the roads get worse. There were coyotes around.

  • tres H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    May. 11, 2024

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Busy

    Arrived around 9pm on a Friday night it was busy and pretty tough to find an open spot. It’s a nice area and stayed quiet all night. Road is rough would not go with a low clearance car

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Apr. 21, 2024

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Just enough trees for privacy, slightly steep ramp

    Can make it up to camp with 2 wheel drive low clearance. Maybe some minor scraping as you leave/arrive over a bit of a rough ramp lip. Turn left at top of main entrance ramp to avoid worst road section which goes up to peak. Enough site separation I didn’t really hear others except when they were walking by on the road. Road makes a nice hike to the peak. There are large camp sites short walks from the road too, probably awesome for families with big tents, wouldn’t even see the road where passers by walk from some of those sites.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Manzanita Rec Zone Dispersed Camping - Sandia District
    Apr. 21, 2024

    Manzanita Rec Zone Dispersed Camping - Sandia District

    Roughish road, nice quiet spots

    I like it. A bit less traveled than other nearby campground. Road almost more accessible to this camp ground for low clearance. Might scrape a bit going up final ramp to Cedro peak one, but not terribly either. Some local traffic passes through regularly, including an Amazon delivery van a day. To be honest I didn’t make it all the way in to the pin shown on the dyrt, had no issues anyway. Not even a ranger visit.

  • T&A Adventures *.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cibola NP
    Apr. 2, 2024

    Cibola NP

    Quick Overnight

    We came here planning on staying at Coyote Trailhead that was listed. Turns out you can't overnight park at the actual trailheads. And to get to the dispersed camping you have to have a jeep or similar rock climbing type vehicle & not towing anything. Crazy steep rock face in the middle of the road near the trailhead. So we turned around, saw this spot and no one was there. We spent the night, boondocking. No one bothered us.

  • Teresa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Nov. 4, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    You can always find a spot back here

    Pulled in early of Friday and after dinner, went to bed. By the time I woke in the morning, the place was full of people. Didn't hear any come and everyone left reasonable space from others. Road in is rough and the tiny camper I have has very little clearance so glad I got here in the light to navigate. Pretty views. No services but great place to stop is passing through.

  • Austin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Oct. 28, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Quiet stay!

    While there were other campers nearby, it was quiet and a peaceful stay. It was a full moon and the campsite had that perfect desert backdrop that you’d expect. There was a nearby cell tower so the cell service was really good too. It is definitely a place we plan to come back to camp.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Oct. 19, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Quiet and easy to find

    A good place to stay either one night or more. No facilities. Dry camping only. The sights are not well defined but there's enough clearings between the trees to make do. Cell service is wonderful because it's basically right below a giant cell tower on the mountain top. The road is mostly good till you get to the actual camping area. About 2-3 mph should get most rigs and cars over the ruts and rocks. I don't recommend coming in past sunset. You really want to see the oopsies on the road! Overall a nice free place to set up camp.

  • Elise A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Oct. 15, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Worth the Bumps

    A beautiful tucked away spot in the Sandi mountains. The road into the area is unkept and filled with potholes, ruts, and divots. Yes most vehicles there are SUVs and Cross overs but I did see a few sedan who made it in. Take your time and you’ll be fine.

    we went in mid October and many of the sites were taken but we still found a site. Many of the sites have fire rings ours did not but we were still able to make an open fire pit.

    Very cold at night, so bring layers and appreciate bedding.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Sep. 15, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    4WD required to get to private area - peaceful under the Milky Way

    I got here after dark on my drive from the west coast to NC. There were a couple of other campers at the front of the entrance. I did a little off-roading and drove deeper in for privacy. It was quiet at night and the stars were epic and it was beautiful in the daylight the next morning!

  • Austin and Christel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Aug. 22, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Easy access and spread out

    This space was very cool. Regrettably it was a stop over point just to sleep. Got some rain right when we arrived so exploring was limited. They’re currently cutting new sites! Several are completely open. The East side of the road is in progress. Look for the turn in to FS542 on the right. There are signs pretty well marked. If you pass the bend in the road, you’ve gone too far. Nice fire rings and ground mulch base. 4 of 5 bars AT&T 5G. There are some pretty bad ruts, but slowly getting there, passenger cars should be okay

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Coyote Trailhead
    Jun. 16, 2023

    Coyote Trailhead

    Bit trashy

    Totally serviceable for a quick camping spot. You will need high clearance to get up 462. There’s a ranger station on the way in for info that closes at 4:30.

    You’ll pass the Coyote trailhead where the toilets are. The road veers right and starts getting hairy.

    You’ll have to park along some boulders blocking the path up to the site. There’s a nice fire ring in a circle of trees that do a solid job of blocking the wind.

    Fair amount of trash at nearby areas. Definitely where teenagers go to drink. We heard coyotes howling here and there too.

    Leave no trace!

  • Greg R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Manzano Mountains Camp
    May. 27, 2023

    Manzano Mountains Camp

    Great spot to get away from the City

    This area is very wooded. Could get muddy when it rains. Lots of sites. Big rig friendly

  • Marshall T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    May. 10, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Real great stop between Grand Canyon and Tulsa!

    We have two kids and love to “Car camp” in our large SUV that has a car mattress and everything you need. We prefer dispersed campgrounds. Only downside: no toilets.

  • James H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Apr. 27, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Tons of campsites

    Some of the roads are sussy with 6 inch clearance but was able to park and there are tons of campsites in the woods within eye sight of the car

  • Sierra N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Apr. 22, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Terrifying encounter

    This is a nice little area that has some challenging obstacle for off roading. There is a good amount of trash left behind by people so bring your trash bag. Most importantly we had a terrifying experience while camping here in October. We were tucked away in our spot asleep. Still visible from the road when about midnight a truck with a light bar came up to our camping spot. 5 guys got out of the truck and started heading toward us yelling, “is anybody alive, is anybody dead?” Scared the crap out of us, my partner got out and shouted back, no threatening but then the guys asked if we wanted to drink/get high with them. They left after that but we could not sleep. Who drives up to someone campsite like that in the middle of the night? Just know people come out her to “party” so make sure you are safe. Haven’t stayed the night again which is really sad because it is a nice area so close to our home. There was also an old cougar track near our campsite. So make note of that as well.

  • Macay S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Aug. 3, 2022

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Sedans can access the first spot (comfortably)

    Beautiful, secluded spots along this campsite. We were in a civic, and I only felt comfortable accessing one spot (the first)—but like others said, a higher clearance vehicle and you should be perfect; assuming it doesn’t rain!

  • Paul L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Jul. 29, 2022

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Muddy but nice!

    Road was a little bumpy, but we were fine in a Crosstrek. No one else at the dispersed sites on a Thursday night. It rained all night so it was a little muddy, but not a problem. Overall quiet and peaceful spot!

  • Lily H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Dec. 6, 2021

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Great location, primitaive camping

    This dispersed camping is a great spot to stop. There are multiple site identified with lot signs and fire rings. Some of the spots are Easier to access than others. Be prepared for a road that in rough shape. I would not recommend accessing this if your in a small sedan or a large vehicle pulling something as if will be difficult to maneuver. You will likely need 4x4 and some ground clearance. My Rav 4 did just fine at the first few spot but I wouldn’t take it much further. It’s primitive camping no water no outhouse. It’s past the group camping site turn on the left. Great hiking in the area and it felt like a safe location. You can hear cars and dirt biking in the background but activities ended around 7 and made for a peaceful night. I liked it a lot and would come back again!

  • Abraham The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Nov. 22, 2021

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Good Site near Albuquerque

    Unimproved dirt ring road with designated campsites. Good 2WD should be fine. Take the first left after the group campsite, and another left when you reach full dirt road. Ample sites, some not the most ideal for RV/Van.

  • A
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off FS 542
    Oct. 16, 2021

    Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    Windy and chilly, need high clearance 4x4

    We stayed here with our pull behind trailer and I do not recommend doing what we did. It’s very hard to get up to the actual spots. We actually almost got a ticket parking at one of the next to the road spots on the way in. The ranger said if it doesn’t have a metal ring, it’s not a legit spot and you can get ticketed. So keep going down the road, there will be one large spot to the left and a right turn to the others. The road through where the others are is VERY tight. You definitely need something high-clearance with 4x4 as there are large ruts on either side, potholes, and large rocks.

    Plan to arrive well before dark, as it’s very hard to find the rings in the dark. There are small brown numbered signs but the spots kind of blend together in the dark, so I definitely advise arriving during the day.

    There are bears, wolves, coyotes, rabbits, and some rodents in the area. It was down to freezing at night when we stayed so we didn’t encounter anything major. It can get very windy as well so watch out closely with your fire if you have one.

    Elevation is about 7500 feet so if you’re from sea level like us, give yourself some time to acclimate before you go venturing on one of the many trails or canyon hikes nearby.



Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Mountainair, NM?

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

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Mountainair, NM?

    TheDyrt.com has all 10 dispersed camping locations near Mountainair, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.