Best Campgrounds near Nogal, NM

Searching for the best camping near Nogal, NM? Nogal is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Discover great camping spots near Nogal, reviewed by campers like you.

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Best Camping Sites Near Nogal, New Mexico (104)

    1. Valley Of Fires Recreation Area

    35 Reviews
    Carrizozo, NM
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 648-2241

    $15 - $35 / night

    "These are all towns that Billy the kid frequented back in the day also the ghost town of White oak was the largest gold mining town in New Mexico."

    "Due to New Mexico Governor’s decision to close state owned campgrounds, we scrambled to find a place to stay prior to visiting White Sands...thank you BLM!!"

    2. Bonito Hollow RV Park & Campground

    8 Reviews
    Ruidoso, NM
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 336-4325

    $40 - $54 / night

    "I was looking to get away from the heat in Albuquerque and maybe even do a little fishing. I picked a site next to the upper river (Rio Bonito)."

    "Has been our number 1 go to location for almost 10 years now. Started in tents...then pop up...now a travel trailer. The park hosts are always extremely friendly and helpful."

    3. Midtown Mountain Campground & RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Ruidoso Downs, NM
    15 miles
    +1 (575) 964-8555

    $45 - $70 / night

    "I think the ease of picking a spot that worked for our situation, the clean park and bathrooms and friendly staff and neighbors made it surprisingly one of the best RV experiences we’ve had."

    "So close to everything, super clean PRIVATE bathrooms and the management is amazing and super attentive!"

    4. Fort Stanton Cave Campground

    8 Reviews
    Capitan, NM
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 322-0030

    "Lots of access to trails (hiking, biking, and horse access only)."

    "Close to Lincoln, NM. Historical Fort Stanton just down the road."

    5. Monjeau Campground

    4 Reviews
    Ruidoso, NM
    8 miles
    Website

    "The drive up is full of narrow switchbacks that you just hope and pray nobody else happens to be coming around at the same time as you are. There are some quite steep grades as well."

    "There were also some horses roaming around. Oh and it’s free! Can’t beat it."

    6. Upper Bonito Dispersed Recreation Area

    4 Reviews
    Nogal, NM
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 257-4095

    "We had a great night drove through the entire area and off roads to find a nice quiet area we had our son and two big doggos and had plenty of space for them to roam."

    "Good base camp for some of the best hiking around Ruidoso (Big Bonito Trail, Argentina Trail, etc.)

    Be prepared for lots of dust with the dirt road uphill from sites."

    7. Skyline Campground

    4 Reviews
    Ruidoso, NM
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 257-4095

    "Me and two of my buddy's went there and had a great time hiking and just hanging around camp and chilling."

    "Lots of camping spots and great hiking trails to go on! Gets a little windy since you’re at the top, but totally worth it!"

    8. Along The River RV Park & Campground

    4 Reviews
    Ruidoso, NM
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 336-4444

    "Best rv campsite in the area clean and spacious sites , access to the River, firewood for sale and friendly owners. We have camped here the last 3 years and we love this place."

    9. Eagle Creek RV Resort

    4 Reviews
    Ruidoso, NM
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 336-1131

    $40 - $45 / night

    "Awesome hill/mountain side campsites, close to the lakes and creeks. Look out for wild turkeys, deer, elk, bears, and even wild horses!"

    "It’s a little of the beaten path and the spots are no more than open areas.. it gets busy during the holiday times. But it’s just a few minutes to the lakes."

    10. Oak Grove Campground

    5 Reviews
    Ruidoso, NM
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 257-4095

    $6 / night

    "We enjoyed our time and the site is near enough town that you can leave to enjoy a meal and then return."

    "Located right off the 79 in Warner Springs, there are several wineries along the way if you're into doing some wine tasting before settling into camp life."

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Recent Reviews near Nogal, NM

389 Reviews of 104 Nogal Campgrounds


  • TheFoxphire F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Forest Rd 568 Dispersed

    Lovely

    One of our favorites. Room for big rigs prior to road intersection pretty rough beyond that. Able to get our 31’ class C with no issues other than unevenness. The good: beautiful tree coverage, trails that lead to town, road biking distance to town, daily short rains, wild mustangs walking right through our site, plenty of room. The bad: rocky unlevel sites, local dude that drives in daily maniacally to smoke his cigar then speeds off.

  • r
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Saddle Campground

    Tall pines, quiet, wildlife

    One of many campgrounds in the Cloudcroft area. Tents and RVs mixed. No hook-ups. Dump and showers for a fee at top camp known as Overflow which is a gravel parking area but handles large rigs the best.

  • Zoey T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Red Cloud Campground

    Amazing - cool breeze - shade - complete privacy

    After hours and hours of driving through flat desert 100 degree oil country we were so glad to find this place of refuge. We drove past the ‘official campgrounds (which looked paved and nice) and a little ways down the road to find a perfect primitive camping pull off spot with a few well built fire pits. Lots of shade. Cool at night and we didn’t see not a car nor a soul for 24 hours. The woods are dry and filled with pines and junipers - ie tons of firewood that smelled wonderful. Our dogs loved it. The road seems to go for miles and miles and although dirt is pretty well leveled and was manageable in our Skoolie. We did have a peculiar invasion from a cow family at 8pm. They just quietly walked on in our campsite and then quietly left once the dogs let them know they were not welcome. This was all quite peculiar because we were at least 3 miles from the nearest ranch… but I’ll take cows over mountain lions all day. The road up to the national Forrest is gravel/dirt and grated so it was a slow going for about 3.5 miles but well worth it.

  • R
    Jul. 30, 2025

    El Campo Glamping

    Lovely Place

    The accommodations were great and the views were beautiful. Would definitely come back.

  • Andrea P.
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Gallinas Site

    Spacious and has a toilet!

    This is a nice site with loads of space.  Even in the winter there was a fair amount of people around but we could all really spread out.  Very good New Mexican food in nearby town of Corona too!!

    I had a couple of bars of service (Verizon) in the camping area.

  • Manuel P.
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping

    Super Busy

    Been camping here several times a year and it just keeps getting busier and busier. Need to find a new place!

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 24, 2025

    Forest Road 568 - Dispersed Camping

    Elk everywhere!

    We drove in around 10pm and the small town of Cloudcroft was beautiful for anyone needing a place to stop before heading into the forest. We saw more elk than we could count! Just glowing eyes everywhere and all in the road. The road dead ends at a fenced private property so we turned around and just got a pull off spot for the night since we camp in the truck but there's tons of tent spots. Some rock made fire pits around. And we didn't see anyone around us for miles. Tons of bullet shells everywhere. It was almost errie how quiet it was! Camped here on our way down to the White Sands.

    Road isn't bad, but we are in a higher up Toyota Tacoma. Poor cell signal for T-Mobile but Verizon did!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Forest Road 568 - Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful disbursed camping spot

    This amazing camping spot near cloudcroft nm is a perfect place to stop by and see the beautiful woods and mountains of Lincoln mountains.


Guide to Nogal

Camping near Nogal, New Mexico, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking: There are several trails nearby, including those at Three Rivers Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The hikes were very fun. To see and imagine the people who created the petroglyphs was incredible."
  • Exploring Lava Flows: At the Valley Of Fires Recreation Area, you can hike through fascinating lava rock formations. A camper noted, "The hike through the lava rocks was informative and easy."
  • Wildlife Watching: Many campgrounds, like Eagle Creek RV Resort, are home to deer and other wildlife. One reviewer shared, "We had regular visits from a group of about 11 male mule deer!"

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the breathtaking views at places like Valley Of Fires Recreation Area. One review stated, "Extraordinary views and spacing."
  • Clean Facilities: Many visitors appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A reviewer at Midtown Mountain Campground & RV Park said, "The bathrooms and showers were impressively clean."
  • Friendly Hosts: Campgrounds like Bonito Hollow RV Park & Campground are known for their welcoming staff. One camper mentioned, "The hosts were very nice and the park is kept pretty clean."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Baca Campground, lack drinking water and electric hookups. A visitor noted, "There are no water or electricity hookups or sewer hookups."
  • First-Come, First-Serve: Many sites operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, such as Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. One camper shared, "Most sites are in a large open gravel area."
  • Seasonal Access: Some campgrounds, like Oak Grove Campground, are only open from May to September. A reviewer mentioned, "This campground is closed in the winter because the road in is steep and curvy."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Midtown Mountain Campground & RV Park, which has clean facilities and is close to town. A family shared, "The management is amazing and super attentive!"
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have activities lined up, like hiking or exploring lava flows. One camper at Valley Of Fires Recreation Area said, "Nice short paved nature trail through the lava beds."
  • Pack Essentials: Bring enough water and snacks, especially if you're heading to places like Baca Campground, where amenities are limited. A visitor advised, "Pack it in, pack it out."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Some campgrounds have restrictions on RV sizes. A reviewer at Oak Grove Campground warned, "Most parking is for a car or van. The camp host will send you on your way if your rig is over 23 feet."
  • Be Prepared for Rough Roads: Campgrounds like Eagle Creek RV Resort have rough access roads. One camper noted, "The road going in to campsites are very rough and in need of some TLC!"
  • Stay Connected: Some areas have limited cell service, so plan accordingly. A visitor at Bonito Hollow RV Park & Campground mentioned, "No phone service Verizon or ATT."

Camping near Nogal, New Mexico, offers a unique blend of nature and adventure. With a little planning, you can enjoy all that this beautiful area has to offer!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping options are available in Nogal, New Mexico?

The Nogal area offers several camping options to suit different preferences. Bonito Hollow RV Park & Campground provides sites alongside the clear waters of Rio Bonito, perfect for those seeking a creek-side experience. Just a short drive away in Capitan, Mama Bear RV Park offers a clean, convenient base for exploring the region. For those seeking more rustic experiences, Lincoln National Forest provides dispersed camping opportunities. Additionally, Fort Stanton Cave Campground offers free camping with basic toilet facilities, while Monjeau and Skyline campgrounds provide forest settings with vault toilets and scenic views.

Where is Nogal, New Mexico located and how do I get there?

Nogal is a small community in Lincoln County, New Mexico, nestled in the scenic eastern foothills of the Sierra Blanca mountains. It's located approximately 15 miles north of Ruidoso and about 10 miles west of Capitan along Highway 37. From Carrizozo (west), take US-380 east and then Highway 37 south. From Ruidoso (south), take Highway 37 north. The area is surrounded by Lincoln National Forest, with Deerhead Campground — Lincoln National Forest nearby, offering a beautiful forested setting. Most visitors access Nogal by car, as public transportation options are limited in this rural part of New Mexico.

What are the best outdoor activities to do while camping in Nogal, New Mexico?

The Nogal area offers abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Hiking trails throughout Lincoln National Forest provide stunning mountain vistas, with Oak Grove Campground serving as a great trailhead. Wildlife viewing is exceptional around Mountain Springs Ranch, where visitors regularly spot Great Horned owls and enjoy spectacular New Mexico sunsets and stargazing. For geology enthusiasts, the nearby Valley Of Fires Recreation Area offers fascinating lava formations with interpretive trails. The region also features historical sites like Fort Stanton and the ghost town of White Oak, once a significant gold mining town. In winter months, nearby Ski Apache offers downhill skiing and snowboarding opportunities.