Best Campgrounds near Ponderosa, NM

Great little find for a quick place to car camp while driving through Albuquerque without going too far out of the way. The directions in the app were helpful to know to avoid the private roads, as they were not marked private. We took Llano del Norte the whole way around and found the public lands easily.

Great place to stay. Convenient drive to Albuquerque.

We stopped for a night on the way through and it was so nice that we stayed an extra one just to relax and enjoy it. I highly recommend this little stop. The manager and staff were so nice!

My wife and I drove in late 9PM Friday night and host was there to meet us. Our 27ft class C RV made it up the hill, but kinda bumpy steep road. Rode our bikes all over Madrid and spent a lot of time exploring Madrid Cemetary, which is Awesome! The view and spot are breathtaking. We will return again.

Great hidden gem! Please don’t turn at Palomino Street to access this location it is a PRIVATE road.

When you first arrive to the end of the road and the beginning of the public land - you have the option to go left, straight, or right. The left turn has one semi level campsite with a homemade fire ring but not as much on that left side. The straight route has the most options I found. I drove around for 15 minutes looking for the best spot but didn't see too many  pre-cleared "camping spots" from previous travelers. Plenty of places to pull over to camp with a great view.

Incredible scenery, overlooking the valley and mountains in the West, with great sunsets. My first morning I was surrounded by a group of 5 cows grazing. They ended up laying 30 feet from the trailer all morning. Saw one other camper about a mile away. 

The gravel roads are really tight for my 27" trailer, manageable but did rub on a couple of trees and shrubs on the drive in. Don't necessarily need a 4WD unless there is bad weather, but a few spots where ground clearance of a regular truck or SUV is important. Pretty isolated from supplies, which is the charm, but come prepared. 

Great Starlink location and pretty good cell service (3/4 bars)

Don’t arrive when it’s dark. Not much going on, no fire rings, no wild horses to wake up to. Maybe it was too cold for the horses. No fire rings I saw nonetheless.

Mostly residential area until you get to the open space.  I didn't make it to the actual coordinates as I took a wrong turn near the end, but there is a ton of open space out here.   Easy to get to in 25' RV.   Recommend.

This is my second time camping here and it is a perfect hidden gem for campervanning. Road gets a little sketchy at the end but you don’t have to go all the way to the coordinates. Beautiful sunrise and sunset. Wild horses in the area. And, you can clearly see the Milky Way. No light pollution except the beautiful view of the city far away.

We spent one night here in our class c while on our trip to Miami and yeah the road is to be taken slow but it was worth it! There is a tiny art gallery on the side of the road!! Check it out!

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.

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.

Albuquerque KOA Journey is a great spot for a camping trip, offering clean facilities, kid-friendly amenities, and easy access to nearby attractions. After a day of exploring, treat yourself to Dutch Bros Coffee for a refreshing pick-me-up. Their diverse Dutch Bros menu with prices offers everything from cold brews to blended drinks. For dinner, head over to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. Their Cheddar's menu features hearty, home-cooked meals like ribs, steaks, and gluten-free options, perfect for satisfying any craving after a long day outdoors.

Albuquerque is a fantastic destination for camping enthusiasts. With a wide variety of hiking trails and outdoor activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The numerous campgrounds offer various amenities and site types, making it easy to find the perfect spot for your needs. Plus, the stunning scenery ranging from the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande provides a breathtaking backdrop for your adventures. If you are looking for an exciting camping experience, Albuquerque is definitely worth a visit wnjoy Cheddars Food at your adventure.

Run down park, not very well maintained at all. The pictures used on their website are very misleading. Their "Recreation Hall" was disgusting. Dirty carpets, paint cans in the sink, just filthy dirty! The bathrooms were very clean at the bath house. The dog park was disgusting with the trash can there overflowing. Very disappointed and will not be staying at this dump again!

Well appointed RV park for trailer/RV. Little close to I-40 but sound is not that bad. Picnic table, shade trees, pool, hot tub. Even accept mailing ahead(like Amazon)

Very friendly staff. Great for the balloon fiesta

Excellent location and views, just need some lo g term resident clean up or eviction at entrance. We stayed for one night. Great set up and next to a brewery/restaurant in wish we would have visited. Clean bathrooms and nice sites.

If you’re lucky enough to score an RV spot, you’ll love being so close to the balloon fiesta! Wake up to hundreds of balloons right over your rig and walk to the fiesta to enjoy the festivities! VIP west includes 2 tickets into the park for every session. Dry camping only, rally style. Be prepared for generator noise and smells… quiet hours are limited to 10pm-4am