Best Campgrounds near Quemado, NM

The Gila National Forest surrounds Quemado, New Mexico, offering multiple camping styles within a high-elevation landscape of ponderosa pines and mountain meadows. Quemado Lake serves as the recreational centerpiece with several established campgrounds including El Caso, Juniper, Cove, and Piñon, each providing varying levels of amenities. El Caso campground, situated a few miles from the lake, features spacious sites nestled among pines with vault toilets and fire rings but no picnic tables. Nearby, Juniper Campground offers electric hookups and reservable sites with closer lake access, though some campers note the sites can feel cramped. Free dispersed camping options exist at locations like Jackson Park in nearby Pie Town, approximately 20 miles east along Highway 60.

Weather conditions vary dramatically by season, with winter bringing significant snowfall and summer delivering afternoon thunderstorms. As one camper noted, "We drove through a blizzard to find ourselves under clear skies at Quemado Lake. The weather caught up to us and we had about four to five inches of snow fall overnight." Cell service is limited or non-existent at most campgrounds, particularly at more remote locations like Armijo Springs Campground. Many sites lack reliable drinking water, especially during colder months when systems are winterized. The $5 dump and water station at Piñon campground near Quemado Lake provides essential services for RV travelers. Most forest roads remain unpaved, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles, especially after rain or snow.

Visitors frequently mention the tranquility and solitude available at campgrounds throughout the region. According to one review, "El Caso campground is a few miles into the canyon. The camp sites are spread out well, and the roads and trails are solid." Wildlife sightings, particularly elk, are common at more remote locations. Fishing access varies, with locals recommending specific shoreline spots between Cove and the boat launch area. Hiking trails connect many campgrounds to Quemado Lake and surrounding forest areas. Nearby attractions include Pie Town, known for its bakeries, and the Very Large Array radio astronomy observatory. Campers seeking more amenities can find them at Datil Well Recreation Area, a BLM campground about 30 miles east that features solar-lit toilets, water access, and a 3.25-mile loop trail with scenic vistas.

Best Camping Sites Near Quemado, New Mexico (38)

    1. El Caso

    4 Reviews
    Quemado, NM
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 773-4678

    "Quemado Lake is a short drive down the mountain. Several hiking trails in the area."

    "It was spring break and we drove through a blizzard to find ourselves under clear skies at Quemado Lake. El Caso camp ground is a few miles into the canyon."

    2. Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) — Gila National Forest

    3 Reviews
    Quemado, NM
    14 miles

    $15 - $25 / night

    "Most of our time was spent exploring the baths and trails around ojo itself the following day before moving on to Santa Fe. Take the trails first!!"

    3. Cove - Quemado Lake

    2 Reviews
    Quemado, NM
    14 miles
    Website

    "The down side it’s a ways from the lake at the top of the hill. Lots of things for kids to do here, this is a great area to take your family."

    4. Piñon Campground

    1 Review
    Quemado, NM
    14 miles
    Website

    "Think it was around $12 a night."

    5. El Caso I-IV Campground

    1 Review
    Quemado, NM
    14 miles
    Website

    "Pulled into Quemado lake area around 730pm. Beautiful, peaceful, you could hear the birds from across the lake. Minutes later, myself and my dog were in the campground. Several spots to choose from."

    6. Armijo Springs Campground

    2 Reviews
    Quemado, NM
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 773-4678

    "Armijo Springs is a quiet secluded free campground with a vault toilet (low maintenance due to its isolated location), picnic tables (5) and fire rings. No trash service so take it with you."

    7. Jackson Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Datil, NM
    22 miles
    Website

    "Drive past the campground sign and you can find many places to camp. It's dusty and a little noise from the highway, other than that is private and quiet."

    "It’s close to the not-very-busy highway. Easily accessible when dry, almost certainly would require AWD/4WD if muddy."

    8. Mujeres Valley Campground

    3 Reviews
    Quemado, NM
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 433-1181

    $15 - $25 / night

    "The trail is lined with logs so you can find your way to the fire rings and group camping spaces. Gorgeous scenery! Spots close to the road and a way from the road and 420 friendly!!"

    9. Pie Town RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Datil, NM
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 772-2727

    10. Pinon - Quemado Lake

    Be the first to review!
    Quemado, NM
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 773-4678

    $15 - $125 / night

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Recent Reviews near Quemado, NM

122 Reviews of 38 Quemado Campgrounds


  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

    So peaceful

    This was the second time we have stayed here. It’s about a quarter of a mile off the main road so it’s very quiet and peaceful. There are 22 sites and three of them do have electric. The rest are all dry camping, but they do have nice picnic tables and fire rings attached. Some pull through sites. Vault toilets are available throughout the park and there is water available. There is also a little lending library that is open from 10 to 2 that has Wi-Fi available . Great hiking trails in the area. Half price with your make America beautiful pass.

  • dThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2025

    State Line

    Tall Pines & Open Spaces

    I’ve stayed here a handful of times. It’s never crowded unless you count elk, hummingbirds and squirrels. Summer temps in in 70s and 80s.

  • John H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

    A great stopover location while traveling Hwy 60

    We have been camping here for 8 years including a Thanksgiving celebration with neighbors.  Over that period of time, many very nice improvements have been made to the infrastructure. Every site has been renewed, the toilets have been completely upgraded to solar lighting and to overnight fee is still $5.00.  If it works with your travel schedule, don't miss this one.

  • J W.
    Jun. 15, 2025

    Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

    Quiet, beautiful Camp Ground!

    Quiet restful afternoon and night. Just $5.00 and 50% off with Parks pass! Can't beat that deal. Camp host directed us to an electric site. This is a dream campground. Made me nervous it was so cheap.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2025

    Head Of The Ditch Campground

    Amazing/Beautiful/Peaceful Place to stay and enjoy the outdoors.

    Nice campground, lots of space for RVs, Tents, Vehicle, And even Glamping. Easily Accessible from the Road. Bathroom is cute and placed in the middle.

  • Christopher P.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2025

    Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

    Very nice BLM campground

    Quiet campground. Well designed and maintained. Pit toilet, access to water. Next to nice trail system hiking only.

  • Christopher P.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 15, 2025

    Head Of The Ditch Campground

    Free NFS

    National Forest campground. Free. Sites spread out. Light usage. Recent tree maintenance has resulted in several large piles of cut down trees. Pit toilet.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2025

    Swingle Canyon

    Swingle Canyon Road dispersed

    Very quiet Wednesday night here--didn't hear a single vehicle go by. There are about 3 spots near the road entrance. We had gone a mile up the mountain (which gets quite rough) before turning around because there didn't seem to be any sites... and we're only driving through the area, so finding somewhere a bit more private wasn't the biggest deal. Cell service is spotty, but there. No amenities, so pack out what you bring in.


Guide to Quemado

The Gila National Forest surrounding Quemado, New Mexico sits at elevations around 7,800 feet with dramatic temperature swings between seasons. Camping sites near Quemado, New Mexico feature ponderosa pine forests, meadows, and several developed and dispersed camping options spanning from free primitive sites to established campgrounds with limited amenities. Forest roads throughout the area remain unpaved with varying conditions depending on recent precipitation.

What to do

Fishing at Quemado Lake: Several campground locations provide lake access, though locals recommend specific shoreline areas. At Cove - Quemado Lake, one camper suggests: "If you are fishing it seems like the way to do it it is to park on the road between this spot and the boat launch area and head straight down to the water- that's what the locals were doing anyway."

Hiking from camp: Trail access varies by campground location with different difficulty levels. The El Caso I-IV Campground offers "an amazing trail that lead from the grounds to the lake," according to one visitor who adds: "Highly recommend the area and look forward to coming back to this spot to kayak in the summer!!!"

Wildlife viewing: Early mornings and evenings provide opportunities to spot elk and other wildlife. At Armijo Springs Campground, a camper reports: "Elk walk through camp occasionally and there is an actual spring w/ tank nearby. I don't think it runs in the drier months but it is flowing now."

What campers like

Spacious, separated sites: Many campers appreciate the layout at certain campgrounds. At El Caso Campground, one visitor noted: "This is a pretty sweet spot. Great little meadows between camp areas under Ponderosa pines. There is a vault toilet and big camp fire rings but no picnic tables."

Privacy and solitude: Even during peak seasons, many camping areas remain uncrowded. According to a review of Armijo Springs Campground: "Quiet, only campers here on a Saturday. Tall trees, crisp fresh air. Would have stayed longer but needed to do research so need cell service."

Dark night skies: The remote location provides excellent stargazing opportunities. A visitor to Pie Town RV Park commented on the "night night sky" despite describing the campground as "plain but clean" and "no frills."

What you should know

Campground seasons vary: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. According to a review of El Caso I-IV Campground: "Winter wonder land. Pulled into Quemado lake area around 730pm. Beautiful, peaceful, you could hear the birds from across the lake... There was snow on the ground since it had snowed recently."

Limited cell service: Most camping locations have minimal or no connectivity. At Jackson Park Campground, a reviewer noted good cell service, but at Armijo Springs: "There is NO cell service and we had to move down the dead end road 100 yards to get a clear enough area for Starlink to partially work."

Campground cleanliness varies: Maintenance levels differ across locations. A camper at El Caso noted: "This is the only campground open in the rec area during our April visit... most sites I noticed were trashy. We needed to pick up trash at our site upon arrival."

Tips for camping with families

Accessible playground options: Some areas offer recreational facilities for children. For Jackson Park in Pie Town, approximately 20 miles east of Quemado, a visitor mentioned: "There was also a playground across the road that the kidos could use to burn of some energy."

Group camping areas: For larger family gatherings, some campgrounds offer dedicated group sites. At Cove campground, a camper reported: "Stayed here during 4th of July stayed in the group site. It's a large area with water and a lot of parking. It has a large shade with several picnic tables and a fire ring."

Toilet facilities: Bathroom access and conditions vary significantly between campgrounds. A visitor to El Caso noted: "There is a toilet which was clean but not well stocked. Make sure to bring toilet paper."

Tips from RVers

Dump station and water access: Limited facilities exist for RV services. A visitor to Piñon Campground noted: "There is a $5 dump and water station at Pinion campground near Quemado Lake about 15 miles away."

Site spacing concerns: Some campgrounds have cramped RV arrangements. At Juniper Campground, a disappointed camper reported: "The sites are three RVs crammed into a spot made for two with everyone on top of each other. You also have to walk through each other's picnic spots to get to your picnic table."

Road conditions: Access varies significantly by weather. At Jackson Park, a visitor advised: "It was dry with soft sand. I used 4wheel drive just as a precaution," while another noted it's "easily accessible when dry, almost certainly would require AWD/4WD if muddy."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Juniper Campground located in Quemado?

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) is located in the Gila National Forest near Quemado Lake. The campground sits near the shores of Quemado Lake, making it ideal for fishing and water activities. It's easily accessible via drive-in access and serves as one of several campgrounds in the Quemado Lake recreation area within the national forest boundaries.

When is the best season for camping at Quemado Lake?

The best season for camping at Quemado Lake is late spring through early fall. Summer offers warm days perfect for lake activities, though afternoon thunderstorms are common. Pinon - Quemado Lake and other area campgrounds are accessible in spring, but be prepared for variable conditions - snow can still occur in early spring. Fall brings cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Winter camping is possible but challenging, as Armijo Springs Campground and other nearby sites may have snow, and services are typically reduced during colder months.

What amenities are available at Quemado Lake Campground?

Quemado Lake's El Caso campground offers basic but functional amenities including vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground has multiple camping areas with sites that can accommodate travel trailers and motorhomes in specific sections. El Caso I-IV Campground provides several spots to choose from, with beautiful views of the lake. Note that amenities are rustic - toilets may not always be well-stocked, and there's no trash service, so plan to pack out what you bring in.