Join the fun near Rio Rancho. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Rio Rancho 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 Rio Rancho, reviewed by campers like you.
Welcome to Albuquerque KOA. We have a beautiful campground nestled close to the Sandia Mountains. Whether you are looking for a big rig friendly 80 foot RV sites, cabins , or just tent camping, we are your Albuquerque campground . We have a swimming pool, indoor hot tub, mini golf, playground, horseshoes and a huge park for your pets. We are definitely pet friendly . We are here to help you relax and take care of all your camping needs. There's plenty to do during your camping stay with us. Our KOA is conveniently located near attractions such as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta , the world's longest aerial Tramway , and we are the closest campground to Expo New Mexico Fairgrounds. The campground is also conveniently located near a variety of restaurants, the aquarium, zoo, multiple museums and the fascinating Old Town shopping district.
Coronado Campground is conveniently located on Highway 550, just west of Bernalillo along the Rio Grande. A visit to Coronado Campground offers more than a place to set up camp or enjoy a picnic. Relax and take in an unobstructed view of the beautiful Sandia mountains to the east. Experience the quiet mystique of the Rio Grande as it flows gently through the valley below. Enjoy New Mexico's spectacular sunrises, and witness the Sandia's' reflecting light from the setting sun. Tour the adjacent Coronado Historic Site with its Native American artifacts and partially restored adobe patio ruins. All this and more awaits those who stop at Coronado campground, located only 15 miles north of Albuquerque on the Rio Grande in Bernalillo.
Now open to 100% occupancy! NM Safe Certified
Bathroom facilities are limited to only campgrounds guests - limited to a two (2) guest occupancy at any given time. Masks are no longer required at this time for service in the office. Guests who do not adhere to social distancing practices can and will be asked to vacate immediately. Please respect other guests in these unprecedented times. We will continue to practice health safety and sanitize offices and bathrooms accordingly.
$18 - $40 / night
$30 - $37 / night
$45 - $60 / night
From the KOA website: The campground features a shaded pool (a rarity in the desert) just steps from your Kamping Kabin, tent site or RV pull thru. It's a terrific gathering spot for groups and families with an outdoor covered pavillion, WiFi , playground, volleyball, horseshoes, 2 dog parks, a book exchange, and video rental along with a great gift shop boasting Native American crafts, snacks, drinks, RV supplies and everyday essentials. Catch the new Rail Runner Express in Bernalillo only a mile away (within walking distance) for train excursions to explore downtown Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Belen. The campground also offers easy access to the attractions of New Mexico's two largest cities, as well as to ancient Indian ruins (in Bernalillo), ghost towns, pueblos and all the beauty of the Southwest. Just head West on 550 to highway 4 to the Jemez village where you can swim in the soda damn, soak in the natural hot spring pots and enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery New Mexico has to offer. Step through our secret passage way to the Kaktus brewery where you can enjoy live music, food, and great beer! We are the closest KOA to the World Famous International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta just 9 miles away. Every October the skies are filled with every color, size and shape of balloons. An amazing spectacle youll want to see. No car, thats okay. We have a free shuttle that will take you to the Santa Ana Casino where you can enjoy a fun filled evening of dining, bowling (kid friendly with arcade) and entertainment just minutes away. They will always pick you up for an exhilarating round of world famous golf. Feel like staying in, Pizza Hut and Dominos will always deliver to your campsite. On the weekends, for your enjoyment, free G/PG rated movies are shown in the grassy outdoor covered pavillion where you can purchase snacks and popcorn to add to your viewing pleasure. Our employees number one goal is to make your camping experience carefree and memorable so that you will choose our campground as the place to stay in New Mexico.
Cochiti Recreation Area is located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, within the boundaries of the Pueblo de Cochiti Indian Reservation. The lake offers two public recreation areas: Cochiti on the west side of the lake and Tetilla Peak on the east side. Both sides offer spectacular scenic views of the water and surrounding mountains. The Cochiti Dam is one of the ten largest earth-fill dams in the United States, and also one of the largest in the world. The lake derives its name from the Indian Pueblo on the Cochiti Reservation.
Our quiet lake is an ideal location for all paddle, wind surfing, and sailing craft. The lake is also a popular fishing spot for species such as bass, crappie, walleye, pike, catfish, sunfish and trout. Cochiti Recreation Area has a popular, family friendly, swim beach Day Use area for public enjoyment. It is a fee area, $5 per vehicle, but the cost is covered by the campsite fee for visitors staying in the campground. Additionally, the Cochiti picnic area has 21 covered picnic sites with a large group site that can be reserved by calling the main office. Cochiti Day Use Areas are open from April 15th to October 15th.
Cochiti Lake sits at 5,343ft in elevation and is nestled in the foothills of the Jemez Mountains. Our high desert environment is dominated by juniper, pinon trees, and mixed grasslands. There are many opportunities for wildlife viewing. Four osprey nesting platforms have been erected around the lake to provide nesting sites, as well as viewing opportunities. On the east side of the lake, deer, coyote, river otters, rabbits, beavers, and the occasional bear are often sighted.
Cochiti Lake is five miles from Tent Rocks National Monument, which has fascinating geological formations.
$20 / night
76 FULL HOOK UP SITES ON 9 LEVEL ACRES WITH PAVED ROADS LEADING UP TO EACH SITE. TWO AREAS OF THE PARK HAVE SHOWER AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES AND THREE PET AREAS ARE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED FOR YOUR PET'S EXERCISE AND RELIEF.
$40 - $44 / night
Welcome to Albuquerque KOA. We have a beautiful campground nestled close to the Sandia Mountains. Whether you are looking for a big rig friendly 80 foot RV sites, cabins , or just tent camping, we are your Albuquerque campground . We have a swimming pool, indoor hot tub, mini golf, playground, horseshoes and a huge park for your pets. We are definitely pet friendly . We are here to help you relax and take care of all your camping needs. There's plenty to do during your camping stay with us. Our KOA is conveniently located near attractions such as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta , the world's longest aerial Tramway , and we are the closest campground to Expo New Mexico Fairgrounds. The campground is also conveniently located near a variety of restaurants, the aquarium, zoo, multiple museums and the fascinating Old Town shopping district.
Coronado Campground is conveniently located on Highway 550, just west of Bernalillo along the Rio Grande. A visit to Coronado Campground offers more than a place to set up camp or enjoy a picnic. Relax and take in an unobstructed view of the beautiful Sandia mountains to the east. Experience the quiet mystique of the Rio Grande as it flows gently through the valley below. Enjoy New Mexico's spectacular sunrises, and witness the Sandia's' reflecting light from the setting sun. Tour the adjacent Coronado Historic Site with its Native American artifacts and partially restored adobe patio ruins. All this and more awaits those who stop at Coronado campground, located only 15 miles north of Albuquerque on the Rio Grande in Bernalillo.
Now open to 100% occupancy! NM Safe Certified
Bathroom facilities are limited to only campgrounds guests - limited to a two (2) guest occupancy at any given time. Masks are no longer required at this time for service in the office. Guests who do not adhere to social distancing practices can and will be asked to vacate immediately. Please respect other guests in these unprecedented times. We will continue to practice health safety and sanitize offices and bathrooms accordingly.
$18 - $40 / night
$30 - $37 / night
$45 - $60 / night
Traveler
$18 rate if you mention the billboards on the highway, but $22 otherwise so it's a good deal. Park is close to the casino, pretty level sites, clean, with full hookups (including sewer), no riffraff. Call the casino hotel front desk, or stop in at the front desk to register. Only about 10% of sites occupied when I was there in December.
Big truck stop gas station across the street if you need anything. Casino has a buffet restaurant and another bar to watch the game. Ended up staying an extra night to get prime rib on Saturday.
Security will drive you back and forth to the casino if you request, but it's only a 5 minute walk.
Scout
Stayed here 2 nights and had a great time. This campsite is in a great location to see the falls, and has a good layout. The pit toilets were clean, and well maintained. The camp hosts were very friendly and helpful when we had questions. I’ll definitely be back at some point!
Traveler
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)
GuideDon’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.
Scout
Area is open. There’s some trash right as you come in, but there’s plenty of clean spots not too much further in. Decent spot, though also popular.
Guide
There was a decent amount of snow but the road was easy enough to navigate. I came in from Las Alamos and went in about 7-8 miles. The site I found was amazing. There was a site available right as you pulled in and about 3-4 more half developed sites (fire rings) within a quarter mile walk in. It looks like there’s a bit of an OHV trail leading up the mountain, halfway. From there if you want to reach a peak you do have to bushwhack a bit. This was easily by top 10 dispersed campsites I’ve even been to and will definitely be coming back. Little to no service, roughly an hour 45 minutes from Albuquerque stayed 2 nights.
Guide
This place is about 20-30 minutes outside of Las Alamos. If you go through Santa Fe, you do have to go through a military checkpoint. There was a decent amount of snow, so I didn’t go very far in. I saw plenty of 4x4 trucks making it further than I did. The site was nice, but there was broken glass nearby so be careful. Made a couple of fires, and had a good time. From my site you could see the town below but thankfully it did not impede my view of the stars. I had full service too which was nice.
TravelerMostly 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.
TravelerAfter a long drive I found this site to be posted and closed. I’m a newbie so I could be incorrect but check USFS closures.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/santafe/alerts-notices/?aid=88339
TravelerThis 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.
ScoutWe 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!
Guide
Campground is nestled in a bug group of dense pines and only a 15-20 minute drive from Los Alamos. Quite a few hiking trails in the areas to explore the high desert mesas and escape the heat of Albuquerque.
Guide
Solid RV-focused campground. Half under trees and half in the open. Two bathhouses, laundry, and a dog park make this a nice, safe place to spend a couple of days.
Traveler
The place was clean. Our issues were two.
Scout
Drove in very very late at night and was helped in through staff member. Told us everything we needed to know…great 24 hour service.
Scout
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.
ScoutTop 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.
ScoutAlbuquerque 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.
ScoutAlbuquerque 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.
Guide
This place is a little advertised spot. It certainly came at a great time for us. Traveling from Kentucky to Arizona is a long haul, but what more could you ask for than a nice place to stop over for a night. There’s a casino nearby if that’s your flavor. There’s also a gas station, grocery store, DQ, and all kinds of things as close as across the street!
Traveler
Unwisely, we decided to go here in a large RV. DON’T!
Scout
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!
Guide
This place sufficed due to the need to have somewhere for the night, if we had the chance we’d have gone somewhere else. Massive piles of trash everywhere, sites strewn with people’s leftover garbage from camping there.
Due to its close proximity to the landfill, it was extremely loud during the morning from around 7am onwards.
There was a partial closure banning camping in a section of the landfill, which was incredibly difficult to figure out where we could camp, as the map is not clear at all,
Coyotes at night were really cool.
Overall disappointing but glad we managed somewhere to sleep for the night
Ranger
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
Guide
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.
Legend
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
ScoutWe loved it. Very spacious. Fire pits here and there.
Camping near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and convenient amenities. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping around Rio Rancho offers a variety of experiences, from family-friendly parks to serene spots for RVers. Whether you're looking for rv parks in Rio Rancho, NM, or just a peaceful getaway, there's something for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Rio Rancho, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, Rio Rancho, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 106 campgrounds and RV parks near Rio Rancho, NM and 29 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Rio Rancho, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rio Rancho, NM is Albuquerque KOA Journey with a 3.9-star rating from 45 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rio Rancho, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 free dispersed camping spots near Rio Rancho, NM.
What parks are near Rio Rancho, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Rio Rancho, NM that allow camping, notably Cibola National Forest and Grasslands and Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands.
