Best Campgrounds near Rociada, NM

The Carson National Forest and Santa Fe National Forest provide numerous camping options near Rociada, New Mexico, with both developed campgrounds and primitive sites throughout the region. Pendaries RV Resort in Rociada offers full hookup sites for RVs along with tent camping areas and cabin accommodations. Several miles away, Morphy Lake State Park Campground provides lakeside camping with tent, RV, and glamping options. The surrounding national forests contain additional campgrounds including El Porvenir and Iron Gate, which offer more rustic experiences with picnic tables, vault toilets, and fire rings but limited amenities.

Road access varies significantly throughout the region, with some campgrounds requiring travel on unpaved forest roads. Most developed campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from May through November, closing during winter months due to snow and freezing temperatures. "The road to Campground was well taken care of. Beautiful trails throughout area," noted one visitor about nearby Santa Barbara Campground. Elevation in this mountainous region ranges from approximately 7,000 to 8,500 feet, resulting in cool summer temperatures and cold winters. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most campgrounds, particularly those deeper in the national forests. Campers should bring all necessary supplies as services are limited, with the nearest towns of Las Vegas and Mora being 20-30 miles away.

Riverside camping receives consistently positive reviews, with several campgrounds situated along creeks and rivers that provide fishing opportunities. The Pecos River and its tributaries run near many camping areas, offering trout fishing that draws many visitors. According to one review of Holy Ghost Campground, "Pecos national forest is by far one of the best places to camp in northern New Mexico. Great fishing, amazing hiking and views for days." Campgrounds with water access tend to fill quickly during summer weekends. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with campers commonly reporting sightings of deer, elk, and various bird species. Bear activity occurs throughout the region, requiring proper food storage. The surrounding mountains provide scenic backdrops and hiking trails, with several campgrounds serving as trailheads for paths into the wilderness.

Best Camping Sites Near Rociada, New Mexico (109)

    1. Morphy Lake State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Cleveland, NM
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 387-2328

    "Quiet mountain lake with ponderosa pines surrounding it. I'd go back in a heartbeat."

    "Can drive up to campsites probably 30 places. Trout fishing but must have license from closest store 20 miles down in Mora. Maybe 8500 ft elevation. Very cool even in July; need blankets."

    2. North Area Campground — Storrie Lake State Park

    18 Reviews
    Montezuma, NM
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 425-7278

    $15 - $25 / night

    "They also close the main bathroom/shower, there are port-o-lets outside next to them."

    "This state park has nice views of the lake and mountains. The sun sets with a blaze in the sky. We stayed in the electric campground."

    3. Iron Gate Campground

    8 Reviews
    Tererro, NM
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 757-6121

    "It's a nice little place tucked away in the woods. The road to get there is a bit rough, hence the title. By no means, Not a road for a large trailer or 5th wheel. Wild life everywhere.."

    "During rainy seasons, ruts form with deep mud on some spots driving up."

    4. El Porvenir Campground

    6 Reviews
    Rociada, NM
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 757-6121

    $8 / night

    "Very well maintained campground that is remote enough to get away but close to town in case you need something. Weather was great and the surrounding trails were beautiful!"

    "The road up from Montezuma/Las Vegas is very winding and sometimes close to one lane, but we had no problems when there was oncoming traffic."

    5. Pendaries RV Resort

    4 Reviews
    Rociada, NM
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 454-8304

    6. Black Canyon Campground

    29 Reviews
    Tesuque, NM
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 753-7331

    $20 / night

    "Driving into the camp, you have three options: Walk-In Camping, Camping With Parking Access & Limited Access."

    "To begin, the lots are far enough away from fellow campers that you're seldom disturbed by noise or movement."

    7. Holy Ghost Campground

    11 Reviews
    Tererro, NM
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 757-6121

    $8 / night

    "We got there a bit later and the day and all of the drive in sites were taken up by either campers or fishermen. Ended up getting one of the walk in sites. I’d recommend one of these."

    "This campground is just above 8200ft in the forest, more specifically in the Santa Fe National Forest at the edge of the Pecos Wilderness. We stayed at site 3, more or less right next to the creek."

    9. EV Long

    3 Reviews
    Montezuma, NM
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 757-6121

    "Close to Elk Mountain and Hermits Peak for hiking Looking forward to going again this year"

    10. Jack's Creek Campground

    4 Reviews
    Tererro, NM
    13 miles
    Website

    $10 / night

    "I heard other campers lamenting this...but it's just a fact of life that drilling and maintaining a well at nearly 9K feet above sea level is an arduous task."

    "Some sites, around the outside edges have trees and shade, those in center of circles do not,.... but they have the best views of the amazing mountains surrounding you! "

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Recent Reviews near Rociada, NM

712 Reviews of 109 Rociada Campgrounds


  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    South Area Campground — Storrie Lake State Park

    Love it here!

    This is a great place to stop and breathe for a while while on the road. Especially with kids.

    Has great hook up sites (electric and water) beach site comes with a sweet outdoor patio with roof and picnic table - perfect for shade or rainy days.when living in an RV this is a great addition/ an extra room!

    There is a great playground and a perfect view of the lake

    Prices are totally fair - between 14-25 depending on site and residency

  • B
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Coyote Creek State Park Campground

    Quiet, beautiful, and no visible burn scars

    Beautiful area with no visible burn scars such as exist nearby. Many trees, nice views of mountains. Lots of spots, some with electric, many without. Many are designated 18 feet and under. Ours (T-4) would fit 35 feet, had lots of shade on a 80• October day. Small clean creek. Great places to walk all around. Water only available April to October 1. Back 2/3 of campground and RV DUMP also closed and gated off during cooler months. We were (luckily) advised on arrival by neighbors that the rangers are zealous about ticketing for any dog off leash, so we were extra careful and had no interactions at all. Referring to another review, there was no host at the time of our visit, but one of our neighbors regularly hosts here and didn't remind us of Goober Pyle at all. Yes we are old enough to remember.

  • K
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Santa Fe Skies RV Park

    Clean, Friendly, Seamless

    Needed a place to stay while passing through Santa Fe. Found this place on the Dyrt and was able to call and get a full hookup site for our after hours arrival. Easy to find, very clean facilities, and friendly and accommodating staff.

  • Curtis D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Tolby Campground — Cimarron Canyon State Park

    To close for comfort

    This is a really nice camping ground. It has flush toilets and an electric plug in the bathroom also. There's drinkable water spigot all around. The bad thing about this place is that the sites are too close for comfort. That's why it's my title. Otherwise, it's pretty nice. Great view of a mountain right in front of you. The mountain is so close, you can count the trees. There's also the Cimarron River that runs through. Stay one night if you like it, stay longer. 🤷‍♂️

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Sierra Bonita Cabins & RV Park

    It's very run down

    We stayed in the cabins. They are very ran down. The sink plumbing leaks. Utility closet has a hole in the door about 7 in in diameter and there is an animal that lives in there and scratches on the wall at night. The furniture is old and decrepid. The people that run it are as sweet as can be. The place is terribly ran down.

  • Colbey M.
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Morphy Lake State Park Campground

    Awesome campground

    Great camp sites with beautiful views! Had such a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Game warden was nice and respectful. Shout out to Debra who works for the campground. She was super helpful. Unable to follow hiking trail completely- I believe it's grown up.

    3G phone service with Verizon, was able to make phone calls only.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Angel Fire RV Resort

    Great Location

    This RV resort has beautiful views of the mountains. Angel Fire RV Resort has beautiful grounds, the bath houses and very nice and modern, very nice hot tub, beautiful clubhouse. The resort has fire pits, pickleball courts, large dog park, putting range, walking path, laundry facilities. It is also close to several towns. One that you can ride your bike too. This is a A+ resort for TV camping.

  • shannon C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa

    Weekend hot springs with wife !

    Nice little campground next to hot springs . Nice level site . Hook up were on passenger side and towards front of TT we had enough hose and cords to reach . It says they have loaners if needed . 20% discount if you camp and visit hot springs. Hot springs were very relaxing. No fire or outside smoking . On site bathroom and shower however we didn’t use or check them out . Had a great week end with wife

  • Adria L.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Santa Fe Skies RV Park

    Fenton lake

    Everything is online now did realize that the fishing was bad but still a great place to go and relax


Guide to Rociada

Camping sites near Rociada, New Mexico range from 7,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation, creating distinct temperature patterns across seasons. Primitive camping options in the Pecos Wilderness provide access to high-altitude trails and wildlife viewing. Summer temperatures typically range from 40-80°F with significant drops at night, even in July and August.

What to do

Trout fishing at streams and lakes: The Pecos River and surrounding waterways offer productive fishing opportunities at campgrounds like Jack's Creek. "Trout fishing but must have license from closest store 20 miles down in Mora. Maybe 8500 ft elevation. Very cool even in July; need blankets," notes a visitor at Morphy Lake State Park Campground.

Mountain hiking on established trails: Several campgrounds serve as trailheads for mountain excursions. At Jack's Creek Campground, "Hiking trails leave from the Horse camp up into the mountains.... and they are busy with hikers every day of week. Some are day hikers from this campground, but most are backpackers going out to spends several days."

Wildlife observation: The area supports diverse wildlife viewing options. "Saw lots of wildlife (deer, eagle, foxes as well chipmunks)," reports a camper at Morphy Lake. Chipmunks are common at higher elevations, with one visitor noting they "were a hoot but need to guard your food."

What campers like

High elevation cooling: Most campgrounds sit at 8,000-9,000 feet, providing natural air conditioning during summer. "At this elevation of around 9,000 feet, it is cooler even on the hottest summer days," explains a visitor at Jack's Creek Campground. Another notes needing "blankets" even in July.

Dark skies for stargazing: Limited light pollution creates exceptional night viewing conditions. A camper at El Porvenir Campground describes "a night sky that is lovely and awe inspiring." The remote locations minimize artificial light.

Varied camping environments: Sites range from meadows to dense forest settings. "Sites have everything except sewer but they do have a dump station," notes a camper at North Area Campground. Another visitor describes El Porvenir as having "nice flat tent platforms" with approximately "30 places" where you can "drive up to campsites."

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Access to many campgrounds requires careful driving on rough roads. At Iron Gate Campground, "The road to get there is a bit rough... Not a road for a large trailer or 5th wheel." Another camper adds, "We had our Tacoma in 4L and I'm honestly not sure how some 2WD vehicles make it."

Limited or no potable water: Bring sufficient water supplies as many campgrounds have unreliable or no water sources. "There is no longer any potable drinking water at Jack's Creek. Haul your own in," advises one visitor. Similarly, Johnson Mesa Campground has "No water available" according to multiple reviews.

Weather extremes: Despite summer visits, prepare for cold nights and possible storms. "It was VERY windy but we were camping in a site with few trees for wind barrier," reports a camper at Johnson Mesa Campground. Temperature fluctuations of 30-40 degrees between day and night are common.

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites with nearby activities: Look for campgrounds with accessible recreation options. "Went for the day and loved hiking around the lake. Lots of small fish," notes a visitor at Morphy Lake. Another mentions the campground has "great camp spots around the lake" with "beautiful views."

Prepare for wildlife encounters: Animals frequently visit campgrounds, requiring proper food storage. "Please, for the love, do not feed the stupid chipmunks - they are not afraid of people and it shows," warns a camper at Jack's Creek Campground. Bears are also present throughout the region.

Check seasonal availability: Many sites close outside summer months. "The campground is open from March 1st until October 31st each year!" notes a Morphy Lake visitor. Johnson Mesa and other higher elevation sites may close earlier depending on weather conditions.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions limit larger rigs: Many campgrounds accommodate only smaller RVs and trailers. A visitor to Holy Ghost Campground notes, "It is a very beautiful place, with a lot to see and explore" but warns the narrow access road makes it difficult for larger vehicles. Most sites accommodate RVs under 30 feet.

Limited hookup options: Full hookups are scarce, with most campgrounds offering primitive camping only. At Pendaries RV Resort, "The campground is rustic but not trashy. Very well kept and maintained." The resort provides one of the few developed options with hookups in the immediate area.

Leveling challenges: Bring additional leveling equipment as many sites sit on uneven terrain. "Several of the sites are shorter and many of the sites are far from level, so not really a campground suitable for very large RV's," explains a Jack's Creek camper. Several campgrounds feature sloped sites requiring blocks and levelers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Rociada, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, Rociada, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 109 campgrounds and RV parks near Rociada, NM and 20 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Rociada, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rociada, NM is Morphy Lake State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 9 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rociada, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Rociada, NM.