E
Elizabeth W.
Traveler
TravelerChiflo Campground
Clean pit toilet. Water was off for the season. Set up for tent camping. Nice paved road to the campground. Beautiful view of the gorge with trails. Muddy when wet.
Tent Camping near Llano, NM
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Tent campgrounds around Llano, New Mexico offer backcountry experiences in Carson National Forest with several established sites available for overnight stays. Trampas Trailhead Campground provides access to hiking trails and features basic tent sites with picnic tables. Taos Junction Campground, located along the Rio Grande, offers tent camping with more amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets.
Forest roads in the area vary in condition, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles. FR 207 provides better access to the Trampas area campgrounds, while FR 639 requires good shocks and becomes difficult after rain due to mud. Most tent sites include fire rings and picnic tables, but amenities are limited. Trampas Trailhead Campground offers free camping with vault toilets but no drinking water. Water access is available at some locations from nearby streams, though treatment is necessary. Most primitive tent sites have seasonal availability, with some mountain areas inaccessible during winter months.
The surrounding forest landscapes feature aspen, pine, fir, and spruce trees providing natural shade at many campsites. Tent camping areas near Llano serve as excellent basecamps for hiking and backpacking into the Pecos Wilderness and surrounding mountains. La Junta Canyon offers dispersed camping options with well-spaced sites in beautiful forest settings. Campers seeking solitude will find quieter options at higher elevations and along less-traveled forest roads. One reviewer noted that "the campground has 3-4 campsites with good separation between sites" at Trampas Medio, while another mentioned that the area has "wonderful trails and mountain views." Many walk-in tent sites provide creek access, creating pleasant white noise for sleeping and reliable water sources for filtering.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Llano (41)
1. Trampas Trailhead Campground
"The Trampas Trailhead campground gets 4 stars not because it's a great campground (it's good, don't get me wrong) but because it provides great access to an amazing trail."
"Wonderful trails and mountain views, I have been there 2 times in the last 10 years..."
2. Carson National Forest La Junta Canyon
"The forest road is in good shape with several well spaced out dispersed camping sites."
3. Trampas Medio Campground
4. Capulin Campground
"This was a nice basic spot, close to highway 64 so you get some traffic noise, but that goes away after dark for the most part."
"About 10 first come first serve primitive campsites next to the road and creek. The trees give some privacy in between the campsites and road."
Check Availabilityfrom $6 - $12 / night
5. Big Tesuque Campground
"Nice babbling brook alongside campsites, fun for kids to play in (COLD, but shallow), and makes for great white noise.
- Convenient to Santa Fe (20-25 min from downtown)
- drive up the mountain 4"
"If you're tent camping, Big Tesuque is AMAZING!! It's small, but absolutely beautiful. Each site has a picknick table and a tent pad. There are basic toilets. No showers, no sinks."
6. Hodges Camp
7. Panchuela Campground and Trailhead
"We drove out to the Pecos Wildness and decided to backpack a trail called Cave Creek, this is a mild trail about 2.8 miles in and 2.8 out."
"Campsite is situated at the Cave Creek trailhead, a cool hike to some local caves. It's 5 bucks for the night, 2 dollars day use, all backpacking tent sites. Some shelters."
8. Trampas Diamante Campground
9. Enchanted Circle Campground E<< - #1 Campground in NM
"You will feel like you are alone in the back woods where someone set up a great camping site. The fire pit is huge and has benches all around."
"No electricity but water is available near the owners home. This is boondocking in a very safe environment! You do not have to worry about anything."
from $75 / night
10. El Nogal Campground
"But the lot opens to 3 trails that take you through the beautiful Carson National Forest"
Drive Time
- 1 hr 7 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 1 hr 56 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 3 hrs 24 min from Pueblo, CO
- 3 hrs 30 min from Farmington, NM
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Llano, NM
34 Photos of 41 Llano Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
fs road 438
Capulin Campground
Aspen Basin CampgroundS
Enchanted Circle Campground E<< - #1 Campground in NM
Big Tesuque Campground
Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping
Cuchilla Campground
Cow Creek Dispersed Camping AreaR
Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping
Cebolla Mesa
Goat Hill CampgroundA
Blackjack Tent Area — Cimarron Canyon State ParkJ
Tent Camping Reviews near Llano, NM
939 Reviews of 41 Llano Campgrounds
John S.TravelerBig Tesuque Campground
About 10 walk-in tent sites, grungy pit toilets and a small paved parking area off a curve in the road. Surprisingly large amount of traffic for a cold, rainy night near the end of a dead end road. I would not return unless unavoidable. UPDATE: van suffered rodent damage to wiring; almost certainly happened when here overnight. $700 and a hotel stay. At least we got to see lots of Santa Fe!
- mmelissa D.
GuideOjo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Camping spots are close and tight. But nice to be on the grounds of Ojo Caliente Resort
Dave B.GuideEagle Nest Lake State Park Campground
Nice
Great views of lake and surrounding mountains. Washrooms are very clean with great showers
Papa's J.GuideSouth Area Campground — Storrie Lake State Park
Garbage around sight, Dog crap & hardware in driveway, very uneven parking, 2 sets of leveling blocks didn't get it level! Glad I'm just here one night! Site 49R guess that's why it's Cheap $15 + 20 for outta state, with electric
Ward M.GuideSanta Fe Skies RV Park
Expensive.. nice facility… I stayed 2 nights.. needed to use the laundry.. wash machines are super tiny and $3.25 a pop… I used 3 and 1 didn’t dispense enough water. Then another $3.25 for the dryer… at least it was big. People are friendly.
- Mike M.Traveler
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Awesome campground at one of the nicest hot springs you’ll ever visit. Great farm to table restaurant and wine bar. New Mexico at its best.
Liz G.
ScoutRancheros de Santa Fe
Amazing Staff and a Wonderful Cabin Stay!
**Wonderful Stay and Great Customer Service!**
We had a really nice experience at Rancheros de Santa Fe! We originally booked one of the domes, but due to damage from the recent rain, we were upgraded to a cabin. The ladies at the front office were so friendly, welcoming, and helpful. They really made us feel taken care of. The cabin was very clean, cozy, and comfortable, which made our stay even better. The bathrooms were also very clean and well-maintained, which is something I really appreciate when traveling. I also loved that our cabin was located right behind the main office. Since it was just my girlfriend and me traveling together, being so close to the office gave us an extra sense of safety and peace of mind. Even though our original plans changed, everything worked out great. We really appreciated the hospitality and how accommodating the staff was. I would definitely recommend Rancheros de Santa Fe and would love to stay here again!- JJohn L.Guide
Questa Lodge & RV Resort
Good spot for campingn
Limited review due to rains. Nice area for quiet camping or for access to wilderness areas, hiking. Taos and Red River are 1/2 hour away for touristy stuff. During heavy rains river did not leave its banks. Sites are tight, best ones are by the river. Nice walking path by river but noticed many dog walkers not picking up after their dogs. Clean bathroom and laundry facilities. Some septic drains too high to drain properly, should be fixed. Had to move in order to dump tanks.
Guide to Llano
Carson National Forest offers numerous primitive tent camping sites near Llano, New Mexico, with elevations ranging from 7,500 to 10,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 45°F at night to 80°F during the day, with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August. Camping season generally runs from May through October, with higher elevations inaccessible during winter months due to snow.
What to do
Fishing Rio Grande: The Taos Junction Campground area provides excellent access to fishing spots along the Rio Grande. "The Rio Grande was cold but worth the swim. We had a great time and only saw a few other people," notes one camper who visited the area.
Hiking to caves: Near Panchuela Campground, visitors can access the Cave Creek Trail, which runs about 2.8 miles each way. One reviewer shared: "Campsite is situated at the Cave Creek trailhead, a cool hike to some local caves. It's 5 bucks for the night, 2 dollars day use, all backpacking tent sites."
Animal watching: Multiple campsites offer opportunities to spot wildlife. A camper at Taos Junction mentioned "breathtaking views, big horn sheep elk" in their review of the area, highlighting the diverse wildlife that can be spotted.
What campers like
Creek-side tent sites: Many tent campsites near Llano feature creeks or streams that provide both ambiance and water access. At Big Tesuque Campground, a camper shared: "I loved it because it was next to a little river and the sites are so spaced out!"
Solitude in dispersed areas: La Junta Canyon offers well-spaced camping areas away from crowds. A reviewer noted: "Beautiful forest with aspen, pine, fir, and spruce trees. The forest road is in good shape with several well spaced out dispersed camping sites."
Natural shade: The mixed forests provide natural cooling for tent camping sites. Tent campsites in La Junta Canyon feature diverse tree coverage that creates comfortable camping environments even during warmer summer days.
What you should know
Water treatment necessary: Streams and creeks near tent camping areas in Llano require proper filtration or treatment. Though beautiful, all natural water sources should be treated before consumption.
Limited cell service: Most tent camping areas near Llano have spotty or no cell service. Plan communications accordingly and download maps offline before arrival.
Seasonal road conditions: Access roads to Capulin Campground and other sites can vary drastically with weather. A reviewer mentioned: "Small area, nice creek. Sites were far enough from everyone else, but where right on the only road in and out. This is a popular spot between angel fire and taos."
Variable campsite availability: Many tent sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations. One camper noted about Panchuela: "Camp guide says its booked fill every weekend. Good luck."
Tips for camping with families
Creek play opportunities: Small creeks provide safe water play areas for children at many tent sites. A reviewer at Big Tesuque noted: "A small stream was nearby... some families were there during the day enjoying the snow."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Llano, NM?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Llano, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Llano, NM is Trampas Trailhead Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Llano, NM?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Llano, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 41 tent camping locations near Llano, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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