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Best Tent Camping near Rodeo, NM

137 Reviews

Tent campsites near Rodeo, New Mexico include several dispersed and established options within the Coronado National Forest. West Turkey Creek Dispersed camping area offers primitive tent sites in a secluded setting, while Happy Camp Trail provides tent-friendly camping with mountain views. Both areas are located within driving distance of Rodeo, providing access to the natural beauty of southeastern Arizona's mountain terrain.

Most tent campgrounds in this region feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Sites typically have dirt or gravel surfaces with minimal improvements. West Turkey Creek Dispersed includes fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets but no drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supply. According to one visitor, "The creek was flowing and quite a few animals at dawn and dusk. Not a lot of traffic, and a trail right up the road to hike or follow the creek." Road conditions can be challenging, with several miles of unmaintained dirt roads leading to most tent camping areas.

The tent camping experience near Rodeo offers opportunities for solitude and wildlife viewing. Happy Camp Trail provides spacious tent sites with mountain backdrops and opportunities for rock climbing and hiking. One camper noted that "this area is beautiful and dispersed. A lot of campers so scout out your site before you pull in." Many tent campsites are situated near seasonal creeks, providing pleasant ambient sounds when water is flowing. Campers frequently report seeing wildlife including deer, turkeys, and free-range cattle. The primitive nature of these tent campgrounds means visitors should be prepared for variable conditions, including potential encounters with wasps, flies, and other insects depending on the season. Most tent sites offer good shade coverage from trees, providing relief during hot summer days. Cell service varies significantly between camping areas, with some locations offering reasonable connectivity while others provide a complete digital disconnect.

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Best Tent Sites Near Rodeo, New Mexico (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Rodeo, NM

3 Photos of 12 Rodeo Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Rodeo, NM

137 Reviews of 12 Rodeo Campgrounds

  • Staci W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 20, 2025

    Bonita Canyon Campground — Chiricahua National Monument

    Clean and quiet!

    Stayed on a Sunday in mid January and lucked out on a last minute site that was available. It’s a small campground, so reservations are ideal if you can plan ahead.

    There’s no fire rings but there are small grills to cook food and/or have a small “fire” in.

    Food storage boxes and bear boxes are available! Some sites have their own and others share the boxes.

    Bathrooms are modernized and super clean.

    Overall a great campground and would definitely stay here again!

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 19, 2024

    Bonita Canyon Campground — Chiricahua National Monument

    Quiet and peaceful

    Bonita Canyon Campground at the Chiricahua National Monument is a quiet little campground in a scrub pine forest. Chiricahua National Monument is a “dark sky” park, so there is very little light at night. Bring flashlights but leave lanterns at home! There are 36 sites with picnic tables and grills. There are community water faucets, but all were turned off when we were there. There are bathrooms with flush toilet, but no hookups or showers. Most sites are small and could accommodate tents, a small class C or van campers. 25’ is the max length and 14 days is max stay. The sign said the campground was full but there were empty sites. All sites are reservable through the www.US.gov web site.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 4, 2024

    Bonita Canyon Campground — Chiricahua National Monument

    An Amazing National Monument

    Bonita Canyon CG- Chiricahua NM: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: Campsites in outer loop are more nicely spaced(rate 4) and trailer adds to privacy. Inner loop sites are often a bit close (rate 3). Price 2024: $ 10 w interagency Usage during visit: Very full, especially weekends.
    Site Privacy: No Site Spacing: Outside sites are spacious Pad surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Very quiet.
    Outside Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Yes. Spigots are scattered, locations clearly marked Generators: Allowed, but other than ours, I never heard one. Bathroom: Built by CCC. Clean and rustic. I like them. Showers: No Pull Throughs: I didn’t notice any Cell Service (AT&T): No. WiFi at the visitor center Setting: Woods Recent Weather: 70s to low 80s.
    Solar: At our site with good positioning, we were able to bring in 12amps per day with 400 watt fixed panels.
    Insects: None now Host: Yes, 2 couples Rig Size: Limited to 24’.

  • Beth G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 17, 2020

    Bonita Canyon Campground — Chiricahua National Monument

    One of our favorites

    My husband, myself and our 2 small dogs live in Tucson, AZ. We recently acquired a roof top tent and we’ve been trying out various campgrounds across the Southwest.

    This is still one of our favorite National Parks to stay at. The sites were “pull though” so it’s perfect for our Roof Top Tent set up. Plenty of trees and hiking opportunities. Honestly, it’s worth the trip just to see the coatimundis. They are ADORABLE!

    Pros: Coatis! Scenery. Easy to access. Water. Bear boxes.

    Cons: As typical in National Parks, the majority of hiking trails are not dog friendly. No showers. no fire pits, just BBQ that can be used for cooking with fire.

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 3, 2019

    Stewart Campground

    Great shade for the summer months

    The Cave Creek Canyon on the western edge of the Chiricahua Mountains is a spectacular area that will completely take you by surprise. This cute campground tucked into the trees will charm your socks off!

    Each site has the standard picnic table, bear locker, fire ring and lots of shade. The bathroom is a vault toilet, kept clean by the volunteer camp host, staying at Sandy Flat. This campground is rather small with just a couple small RV sites and lots of shade. Perfect for tent camping though. Great for warmer months, not so great for solar charging due to the shade, so we moved up the road to Sunny Flat campground. There are two small cabins available for rent near the forest visitor’s center, check with the Coronado National Forest, Douglas District office.

    The area is a birder’s paradise and at certain times of year can get very busy. Great opportunities for hiking, biking and wildlife viewing throughout the entire mountain range. All the campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

    There's not much in the area for food and gas, so come prepared. There is one small grill/basic grocery store down the mountain, but if you are looking for real groceries, shop before you come.

  • H
    Oct. 13, 2020

    Herb Martyr Campground

    OK site within a fantastic National Forest

    The Cave Creek area as a whole is a 5+ star destination. This campground, however, gets only three stars. It is at the end of a dirt road. We counted only three official sites, though none were numbered. Those sites include a picnic table and a fire ring. One was huge, one medium and one small. There is a vault toilet a fair hike away. We came during COVID restrictions and the toilet was in very good shape. No other campgrounds were open because of COVID. There is no water, so bring your own.

    To get to the sites, you make a hairpin turn (there is ample room to swing wide in a car with no trailer). The first 20 yards after the turn are pretty rough and rocky and more of an issue driving up them than down them. The sites themselves are nothing too spectacular. Beware skunks at night. But the wonderland of the canyon is the real draw. There is a trailhead out of the camping area that goes on some good hikes. The night sky is unparalleled. The drive from the campground to other trailheads and other areas is fine.

  • C
    May. 22, 2021

    Sycamore Campground

    Small, quiet, creek side camp

    Nice, small campground with pit toilets, fire rings and bear boxes. Saw many deer and turkeys in the area. Plenty of shade available; unfortunately, only stagnant pools of water in the creek this time of year. $15 per night, there are dispersed sites available along the road as well. Easily accessible down a dirt road.

  • Monique R.
    Sep. 13, 2019

    Sycamore Campground

    Great quiet spot

    Mid week in September and we were the only people at the campgrounds. Nice clean bathrooms, picnic tables, fire pit, and bear box. Campgrounds are next to a creek with a trailhead leading to a waterfall, couldn’t ask for more for a free campsite.

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 2, 2019

    Sunny Flat Campground

    Awesome Choice for Christmas!

    We came for just a night to see if it was open and spent 3 glorious nights here! The volunteer camphost, Jan, is fantastic! She single-handedly kept this campground open during the government shutdown…and hosted a Christmas potluck brunch at her site.

    The Cave Creek Canyon on the western edge of the Chiricahua Mountains is a spectacular area that will completely take you by surprise. And the campground tucked into a wide-open clearing set in a spectacular valley ringed by stunning granite cliffs will also charm your socks off!

    Each site has the standard picnic table, bear locker, fire ring, and lots of shade. Campsites which aren’t under the trees have a nice shelter over the table. The bathroom is a vault toilet, kept clean by the volunteer camp host. All the campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

    This campground might be better for small RV’s than some of the others in the area because of the size of the sites, though anything bigger than 25 feet might have a tough time getting backed in. The area has some nice sunny spots for those like us who run on solar. There are also two small bunkhouses available for rent near the forest visitor’s center, check with the Coronado National Forest, Douglas District office.

    The area is a birder’s paradise and at certain times of year can get very busy. Great opportunities for hiking, biking and wildlife viewing throughout the entire mountain range.

    There's not much in the area for food and gas, so come prepared. There is one small grill/basic grocery store down the mountain, but if you are looking for real groceries, shop before you come.

Guide to Rodeo

Tent camping near Rodeo, New Mexico, offers a serene escape into nature, with various campgrounds providing unique amenities and experiences for outdoor enthusiasts.

Some prices for tent camping range from $15 to $0

  • Enjoy a peaceful stay at Sycamore Campground for just $15 per night, where you can relax by the creek and spot local wildlife.
  • Experience the beauty of West Turkey Creek Dispersed with no fees required, making it a budget-friendly option for nature lovers.
  • Camp at Herb Martyr Campground where you can enjoy the stunning surroundings without any cost, perfect for those looking to explore the area.

Tips for tent camping near Rodeo

  • Bring your own water and supplies when visiting Sycamore Campground, as there are no drinking water facilities available.
  • Be prepared for a rugged drive to West Turkey Creek Dispersed, as the access road is not maintained but offers beautiful scenery.
  • Keep an eye out for wildlife at Herb Martyr Campground, especially at dawn and dusk when animals are most active.

Local activities to enjoy while camping

  • Hike the trails leading to waterfalls near West Turkey Creek Dispersed and enjoy the refreshing sound of flowing water.
  • Explore the nearby Cave Creek area from Herb Martyr Campground, which offers stunning views and excellent hiking opportunities.
  • Discover the tranquility of the creek at Sycamore Campground, where you can unwind and enjoy the natural beauty surrounding you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Rodeo, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Rodeo, NM is Sycamore Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Rodeo, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Rodeo, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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