Primitive camping near Roswell, New Mexico offers free or low-cost options on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The region sits at approximately 3,600 feet elevation in southeastern New Mexico's high desert terrain, characterized by dramatic temperature variations between day and night. Most dispersed sites require campers to follow strict pack-in/pack-out protocols with no services available.
What to do
Desert hiking trails: Haystack Mountain OHV Area features miles of trails suitable for hiking and mountain biking beyond the OHV use. "The area offered miles and miles of OHV trails which were good for hiking and mountain biking as well," notes Shari G. about Haystack Mountain OHV Area.
Wildlife observation: The desert ecosystem supports diverse wildlife including rattlesnakes and tarantulas. "Black widows and massive tarantulas everywhere. We are not locals so it was startling to say the least," reports Alex T. about Haystack Mountain OHV Area.
Stargazing opportunities: Clear desert skies and minimal light pollution create ideal conditions for astronomy enthusiasts. "We got here towards the evening and it was so beautiful driving up! There is some great views," explains Savannah G. about her experience at Haystack Mountain.
What campers like
Exceptional desert sunsets: The west-facing terrain at several sites provides unobstructed sunset views. "With the landscape falling away toward the west, the sunsets were simply amazing," according to camper reviews at Alamo Road Camp.
Solitude and space: Sites are typically well-separated from neighbors, providing privacy. "It was very nice, peaceful, great views at night, and everyone was pretty nice and spread out so no troubles," reports Paul C. about his stay at Alamo Road Camp.
Clean facilities: The maintained vault toilets at Haystack Mountain receive consistent praise. "The bathrooms were the cleanest pit-toilets we've ever seen," notes one camper, while another states, "Bathroom was immaculate, views are great. Thank you to the host for keeping it this way."
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Some sites have challenging access routes requiring cautious driving. "Down a bumpy and mostly dirt road. This area will get muddy for sure in a decent rain... The road is pretty primitive, with potholes along the entire length," writes Philip W. about Alamo Road Dispersed.
Wind exposure challenges: The open terrain offers little protection from frequent desert winds. "Flat wide open so wind can be tough. High winds warning for tonight up to 70mph gusts," warns Randall G. about camping conditions.
Shooting activity nearby: Several dispersed camping areas sit near informal target shooting locations. "There is a target shooting range on DOD land about 2 mi away so during the day you do hear gunshots from time to time. Everyone shooting there is shooting North so stay south of the zig zag road sign," advises Ron R.
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife precautions: Families should be aware of potentially dangerous desert wildlife. "We had the place to ourselves and watched another amazing New Mexico sunset. Beware that there are rattle snakes in the area as we watched one slither across the road at a distance," warns Wendy K. from Picacho Road Dispersed Camping.
Site selection priorities: Choose locations with natural shelter when possible. "It's a decent pull off from a random dirt road in New Mexico. You have to drop off into a slight ditch to get to the spot, about 3-4 inches I'd say," notes Erin G.
Water requirements: Plan for higher water consumption than expected due to dry conditions. "There is no water at this camping area, not even a nearby creek, so come prepared. Roswell, offers all the amenities you could want, with full grocery stores, gas station and water/ice kiosks," advises one experienced camper.
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many dispersed sites require careful positioning for larger rigs. "We stayed for 5 nights--there's a spot immediately to the left off of Alamo road. We pulled in during a freak snow, so went exploring in the truck the next day. That immediate spot was easy to pull into with plenty of space--didn't unhook the road," shares Brenda Y. at Alamo Road Dispersed.
Accessibility considerations: Not all roads leading to dispersed sites can accommodate larger RVs. "The roads weren't suitable for our RV after that (bumpy) and with small ditches on each side to get through to get to sites, we couldn't make those but other campers did & were out camping," continues Brenda.
Site selection for large rigs: Some sites accommodate substantial RVs despite primitive conditions. "We only stayed one night with our 45 foot fifth wheel while traveling through. It was so nice that we contemplated staying longer," reports Wendy K.
