For those who want to experience Ruidoso Downs, but still want the creature comforts of home, consider glamping for your trip. The Dyrt can help find the best glamping in and around Ruidoso Downs, NM. Search nearby glamping or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Set against the dramatic Sacramento Mountains, this park features a historic ranch house, quiet camping in the Chihuahuan Desert, and pools of water under the cottonwood trees of Dog Canyon. Springs flow year-round and ferns cling to the sides of mossy rocks. The water in Dog Canyon has attracted people to the area for millennia.
The park’s namesake, Oliver Milton Lee (1865-1941) was a colorful figure in New Mexico history. In 1893 he settled at the mouth of Dog Canyon and built an extensive house at his ranch headquarters. At its peak, his holdings reached about one million acres. Oliver Lee explored ways of bringing water to the dry Tularosa Basin and was instrumental in establishing the town of Alamogordo. Lee is also credited for using his influence to attract the railroad to the area.
Oliver Lee’s home at Dog Canyon Ranch has been completely rebuilt from ruins. It is authentically furnished providing visitors with a glimpse of Lee’s life at the ranch. The house is closed for renovations. Please monitor the park events page to find out when tours resume.
Want to Visit?
The campground, just southwest of the mouth of Dog Canyon, is dry and rocky with desert grasses, mesquite, ocotillo, creosote, yucca, and various species of cacti. The sites vary widely in elevation offering privacy and incredible views across the Tularosa Basin.
Travel Tips:
Peak season for the park is October through April Park Elevation 4,400 ft We are the closest campground to White Sands National Park (30 min. / 27 miles) The park makes an excellent base for day trips Ruidoso 1.25 hours / 66 miles Three Rivers Petroglyph Site 56 min. / 50 miles Cloudcroft 44 min. / 35 miles There are attractions in Alamogordo less than 30 minutes away Alameda Park Zoo New Mexico Museum of Space History Heart of the Desert Pistachios & Wine McGinn’s Pistachio Land The nearby Lincoln National Forest offers miles of trails ranging from very easy to very challenging
$10 - $14 / night
From the KOA website: Nestled in the Tularosa Basin, the Alamogordo / White Sands KOA is a perfect location to set up as your base camp while touring the beauty and attractions of Southern New Mexico! With RV sites, tent sites, and cabins we can accommodate most every type of traveling camper. Mild winters make Alamogordo a wonderful place to escape the cold and snow of northern climates so be sure to ask about winter rates. Escape the desert heat by cooling off in our inviting pool. A large rec room and long covered outside patio work great for group events. Enjoy hiking or disk-sledding down the vast gypsum dunes at White Sands National Monument, only a short 15 mile drive from the campground! Learn about New Mexicos role in the US space program through interactive exhibits at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Explore ancient rock drawings at the Three Rivers Petroglyph site, just 30 miles north of the campground! Or, simply unwind while taking a leisurely stroll through the oldest zoo in the Southwest the Alameda Park Zoo established in 1898. Though were located in the southern New Mexico desert, the tall, cool pines of Cloudcroft (8600 feet) and Ruidoso (7000 feet) are within an hours drive of the campground and make great day trips to escape the heat. Your hosts will gladly share other hidden gems in Alamogordo during your stay. Well see you soon!
Beautiful park on the Rio Bonito. Come spend one night or longer with us at Bonito Hollow Rv park. Located 15 minutes north of Ruidoso. One of the best parks in Ruidoso area with a wooded environment. We accommodate rigs of all size. We have a large park area for your enjoyment, which includes sand volleyball, horseshoe pits and a dog run. Within seconds to the national forrest.
$40 - $54 / night
Several shelters, tables and fire rings are located here as well as a vault toilet. All sites are dry and on a first come/first served basis. The access road off of US 380 is graveled. There are no fees for camping in this area.
This rustic style campground has 12 sites set at the base of southern New Mexico's tallest mountain. A portion of the site is designed for Group Camping. Three Rivers is a great place to go to get away from the crowds and is located at a much lower elevation than our other campgrounds (around 5000'). From here you can access the Three Rivers trailhead (T44) into the White Mountain Wilderness is located. Access to the site and the roads throughout the site are all well maintained dirt roads. Don't miss the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site on the way in or out. ACTIVITIES Camping Hiking Horseback Riding Picnicking: Smokey Bear Ranger District picnic area.
Owners Barry and Donna Bell of Along the River RV Park are glad to welcome you to Ruidoso, New Mexico! Whether you are a first-time camper with us or have been here before, Along the River has a campsite for you! We offer more than a place to stay, we present a delightful and memorable experience. Our RV Park is for every age group, so give us a call and come see us soon!
Ranger
Local to everything in Alamogordo. Propane available, laundry, cabins, hot as hell showers, water pressure is really high at around 155 psi. So definitely bring a regulator. Two KOA cats that are friendly so FYI
TravelerEveryone was super nice! Place was well kept and clean. Note: there is lots of railroad train coming by throughout the evening WiFi could be better. White Sands National Park is very close.
Ranger
Beautiful location for sunsets. Sites are spread out, private, and a bargain at $10 ($14 for electric/water). Clean bathrooms. One very strenuous hike from the campground. We only went up 1/4 mile. The footing was challenging (along with the elevation gain). Good overnight. Quiet at night.
TravelerCar camped in a tent site for just a night after visiting WSNP. Non-flush toilets without sinks near tent sites and the full bathhouse is a bit of a walk away. Worth it, though, with spacious shower stalls and well-kept buildings. Sweet views of the valley and mountains and far off the highway.
TravelerStayed here while visiting White Sands National Park for 2 nights. Its a well kept fairly small campground. Everything worked as advertised. Highly recommend this place. Some nice hikes from the park with amazing views.
Scout
There is NO River, small stream in a ditch. LIE# 2. Internet indicates SHOWERS. However if your camper has a shower ACCESS TO SHOWERS. DENIED!!! Also No fires allowed ! Highway noise drowns out any Peaceful sounds. In truth: NO Amenities… play in the ditch or stay in your camper.
GuideA really great place to hang out for a few days and just enjoy life. Beautiful cliffs to the east towering over the sites, and the wide expanse of the valley to the east. Wonderful view of the starry night sky as well. Facilities were acceptable, nothing to complain about. Good cell service for both Verizon and T-mobile. Close for a day trip into the mountains or White Sands. Perfectly open to the sky for great solar.
Traveler
This was a really nice spot we stumbled upon. It's about 13 miles off the 54 on BLM land. The road was smooth (though gravel most of the way). It was also super quiet since it was so far away from the road. The actual camp was in the trees and great views of the surrounding mountains. Each spot has a table, fire pit, and gazebo. There are also a few trailheads at the back of camp. The only downside was that it cost $15.
TravelerPros - gorgeous 360 views, quiet spot, clean pit toilets, water available throughout grounds
Cons - zero shade so it is HOT especially if you're tent camping, nothing to "do" at the campground but plenty activities in a reasonable drive
LegendOliver Lee Memorial, NM: We stayed in Loop B, non-electric. I did not evaluate Loop A. Good location for visiting White Sands (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 4.5 Great campground layout. Well designed. Sites are staggered giving view grand view for all sites
Security: Desert vegetation does not offer privacy
Site Spacing: Great .
Toilets and Showers :There is a dispersed camping area nearby, therefore, showers/flush toilet building is shut down at night to avoid their unauthorized usage of facilities during the night. Scattered pit toilets are always available.
Usage during visit: 95% full
Site Privacy: No
Site Spacing: GREAT
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Quiet
Outside Road Noise: This campground is at the end of the access road.
Through Traffic in campground: No
Electric Hookup: Loop A
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: Yes. Open from about dawn to nighttime to avoid unlawful use.
Potable Water Available: Scattered spigots in Loop B.
Bathroom: Pit toilets and one nice shower/flush toilet facility.
Showers: Private stalls.
Pull Throughs: Some
Cell Service (AT&T): Good service from our site.
Setting: Nestled close to the mountain range with nice views of the desert below.
Recent Weather: Sunny. 60s to 30s
Solar: GREAT
Insects:None
Host: Great hosts
Rig Size:Large rigs
Sites: best sunsets sites.:42, 43, 44(however, you can see the sunset from most sites.). Nice view sides: 41, 40, 39, 38, 32, 33, (35, 36, 37, great views just close to the bathroom). Every site here has an extraordinary view. These are just a little bit better, in my opinion.
RangerI messed up thinking I had booked this campground - I hadn’t. It was five minutes to seven pm and the staff called me back and got me a site for less than $50 for the night. It was a nice, level pull through site with water/sewer/cable/electric. I was pretty relieved that we would have somewhere to camp - no one else picked up their phones.
We didn’t arrive until nearly nine and the same staff person was still working - helping someone back into their site. She was very kind and welcoming.
The next morning I checked out the campground. The area was pretty industrial, but less than two minutes to the science museum and zoo. Individual spaces were generous (especially the tent sites - they would fit any tent size) and I liked the little patio we had. The playground was newish, the pool looked like it would be nice when filled, the laundry room looked great (but cash only - I prefer the card ones) and there was a lovely store and rec room. There were also showers and a small dog run.
This KOA had everything you could need - including excellent customer service.
20-25 minutes to White Sands National Monument.
GuideThree Rivers Campground finally reopened "for good" at the start of 2024 after some stops and starts due to fires around the area.
This place is unique as it is one of the few places you can camp on the Western edge of Sierra Blanca / the White Mountain Wilderness. Tons of hiking opportunities with 3 separate trails originating at the campground.
Well maintained dirt roads lead up to the campground. There's a single spot where water flows over the road but it was only an inch or so deep and padded with concrete.
$6 per vehicle per night. Hosts present and active. Very nice couple watching over the sites.
Please tread lightly, leave no trace, and be gentle with the wilderness. This place has gone through a lot of fire related hardships.
LegendGreat state park. Clean and well thought out camping sites. Not much shade but some sites have shelters over picnic tables. Stayed at dry site (no water or electric) but water is available around campground.
Legend
Very small campground with beautiful spots. Trash bins and awnings.
TravelerLovely level sites, as I am in a van. Spacious sites, firebox available, tables at the sites, deer, wild horses come to visit. Firewood available per bundle.
LegendIt is a small but very nice campground. No electricity water or sewer but trash toilets and privacy. Would be hot in high summer and cold right now end of November but if you have a generator and can be off the grid what a cute place to be.
Traveler
STAY FAR AWAY!!! This place was a nightmare. Over priced cheapy dirty lodging ran by a old men frat boys. The cabin was not as listed. It's a SHARED cabin with the owner although listed(and priced) as a private cabin. Listed as family friend yet we got a complaint that our kids noise was excessive from INSIDE of the cabin. The cabin comes with no view and lots of attitude. Decorated with cheap tacky prints in goodwill frames with price tags on every single one. The"maintenance guy" came onto the property on our 1st morning to yell at us and treat us like children over the fire pit we used the night before. He came trying to intimidate us, threatening that we are going to be charged for excessive damage, at the very start of our stay. There is NO communication here. No instructions, no checkout or checkin information, nothing. We placed a log on a propane firepit because we were supplied a nearly empty propane tank, and were unaware we could burn a log on it. Again, no information about ANYTHING anywhere inside or out. just an inaccurate map. Once he saw we were recording this, he sped off in his truck yelling"I'm taking away your fire privileges". We spent our Saturday morning cleaning out that firepit with our bare hands, it looked and functioned 10x better than when we arrived. Not my idea of vacationing! So we didn't mess with it the remainder of our 2 days there. We came for the view and campfire, both we didn't get to experience here. Went to talk to the owner after the maintenance man drama and he could care less and then sat there blaming us for excessive noise from my kids(sorry that you CHOOSE to live in the same cabin you rent), parking in"his driveway" for a few hours last night(again, you chose this life bud), and saying stupid things like,"wheres your realtors license"(huh?!?!). Biggest waste of money ever. There's a reason there are no pictures. Map advertises the other cabin is private and seperated, NOPE, shared cabin. Pictures are of the"amazing view", aka the owners junky backyard and a crappy doghouse(which we were scolded for turning on the light of). STAY ELSEWHERE, TRUST ME!
ScoutAs other people have mentioned, there are some sites that have small shelters built over the picnic tables, but I couldn't figure out a pattern to them, so it would be difficult to reserve ahead. (Also, many of them were at the RV sites--which have water and electricity but no sewer connections--which seemed like a waste since RV's come with built-in shade. Luckily, we had brought an 8' square canopy which was a lifesaver. About 15 minutes from Alamogordo and 30 minutes from White Sands, so convenient, too. It seemed to be full on Friday night but only half-full on Saturday night. (The Trinity Site was open on Saturday, so my guess was that some people went there and then moved on.) Nice flush bathrooms with free showers, and there were additional spigots and vault toilets for backup. Didn't go on it but the Dog Canyon trail looks like a beast and started from the campground. Highlight was definitely the views, especially during sunrise and sunset. The sites across from us ($42 and #44) would have been even better for views (though neither had the prized picnic table shade!).
ScoutClean and well maintained place to set up home for a few days! Friendly and helpful folks running the place. Offered good advice on area “things to see.”
RangerAt the mouth of Dog Canyon this is a gem of a campground! Though not a lot of shade so you should plan for that, there are some covered shelters at a few sites. Clean facilities, showers, restrooms. Friendly camp hosts. You do remember to thank your camp hosts, right? Great base camp for exploring White Sands NP even though it’s a bit of a drive. Potable water and dump site available. It can get quite windy… Be sure to check out Alamogordo while you’re there and don’t forget the world’s largest pistachio!
GuideBig sites, had a tiny camper and tent. Plenty of room. Table and fire pit. Beautiful views! Showers, trails and a visitor center. Less than 30 min from white sands and Alamogordo. PRO-TIP go to Nenas ice cream and snack shop on Alamogordo and order mango creama with a scoop of ice cream. SUPER FRESH ingredients. Also Amigos Bakery has amazing baked goods and burritos.
Traveler
Lovely campsites, good tent sites and a few pull thru and back in sites for small Rv’s. Saw several teardrops. No showers but clean pit toilets.
Scout
I was looking to get away from the heat in Albuquerque and maybe even do a little fishing. I picked a site next to the upper river (Rio Bonito). The water was clear and moving, but no sign of any fish. The river is more of a creek (expected for New Mexico), but still pretty. It was barely visible from my camp, but just a short hike away. No ATT or Verizon cell service at my site, but I did find a weak signal up near the office. The wifi was a struggle. It was barely adequate the first day, but absolutely miserable the second day. I could easily connect to their router, but constantly got an error of “no internet service” and had to log off and on several times. I had limited shade at my site, but thankfully the AC kept the trailer cool enough, as it was nearly 90 degrees outside. The hosts were very nice and the park is kept pretty clean. No tents allowed, though.
Guide
We stayed here in January and the stay was wonderful. We were greeted by friendly and helpful hosts. Nice office and with couches and a book/dvd lending library. There is a pool in the summer and an area for breakfast. Our stay in January was wonderful. You can also refill your propane on site. We would come back here any time !
GuideBest rv campsite in the area clean and spacious sites , access to the River, firewood for sale and friendly owners. We have camped here the last 3 years and we love this place. Matt is a great host always helpful and kind. You will love this campground !
ScoutWe have stayed here many time, the owners are great and the rv park is great.
LegendGeneral: Nicely laid out state park about 15 miles from Alamogordo where you could stock up on anything you need.
Site Quality: The sites are level, gravel, and generous in size; each would have room for an extra vehicle if needed. I believe all of them have water and electric hookups. The only odd thing is that these hookups are located near the front of the site which could be awkward if you do not have a long enough cord. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring; some (but not all) have a covered shelter.
Bathhouse: The bathroom appeared clean. Two shower stalls appeared clean, but I did not use them. There is a gravel path leading to the bathhouse, but it is twisty and rocky; make sure you bring your flashlight after dark.
Activities: There are guided tours four times a week where you will drive your own vehicle to the ranch. There is also an occasional Saturday morning “coffee and conversation” where staff is available to answer questions about the history of the area, plants, and wildlife. Unfortunately, we arrived after dark in the rain and left the next morning around 9 am still in the rain and not on a day that any of the programs were offered. From what I could see, this looks like a very well-laid-out park, and I would definitely like to return to see the ranch and explore more of the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Ruidoso Downs, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Ruidoso Downs, NM is Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park with a 4.8-star rating from 60 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Ruidoso Downs, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 glamping camping locations near Ruidoso Downs, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
