Best RV Parks & Resorts near Ruidoso Downs, NM

Awesome little campground in the high desert just west of Carrizozo. I arrived around 830 pm on a Saturday night in the middle of August and had my pick of spots. Fellow campers were quiet. RV hook ups available and showers/toilets available for both RV and tent campers. You can hear infrequent cars on the nearby highway (US 380) but it didn’t bother me. There are little grill tops near picnic tables, but the wind kept me from getting a good fire started. There is a roof shelter over the picnic table as well. Amazing sunset and sunrise and incredible stargazing. Only complaint is the bugs. SO MANY BUGS. No mosquitos that I noticed but plenty of annoying lava gnats and bigger things. Bring your bug spray. $7 for tent sites, $18 for RVs. Lava field has some paved trails through it, but it would get awfully hot during the day with the black rock. Might not be great for kids. Cacti with big ole thorns and the campground bordering the lava field have a bit of drop off. This campground holds a place in my heart, I’ll be back again.

Must see recreational site with 2 trails, 11 picnic areas with shelters and grills, and really clean restrooms located south of Carrizozo, NM, and north of Tularosa, NM. Quick day trip after White Sands National Monument, Alamogordo, NM.

Open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Fee area. Only $5 for day use but cash or check only. National Park Passes such as America the Beautiful, Golden Age, Active Military are free day use and half off dry camping/RV hookup. No camping yet.

Three Rivers Trading Post located 4 miles from site can make change. Park Hosts on site are very friendly and helpful but cannot make change.

Free Trail maps are available at Display Board next to fee drop box. The trail map explains petroglyphs at 11 stations. Covered rest area with scenic views of Sacramento and Godfey Mountains located after station 11.

Dogs and other pets must be leashed in campground (no camping in the 11 sites and 2 RV sites since March 2020 due to Covid). No dogs on trails allowed.

Main petroglyph trail is moderate, not easy, as steep in some parts. Be careful to stay on trail due to sharp thorns from mesquite and the possibility of rattlesnakes. Bring lots of water as this is Chihuahuan Desert. Hiking boots recommended.

Village trailhead begins in the campground and continues across the road from the entrance sign. This easy flat 1/4 mile loop showcases 3 reconstructed Jornada Mogollon pit homes.

Camping not open. When open, the 2 RV sites have electricity and water. No dump station. Closest dump station is BLM Valley of Fires, Carrizozo, NM. When open, 11 dry campsites with upright grills and garbage cans. Five of the 11dry sites have clean elevated tent boxes. Water spigot located by Village trailhead. Don' wash dishes in the bathrooms. 14 day limit for both RV and dry camping. First come, first serve.

When open, RV hook up is $18 a day, and dry camping is $7 a day.

This is a great day trip. Most people take an hour on the main trail and then picnic.

Super friendly owners. A beautiful and picturesque location in the Sacramento mountains. Easy in and out just a few miles from the village of Cloudcroft in the heart of the Lincoln National Forest. On property hiking trail, and an excellent common areas. Fruit trees abound, and picking fruit is allowed in season. They also have a cabin with multiple rental rooms. Full RV hookups and wifi at very reasonable rates. It is close to the road, but traffic is minimal at night. They are open year round!

We tent camped at Eagle Lake aka Eagle Creek campground on the Mescalero Apache Reservation over Memorial Day weekend 2022. The surrounding Lincoln National Forest was closed because of extreme fire risk, so there were very few places to camp in the Sacramento Mountains and escape the heat of El Paso. We used camp stoves because of a fire ban. We camped among the pine trees in the first tent area. There were clean porta-johns in that area. The showers and permanent bathroom were located up in the RV park about a 3-mile round trip walk on the road from the first tent area, so it’s more practical to drive to the showers. The permanent bathrooms and showers were clean.

Very pretty scenery, surrounded by mountain ridges and peaks and pine forest. There were two small lakes and a small creek flowing through the campground.

The campground format is kind of laissez faire because there aren’t assigned sites and it’s first come, first serve. The first tent area seemed about half full and we found a good site. We didn’t scout the second tent area because the host said there weren’t as many trees there. The first tent site was developed on a forested slope albeit they built flat rectangular-like terraces into the slope where you can pitch a tent(s) and park your vehicle(s).

Eagle Creek, near Ruidoso, had a similar feel to the Mescalero Nation’s Silver Lake campground near Cloudcroft, but Eagle Creek had a more quiet vibe. The main drawback was the 10:00 am checkout time, but we were still able to cook up some breakfast burritos as we broke camp. Good times.

Update 6/22/2022: At some point after my review, the Dyrt deleted the actual campground, which is where the road forks and moved my review to the nearby and similarly named RV resort, which is totally different. I love the Dyrt and I’m a pro ranger but sometimes c’mon man.

This was a decision while we were in Alamogordo trying to find an RV place in Ruidoso. What sold us to be there was the 5 star review. We knew the spaces were tight and it was in a commercial area but we were curious what it was about.

We were very happy with the two nights we spent here. I think the ease of picking a spot that worked for our situation, the clean park and bathrooms and friendly staff and neighbors made it surprisingly one of the best RV experiences we’ve had.

The high was 75 and the low was 45. It rained the first morning for about an hour. The main road is noisy, but we knew what we were getting into so it didn’t bother us.

The best part about this place was how close it was to stores, food, and gas. It’s really opened my eyes to how we can RV parks as a pass through in our journey to take advantage of electric and water and experience the local food and shops.

Ruidoso alone is a quintessential mountain town and it’s a must see visit in Lincoln National Forrest.

No phone service Verizon or ATT Also bathrooms and showers are closed. They said they only had water & electric sites without telling me about the closures. I can see plenty of full hook up sites that are empty. Nice setting but I can't recommend this place.

We spent three nights here. It was far enough off the main road, a couple miles, so there was no traffic noise. The owner, Crystal, super attentive to communications. The camp hosts Bob and Mardyth were so sweet. We had truck trouble and had to take it to a mechanic, and Bob came and picked us up and brought us back to the park. The park has full hook ups, a nice shower and laundry and book exchange, and a central area for relaxing and barbecuing. Some nice hiking in the area. A good spot to have as a homebase to visit White Sands National Park and Alamogordo, where the Space museum was.

Now called "Slow Play RV Park", under new ownership. Lots of spaces, with 30 & 50 amp hook up. Very nice property, with good paved roads throughout. Bathrooms and showers were impressively clean. There is a laundry room, and a game room with a few arcade games. Peaceful evenings, with enforced quite times. The front office has a store, with can drinks, toiletries, shirts, caps, a few over the counter medicines, and some misc RV things like hoses and dig bones. The staff is super helpful and friendly. They drove around the park just checking on everything. I will definitely be returning!

Best 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 !

Under new administration now its call Slow Play RV Park. Friendly and helpful owners. They will make sure your stay is as smooth as possible. Clean & quiet site with a dog walk trail.

Highly recommended if you are visiting Lincoln National Forest.

Overall, a pretty mediocre RV park. Typical tight sites and nothing as far as outdoor activities are present at the park. Park is right in the middle of town, so very convenient to a lot of shopping if you are into that kind of thing.

One of the best appointed rv parks we’ve seen! Sites are close to each other but it actually provides a cozy atmosphere on the grounds. A disco/star lamp at night lit up the trees. Charming! Walkable to town. Full of art and crafts from the owners. Would love to return.

Just can from Midland Tx where it was around 98, today at Cool Pines RV Park 72° at 3pm in the afternoon. Very friendly staff and are definitely practicing social distancing. I have a 50amp and water site for $30 a night taxes included. Planning on staying here the next three day. Hiking trails nearby and also planning a day of exploring the city of Alamogordo. Zoo, Space Museum and Train Depot only 23 miles away.