Searching for the best camping near Ruidoso Downs, NM? Ruidoso Downs is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Find the best campgrounds near Ruidoso Downs, NM. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
Grindstone lake
9 min away
West Mesa Trailhead BLM Dispersed
38 min away
"The drive up is full of narrow switchbacks that you just hope and pray nobody else happens to be coming around at the same time as you are. There are some quite steep grades as well."
"We have a Tacoma with a rooftop tent and the road leading to the campsite wasn’t an issue at all. In fact, most vehicles are more than likely to make it if they aren’t too long or pulling a trailer."
"You have 360 views of the region, but beware, the wind can get quite torrential and there is not a ton of shade but there is some!"
"Me and two of my buddy's went there and had a great time hiking and just hanging around camp and chilling."
"Not much privacy when it's busier (warmer months).
Good base camp for some of the best hiking around Ruidoso (Big Bonito Trail, Argentina Trail, etc.)"
"It’s a nice area to spend with another person and even with kids, restrooms are clean, there’s some privacy if you find s good spot, could be busy during the weekend, but it’s worth visiting"
"The site stayed at had a fire ring/grill, picnic table and a tent pad. One of the sites had an Adirondack shelter. This site is close to US 82 which means road noise but I ignored it after 20 minutes."
"Located just a couple miles outside of Mayhill, NM inside the Lincoln National Forest, this primitive camping spot is directly off of US 82 and has a 5 spots total."
"Easily accessible and had vaulted toilets available. Saw plenty of wildlife including elk, wild turkey, and mule deer."
"Lower Karr Canyon campground is about 6 miles from the main highway at High Rolls, NM. The last 2 miles or so being rather rough dirt."
"We have rented Slide Campground several times for group RV & tent camping."
"However, the trail up to the camping spots is steep, washed out, and tight. Can be navigated with a stock 4x4 pick up. Also, there is a gun range at the bottom, so you'll hear gun shots til sundown."
RangerWe 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.
ScoutWe have rented Slide Campground several times for group RV & tent camping. It features vault toilets if you Ed them, a tent area, a very large covered pavilion for those rainy days, large firepit area, cooking grills & a large parking lot for RVs & kids to play. Also has bear proof garbage and food storage. It easily held 3 RVs and 20 people. They provide 300 gallons of water in a tank. Behind the campground is a hiking trail. Loved it.
GuideValley of Fires is a great state park with both RV- and tent-friendly spots. It's developed with covered, powder-coated picnic tables and flat, raised tent pads, a bathroom, and if my memory serves me correct (because I can't quite remember) showers.
Valley of Fires wouldn't be the best place to spend a full day as the black, volcanic rock holds a lot of heat. However at sunrise and sunset, the views are not to be missed. Use Valley of Fires as a good stop-over for trips across New Mexico.
GuideThis is a sweet little quiet campground that offers paved or gravel parking along with picnic tables fire rings and grills at each camping spot. There are no hookups, dry camping only. Firewood available at camp host for $6 a bundle.
TravelerAs of May 2021, through end of Sep 2021, camping is BY RESERVATION ONLY, via reserveamerica.com.
The amenities of each campsite, as well as "driveway" length, are listed on that website.
All campsites have a picnic table and a fire ring with grill.
Only some have shade shelters.
Hydrant water is potable (except from blue hydrant at dump station).
Pets on leash (6' or less) at all times; lots of garbage cans to dispose of pet waste.
After recent rains, the park is strikingly green for being in the desert. The Nature Trail is a bit challenging, not having been reconstructed after the 2019 flood, but still offers a short easy hike to where there is flowing water prior to requiring you to clamber over boulders either up or down the canyon. The Dog Canyon Trail is steep -- bring lots of water! The Visitor Center is open each morning except Monday, and staffed by knowledgeable volunteers. Call the park phone # and listen to the recording to find if there are any changes.
At this time (through Sept 15) MASKS ARE REQUIRED in the VC and comfort station.
Volunteer camphosts keep the comfort station spotless. They also sell firewood for the Friends of Dog Canyon (cash only), and if the VC is not open can sell you an annual pass (also cash only). They will loan you a free sled/saucer for White Sands.
Glass containers are prohibited (outside your RV).
ATVs/OHVs are prohibited.
Guide04/14/22 James Canyon, Lincoln National Forest, NM
Thursday night/Friday morning.
I arrived a little after 5 am and found a couple campsites that had parking pads. One pad was already occupied by a single vehicle so I took the last open spot. A car full of young adults pulled up about five minutes later and they just set up their tent right in the overflow parking area. They were packing up when I woke up a few hours later and the car camper was long gone.
There was an additional tent site with an open cabin shelter next to the first two spots and five additional spots across a footbridge that goes over a creek bed. All of the spots have nice level areas for tents, and picnic tables and fire rings. None of the area had cell coverage, however an occasional text would get through. There are bear proof trash cans at the entrance, along with an outhouse at the far edge of the parking lot. With easy access right off the main road. It’s a “dispersed” camp so there’s no fee.
A scenic bluff behind the sites provides a great backdrop, with rolling hills across the street. While the view is great, the camp is right next to a fairly busy road so there was a lot of noise from traffic during the day. It was calm and quiet when I arrived, but that quickly changed once the sun came up. It also became very windy the day I camped so I ended up using the open cabin as a wind shelter, as I was the only camper left in the morning.
LegendHas one handicap accessible & next to bathroom). There is a group site that has three picnic tables under a shelter and two grills. 2 RV sites have covered picnic tables and grills and water and electric hookups. Five tent sites. One of the tent locations is at the handicap accessible site. CLEAN restrooms with flush toilets and drinking water are available. Pets are allowed in the campground(on leash), but are not allowed on the trails. Petroglyph trails are rocky, but not difficult (keep your eyes peeled, there are petroglyphs everywhere). Hosts were very nice. Campground has well-functioning electronic/pay check-in. Great BLM campground. Other places in area include Malpais lava flows. Sierra Blanca hovers to the east. Sunset was early in Nov. so if hiking trails in late afternoon take a flashlight. Nearby Carrizozo reportedly has a photo gallery or three that we were told were well worth checking out but we did not get chance to do so.
LegendJames Canyon, NM: This is right off the highway, so easy access. There are only two sides when you can accommodate an RV.. A couple folks parked in the parking lot overnight. Ad jacent highway noise is very noticeable, however, traffic is pretty light and very late at night time. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: For a stop over: 4.
Price 2024: Free
Security: no
Usage during visit: two RV sites filled up. Ted sites for him to. Room in the parking lot. Small Riggs only
Site Privacy: no
Site Spacing: good
Pad surface: RV sites
Reservations: no
Campground Noise: no, no
Outside Road Noise: noticeable
Through Traffic in campground: no, except for stopping to use the bathrooms
Electric Hookup: no
Sewer Hookup: no, no
Dump Station: no
Potable Water Available: No
Generators: allowed
Bathroom: very clean pit toilets
Showers: no
Pull Throughs: both RV sites are back in. A little bit of extra work is required to back the trailer down to go to one of the two site.
Cell Service (AT&T): no
Setting: just off the highway
Recent Weather: cool nights
Solar: some
Insects: none
Host: no
Rig Size: much over 22’ would be difficult
TravelerComing from the stark heat near White Sands, it is pretty remarkable that just 40 minutes away you can find a cool, windy, shady oasis. I give this campsite good remarks due to the fact it’s the only one open in the area (all the others marked on this app nearby are closed), it is the only campground I’ve seen in the past 30 days on the road that has only ever other site opened to ensure social distancing, a clean vault toilet (and 3 toilets on site), beautiful sites full of shade equipped with picnic tables, ample space and parking, and fire rings. Perhaps this site is usually cheaper (I don’t know) and maybe it’s only this much due to COVID and lack of other options, but $23 seems remarkably high for the type of site it is. I’ve been through 8 states in the past month and stayed in much more “expensive” camping areas (i.e. primitive sites that know they can charge an arm and a leg due to being close to parks like the Tetons or Yellowstone or glacier) and I have not found any other sites expecting $23 for this type of space. If they were not doing every other site being open, you would be veryyyy close to your neighbors. That being said, it’s a great spot and if you can afford it, go for it.
Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for beautiful landscapes and a chance to connect with nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ruidoso Downs, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ruidoso Downs, NM is Monjeau Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Ruidoso Downs, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Ruidoso Downs, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
