Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, San Mateo, NM has a lot to offer. San Mateo is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near San Mateo and user-submitted reviews.
"This spot is fairly wide open spacious, right off the Continental Divide Trail, and has two fire rings. You can drive to this location Via forest service road 456 until it turns into FSR 239."
"No amenities but very close to Flying J! The dirt road was dry but you could tell after a rain it would be impassable."
"We drove 3 miles down a dirt road before picking our spot. You could easily park anywhere but they have some spots with fire-pits, there are no hook ups or water so be prepared."
"Tucked into the ledge. Probably a mess in a rain storm but a wonderful spot to disperse camp."
"Several sites off the smaller two track roads can support good size trailers with lots of flat open space. A few sites in the trees right on the road could only support vans or tents. "
"I decided to stay at the nearby Quaking Aspen Campground (0.5 mile away) due to this dispersed camping area kinda being a mudpit after the rain 😂
Would be awesome during a dry time!"
"We got a site for 2 RVs that protected us from an impending windstorm. Sites not very level but managed to get the RVs level enough. Thoroughly enjoyed the area. Biked 6 miles up the road."
"We did have to drive a couple miles to get away from other campers. Was perfectly fine after a day of cross country driving. Camped in a Jeep."
"So the road getting here is a bit of a long dirt road, somewhat washboarded by the big trucks that drive along it. The area is big and has a selection of camp sites / flat areas to choose from."
GuideThis is just down the road from a pilot gas station so that aspect is nice.
Very rough road would suggest 4*4 or clearance for bad weather access. I had an awd car and made it but I didn't go more than a few miles past the actual start of camping areas for fear of being washed out. Not a lot of space from a spot to camp and the road. Also not a lot of spaces that have been " broken in". Has free roaming cows as well.
Again I would almost just stay at the gas station unless your vehicle is able to handle a rough road.
Also I have T-Mobile and had a hell of a time with reception you get it but not consistent or strong at all 1-2 bars.
LegendThis would be an awesome camping area if it were not for the non stop shooting. Great scenery but annoyingly loud. Shooting noise started at the crack of dawn until sunset and it sounded like it was coming from all directions along with the ricochets. Shooters have left tons of shells and all the garbage they shoot at which is unacceptable and sad.
There are free roaming cattle in the area that can get quite close at times. They were not the slightest phased by the shooting just yards from them.
The dirt road from highway 550 is all washboard for miles and miles. You go through Zia Reservation land to get to this area so pay attention to the signs. You'll pass a couple of bike trail parking areas for White Ridge Bike Trails along the way which you can stay at if there is space otherwise leave it for the bikers. There is a large dumpster near the bike area as well.
Google maps shows areas further up the road. The GPS location for this site is right off the main dirt road but further in there are some nice spots but not advisable for low clearance vehicles.
There is no water and cell reception is spotty. Decent=Verizon AT&T=poor
GuideWe arrived after dark and found it with ease. No amenities but very close to Flying J! The dirt road was dry but you could tell after a rain it would be impassable. We drove about 3 miles past the second gate and found a great little pull off and woke up to a beautiful sunrise. Highly recommend!
GuideBe careful taking the road past the parking lot! There is a deep mud pit on the right that looks just like normal dirt. When going in stay to the left, and when leaving stay right
GPS led me to the wrong location as I'm sure it did many - route yourself to Six Mile Canyon RD instead, it should take you to these coordinates:
Lat: 35.439524 Lon: -108.545567
You'll see the lot at first. I couldn't tell if there were campsites there or not (looked like they were at least walk ins, but it's so quiet I'm sure you could do whatever here).
I took the road back. I was skeptic because it looked real beat up and I'm driving a Kia Forte, but it took me back to a campsite when I took a right at the fork. It only took about 3 min to get there, no idea how far back you need to go if you take the left at the fork.
Overall they're quite sites tucked away. My site has a very primitive fire pit, not sure if it's like that at every site. It's also super buggy out here so make sure to bring spray!
Saw a lot of people saying it's right off the highway, it's maybe about 5/10 minutes back once you get the right exit, so not bad at all if you need a night to just crash.
GuideNot able to access this site of ours trained in the last week. It's a 1 lane road to get to site. Just before the "T" there is an area when all the water goes thru. This is a sandy/dirt crossing and would be fine if no water. There had been some in the area and while it wasn't raining that day, there was 12"+ deep of mud to cross. Can't imagine the challenge of our was dry upon arriving and trained overnight! Take caution and watch the weather reports before attempting. We had to back up about 1/2 mile as there was no place to turn around.
GuideWe are doing a trip across the country, looking for cheap to free campsite and this one wast perfect. Right off the Interstate, the sign can be easily missed so keep an eye out. We drove 3 miles down a dirt road before picking our spot. You could easily park anywhere but they have some spots with fire-pits, there are no hook ups or water so be prepared.
ScoutWhile driving cross country, my friend and I were just looking for a place to camp for the night, relatively hassle free. We put “Six Mile rd” into our GPS and it took us to one of those dirt roads that runs right along the highway. We made the mistake of going in the dark, and we got lost and wound up in a residential neighborhood because we were convinced there was no way the campsites were out the highway rd. The road also said rd work, no access ahead, so we thought we couldn’t even get to it. When we made it, it was hard to tell if there were any campsites, as we didn’t see anyone else camping. We went up a steep hill and there was a huge washout and our car almost fell down nearly 10 feet. In the end, we just pulled off the road and parked for the night. The highway was visible and super loud all night long. My tip, DONT TRY TO FIND IT IN THE DARK!
ScoutThis spot is fairly wide open spacious, right off the Continental Divide Trail, and has two fire rings. You can drive to this location Via forest service road 456 until it turns into FSR 239.
TravelerI’m actually stuck here as I’m writing this because the rain washed out the road, and everything is so muddy. I was tired and the weather app said only a 50% chance of rain for an hour, but boy was that wrong. A nice spot besides that, close to the highway but far enough away to not have much noise. I would avoid it in the future without something 4x4 though.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near San Mateo, New Mexico, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations to choose from, each offers a unique experience for those looking to escape into the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near San Mateo, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near San Mateo, NM is Forest Service Road Large Camp with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near San Mateo, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near San Mateo, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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