For those who want to get away from civilization for a weekend, but still want the comforts of home, consider renting a cabin for your San Rafael camping trip. The Dyrt can help you find the best cabin camping destinations for your next trip. Find your own little secluded paradise in nature. The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect camping cabin rental.
$8 - $18 / night
End your travel day where we'll spoil you, and explore the beauty and history of the high desert. Setup is a breeze at this award-winning KOA! Enjoy 85-foot-long Pull-Thru RV Sites with up to 50-amp service and plenty of room for slide-outs, as well as Tent Sites and Camping Cabins. Let the staff provide supper (March-October), with Campground Cuisine dinners delivered to your site. Kids will enjoy a romp on the playground, and your K9 pals can get their exercise at the on-site KampK9. You can also take a relaxing stroll among ancient lava beds here. End the evening with free wireless internet and cable TV as you rest up for your next day's adventures, then start your morning with a free continental breakfast. Perhaps you'll extend your stay to explore more of the beauty and history of northwestern New Mexico. Grants KOA makes it easy for you to have an enjoyable time while you are in the area. Max pull thru: 85 feet.
$45 / night
$15 - $40 / night
$30 - $94 / night
Guide
Great rate for 30 A. I love to see the wild horses roaming the park.
ScoutCampgrounds easy to access. I did not have a site reservation, buit there were lots of vacent pads available. Nice view of the lake. Only drawback was the all night incessant winds. They were strong, gusty and loud. So strong they collapsed my tent on top of me. Notmuch sleep that night. It might have been where I was (pad 44), They were still strong in the morning, but I noticed they were less/non existant at the campsites near the main entrance. Just bewaye and be prepared.
TravelerGreat campground. Not far off I-40. Lots of sites. Most have a level, gravel tent pad, table and fire ring. Vault toilets in abundance. One bathroom with sinks and flush toilets. Separate shower house was closed when we were here. Some electric sites. Some large level pull thrus. Most sites have at least a glimpse of the lake. There were horses roaming through the campground. Mostly empty this April midweek. Good trails for hiking. I only saw one water pump in the park. There is an EV charging station.
Scout
Not sure if my last one saved, this campground was awesome!! Clean facilities, free showers, free breakfast!
ScoutWe just stopped by overnight, but they have amazing FREE showers, very cheap laundry services, amazing views, FrEE breakfast. Awesome KOA!!
TravelerHad a lovely 1 night stay. The toilets & showers are unisex however they’re in individual little “restrooms” so there are not any gaps in the door etc, it’s your own little bathroom. Staff were lovely, smaller campground compared to other KOAs but perfect for our little RV. They also did a free breakfast!
Scout
What do you usually do during this trying epidemic season? I found a cool game called monopoly online to keep you entertained throughout the chilly weather. Come with me right now.
RangerThe campsites are nice but not very level. If you're coming after November you need to be here before 5:00 or the gates are locked. The water was very infected with blue green algae but also very pretty. The hikes are nice because the water is low you can walk all the way around the lake almost. Not very many electric sites but inexpensive if you get one.
RangerFriendly staff. Bathrooms were private and clean. Laundry facility on site is easy to use and clean. There is a small gift shop with a variety of items. Close to Hwy 40. There is a walking path next to the campground that is in a lava field and there are signs along the path with fun facts of the history of the lava field.
Dinner available to order
from resident kitchen and food is delivered to your campsite. Free pancake breakfast every morning.
Dog specific areas are available for your furry companion.
Sites are level gravel pads easy to get into. Mix of back in and pull through sites.
3 cabins are available as well. Playground for the kiddos.
We spent one night here and really enjoyed our stay.
TravelerNot far from I40. Very quiet and beautiful lake view for only $8 (dry camping). Hook up optionally available.
GuideVarious campsite types at this lakeside park. Most are non electric but I got an electric site as it was hot. A few trails and a nice family atmosphere. Unfortunately lake was choked with algae (seasonal) so I didn’t swim. Also some trash around. Good prices and sites though.
TravelerArea is very well maintained! Restrooms and showers were immaculate.
Watch out for the wild horses and their droppings.
Plenty of spots if you’re sleeping in a hammock.
LegendIf I offered s as my advise, check the fires before committing. Limited electric sites. I think more than 60% of sites were not level. We’re self-leveling but took site B - dry camping, level and fitted between 2 ADA sites. We loved being so remote. Verizon/Visible/ Starlink all worked great
Great staff. Patrolled by rangers frequently, so felt safe
GuideLake was muddy brown, not blue. First come, first served and we arrived before noon, but no electric sites were available. Views of lake and surrounding juniper covered mesas was good. Early in morning horses grazed right through our campsite.
LegendGeneral: Conveniently located close to I40, there are 20 pull-through 50-amp sites, 16 pull-through 30-amp sites, five back-in water/electric sites (ok for tents), five tent-only sites (no hookups) and four cabins. Other amenities include showers, laundry, a short (approx. 1/3 mile) walking trail, free WiFi, and a playground. We were welcomed by a very friendly staff and offered a cookie upon check-in. But perhaps the best amenity is the dinner service. You have a choice of several entrées, sides, and pie, choose your 10-minute delivery window, and the food is delivered directly to your site! A free continental breakfast is included as well.
Site Quality: As we expected, there is little privacy/separation between the sites. Our site (A) was located right next to the playground so expect to hear children playing if you are in this site (assigned by staff upon check-in). The sites are all gravel and level.
Bathhouse: Three all-in-one toilet/sink/shower combos and one additional bathroom. All were very clean, and the shower was very welcome after many days without one! There were two hooks, a bench, a garbage can, electrical outlet all in the room. There was a little drainage issue but there was an additional drain in the room. There is a code to access the restrooms.
Activities: There is so much to do in the area! The campground itself has a short walking path where pets are permitted. Outside of the campground, you can go to Ice Caves/Bandera Volcano (about 30 miles away) and a bit further, El Morro National Monument. One exit east takes you to El Malpais National Monument with more trails (note the Ranger Station and Visitor Center is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but you can still visit). Chaco Canyon is about two hours north. There are also several museums in the area and also a stretch of Route 66 (be sure to pose your car and yourself for a selfie in the Route 66 Arch!) Note you will hear an occasional train and road noise from I40.
As far as the campground itself is concerned, it is nothing special but the amenities more than make up for it! We highly recommend the pie!
LegendGeneral: There are several options here: RV and tent camping, and cabins. As members of Harvest Host, we were able to stay here for free with the expectation that we would patronize the business.
Site Quality: The tent section is behind the cabins, but RVs park in the gravel parking lot with no clearly defined spaces. The section at the top of the fence away from the trading post appeared to be level but otherwise, the lot is sloped. We opted to park closer to the trading post in our campervan, which was also closer to the pit toilet.
Bathhouse: During the high season, there is a bathhouse and shower, but it was not open when we were there, but the pit toilet was very clean. When the trading post is open (9-5, later in the summer), there are restrooms inside.
Activities: There is a trail to the ice cave (short but there are stairs) and a loop trail leading to the volcano (about 1.5 miles but wear sturdy shoes and you should be in reasonable shape). It was recommended that we do this hike in a counterclockwise direction and this was good advice. The fee is $12 for both and there are markers with an interpretive pamphlet explaining the history and geology of the area. There is a trading post with souvenirs and a small kitchen area where you can purchase some food and beverages.
We were the only campers there on a VERY cold late March night so I imagine it would be very different during warmer months. We only heard an occasional car but otherwise, it was very quiet, and the night sky was beautiful. This is a family-run business, and everyone was very welcoming.
GuideKOA was okay. Showers were cold. Showers were private which was nice but again water temperature was cold!!
GuideVery friendly staff and campers, exceptionally clean
TravelerGood campsites. Clean showers and full hook ups as well as low key pull through sites. None of the sites are close to the water but only a short hike or drive. Catch release Tiger Muskie was the fishing my husband was after.
TravelerGreat little stop. We didn’t hear any road noise. There is lava everywhere which is cool! Several things to see in area. Then there is the FOOD so good. You can order and have delivered to your camper.
LegendThis place was fantastic. The rates are dirt cheap, but the park is worth many times more. I came in without a reservation and found a huge pull-through campsite on the hill, with a clear view of the lake (it is indeed blue). There was a deep and broad terrace for picnic table and tent, and some pines for shade. It was a little windy when I visited, but not uncomfortably so. It was dark and quiet at night, and I slept well.
The bathroom nearest my campsite was a vault toilet, but a clean one. Real bathrooms are available at the visitor center, a long walk north of my tent.
I recommend following the trail at the north end of the campground for a nice view of the dam (it was a 10 to 15 minute hike for me, narrow but level). The lake is also open for boating and fishing, with a launch ramp near the campground.
The only downside I can think of was the trash I found at my campsite, mostly bottle caps. I spent a few minutes picking it up before I left.
ScoutThis place is amazing. The trail views are incredible and it's secluded and peaceful but feels safe. We have a signal booster that let us get enough bars of reception to work our remote jobs, but once the booster went off it was intermittent at best. The trading post is also super cool, and has enough food to hold you over for a while if you come without anything
GuideI really liked this. It was a bit of a splurge as I normally stay at free sites but with all the amenities it was worth it. Really really glad I stopped here and next time I come through I’ll be back.
GuideIn was a dreamy March evening, Colton, Elliot, and Ed drove in to Bluewater lake state park at 9:30 PM. It was post staff hours but we were allowed to park outside and do an easy, flat hike into the camp site. Lots of clean, empty sites, plus clean bathroom . The campsite numbers were hard to find but it’s chill. Got super cold during this time of year at night, so come ready with hats, gloves, and sleeping pads.
GuideSo we were very lucky that we decided to check out this campground, it is absolutely gorgeous! There was not a single other camper here so we got a nice level spot with power. It was a bit cold, got down to 15, there was some leftover snow in some spots but nothing that was a problem. Last night something was bugging the dogs so I looked outside to see a herd of wild horses grazing next to our camper! There are lots of good hiking trails. The water is still on here and the dump stations are open if needed.
TravelerAt first we thought we were the only ones here. The bathrooms were closed and locked. Didn’t care for the ‘outhouse’ (not the name they were called).
ScoutEasy off the 40. Sites are a little close for me. Only vault toilets are open. Only around 15 electric sites and most aren't level. But the views and sunsets are beautiful. The water is nice. Only 5 other campers here. Paid $14.00. Well worth that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near San Rafael, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near San Rafael, NM is Bluewater Lake State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near San Rafael, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 cabin camping locations near San Rafael, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
