Best Glamping near San Rafael, NM

El Morro RV Park and Cabins houses luxury glamping accommodations in the Ramah area, with yurts and cabin options that blend outdoor living with modern comforts. Located approximately 35 miles from San Rafael, these accommodations feature full hookups, showers, picnic tables, and campfire rings where guests can enjoy the evening under the stars. The campground provides reservable accommodations with drinking water, electricity, and shower facilities, creating an upscale camping experience that eliminates the need for traditional camping equipment. "We loved this RV park for many reasons. Friendly people, creative vibe, cozy cabins, full hookups, beautiful spot, plus a yurt with enchanting wind chimes, spiritual labyrinth, a gong, art and healing artifacts."

The property includes a unique on-site cafe called Ancient Way, creating a complete glamping experience for those seeking comfort while exploring nearby attractions. Trails for hiking and mountain biking connect directly from the campground, allowing visitors to explore the surrounding landscape without driving. The campground sits just minutes from El Morro National Monument, with its historic inscriptions and impressive geological features, and offers proximity to the Mal Pais volcanic flows for day trips. According to a camper, "The place has a very laid back vibe. The little cafe is fun and tasty. Decent clean shower house." The spiritual labyrinth and art installations throughout the property create a peaceful atmosphere for relaxation between outdoor adventures, making this an eco-friendly glamping destination with both natural and cultural experiences nearby.

Map showing campgrounds near San Rafael, New Mexico

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Best Glamping Sites Near San Rafael, New Mexico (4)

1. Lavaland RV Campgrounds
7 Reviews
Grants, NM
4 miles
Website
+1 (505) 287-8665
$40 - $50 / night
"We ended up camping in the truck bed here after a few other remote sites."

"Many sites have water, electric & sewer. Sites are very close to each other and there are no tables. The dog run is very small. Road noise from I40."
2. Coal Mine Campground
5 Reviews
San Mateo, NM
15 miles
Website
+1 (505) 287-8833
$10 / night
"Visited the coal mine campground after driving a 500 mile day, so it was a set-up eat and crash situation."

"All sites have table, barbecue, and fire pit/ring. All sites are reservable online at Recreation.gov."

3. El Morro RV Park and Cabins
2 Reviews
El Morro National Monument, NM
25 miles
Website
$30 - $94 / night
"Friendly people, creative vibe, nice campground, cozy cabins, full hookups for RVs, beautiful spot, free-range chickens, pet friendly, plus a yurt with enchanting wind chimes, spiritual labyrinth, a gong"

"It is just minutes from El Morro Nat’l Monument and close to Mal Pais Volcano flows. I recommend the place."
4. Quaking Aspen Campground
15 Reviews
Fort Wingate, NM
43 miles
Website
+1 (505) 287-8833
$5 / night
"I hadn't spent much time in this part of New Mexico, and assumed that the trip was going to be hot and sun-bleached, similar to the desert exposed in nearby Gallup, NM."

"Located about 15min from I-40 is this campground. It offers everything you would expect including tables, fire pits, restrooms, and trash. For only $5 a day you can't beat it."

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Glamping Reviews near San Rafael, NM

29 Reviews of 4 San Rafael Campgrounds

Michael M.
Ranger
Aug. 30, 2017
Coal Mine Campground
Great for a weary traveler
Visited the coal mine campground after driving a 500 mile day, so it was a set-up eat and crash situation. I did make a reservation on line, but that cost more than the $5 per site fee and was not necessary even though it was memorial day weekend. The fee is great because it is primitive, no electricity, no water at all, not just hookups, but the bathrooms were nice and clean with no sinks.

If you are prepared for a primitive camp with your own water and batteries for your electronics it is great. They have fire rings, grills, picnic tables and level places for tents.There are also nice back-in sites for boondocking RVs and the road up to the campground is fine for big rigs.

I ran into two mountain biker's here from Ireland that were riding the Continental Divide trail from The Mexican border in New Mexico to the Canadian border in Montana. They were staying here since the Trail goes through here. Paddy & Conner were very interesting people and I was fortunate to have run into them here.

I enjoyed my stay with a peaceful quite nights sleep and a short hike in the morning before breakfast cooked on the campfire. I would recommend this over a hotel stay if your passing through Grant's New Mexico on I40. You can probably get a site for the night anytime your passing through.
Tyler G.
Guide
Jun. 23, 2016
Quaking Aspen Campground
Wonderful Base to Explore the Hidden Beauty of the Zuni Mountains
We used this campground as a starting point for a research trip sampling Precambrian rocks of the Zuni Mountains. I hadn't spent much time in this part of New Mexico, and assumed that the trip was going to be hot and sun-bleached, similar to the desert exposed in nearby Gallup, NM. I was surprised to drive into a beautiful forest just a few minutes off I40.

The campsite includes basic forest service amenities: pit toilets, picnic tables, and metal-rimmed fire pit/grill sites. What set this apart from other non-hosted campsites for me was the condition of the grounds. The tent camping sites had well maintained, leveled tent pads, maintained gravel roads, and clean facilities. The Sites offered a reasonable degree of privacy, although some of the sites near the middle of the loop road place you in close proximity to your neighbor. The area is moderately wooded with pine and aspen, providing shade throughout the day and easy access to the dirt road that transects the Zuni Mountains, letting you out near the Bandera volcano and ice cave, which is a wonderful drive if you have a high clearance/4x4 and time to drive through.

We saw abundant wildlife while working in the Zunis, including several brown bears, deer, and elk. While we didn't have any run ins with these guy in camp, be aware that large animals are present in the area and be sure to take necessary bear-proofing precautions.

Camp fees were $5/night, which is quite the bargain given the well-kept grounds and wonderful scenery. If you're looking for a less-traveled escape from Albuquerque, or just want the chance to explore the under-valued Zuni mountains and western New Mexico landscape (and some pretty interesting geologic features such as orbicular granite), this campground is an excellent place to spend some time on the cheap.

Photos included are from the Zunis south of the campsite, as I didn't think to take any photos while we were at camp.
Tony S.
Traveler
Aug. 14, 2021
Coal Mine Campground
Quiet, relaxing basic campground
Had a relaxing, quiet three night stay from 8/10 - 8/13/21 with our Jayco Octane Lite SL161 toyhauler. The only facilities are clean vault toilets. Some pull through spots for smaller camping units. I would not recommend this campground for large RVs.

15 sites available with about 8 that I could comfortably park my camper in. All sites have table, barbecue, and fire pit/ring. All sites are reservable online at Recreation.gov. When arriving without a reservation and staying for more than one or two nights be aware that empty sites without a reservation posting may have a reservation that has not been posted. You could wake up and find a reservation posted at your site and have to relocate to another available site.

There is a nice hiking trail available from the campground. La Mosca lookout is a nice drive from the campground with beautiful views. Head up to the Gooseberry Trailhead to hike to the top of Mt Taylor the highest mountain in NW New Mexico.

Camping fees for this campground are increasing to $10 per night next season.
David R.
Guide
Jan. 8, 2021
Lavaland RV Campgrounds
Great spot by El Malpais
We ended up camping in the truck bed here after a few other remote sites. The clean showers and bathrooms were greatly appreciated after a few days of roughing it and we were able to restock our water before continuing on. Most people staying in the park seemed to be full time residents. The vibe was something along the lines of the "good Ol' days" of family vacationing with small eclectic parks. There's an on-site brewery and bar but we didn't stop in. If you're tent or car camping be sure to arrive during the day or talk to someone prior to checking out as those sites are less expensive than the RV sites. Frenchy, a friendly Canadian ex-pat retired uranium miner, was on site to help with any questions. Would recommend for anybody taking a break from boondocking or heading to El Malpais.
Berton M.
Legend
Oct. 5, 2022
Quaking Aspen Campground
Quiet time in the trees
Located about 15min from I-40 is this campground. It offers everything you would expect including tables, fire pits, restrooms, and trash. For only $5 a day you can't beat it. There are a few hiking trails in the area worth exploring as well.

Cell service: Limited by the entrance
Zoey T.
Guide
Aug. 15, 2025
Quaking Aspen Campground
Wonderful primitive campsite
Campsites well maintained with a grill and firepit on each one. All seem pretty level. We were here in August and it was pleasantly cool. Also plenty of firewood. No running water but there’s an outhouse toilet that’s clean enough and a dumpster for waste. Currently their payment system is broken so it’s free! I only took one star off because the sites are all pretty exposed to each other. About 20ish sites and only 4 were taken but there wasn’t one that wasn’t visible by at least 2 of the other sites being used.
EV P.
Traveler
Sep. 12, 2021
Lavaland RV Campgrounds
Good enough for the night
Easy check-in. Many sites have water, electric & sewer. Sites are very close to each other and there are no tables. The dog run is very small. Road noise from I40. There is a small brewery on site, hence upgraded to 4 stars. It appears that most sites are occupied by full-timers.
C
Chip
Guide
May. 31, 2021
Quaking Aspen Campground
So. Much. Space.
Small campground with massive campsites. This campground could easily squeeze double, if not triple, the sites out of these woods, but someone decided to let everyone breath a little here, and we should thank that someone. Granted, it's a small crawl to one of the only two bathroom huts (each with two clean pit toilet bathrooms), but with so few campers, even when the site is full, you don't feel like anyone's fighting for their potty time.

Quiet? Absolutely. Stars? All over the place. When summer heat was beginning to knock everywhere else in late May, it was serious blanket weather up here. The hiking must be amazing, although we didn't have time to find out.

Friday night, late May, and we barely got the last spot. No reservations makes this gem a tricky quest when you're running a bit late, but if you're lucky enough to snag a spot, you'll celebrate your success. There ain't a bad spot in the lot, if you're lucky enough to get one.
J
Jennifer Y.
Scout
Jul. 21, 2024
Quaking Aspen Campground
Nice campground
Nice campground, camp sites are nicely spaced, plenty of shade under the pines, sites have picnic tables and fire pits, clean vault toilets, well maintained campground