Santa Fe National Forest is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Discover great camping spots near Santa Fe National Forest, reviewed by campers like you.
$20 - $50 / night
"Before I visited here in December I had not heard of Bandelier NM; it's a wonderful place for exploring outside Santa Fe and Juniper Campground provides rustic sites without hookups (dump station and water"
"There are trail heads that are a short walk from the campground including a 1.5 mile trail to the visitor center
The spots have picnic table and fire rings, there is potable water and vault toilets throughout"
"Your are behind a huge solid waste transfer station but you’d never know besides the huge hill. No smell or garbage anywhere."
"No services except for a vault toilet near the entrance. The roads are dirt. Main roads are good, side roads have a bit more ruts and divots."
"Given the area described has piles of trash and little else to recommend it, it seems a shame to be close to gorgeous wilderness and stare at rubbish."
"Close by, easy to find, plenty of space. Little trash left behind by some people. Overall, a great place for the night."
$15 - $20 / night
"Some sites in Buffalo Grove are drive through or back-in."
"General: 80 campsites in four loops: Juniper (1-34), Elk Run (35-50), Buffalo Grove (51-66) and Ringtail Cat (67-80). "
"It is Forest Road 181 within Santa Fe National Forest, directly off of Highway 4.
This is some great National Forest camping."
"While most of the trees in this area were burnt by fires less than 10 years ago, it still provides great views of the valley below and the highest mountains in all of New Mexico! "
$71 - $91 / night
"Nice dog park and walking trail. Would of liked to of heard the music tomorrow night, but alas we have to get home."
"Very accomodating to travelers with dogs as they habe a dog walking path and dog park. The showers at the main house are free and open 24/7 - big and well maintained."
$20 / night
"There is a vending kiosk near the nice dog park area, from which you buy a ticket good for that day if there is an open space; it is not for a specific site."
"It's convenient to have the grocery store within walking distance, and there's a YMCA in Los Alamos where you can purchase shower passes for $5. Nice staff at the visitor center as well."
"I stayed 4 nights bc it was so close to hiking and town. Very dusty and packed some trash out that was left behind. Pretty quiet with beautiful sunrises and sunsets."
"Can get a bit crowded and hard to find a spot away from people, but plenty of room."
$20 / night
"This is one of the places to camp in New Mexico"
"**Campground Review: **
Imagine 1.25 Ma ago an eruption blew apart the landscape of Northern New Mexico that would rival the shear volume erupted by the world famous Yellowstone hotspot! "
$43 - $65 / night
"Perhaps their roadside sign had recently blown down? It was hard to see, but a fine stay."
"This was a great location to explore the city and the staff was really nice. The bathrooms are clean and the laundry facility is nice as well. "
Traveler12 miles uphill drive into the Santa Fe National Forest, just past million dollar mansions in Santa Fe. Easy access, just drive up and park. Multiple tent camp sites with fire pit and picnic table. Accessible to trails. Beautiful sunset views.
ScoutDue to a major construction project this spring thru fall, "Camp May Road, which will be closed to all traffic Monday through Thursday starting later in April 2025. ...
Monday through Thursday closures are planned through the end of the calendar year.
Camping at Camp May will be limited to Friday and Saturday nights on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations will not be available. Campers must extinguish campfires, pack up belongings and leave the area no later than Sunday evening. The entrance/exit to Camp May will be closed and locked after Sunday night." From the LA County announcement:
https://www.losalamosnm.us/News-articles/Collaboration-will-improve-regional-fire-protection
Also note, Los Alamos County and Santa Fe National Forest are in Stage I fire restrictions (no campfires) starting May 4, 2025.
ScoutThis is one of the places to camp in New Mexico
RangerCamping in Santa Fe National Forest is great if you know what you're in for. There aren't a ton of amenities depending on where you camp and it's in high elevations so during winter months it can get FREEZING. We went in November and it got down to negative temperatures. Thankfully my wife's sleeping bag was rated for -20 but I was not that fortunate. So for sure if you're going in the winter then be prepared!
Other than this the views up in the mountains were amazing and each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and a location for a tent.
Definitely would recommend checking out!
ScoutThis campground is just above 8200ft in the forest, more specifically in the Santa Fe National Forest at the edge of the Pecos Wilderness. We stayed at site 3, more or less right next to the creek. Site 2 was just as pretty and a bit larger, but not quite as shaded. No matter the site, the area is green, peaceful, and cool.
It is gorgeous up there, but be aware that the road is really narrow and, though paved, in terrible condition with HUGE pot holes en masse, so it is slow going, particularly with a camping trailer. We have a 22' trailer and we saw only one other, maybe 25', which I think is likely pushing the limits.
It's a bit of a tense drive for the 3 miles along Holy Ghost Canyon, but well worth the effort! We camped at Holy Ghost Campground in a Travel Trailer.
RangerThese coordinates are a rough estimate, but this entire forrest road is filled with amazing campsites you can simply pull off and camp in. currently there’s a fire ban, so it makes it hard to stay warm at night, but the stars are amazing. it’s quiet. it’s lovely. there’s canyon walls for miles. it’s really amazing. some of these pics are from the nearby canyon that’s a bit of a walk up the road, but most are from our campground. loved our first experience camping in New Mexico!
GuideRio Chama RV park in Chama, New Mexico, is at the intersection of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the upper Rio Chama. A nice place to stay May 1 thru mid October. The train passing by twice a day is an exciting event and it's a short walk to the train yard.
Pull through sites have great shade and full hookups with 30 or 50 amp electrical service. Spacious tent sites with full service restrooms nearby. Pet friendly with dog park and free wifi. A great place for fishing, train watching and relaxing.
RangerStayed: May 26, 2024 Cost: FREE Site: 35.84243° N, 106.37266° W Cell Service: Solid LTE AT&T and T-Mobile Equipment: Forester / Tent
Different apps give this different names. It is Forest Road 181 within Santa Fe National Forest, directly off of Highway 4.
This is some great National Forest camping. Seemed like plenty of room when you first turn in and the you can go left or right. We went left and continued to the end of the road. There were a few sites along the drive back, but we pulled up the satellite map and wanted to keep going. It gets pretty rocky and you’ll need a bit of clearance in some spots.
To get to the end of the road site, when you pull off Highway 4, take a left and then eventually a right at the fork in the road further beyond (~1.5 miles from Highway 4). There were a couple more sites along this road, not very level, so we continued on and are so glad we did! About 30 min from Hwy 4 to end of this road. Elevation is just over 8,000 feet at this point.
LegendCamp May is a small and seasonal campground located at the base of Pajarito Ski Hill. It is wooded with aspens, ponderosas and more. The temperatures are pleasant throughout the hot summer months, and the nights may be rather cold. There is hiking nearby, mountain biking, and the campground itself is situated near Los Alamos, Valles Caldera National Park, and Bandelier National Monument. Pajarito Mountain occasionally opens up their chair lifts to mountain bikes.
There is no staff onsite. Campsite fees must be paid in town at the aquatic center, and campers can reserve a space in advance. However, the campsites are not numbered, and specific sites are not reservable. If campers want to set up outside of pool hours, they can usually call the county (311) or the non-emergency number to let the county know about camping plans and the plan to pay fees in the morning. There is one group site at the top of the loop and a handful of individual sites; the campground itself is very small and has no more than 10 sites. Camping rings are available at all sites, however it would be wise to check on a fire restrictions before lighting any fires. Los Alamos County typically follows suite with the Santa Fe National Forest Restrictions and takes fire very seriously. The Cerro Grande Fire burned thousands of acres along with around 300 homes in town, and campers will drive past the devastating Las Conchas Fire Scar on their way to Camp May.
Although there is no host, typical camp rules are still enforceable by law enforcement and include quiet hours after 10 p.m., fire restriction adherence, etc. There are vault toilets, which are rather not-smelly, considering. Camp May is situated in bear and mountain lion country; if that isn't enough to keep your idle food in your car, then the super friendly but tenacious golden mantle ground squirrels, and chipmunks should be.
There is a steep dirt road upon accessing the camp. Depending on how recently the dirt road has been groomed will determine the vehicles that can climb into camp. Only smaller pop-ups and trailers would be recommended.
Camping with pets near Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your furry friends. With a variety of well-reviewed options, pet owners can find the perfect spot to relax and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Santa Fe National Forest is Juniper Family Campground — Bandelier National Monument with a 4.7-star rating from 30 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 102 dog-friendly camping locations near Santa Fe National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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