Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Santa Fe National Forest

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.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Santa Fe National Forest (106)

    1. Juniper Family Campground — Bandelier National Monument

    30 Reviews
    White Rock, NM
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 672-3861

    $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"

    2. Sante Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62 Dispersed

    42 Reviews
    Santa Fe, NM
    13 miles

    "Your are behind a huge solid waste transfer station but you’d never know besides the huge hill. No smell or garbage anywhere."

    "I often camp by Diablo Canyon, which has wonderful sunsets and decent off trail hiking.  There's even a cave for those who know where to find it. "

    3. Santa Fe BLM Dispersed Campsite

    26 Reviews
    Santa Fe, NM
    13 miles

    "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."

    4. Cochiti Recreation Area

    35 Reviews
    Cochiti Lake, NM
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 465-2557

    $15 - $20 / night

    "General: 80 campsites in four loops: Juniper (1-34), Elk Run (35-50), Buffalo Grove (51-66) and Ringtail Cat (67-80). "

    "Some sites in Buffalo Grove are drive through or back-in."

    5. Pajarito Springs (Dispersed)

    18 Reviews
    Los Alamos, NM
    10 miles

    "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! "

    6. Santa Fe Skies RV Park

    36 Reviews
    Santa Fe, NM
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 473-5946

    $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."

    "Full hook ups, clean campground, laundry, dog park, walking trail that goes around campground Sites are a little close but they have a nice concrete patio with table and chairs. Friendly staff!"

    7. White Rock Visitor Center RV Park

    7 Reviews
    White Rock, NM
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 662-8170

    $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."

    8. Jemez Falls Campground

    29 Reviews
    Jemez Springs, NM
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 829-3535

    $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! "

    9. Caja Del Rio Dispersed Camping

    9 Reviews
    Santa Fe, NM
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 438-5300

    "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."

    10. Los Sueños de Santa Fe RV Park & Campground

    13 Reviews
    Santa Fe, NM
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 473-1949

    $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. "

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Santa Fe National Forest

882 Reviews of 106 Santa Fe National Forest Campgrounds


  • t
    Nov. 3, 2020

    Big Tesuque Campground

    Simple beauty

    12 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.

  • Jemez M.
    May. 1, 2025

    Camp May Road

    Road and access closed during the week in 2025

    Due 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.

  • E
    Jul. 6, 2018

    Jemez Falls Campground

    Awesome place to camp

    This is one of the places to camp in New Mexico

  • John H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2025

    Jemez Dispersed

    Absolute Hidden Gem

    This area is in the Santa Fe National Forest and is managed by the Cuba, NM ranger district. It is widely disbursed with lots of shaded and sunny areas. It is fully primitive so come prepared. The nearest water would be at the Rio de Las Vacas or San Antonio campgrounds on hwy 126. We have camped here dozens of times and it never disappoints. There are 50 or more established sites with primitive fire rings near the junction of FR 103 and FR 69. A bit of exploration will uncover so many more great sites.

  • Matt M.
    Jun. 23, 2020

    Paliza Family Campground

    Easy access and amazing views

    Camping 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!

  • Matthias G.
    Sep. 19, 2023

    Holy Ghost Campground

    Beautiful escape

    This 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.

  • marycatmathis  ..The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 29, 2020

    Oak Point Campground

    Lovely, Beachy, Scenic

    These 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!

  • Beth B.
    Aug. 16, 2018

    Rio Chama Campground

    Great place to watch the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Train

    Rio 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.

  • Dare To Everywhere  .The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 27, 2024

    Pajarito Springs (Dispersed)

    Amazing views!

    Stayed: 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.


Guide to Santa Fe National Forest

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.

Pet owners like spacious sites and natural beauty

Dog owners appreciate convenient amenities

Pet-friendly campgrounds include great activities

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Santa Fe National Forest?

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.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Santa Fe National Forest?

TheDyrt.com has all 106 dog-friendly camping locations near Santa Fe National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.