Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Santa Fe, NM

Santa Fe BLM Dispersed Campsite offers free dispersed camping with spacious sites for pets and their owners, approximately 10 miles northeast of Santa Fe. Pets must be kept on leash in camping areas. Trailer Ranch RV Resort, an adults-only park in town, maintains immaculate grounds with clean facilities where pets are welcome. Los Sueños de Santa Fe RV Park & Campground provides full hookups with pet-friendly sites near downtown Santa Fe. Santa Fe Skies RV Park and Rancheros de Santa Fe both accommodate pets with designated walking areas. Hyde Memorial State Park Campground, located in the mountains, permits pets at tent sites, RV spots, and yurts. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed at all times, properly supervised, and waste properly disposed of. The spacious sites at Santa Fe BLM provide ample room for dogs to explore while remaining on leash.

Cerrillos Road locations like Trailer Ranch and Los Sueños offer convenient access to city amenities while still accommodating pets. Public transportation is available directly outside Trailer Ranch RV Resort, with a bus stop that takes campers downtown to the Plaza for $1-2 all-day passes, making exploration with pets easier. The Santa Fe area features multiple hiking trails accessible from campgrounds where leashed pets are permitted. Weather considerations are important when camping with pets, as summer temperatures can reach uncomfortable levels for animals. Wildlife encounters are possible at dispersed sites like Santa Fe BLM, with coyotes frequently heard at night. Clean bathrooms and laundry facilities at established campgrounds provide convenience for longer stays with pets. Santa Fe BLM sites sometimes have leftover trash issues due to proximity to the landfill, though the camping area remains spacious with established fire pits.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Santa Fe, New Mexico (108)

    1. Sante Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62 Dispersed

    42 Reviews
    Santa Fe, NM
    5 miles

    "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. "

    "20 minutes from Santa Fe, super convenient, spread out enough, some good stars at night. Check our other reviews about the left turn."

    2. Santa Fe Skies RV Park

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

    $71 - $91 / night

    "Great views all around. About 20 minutes from Santa Fe Plaza. The lots are nice and flat and the hookups are super easy."

    "We REALLY enjoyed our stay at Santa Fe Skies RV Park!"

    3. Santa Fe BLM Dispersed Campsite

    26 Reviews
    Santa Fe, NM
    5 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."

    "Lots of available space and only about a 15min drive into Downtown, Santa Fe. Lots of trash upon entering, however continue further along and it isn't so bad."

    4. Santa Fe KOA

    29 Reviews
    Glorieta, NM
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 466-1419

    "Super clean Polite staff Firewood available Brand new playground 20 min from Santa Fe Showers / bathrooms 30/50 amp Fenced dog parks/fire pit areas fenced for pets Lots of space between units"

    "Great location just outside of Santa Fe, super easy to get to off of I-25. Bathrooms are clean and showers are comfortable."

    5. Rancheros de Santa Fe

    26 Reviews
    Eldorado at Santa Fe, NM
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 466-3482

    "Great place in a beautiful wooded hillside southwest of Santa Fe about 15 mins or so. They have a pool, a small dog park and a great little hiking trail with good views of the surrounding mountains."

    "Just a short drive to the outskirts of Santa Fe in mountain country we found our campground, Rancheros de Santa Fe."

    6. Los Sueños de Santa Fe RV Park & Campground

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

    $43 - $65 / night

    "The location could not be better! The sites were very clean and easy to get into with a class A."

    "Perhaps their roadside sign had recently blown down? It was hard to see, but a fine stay."

    7. Cochiti Recreation Area

    36 Reviews
    Cochiti Lake, NM
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 465-2557

    $15 - $20 / night

    "Really enjoyed a one night stay on our way from Santa Fe to Albaquerque."

    "25 miles from Santa Fe and 50 miles from Albuquerque. concrete pads and concrete picnic table with charcoal grills with rock pebbles filled in and desert landscapes. very well spaced out and different"

    8. Trailer Ranch RV Resort

    11 Reviews
    Santa Fe, NM
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 471-9970

    "Convenient bus service into a busy downtown Santa Fe was helpful as parking can be a problem. Restaurants are near-by and be sure to try Tortilla Flats."

    "Bike trails are close and awesome. Friendly staff and guests. Best place in the city to stay. Only negative is the Cerrillos road race track noise. Santa Fe locals like loud and fast rides."

    9. Juniper Family Campground — Bandelier National Monument

    30 Reviews
    White Rock, NM
    18 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"

    10. Hyde Memorial State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Tesuque, NM
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 983-7175

    $15 - $80 / night

    "3 people, tiny camper, tent, dog. It has a table, grill and fire pit. 2 Vault toilets nearby. Spaced far enough to enjoy the space."

    "This small state park, located just 6 miles outside of downtown Santa Fe, might provide the least expensive lodging options for visiting this wonderful city."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Santa Fe, NM

968 Reviews of 108 Santa Fe Campgrounds


  • sThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 17, 2023

    Santa Fe KOA

    Fun KOA - clean & good for kids

    Super clean Polite staff Firewood available Brand new playground 20 min from Santa Fe Showers / bathrooms 30/50 amp Fenced dog parks/fire pit areas fenced for pets Lots of space between units

  • M
    May. 26, 2021

    Sante Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62 Dispersed

    Super Convenient but dusty

    This place is super convenient to Santa Fe. Easy to find and plenty of spots. We opted not to camp in the “lot” where a lot of people set up. We drove back the road a bit further for some privacy. The area is very dusty. Given the proximity to town there were some campsites that had a degree of homelessness to them. However, we camped two nights with absolutely no issues. If I needed a place to camp near Santa Fe, I’d camp here again.

  • Jeff V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2025

    Sante Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62 Dispersed

    Beautiful but a but a ahlf hoour to an hour from Santa Fe

    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. 

    I've also camped down by the river for the access to water for splashing about and cooking, but the area is popular with Mexican families and sometimes attracts a party crowd.

    There are plenty of more remote spots off the main gravel road that would be even quieter.  The terrain is juniper and oak, with cottonwoods by the river. 

    Temperatures run hot in the summer and freezing in winter, although it is the best choice for winter camping near Santa Fe.   Summers the wife and I most often drive up Artist Road and camp at Big Tesuque or the skiiiway at the top, but we did choose Buckman this summer when thunderstorms pounded the mountains. 

    It does take time to drive the gravel road, and there's not much for ordinary folks around Las Campanas, the wealthy housing division between the camping and town.  You might get to Airport Road and Cerrillos under an hour, but getting to the Plaza will take longer. 

    Cell service is spotty.

  • Patrick T.
    Nov. 15, 2022

    Santa Fe Treehouse Camp

    Wow we love the location

    We stayed a few times now and have enjoy it more each time. Great people, views, and the hiking has endless possibilities. A bonus is that they are situated far enough away from Santa Fe to have quiet starry nights yet close enough to enjoy all that Santa Fe has to offer.

  • J
    Jun. 14, 2020

    Santa Fe Skies RV Park

    Loved our visit here!

    Great views all around. About 20 minutes from Santa Fe Plaza. The lots are nice and flat and the hookups are super easy. They have a great fenced in dog run and a track around the campground to walk or run. We really loved our visit here.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 13, 2021

    Cochiti Recreation Area

    Great Camping Near Santa Fe

    Views here are stunning. Campground has both electric and water hookups. Bathrooms and showers are spotless. Really enjoyed a one night stay on our way from Santa Fe to Albaquerque.

  • L
    Aug. 18, 2018

    Cochiti Recreation Area

    beautiful scenery

    25 miles from Santa Fe and 50 miles from Albuquerque. concrete pads and concrete picnic table with charcoal grills with rock pebbles filled in and desert landscapes. very well spaced out and different levels so you have a view of the lake and surrounding area.

  • B
    Oct. 10, 2022

    Las Vegas/New Mexico KOA Journey

    Nice place quiet

    Our stay was just 3 nights but it was in the right place at the right time. Many trees and not too far from Santa Fe and Taos and Chimayo.


Guide to Santa Fe

Dispersed camping opportunities abound on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land near Santa Fe, New Mexico, with several free sites located within 10-15 miles of the city. The area's high desert terrain sits at elevations between 6,000-7,500 feet, creating significant temperature variations between day and night, even in summer months. The most accessible dispersed camping areas offer vault toilets but require campers to pack in water and pack out all waste.

What to do

Hiking trails from camp: Several campgrounds offer direct trail access without requiring additional travel. At Hyde Memorial State Park Campground, "There's a great trail that winds through the back of the property. The bathrooms and laundry room were very clean and well kept," according to one camper who appreciated the convenient access.

Explore Rio Grande access: Just a short drive from many dispersed camping areas, the river provides a welcome water source in an otherwise arid region. A camper at Santa Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62 Dispersed suggests, "Head out just a bit further and turn onto the well maintained dirt Buckman road? There are canyons to explore and access to the Rio grande at the road's end, offering water in an area with next to none otherwise."

Visit archaeological sites: The nearby national monuments showcase ancient cliff dwellings and petroglyphs. One visitor at Juniper Family Campground noted, "Don't miss this national monument! Not only are the archeological treasures there well worth the effort, the campground is pleasant, well groomed, and easy to get to."

What campers like

Mountain views: Many campsites offer scenic vistas of the surrounding mountains and high desert landscape. At Santa Fe Skies RV Park, reviewers appreciate that "They create a sense of community for travelers with local performers and dance lessons. Beautiful patio outside of the community building. This park has sculptures and antique ranch equipment throughout."

Pet-friendly policies: Most campgrounds in the area welcome pets with reasonable restrictions. At Rancheros de Santa Fe, "The staff are helpful, friendly, and kind. The campground itself feels rustic with trees between most sights, and I personally like the subtle hills, which make the sites feels more spread out."

Proximity to downtown: Many campers value the easy access to Santa Fe's cultural attractions. A visitor to Trailer Ranch RV Resort noted, "Convenient bus service into a busy downtown Santa Fe was helpful as parking can be a problem. Restaurants are near-by and be sure to try Tortilla Flats."

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Summer heat and winter snow can significantly impact camping conditions. "If these lowlands are too hot in the summer, drive up Artist Road to Big Tesuque or the ski-way at the end of the road, where shade, cold streams, and elevation keep nights pleasant even in July or August," suggests a camper familiar with Santa Fe BLM areas.

Trash issues: Some dispersed sites experience problems with illegal dumping. At Santa Fe BLM Dispersed Campsite, one camper observed, "Enjoyed being able to easily access this dispersed camp ground. Lots of available space and only about a 15min drive into Downtown, Santa Fe. Lots of trash upon entering, however continue further along and it isn't so bad."

Road conditions: Access to some sites requires navigating rough roads. As one camper noted about Santa Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62, "There are plenty of more remote spots off the main gravel road that would be even quieter. The terrain is juniper and oak, with cottonwoods by the river."

Tips for camping with families

Altitude preparation: Santa Fe's elevation ranges from 6,000 to 7,500 feet, which can affect children more quickly than adults. At Cochiti Recreation Area, campers appreciate that "This campground is very nice! The campsites all feature a picnic table with a shelter and the bath house is super clean and modern."

Wildlife awareness: Children should be educated about potential wildlife encounters. A camper at Santa Fe BLM mentions, "Plenty of space to find a camp site from right off the road to venture back farther. Good cell service some tv stations. Lots of off road trails for dirt bikes and ATV."

Yurt options: For families new to camping, Hyde Memorial State Park offers yurt accommodations. One visitor reports, "We walked through the yurt site just above us, and they are stunning, with patios and what appears to be heating. Worth a look."

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Many RV campgrounds near Santa Fe have tight spaces that require careful navigation. At Los Sueños de Santa Fe RV Park & Campground, one RVer noted, "The sites are reasonably level. Easy hook-ups. Verizon 5G service was okay but was enough for me to work remotely. Check in is super easy."

Public transportation: Several RV parks offer convenient access to downtown via public transit. A reviewer at Trailer Ranch RV Resort mentioned, "Urban location that has bus stop right outside that takes you downtown to Plaza for $1 senior or $2 regular all day pass."

Dump station availability: Limited dump stations mean planning ahead for waste management. At Santa Fe KOA, campers appreciate that "Great location just outside of Santa Fe, super easy to get to off of I-25. Bathrooms are clean and showers are comfortable. Everything is well maintained and the dog park is a massive plus if you have pups."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Santa Fe, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Santa Fe, NM is Sante Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62 Dispersed with a 4.2-star rating from 42 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Santa Fe, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 108 dog-friendly camping locations near Santa Fe, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.