Best Equestrian Camping near Placitas, NM

Equestrian camping opportunities near Placitas, New Mexico include RV Park at HIPICO Santa Fe, featuring horse corrals among its amenities. This established campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with convenient drive-in and walk-in access. Campers benefit from comprehensive facilities including drinking water, electric hookups with both fifty-amp and thirty-amp connections, sewer hookups, showers, toilets, and trash service. The property welcomes pets alongside horses, offering a complete camping experience for riders. Wild horses frequently roam the surrounding area, creating memorable wildlife viewing opportunities for equestrian campers.

For those seeking additional horse-friendly options, Cuervo Mountain RV Park and Horse Hotel in Stanley provides full-service accommodations approximately 30 miles from Placitas. This established park features big-rig friendly sites with water and electric hookups, making it suitable for horse trailers and larger rigs. The location offers several trail riding possibilities on nearby public lands. RavenHouse RV Spot and Horse Hotel represents another alternative, though with more limited amenities but similar access to regional riding trails. Camping spots throughout the region can be particularly windy, so securing horse equipment and properly anchoring corrals or temporary fencing becomes an important consideration when planning an equestrian camping trip in this high desert environment.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Placitas, New Mexico (8)

    1. Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    37 Reviews
    Placitas, NM
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 761-8700

    "Top of New Mexico" near Albuquerque is a fantastic camping spot if you love open spaces and beautiful desert views."

    "Drove a short distance from Albuquerque through Placitas, saw so many horses! This is an open space that overlooks the tail of Albuquerque, and the vistas beyond."

    2. Turquoise Trail Campground

    33 Reviews
    Cibola National Forest and Grasslands, NM
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 281-2005

    "CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Turquoise Trail Campground, Cedar Crest, NM

    Turquoise Trail Campground is a small privately owned campground located five miles north of I-40 off Route 14 (exit 175) just outside"

    "We arrived around 6pm and our info was thumb tacked to the entry board. Call her and she comes right down to show you your spot. It’s located next to a little brewery and pizza place."

    3. RavenHouse RV Spot and Horse Hotel

    1 Review
    Eldorado at Santa Fe, NM
    19 miles
    +1 (505) 603-5225

    $42 - $75 / night

    "It was easy to get around to the sites we had planned on visiting. The hosts were super nice and accomodating when we had a wifi issues, they got us up and running again quickly."

    4. Cuervo Mountain RV Park and Horse Hotel

    10 Reviews
    Edgewood, NM
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 305-1339

    $43 - $87 / night

    "There aren’t many RV parks around and of the handful this is the one where you are going to get some space. There’s a playground for the kids and possibly some horses in the stables."

    "He was always prompt with filling our propane, making sure we got our mail and keeping things tidy around the park."

    5. Fenton Lake State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Jemez Springs, NM
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 829-3630

    $15 - $90 / night

    "I’ve been coming to Fenton Lake for camping with family since I was little and we’ve always loved it. It’s beautiful and well taken care of."

    "We typically come up to Fenton Lake once a year and last year was fantastic however this year the park rangers aren’t that friendly (or that helpful)."

    6. RV Park at HIPICO Santa Fe

    1 Review
    Santa Fe, NM
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 474-0999

    $55 / night

    "This is a very spacious private campground southwest of Santa Fe with access to public land. Located 20 minutes from downtown Santa Fe. There are probably 50 sites with restrooms and showers."

    7. Red Canyon Campground

    8 Reviews
    Mountainair, NM
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 847-2990

    "Nice kid-friendly trails adjacent to the campground. We had a nice shady site, some others seemed more exposed."

    "However, though there are bathrooms at the location, they are really smelly and flies surround them."

    8. Manzano Mountains Camp

    2 Reviews
    Mountainair, NM
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 346-3900

    "Took awhile to get here, well off the beaten path. Ponderosa Pines, oak and juniper scrub. Ample supply of downed trees to use as firewood. Gets muddy if it rains."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Placitas, NM

8 Photos of 8 Placitas Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Placitas, NM

98 Reviews of 8 Placitas Campgrounds


  • Junaid A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2024

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    My True Review about Top of the New Mexico

    Top of New Mexico" near Albuquerque is a fantastic camping spot if you love open spaces and beautiful desert views. The sunsets here are breathtaking, and you might even spot wild horses roaming around. There's plenty of space for tents or RVs, and it's quiet and well-maintained, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. It can get a little windy, but that just adds to the experience. The road to get there winds through some houses, but once you arrive, you're surrounded by pure nature. also the food is so good, there are many food brands like subway menu who offers quality fast food services.

  • Maya T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 20, 2024

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    Hidden Gem

    Didn't camp here but came to enjoy the beautiful sunset. Drove a short distance from Albuquerque through Placitas, saw so many horses! This is an open space that overlooks the tail of Albuquerque, and the vistas beyond. I came for the sunset but would definitely stay if I was car camping. Wouldn't necessarily set up a tent for me, but some are braver than others!

  • Alexander D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2023

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    Epic, accessbile, and open campsite with good views

    This campground offered amazing views of the Sandia mountains and the surrounding area. We found a fire ring and plenty of level areas to set up camp in addition to large bushes to take shelter behind. Also plenty of wild horses roaming around, though we didn't ever see any at near our campsite.

  • Tina M.
    May. 21, 2022

    RavenHouse RV Spot and Horse Hotel

    Majestic skies + Decent Amenities

    We had the perfect 5 night stay. It was easy to get around to the sites we had planned on visiting. The hosts were super nice and accomodating when we had a wifi issues, they got us up and running again quickly. We used the grill area and even hosted friends visiting one night with their horse trailer and 2 horses. We stayed one night in the TeePee which was just magical and cozy, a mini vacay inside of our otherwise rustic van camping trip! The bathroom is located inside an enclosed out building with the shower located in an outdoor but private/roofed adjacent area. All and all, thumbs up for communication, comfort, basic amenities and ambience!

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 4, 2018

    Turquoise Trail Campground

    Clean and close to the mountains and Albuquerque

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Turquoise Trail Campground, Cedar Crest, NM

    Turquoise Trail Campground is a small privately owned campground located five miles north of I-40 off Route 14 (exit 175) just outside the east side of Albuquerque. Tucked along the base of the Sandia mountains, at 6940’ elevation. http://www.turquoisetrailcampground.com/

    There is plenty of visible signage to guide you down Snowline Dr into the campground.

    As you approach the office/museum on the right, the RV/Camper loop is visible on the left (which appeared full). Behind the office building are two tent loops (upper and lower). There are two very clean bathroom/showerhouses located between the office and tent loops. A laundry room and dishwashing sink is located at the back of the office building. *This is also the only water access for the tent loops.

    RV sites have full hookups. Tent sites have only a leveled, gravel tent pad, picnic table and standing grill. Only stove fires were permitted at our visit due to open fire restrictions.

    Tent sites are separated by scrub brush, which offered partial privacy between most sites, but you will hear your neighbors. The outer tent sites back up to a residential area, with a fence separating. Bring earplugs for undisturbed sleeping, as road noise from Route 14 can be heard, along with local dogs randomly in the distance.

    At $20 a night, the campground is convenient and sufficiently met our needs as we traveled west on a tight itinerary.

    Shower tokens are provided with your nightly fee. Each token gives you 7 minutes of shower time.

    There is plenty to do nearby, with bike trails and hiking trails…though nothing of particular interest in the campground itself.

    The bustling city of Albuquerque is the next exit west, so you are still very close to shopping, eateries, and nightlife.

  • S H.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2024

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    huge mesa dispersed camping at top of windy road

    Really easy to get to, up this lil windy residential road, go slow, that opens up into a huge public land past an open gate. Lots of paths from cars, just follow anyone you'd like and then pull over beside any ol bush. Don't run over any cactus.

    Stayed for two nights and the sunsets were awesome. During the day it was very very windy but not too hot. Saw some wild horses the first morning but when I got too close one of them starting running toward me and I said hell no. Classic dispersed desert camping but with good service and close to Albuquerque.

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 1, 2024

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    Meh

    Don’t arrive when it’s dark. Not much going on, no fire rings, no wild horses to wake up to. Maybe it was too cold for the horses. No fire rings I saw nonetheless.

  • marine J.
    Jun. 14, 2024

    RV Park at HIPICO Santa Fe

    Great location close to Santa Fe

    This is a very spacious private campground southwest of Santa Fe with access to public land. Located 20 minutes from downtown Santa Fe. There are probably 50 sites with restrooms and showers. I saw a few tent but this is really geared toward RVs. They have discounts if you stay 4 to 6 days it is 10% off and 7 to 14 days it is 15% off. There is really nothing to it but it is so spacious and quiet, great vibe and the staff is super nice and helpful. They offer overnight stabling for horses too.

  • Alice S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2024

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    Quiet Little Get Away

    Used Google Maps and had no problem finding the place. Lots of open area to choose from for parking. The road up to the location is paved but once you enter it is gravel. I have a pro master van and had absolutely no problems. Just drive slow and you should be fine. Might be worse if it was raining heavy or something but overall not a bad path. Saw wild horses which was awesome. The vegetation has a lot of thorns and spikes so for a casual hiker it’s best to stay on the gravel roads. The cell signal was pretty good but not perfect. Enough to have phone calls easy but internet connection was a bit slow.


Guide to Placitas

Horse camping in New Mexico offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventure, perfect for equestrians looking to explore the great outdoors with their horses.

Equestrian campgrounds include ample amenities

Tips for equestrian camping near Placitas, New Mexico

  • When visiting the Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site, be prepared for a quiet experience with plenty of open space for your horse to roam.
  • The Coyote Trailhead is accessible for horse camping, but ensure your vehicle has high clearance to navigate the roads.
  • At Manzano Mountains Camp, the wooded area provides a serene backdrop, but be cautious of muddy conditions after rain.

Campers appreciate these features for horses

  • The New Canyon Campground offers concrete picnic tables and bear containers, enhancing the camping experience for horse owners.
  • Calaveras Canyon is a great spot for fishing and enjoying the Rio Grande, making it a fun destination for horse campers looking for additional activities.
  • The Red Canyon Campground features lush surroundings and wildlife, providing a picturesque setting for you and your horse to enjoy nature together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Placitas, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Placitas, NM is Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site with a 4.8-star rating from 37 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Placitas, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Placitas, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.