13 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Turquoise Trail Campground and Albuquerque KOA Journey provide upscale glamping accommodations near Placitas, New Mexico, with options including luxury canvas tents and well-appointed yurts. Both locations feature comfortable queen beds with fresh linens, electricity, and climate control for year-round comfort. The glamping units at Turquoise Trail include private decks overlooking the Sandia Mountains, while the KOA offers safari-style tents with rustic-chic furnishings. One visitor noted, "The panoramic views of the mountains and valleys are simply stunning, making every moment a perfect photo opportunity." These elevated camping experiences include access to modern bathhouse facilities with hot showers, well-maintained toilets, and some units feature private en-suite bathrooms with flushing toilets.
Visitors to these glamping sites enjoy hiking access to nearby wilderness areas and mountain biking on local trails. The Turquoise Trail location serves as an ideal base for exploring the historic mining towns along the scenic byway, while Albuquerque North/Bernalillo KOA provides convenient access to cultural attractions in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. On-site amenities include camp stores selling local products, firewood delivery to glamping units, and communal fire pits for evening gatherings. According to a camper, "The sunsets here are breathtaking, and you might even spot wild horses roaming around." Many guests appreciate the blend of wilderness immersion with upscale comforts, particularly the opportunity for stargazing from private decks and porches. Both locations remain open year-round, with the most popular booking periods occurring during spring and fall when temperatures are most moderate.
"they have a dishwashing stations and two bathhouses. The lady at the front desk was helpful and extremely nice. There is a store really close by also!"
"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"
"So many activities on site, 4 fenced in dog areas and several shaded sites. A lot of road noise as it’s next to the highway."
"Staff was friendly. Past reviews mentioned that this KOA was in a terrible neighborhood, but it didn’t seem so bad to us and we had no incidents. CG is gated and staffed 24/7."
"This is a civilized campground located just a few minutes north of Albuquerque. Amenities include a camp store and laundry room."
"Staff are friendly, there is laundry and Wi-Fi on site, and the campground connects to a brewery a short walk away!"
"We ended up staying during a rainy weekend, and my tiny Prius C made it up and down the trail twice, albeit very slowly."
from $45 - $68 / night
Check Availability"Each camp site has a grill, a fire pit, and a canopy which was perfect to set up our hammocks in. There is a small stream that runs through the campground, which claims to have fish, mainly trout!"
"We only stayed for one night but we enjoyed this location! The surrounding views were fantastic. Walking along the Jemez River was a great evening activity."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"We did not get a tent spot but opted for a small trailer site with electric and water. Our spot was near the bathhouse but not too close."
"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"
"Just a short drive to the outskirts of Santa Fe in mountain country we found our campground, Rancheros de Santa Fe."
"We originally booked one of the domes, but due to damage from the recent rain, we were upgraded to a cabin. The ladies at the front office were so friendly, welcoming, and helpful."
"Multiple sites available, with a big pavilion. Some hiking nearby, small creeks, and plenty of beautiful trees."
"You are surrounded by old growth pine trees while camping in an old CCC base camp."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Restaurants are near-by and be sure to try Tortilla Flats. Showers and toilets are a close walk away and are kept clean by friendly staff. There is a laundry and lines to hang up your clothes."
"Laundry room and machines are excellent and CLEAN. Bathrooms too :) Bathrooms are really the most important. You absolutely must be here by 5pm as they close at 5:30pm. No kids."
from $45 - $65 / night
Check Availability
ScoutGreat campground with plenty of amenities. Showers are really nice and clean but could be a little warmer in there. Conveniently located right off Route 66 and I noticed that some reviews mentioned the noise from the hi way but I didn’t hear any traffic.
Scout**Wonderful Stay and Great Customer Service!**
We had a really nice experience at Rancheros de Santa Fe! We originally booked one of the domes, but due to damage from the recent rain, we were upgraded to a cabin. The ladies at the front office were so friendly, welcoming, and helpful. They really made us feel taken care of. The cabin was very clean, cozy, and comfortable, which made our stay even better. The bathrooms were also very clean and well-maintained, which is something I really appreciate when traveling. I also loved that our cabin was located right behind the main office. Since it was just my girlfriend and me traveling together, being so close to the office gave us an extra sense of safety and peace of mind. Even though our original plans changed, everything worked out great. We really appreciated the hospitality and how accommodating the staff was. I would definitely recommend Rancheros de Santa Fe and would love to stay here again!
ScoutWe rolled in at 1:30 in the morning and still got a warm welcome. The night shift employee met us at the gate and led us straight to our site, which is exactly what you want after a long day of driving. Our pull-through site was flat and comfortable, and we got set up with no trouble at all.
The whole park is very clean, the amenities are good, and the Wi-Fi is solid. The staff is amazing. We also bounced on the trampoline until our legs gave out, and we'd happily do it again.
Highly recommend. We'd stay here again in a heartbeat
GuideSo many activities on site, 4 fenced in dog areas and several shaded sites. A lot of road noise as it’s next to the highway.
We got assigned a buddy site with someone else when there were plenty of other open sites which was disappointing.
I think the electric sites are overpriced but worth it for a couple nights stay if you want to be in the middle of town.
GuideWe had a great time at Hyde memorial park. We stayed 2 nights at site #3 with 4 kids. We hiked the whole circle trail which took us about 3.5-4 hours with kids. We hiked the water falll trail in the evening and it didnt have any water flowing through it but we still had fun! There is no water anywhere in the park whatsoever so we had to go back into town to refill our 5 gallon. The night sky was beautiful and we could see so many stars.
GuideThis was pretty disappointing. About 1/3 of the campground is a typical KOA campground with some trees and nice camping spots. The other 2/3 is a gravel parking lot with absolutely no charm, and absolutely no similarity to the photos of the campsites they post online when you're reserving a spot. It is VERY misleading. It seems like the only way to get one of the nicer sites (which just seems like a normal campsite at every campground I've been to) is to pay more for their "Deluxe" sites. And because you don't get to pick a site, you're assigned one, any basic spot is almost guaranteed to be in the gravel parking lot.
You can tell this was just some quick expansion to squeeze in more visitors. The laundry room at the end of the grounds is right next to a manhole, so it smells like sewage. As does one of their "dog parks". It's right next to manhole, so taking our dog there means smelling sewage water.
This campground is WAY overpriced for what you get. Will not be staying at KOA again.
ScoutPool, laundry, shop… great campground
ScoutMost folks from. The park were always pleasant and willing to help you out. But like anywhere you have a few that are just itching to reprimand you for the littlest infraction. The pool closing at 7am in the heat of a NM summer is also ridiculous.
LegendThis is a great stop if you need full hook ups in the Santa Fe area. We stayed three nights to eat and explore the area. Quiet, friendly staff, and a nice chance to do laundry. It’s a bit outside of Santa Fe proper but close enough. The night skies were great. Would stay again if in the area.
Camping around Placitas, New Mexico offers diverse terrain from high desert at 6,000 feet elevation to forested mountains rising to nearly 11,000 feet. The region experiences dramatic temperature shifts, with summer days often reaching 90°F while dropping to the 50s at night. Winter camping requires preparation for freezing temperatures and occasional snow, particularly at higher elevations.
Hiking local trails: Vista Linda Campground provides access to several hiking options along the Jemez River. One visitor noted, "The campground and surrounding area is gorgeous and makes for breathtaking views from your site. The creek that runs behind the campground is cathartic."
Visit nearby breweries: The Albuquerque North/Bernalillo KOA campground connects to a local brewery via a short walking path. As one camper shared, "The best part is there is a brewery you can walk to from the campground. They serve organic pizza and cold beer."
Explore mining towns: Little Dancing Horse Ranch offers proximity to Madrid, a former coal mining town with artist studios. A visitor explained, "Only 5 minutes from Madrid, which is magical if you've never been before."
Day trips to hot springs: Campers can access natural hot springs near several campgrounds. One reviewer at Vista Linda mentioned, "Just down the road is Ponderosa Winery and Jemez Hot Springs is the other way."
Convenient bus access to Santa Fe: Trailer Ranch RV Resort offers public transportation into downtown. A guest shared, "Convenient bus service into a busy downtown Santa Fe was helpful as parking can be a problem. Bus stops right in front of entrance for a 15 minute bus ride to downtown historic area."
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds utilize natural vegetation for separation. At Rancheros de Santa Fe, "Campsites are small yet private due to the wonderful shrubbery and small trees. There is a great trail that winds through the back of the property."
Dog-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds feature dedicated pet areas. One visitor to Albuquerque KOA Journey noted, "Our pups enjoyed the dog park, lots of enrichment items out for them. Very tidy, no trash."
Natural water features: Streams and creeks enhance camping experience. A visitor to Paliza Campground wrote, "Our site was right next to a small stream, which along with the wind in the trees made for a nice experience while falling asleep."
Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds. At Trailer Ranch RV Resort, a camper noted, "Only downside for us was located in middle of town and road noise was bad."
Seasonal closures: Verify operating seasons before visiting. A visitor to Santa Fe KOA warned, "We decided to rent a van and take a 10 day trip and just kept hitting dead ends but that makes half the adventure doesn't it? This location was closed even though it came up on the list available."
Access road challenges: Some glamping sites near Placitas have difficult approach roads. A guest at Little Dancing Horse Ranch advised, "Definitely bring a 4wd or high clearance vehicle if you can help it, because it wasn't easy. My tiny Prius C made it up and down the trail twice, albeit very slowly."
Elevation considerations: Most camping areas sit at higher elevations. One reviewer at Turquoise Trail Campground mentioned, "7100' elevation. There were a ton of stars at night which was great."
Look for educational opportunities: Many campgrounds provide access to historical sites. A visitor to Paliza Campground shared, "You are surrounded by old growth pine trees while camping in an old CCC base camp."
Find campgrounds with recreation facilities: Some locations offer dedicated play areas. At Albuquerque Central KOA, "They have a playground, hot tub, and a bounce pad for the kids. It was safe and quiet."
Consider cabins for easier family stays: Several locations offer cabin options. A guest at Albuquerque North/Bernalillo KOA reported, "My children and I stayed 2 nights in a camping cabin. They had a nice pool with plenty of shade and an outdoor movie in the evenings which my kids enjoyed."
Check site sizes and levels: Some sites may be challenging for larger rigs. A camper at Turquoise Trail Campground noted, "Site 23 was a pull through and level. Water and electric both worked fine."
Consider seasonal water pressure: Well water systems may fluctuate. One visitor observed, "Also, the water pressure was quite low. Weakest shower I've had in our rig. Not sure if this changes with the number of campers, though, since it is well water."
Look for dedicated pet facilities: Many RV parks offer pet amenities. A guest at Albuquerque KOA Journey shared, "We have a small RV which fit nicely into our spot. We stayed in a large pull thru site that actually had a dedicated 'pet suite' with astroturf for our dog."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Placitas, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Placitas, NM is Turquoise Trail Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Placitas, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 glamping camping locations near Placitas, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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