The Sunspot area sits within the Sacramento Mountains at approximately 9,000 feet elevation, providing a cool escape from the summer heat common in lower elevations. Camping near Sunspot offers access to Lincoln National Forest with its mixed conifer forests dominated by Douglas fir and ponderosa pine. Winter camping requires preparation for temperatures that frequently drop below freezing, with occasional snowfall between November and March.
What to do
Hiking Dog Canyon Trail: Located near Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Campground, this challenging trail climbs over 3,000 feet in elevation. "Large sites, Good wifi with booster (Verizon and AT&T). Pets allowed. Fun things to do nearby. Quiet and peaceful. Wonderful view of the night sky," reports one visitor who enjoyed the convenient access to hiking.
Visit White Sands National Park: About 40 minutes from Sunspot, this unique gypsum dune field provides memorable experiences. A visitor to Boot Hill RV Resort noted, "Right across the road from the world's largest pistachio, this RV campground has all you would ever want. We visited White Sands NP and Three Rivers Petroglyph Area from this spot, and each was about equal distance."
Explore petroglyphs: Three Rivers Petroglyph Site contains over 21,000 ancient rock carvings. "Three Rivers Campground finally reopened 'for good' at the start of 2024 after some stops and starts due to fires around the area. This place is unique as it is one of the few places you can camp on the Western edge of Sierra Blanca / the White Mountain Wilderness."
What campers like
Forest camping experiences: The mountain setting provides welcome relief from desert heat. A camper at Sleepy Grass Campground shared, "Beautiful spot! It had a little over 21 sites surrounded by Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees. There is lots of wildlife. We saw plenty of deer and even an elk."
Year-round accessibility: Different campgrounds cater to different seasonal needs. "We stayed here 3 night while touring White Sands and doing the Billy the Kid Trail. Spacious patios on their deluxe sites," reported a visitor to Alamogordo / White Sands KOA.
Dark skies for stargazing: The minimal light pollution creates ideal conditions for astronomy. "This is not a concrete snowbird parking lot. It's a campground with utilities. Comfortable and quiet for a reasonable price. The star gazing is fantastic," noted a camper enjoying the night skies.
What you should know
Water considerations: Not all campgrounds have reliable water sources. "It was a really nice spot we stumbled upon. It's about 13 miles off the 54 on BLM land. The road was smooth (though gravel most of the way). It was also super quiet since it was so far away from the road. The actual camp was in the trees and great views of the surrounding mountains."
Seasonal temperature fluctuations: Plan according to when you visit. "Oddly this popped up in my feed as a late 4th of July choice. Good God, no. I like heat and live in New Mexico. Northern new Mexico, in the mountains, where no one needs air conditioning. Cooler times of the year, like mid-winter, I do recommend the area."
Wildlife awareness: Keep food secure and be alert for local fauna. "Good little camp ground..stow your food away from tent had a bear visit while there..also the road getting there is prone to flash floods."
Tips for camping with families
Seek accessible trails: Some campgrounds feature specially designed nature paths. "This campground also has a special trail that was created for blind and deaf children, so it has signs with sensory additions. It was a really sweet spot. The sites themselves were spacious and very reasonably priced."
Consider yurt camping near Sunspot, New Mexico: For families wanting comfort without full RV setups, yurts provide sturdy shelter. The Camp @ Cloudcroft RV Park offers yurt accommodations that impressed one family: "We truly enjoyed our three night stay. The owners and managers were welcoming and friendly. The bath house has two large individual restrooms that each have a shower. We took our 8 year old boy and he had such a great time and spotted some deer close to camp."
Look for water features: Streams or creeks provide natural entertainment. "Rio Penasco is a nice small river that runs thru camp that was very relaxing to hear in the background and has a walking trail next to it."
Tips from RVers
Reserve hookup sites early: Premium spots with full connections fill quickly. "We had to bail on our reservation since previous reviews and the reservation system led us astray. We booked an electric only to arrive and find out it was a non-electric site. Talked to a great camp host who tried to help but ultimately didn't have any options."
Consider site layout and privacy: Spacing between sites varies significantly. "When I went I was one of two tent campers. The site were right beside a beautiful stream. It was quite and very relaxed there."
Check cell service reliability: Coverage varies dramatically across the mountain terrain. "Cell great for Verizon and only 1-2 bars for AT&T."
