Do you enjoy camping but don't want to rough it? Glamping is a great option. Glamping near Sunspot, NM is a great way to go camping with the tastes of home. These scenic and easy to access New Mexico glamping locations are perfect for any adventurer.
Set against the dramatic Sacramento Mountains, this park features a historic ranch house, quiet camping in the Chihuahuan Desert, and pools of water under the cottonwood trees of Dog Canyon. Springs flow year-round and ferns cling to the sides of mossy rocks. The water in Dog Canyon has attracted people to the area for millennia.
The park’s namesake, Oliver Milton Lee (1865-1941) was a colorful figure in New Mexico history. In 1893 he settled at the mouth of Dog Canyon and built an extensive house at his ranch headquarters. At its peak, his holdings reached about one million acres. Oliver Lee explored ways of bringing water to the dry Tularosa Basin and was instrumental in establishing the town of Alamogordo. Lee is also credited for using his influence to attract the railroad to the area.
Oliver Lee’s home at Dog Canyon Ranch has been completely rebuilt from ruins. It is authentically furnished providing visitors with a glimpse of Lee’s life at the ranch. The house is closed for renovations. Please monitor the park events page to find out when tours resume.
Want to Visit?
The campground, just southwest of the mouth of Dog Canyon, is dry and rocky with desert grasses, mesquite, ocotillo, creosote, yucca, and various species of cacti. The sites vary widely in elevation offering privacy and incredible views across the Tularosa Basin.
Travel Tips:
Peak season for the park is October through April Park Elevation 4,400 ft We are the closest campground to White Sands National Park (30 min. / 27 miles) The park makes an excellent base for day trips Ruidoso 1.25 hours / 66 miles Three Rivers Petroglyph Site 56 min. / 50 miles Cloudcroft 44 min. / 35 miles There are attractions in Alamogordo less than 30 minutes away Alameda Park Zoo New Mexico Museum of Space History Heart of the Desert Pistachios & Wine McGinn’s Pistachio Land The nearby Lincoln National Forest offers miles of trails ranging from very easy to very challenging
$10 - $14 / night
From the KOA website: Nestled in the Tularosa Basin, the Alamogordo / White Sands KOA is a perfect location to set up as your base camp while touring the beauty and attractions of Southern New Mexico! With RV sites, tent sites, and cabins we can accommodate most every type of traveling camper. Mild winters make Alamogordo a wonderful place to escape the cold and snow of northern climates so be sure to ask about winter rates. Escape the desert heat by cooling off in our inviting pool. A large rec room and long covered outside patio work great for group events. Enjoy hiking or disk-sledding down the vast gypsum dunes at White Sands National Monument, only a short 15 mile drive from the campground! Learn about New Mexicos role in the US space program through interactive exhibits at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Explore ancient rock drawings at the Three Rivers Petroglyph site, just 30 miles north of the campground! Or, simply unwind while taking a leisurely stroll through the oldest zoo in the Southwest the Alameda Park Zoo established in 1898. Though were located in the southern New Mexico desert, the tall, cool pines of Cloudcroft (8600 feet) and Ruidoso (7000 feet) are within an hours drive of the campground and make great day trips to escape the heat. Your hosts will gladly share other hidden gems in Alamogordo during your stay. Well see you soon!
Sleepy Grass offers a total of 15 units of which 2 are double and 3 are triple units leaving 10 single units. Located just south of the Village of Cloudcroft, this site offers many sites for RV's, tents and campers. RV's limited to >30' in length. (Sacramento District Camping Brochure)
LIMITED WIFI IN PARK, GOOD RECEPTION AT OFFICE AREA (FREE)
EXTRA LARGE PULL THROUGH SPACES WITH FULL HOOK UP
ALL SPACES 30 AND 50 AMP
RECREATION BUILDING , LAUNDRY , SHOWER
BIG RIG FRIENDLY
ALL SITES ARE PULL-THROUGHS
WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS AND MONEY ORDERSPERSONAL CHECKS ONLY ON PREPAID AND MONTHLY RENTALS
PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED UPON AVAILABILITY
CANCELLATION POLICY
CANCELLATION REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN AS A CREDIT TO BE USED ON ONE BOOKING UP TO ONE YEAR AFTER CANCELLATION DATE
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU!
$50 - $70 / night
Beautiful park on the Rio Bonito. Come spend one night or longer with us at Bonito Hollow Rv park. Located 15 minutes north of Ruidoso. One of the best parks in Ruidoso area with a wooded environment. We accommodate rigs of all size. We have a large park area for your enjoyment, which includes sand volleyball, horseshoe pits and a dog run. Within seconds to the national forrest.
$40 - $54 / night
This rustic style campground has 12 sites set at the base of southern New Mexico's tallest mountain. A portion of the site is designed for Group Camping. Three Rivers is a great place to go to get away from the crowds and is located at a much lower elevation than our other campgrounds (around 5000'). From here you can access the Three Rivers trailhead (T44) into the White Mountain Wilderness is located. Access to the site and the roads throughout the site are all well maintained dirt roads. Don't miss the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site on the way in or out. ACTIVITIES Camping Hiking Horseback Riding Picnicking: Smokey Bear Ranger District picnic area.
Welcome to El Campo Glamping! A place to count stars. This is a one of a kind escape in the gorgeous Lincoln National Park region nestled in the beauty of nature. A unique glamping experience in High Rolls Mountain Park, New Mexico on 20 acres of private and secluded land. A luxury tent furnished with hotel quality beds and linens. Each tent has a private, detached bathroom in close proximity to the tent with a hot shower, sink and incinerating toilet, allowing for complete comfort in nature.
$160 - $215 / night
Scout
Very beautiful hidden away RV and Raised Primitive State Park full of marked and unmarked foliage and a nice museum reflecting on the surrounding area of New Mexico. Everything above standards with wonderful staff. Was there with a friend and had an outstanding experience.
Traveler
We love Royce and the Camp @ Cloudcroft. We started out coming here NYE. We stayed in the teardrop camper — so cold outside but the teardrop was warm and cozy. Since then we’ve been back several times! They have new beautifully renovated shower houses. They have a Yurt with all you could ever think of as well as a pop up trailer (amazing king size bed). When you rent these, you basically can come with clothes and food. They think of everything else from utensils, grills, stoves, linens, seasonings ... even a deck of cards! There’s WiFi throughout the campground. They also have RV spaces and tent areas. Super super nice staff (Sissy and her pup Mickey). Can’t recommend this place enough and we can’t wait to get back to our home away from home!!
Scout
I was looking to get away from the heat in Albuquerque and maybe even do a little fishing. I picked a site next to the upper river (Rio Bonito). The water was clear and moving, but no sign of any fish. The river is more of a creek (expected for New Mexico), but still pretty. It was barely visible from my camp, but just a short hike away. No ATT or Verizon cell service at my site, but I did find a weak signal up near the office. The wifi was a struggle. It was barely adequate the first day, but absolutely miserable the second day. I could easily connect to their router, but constantly got an error of “no internet service” and had to log off and on several times. I had limited shade at my site, but thankfully the AC kept the trailer cool enough, as it was nearly 90 degrees outside. The hosts were very nice and the park is kept pretty clean. No tents allowed, though.
Legend
In direct contrast to the White Sands backcountry camping which offers absolutely zero thrills and access to luxuries, the White Sand KOA is a great place to stay for those wanting some of the comforts of home. Located about 10 minutes from White Sands this campground is in a great location for a run to the store, a meal at one of the great local restaurants or a trip to some of the other area attractions.
While visiting here I noticed there were plenty of options for RV campers, something lacking at the White Sands itself. But RV camping is not all created equal, and this one by far surpasses other area options. Sites were latge enough even for the largest of rigs but also offered smaller sites for someone traveling a bit lighter like myself.
Tent row seemed to be a very popular options and while the sites here were a bit closer together there was still plenty of room to move around.
The hosts were extremely friendly and welcoming. The restrooms were private and very well throught creating a feeling of being at home while on the road. There was even a small store located on property with goodies and merchandise to commemorate your trip to the area.
This place really has the family in mind with a pool, playground and game room which will leave a smile on the faces of even the smallest guests.
Tips:
RangerCampground Review:
Oliver Lee is an amazing place to stay in southern New Mexico. This park is located about 20 minutes south of Alamogordo and a half hour drive to White Sands National Monument. We spent two nights here and were blown away with the desert views that surround the site. They have both developed sites with access to electricity and water as well as some undeveloped sites. We went in the middle of June during a heat wave that was hitting the southwest United States, but was really able to enjoy the park and surrounding hiking during the morning and afternoons.
I was actually pretty surprised at the amount of other campers that were there, and available amenities. When I was beginning to look at camping here I thought it would be a pretty primitive site, but was blow away at the available bathrooms, showers, and hook ups. While we were here they were replacing much of the water hook ups in the park, which meant the water was shut off during most of the day, but really increased the availability of the water.
If we are ever back in southern NM we will definitely be sure to swing by and stay for a night.
Click here to see the video review!
Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I occasionally get products to test, and on this trip i was able to test the Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe sleeping pad.
I was excited to be able to test out this pad primarily for its claim of being comfortable for side sleepers.
With other pads that I've tried in the past I always run into the problem of whenever I try to sleep on my side I get spots what are always in contact with the ground and will eventually begin to hurt.
Not with this pad. Except for the times when I was changing my sleeping position, I never felt the ground.
I am truly in love with this pad! So far I've only been able to use pad in warm climates, so I can't attest to its insulative properties, but I can't wait to take it out this winter!
Click here to see an extended video review!
Camping with the GO: DAY 1
During our road trip around the US, I was able to try out the GO camper from SylvanSport. This was the first night we stayed in the GO and were blown away. Our first impression of this camper is SPACIOUS!! There is so much room in this camper, it's almost unfair. Definitely, loved our first night!
GuidePerched on a slight elevation at the base of the mountain, Oliver Lee State Park provides a wonderful scenic overlook. On a normal clear day you can see White Sands National Park in the distance.
No water or electrical at the park. There is a dump station.
The nature trail is well done and the informational museum does a nice job describing the history of the area.
TravelerMy wife and I enjoyed our visit to this park. The views alone made the trip. The history of the location amazed us. The hikes/exploring kept us busy. Take the guided tour and learn the history of the area. The sites are large and clean. The staff and hosts are very polite and helpful.
RangerLoved this campground. Views were awesome and several trails leaving from the campground. Bathhouse was dated but usable. Vault bathrooms were very clean. Loved it!
GuideStayed here last month and loved it so much we had to come back! Camp hosts Bob and Donna are helpful and welcoming - they have lots of sleds to borrow if you want to take a trip to the dunes for some fun. No sewer at the site but dump station is easy to access. Good shower facilities. Site #41 is our absolute favorite - huge, 2 level site with lots of room for our son to play. Nice cement table, fire pit and gravel tent pad as well. Nestled next to the mountains but full sun during the day which is great for us since we have solar panels and no electric at the site. Some walk in sites available if you don’t have a reservation - first come, first served. Always see a combination of campers, rvs, tents and vans. Peaceful with gorgeous views.
ScoutA great campground with beautiful hiking trails, visitors center and showers!
ScoutWe stayed in our camper van without using electricity. We arrived around 10 pm and left at 9 am but it was a great set up for all our needs. Washroom was well maintained. Location was beautiful —at the base of a gorgeous canyon.
GuideThis park is in a beautiful spot and is well maintained! Quiet and nice bathrooms/showers. Would for sure visit again if out that way.
TravelerStayed here for one night and loved it - chanced upon this beautiful location close to White Sands national park. Only problem was that it was super windy when we stayed so had to sleep in the car in the middle of the night! We were unlucky
GuideGreat campground surrounded by cacti. I reserved a site with a covered picnic table and this was perfect as it rained a bit. No fires or charcoal allowed at the time. If it wasn’t cloudy, I’m sure the sunset would be beautiful from the campground.
ScoutBasically an RV campsite with a lot of privacy. Can enter/exit any time of day. Very friendly people. Very quiet. Entire campsite vulnerable to wind and rain. Toilets and showers are good enough. Showers were kind of gross but very hot and useable. Dog friendly. Most guests look like hikers.
TravelerGreat campground about 8 fcfs spots
GuideThe sites were spacious and the campground was very quiet. The rangers were very friendly and they have loaner sleds that you can take to the White Sands dunes which are about 30 minutes away. Every site seemed to have pretty views. Bath houses were very clean and heated. Would definitely stay here again.
RangerWhat a gem of a state park. Sites were private, spaced well apart and had mountain and city views. Each site had a picnic table (some have shelters over them) and a fire ring. We stayed in site 10 and really liked it. It had a path to the comfort station, which was clean and well equipped. This park is very convenient to visiting Alamogordo and White Sands (a must do), each are a short drive away. Night views from the park are as amazing as daytime. Highly recommend this.
TravelerAs of May 2021, through end of Sep 2021, camping is BY RESERVATION ONLY, via reserveamerica.com.
The amenities of each campsite, as well as "driveway" length, are listed on that website.
All campsites have a picnic table and a fire ring with grill.
Only some have shade shelters.
Hydrant water is potable (except from blue hydrant at dump station).
Pets on leash (6' or less) at all times; lots of garbage cans to dispose of pet waste.
After recent rains, the park is strikingly green for being in the desert. The Nature Trail is a bit challenging, not having been reconstructed after the 2019 flood, but still offers a short easy hike to where there is flowing water prior to requiring you to clamber over boulders either up or down the canyon. The Dog Canyon Trail is steep -- bring lots of water! The Visitor Center is open each morning except Monday, and staffed by knowledgeable volunteers. Call the park phone # and listen to the recording to find if there are any changes.
At this time (through Sept 15) MASKS ARE REQUIRED in the VC and comfort station.
Volunteer camphosts keep the comfort station spotless. They also sell firewood for the Friends of Dog Canyon (cash only), and if the VC is not open can sell you an annual pass (also cash only). They will loan you a free sled/saucer for White Sands.
Glass containers are prohibited (outside your RV).
ATVs/OHVs are prohibited.
TravelerWe are from Washington state where it's over $50 a night for a spot at a state park. The need to learn a lesson from this one. This park is very nice! I am sure it's very hot in the peak of the summer months. A few spots have shelters for shade. We came in early October. Really pleasant and quiet. Only water and electric hook up. And a dump station on the way out. $14 a night is a bargain! We would definitely come back if we are in the area. Kudos to the management team!!
GuideGreat location with beautiful sunrises, sunsets, AND moon rises over the Sacramento mountains.
Clean location, clean restroom/shower facilities. Campground was full the week we were present. A friendly campground host patrols periodically.
TravelerGreat campground with interesting history. Dog canyon trail is a must to get the whole experience. Tours to Oliver Lee ranch are available. Can be windy and lots of bugs during our visit. Only one trail.
GuideThis is such a scenic place to camp. Mountains, sunrise, sunset, trails. Bathrooms are clean and good showers. Wow! I hope we can come here again.
ScoutReservation camp ground about 15-20 min from Alamogordo. Great views, although a little windy at night since you're right up against the mountains. Bathrooms were clean and the pull in spots are nicely spaced out, so it's nice and chill. They also have quiet hours from 10p-7a daily. Office was closed when I was there (Monday) so I can't speak to the staff, but the campground looked pretty well maintained.
There are two trails if you want to hike. One is flat and goes through the canyon for about a mile and a half. The other is basically straight up for 5 miles - I didn't try that one :) - but I imagine the views are great if you can swing it.
The only complaint about this campground (which can't be fixed) is the flies. So. Many. Flies. They're everywhere and they are impossible to deter no matter how many times you swat them. It's insane. Maybe it was the time of year (late June) but it made tent camping pretty tough at times. If you're in an RV/camper I imagine it wouldn't be quite as bad for you.
TravelerStayed for 2 nights in early May. A few spaces left available each night. Quiet, extremely well maintained and clean toilets. Beautiful views and sunsets. Great and strenuous hike up Dog Canyon from the campsite with beautiful views, about 5.5 miles but the recommendation is to allow 8 to 10 hours. We only did 3 miles as the temperature got to 85 degrees so take loads of water. White Sands Park about half an hour away. Campsite highly recommended.
ScoutWe were visiting White Sands and were just planning to camp on BLM. As night fell and the winds rose, we figured we’d be a bit better off closer to the mountain with hopes of some protection from the wind. It seemed less windy, but there were SO many bugs. They got through all our bug nets in to our van. Fortunately no bites but we spent a long time trying to kill them just to be sure.
Nearly all the sites were reserved and we were lucky to get maybe the last one. The website was not too clear about if you needed a reservation or not, but upon arrival we learned that nearly all sites are Reservation Sites. It was easy to book the last site available on the website.
Sites were spacious, bathrooms were nice.
TravelerGorgeous campsite. Everyone is nicely spaced out. Amazing breeze in the morning and evening, beautiful stars, clean bathrooms, friendly people and hosts. Absolutely would recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Sunspot, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Sunspot, NM is Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park with a 4.8-star rating from 60 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Sunspot, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 glamping camping locations near Sunspot, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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