Are you in need of a campground near Sunspot, NM? Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Sunspot campgrounds just for you. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Sunspot. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
Lincoln NF - Forest Service Road 64 - Dispersed Camping
6 min away
Lower Karr Canyon Campground
33 min away
$15 - $30 / night
"I like heat and live in New Mexico. Northern new Mexico, in the mountains, where no one needs air conditioning. "
"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."
"They had a dog park, laundry room, clean showers and bathroom. The pools was closed but looked perfect! Thanks for such a great experience!"
"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"
"Went 12/28-12/30 and the actual campground area was packed the whole time even with it being 20-30 degrees outside. Extremely windy and most areas only get an hour or two of sun."
"Sunspot Hwy to Rio Peñasco Rd., past the pavement onto dirt road for about 2 miles before coming to the trailhead/bathrooms on your right."
"Dog friendly."
"Mine had a stone border created by previous guests which was pretty cool.
Great views in every direction, but many sites will be exposed to wind. Was pretty gusty when I was there."
"It was a short drive off the main road to get to the camp. The spot I found felt pretty secluded despite there being a lot of other campers in the area."
"You can get as far away from main roads as you need. There are infinite spots on this road. It’s quite long and the road conditions aren’t all that bad, so anyone can access it."
"Lower Karr Canyon campground is about 6 miles from the main highway at High Rolls, NM. The last 2 miles or so being rather rough dirt."
"You just have to look around to find the best one. Be aware of others though. We did have a family show up and start shooting guns in the area without any concern for others around them."
$32 / night
"I have seen mostly upper New Mexico and well when I found this area in comparison that or anything else near El Paso, I was more than a bit confused as to where I was."
"A very beautiful campground within about 6 miles out of Cloudcroft New Mexico. This is dispersed camping. Amenities include water, vault type toilets, picknic tables, fire rings, and a camp host."
"There are plenty of trails and campsites in the trees. Not a super popular area so they aren't too many people to fight over campsites with. They're are bathrooms there near the parking lot."
"The good: beautiful tree coverage, trails that lead to town, road biking distance to town, daily short rains, wild mustangs walking right through our site, plenty of room."
"Good little spot away from traffic. Had some snow coverage in February that made everything look beautiful. Definitely a good stop!"
$28 / night
"Beautiful area near town. Site is quiet (minus the host's generator) and there is a nice, short trail surrounding the site."
"We chose this campground for the view but also because the hosts at the Pines campground were bizarre about rules...like when we went for a hike on the little Fir trail in the area, they got upset with"
GuideWe were able to get in last minute for a two night stay. We stayed in Site 604. Pull through, level spot. Very close to neighbor RVs. But, nice and quiet. Dogs enjoyed the fenced dog park (although gravel). Full Hookups.
Location great for White Sands National Park, Cloudcroft, NM (Brewery up there at 9000 ft) and Las Cruces, NM.
ScoutThe staff was very friendly and helpful! They had a dog park, laundry room, clean showers and bathroom. The pools was closed but looked perfect! Thanks for such a great experience!
TravelerOddly 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, particularly Dog Canyon, a great winter or early spring hike.
But for mid-summer? No, unless you're an infernal demon it's a bit warm those months.
GuideIt's a decent pull off from a random dirt road in New Mexico. You have to drop off into a slight ditch to get to the spot, about 3-4 inches I'd say. We were fine in a truck camper but it's something to consider. There was a decent amount of local trees traffic on the road, but we were far enough away from the highway that we couldn't hear much of any road noise. Literally just a patch of somewhat level gravel
GuideBeautiful drive on Highway 82 west towards Cloudcroft. Stop at the roadside petting zoo!
Apache appeared to be the only campground of the three open in late September. Super nice hosts and well maintained - there were even trash cans and hand sanitizer in the restroom which was a nice touch.
The sites were relatively far apart and backed up into a nice wooded area.
Hardly anyone else there on a weeknight in September.
Strange animal noises at night!
ScoutI 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.
ScoutVery 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.
GuideWhile some of the sites are a little close together, the campground itself is very spacious (15 acres!) with a large dog park and a new building for activities. The bathhouse is a set of single bathrooms (one women’s, one men’s) with one toilet and one shower each, so I’d recommend using the bathroom in your rv if possible to avoid a line, but the bathrooms are very clean and feel like a bathroom you’d find inside someone’s home. Sites are placed far enough back from the road that there is very very minimal noise. The entire property was very quiet and peaceful, and Gail was a dream to work with.
My only complaint was the WiFi signal was very poor, and virtually unusable during the evenings—cell service is also minimal due to the location, but I was able to work remotely using my T-Mobile hotspot.
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.
Explore the beauty of New Mexico while enjoying the company of your furry friends. There are several pet-friendly camping options near Sunspot that cater to both you and your pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Sunspot, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Sunspot, NM is Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 65 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Sunspot, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 82 dog-friendly camping locations near Sunspot, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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