Best Tent Camping near Taos Ski Valley, NM

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Taos Ski Valley. Taos Ski Valley is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico (31)

    1. Cuchilla Campground

    7 Reviews
    Valdez, NM
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-6200

    "This is a wonderful little campground on the way to Taos Ski Valley. Sites are right on a creek & have picnic tables."

    "Picnic tables were marked up, but the sound of the River was so worth all of it."

    2. Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping

    8 Reviews
    Valdez, NM
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-6200

    "Right off the road, literally. it hidden behind some trees so the barrier between the site and road makes for a little privacy. Great spot for a day or two right next to a creek so you fall asleep to"

    "First coms first served with mostly tenting spaces."

    3. Cabresto Lake Campground

    6 Reviews
    Questa, NM
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-6200

    "A vehicle with off-road capabilities is recommended if you want to reach this campground. While not impossible with a regular sedan, it does take navigating up some unpaved switchbacks."

    "There are about 5 by the lake and then 3 on the trail up. It's a busy road, constant stream of people. The trail itself is maybe a 2/10 for difficulty."

    4. Lower Hondo Campground

    2 Reviews
    Valdez, NM
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 586-0520

    "Tent camped in July and could not get into the water; but did freeze my ankles off. Have nice latrine commode and that is all. There are no specific sites. Just find a place and set up."

    "The Hondo River runs right next to the campground so you have easy access to water."

    5. La Junta - Wild Rivers Rec Area

    3 Reviews
    San Cristobal, NM
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-6200

    "Each campsite had a concrete pad and awning."

    "The sites are fairly primitive but the location is one of the greatest around. It’s a decent drive up here from Taos but you won’t be disappointed once you get here."

    6. Dispersed Camping Near Taos

    4 Reviews
    Arroyo Hondo, NM
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-8851

    "Make sure you go all the way to the coordinates as there are a ton of great spots off to the left of the road, plenty of room to spread out and some solidly flat spots."

    "Don’t drive to the John dun bridge from Taos use the longer route instead. The switch back road is blocked off now."

    7. Goat Hill Campground

    2 Reviews
    Questa, NM
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 586-0520

    8. Enchanted Circle Campground E<< - #1 Campground in NM

    7 Reviews
    Angel Fire, NM
    20 miles
    +1 (254) 434-8657

    $75 / night

    "You will feel like you are alone in the back woods where someone set up a great camping site. The fire pit is huge and has benches all around."

    "No electricity but water is available near the owners home. This is boondocking in a very safe environment! You do not have to worry about anything."

    9. Capulin Campground

    4 Reviews
    Taos, NM
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 587-2255

    $6 - $12 / night

    "This was a nice basic spot, close to highway 64 so you get some traffic noise, but that goes away after dark for the most part."

    "About 10 first come first serve primitive campsites next to the road and creek. The trees give some privacy in between the campsites and road."

    10. Little Arsenic Springs Campground

    1 Review
    Questa, NM
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-8851

    $7 / night

    "Hiking trails down to the Rip Grande river are close by."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Taos Ski Valley, NM

449 Reviews of 31 Taos Ski Valley Campgrounds


  • T
    Aug. 18, 2024

    Cuchilla Campground

    Wonderful creekside camping

    This is a wonderful little campground on the way to Taos Ski Valley. Sites are right on a creek & have picnic tables. From what we could tell, there are 2 different locations that we saw on the road, highway 150, one with sites 4-6 & further North where we stayed sites 1-3. We were able to find a level place to park the van & I took a dip in the creek in the morning. Refreshing! Camping is FREE at this campground for up to two weeks! There is no garbage here, so pack it in & pack it out.

  • J
    Sep. 13, 2021

    Eagle Nest Lake State Park Campground

    Eagle Nest State park campground

    Beautiful, clean area with about 15 campsites. There is a place to get water and restrooms in the park. Each campsite has plenty of space between sites, but has no electric or water hookups and there is no dump station. Very nice views of the lake and great walking trails with lots of flora and fauna.

  • Steve & Ashley  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2019

    Comales Campground

    Roadside Northern New Mexico

    I liked the small roadside campground in the Carson National Forest. It’s located near some of the smaller ski slopes about 30 miles south of Taos NM on Highway 518 near Rock Wall New Mexico. The National Forest Service campground has 10 sites along a nice mountain stream. The campground is just off the highway with some privacy between the campsites. They have picnic tables and fire rings and clean Pit toilets. This site did not have a host and works from a self service. The hiking and fishing are the highlights here along with the scenery. I also appreciated this was mostly empty in the peak summer season. This is a nice option if you want to avoid the crowds a do some trout fishing in a relatively quite location. The only downside is the noise from the highway.

  • Tyler G.
    Jun. 22, 2016

    Hopewell Lake Campground

    Wonderful Campground in the scenic Tusas Mountains

    My wife and I have stayed at Hopewell Lake twice now. The first time we stayed here, we stumbled upon this little gem of a site while driving from Durango, CO to Taos, NM. It was enchanting enough that we made sure to make it back for an opportunity to take in the scenery and relax during a long weekend. The only issue we ran into was an abundance of mosquitos, but this should be expected during the late Spring/early Summer in northern New Mexico and can be easily addressed with a citronella candle and a bit of bug spray. Our most recent stay was on one of those rare nights where you can pull off the rain fly and not worry about a midnight downpour, which left us with a wonderful view of the stars, and the sites are private enough that, as long as you don't set up next to the table, it's comfortable with an open tent and away from prying eyes.

    The campground is nice, very well maintained, and the site host is friendly and helpful. The grounds are a

  • Steve & Ashley  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2019

    La Sombra Campground

    Nice Fishing Campground

    La Sombra is a National Forest Service camp the highway 64 southeast of Taos New Mexico. The campground is of a number of NFS along this route. They have a nice trout stream for fishing and access to good hikes up out of the canyon. The sites all have fire rings and picnic tables. We camped here for one night on our way back to Texas. The road noise is the only downside. They had clean pit toilets and plenty of space even in the summer.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 20, 2020

    Lake 13-Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge

    Empty Lake but FREE.

    FREE campground! Large relatively flat grass lot with garbage cans and picnic tables. Pit toilets and recycling at  the entrance. The lake was completely dry but has fishing and trolling motor boats only allowed when there is water. Very quiet place to stay the night. There was only one other camper that showed up when we stayed here. Lots of wildlife and pets allowed on leash.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 3, 2024

    Hotel Luna Mystica

    Vintages, Views & Brews!

    Hamlet went to visit his fun cousins for the weekend -- Diego, Thelma, Louise, Frida, Ralphie, Sunnie, and others– all vintage campers available for rent at this amazingly cool space just outside of Taos, NM. 

    It was Thanksgiving weekend, and while many of the campers were fully booked, there was lots of space in the dry camping area just beyond the vintage trailers. There’s lots of room here for dozens of campers, vans and RV’s. There are no trees or shade structures in the dry camping area, just a few randomly placed fire rings. But camping here means you have access to the very clean bathrooms/showers, water, and other services at the "hotel." 

    Surprise!  The weather went from day-time highs in the 60’s to blizzard conditions with overnight lows in the teens.  We busted out our Airskirts Insulation to help keep our floor warmer and our heated air inside. 

    It’s a great place to base your Taos adventures, hiking near the Rio Grande Gorge, or going further up into the mountains. Nearby activities include fishing, rafting, cycling, mountain biking, and skiing in winter.  Across the road from the campground is the Taos Mesa Brewery where you can get amazing craft beers and some great food. 

    It was the perfect place to hang out on a cold, wintery night.

    Taos also has all the restaurants and services that you might need, and some of the best southwest eateries you’ll find anywhere. The campground is ideal for solar power, as is the New Mexico weather. We also had no problem connecting with Starlink and had LTE in the campground.  If you love the combination of vintages, views, and brews...check this fun place out!

  • L
    Jun. 19, 2019

    Fawn Lakes Campground

    Nice Campground

    Reservations are a must on summer weekends with some one night only walk-ups available. Large but sparse tree cover and fairly close sites limit privacy. Campground is on the banks of the Red River which was running high from extraordinary snow melt and had taken out a dam between the lakes. These circumstances limited fly fishing success but we still saw people bringing in a catch from time to time. The camp is close enough for day trips to Red River, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, Taos, and the Enchanted Circle. The Scenic Canyons contract camp hosts from neighboring campgrounds went the extra mile to cover this campground when its host fell ill and did a marvelous job maintaining the grounds and vault toilets and keeping fire wood available. Campground accommodates anything from tents to large RVs in most sites with a truck or tent area only as well. Recreation.gov does need to refine its on-line info about extra vehicles. There is an extra vehicle charge of $5.00 per day even if the site info says 2 vehicles are allowed. Overall, it’s a very nice place to camp.

  • Marc H.
    Aug. 8, 2020

    Fawn Lakes Campground

    Pretty but tight.

    We stayed in the tent only portion.. with a rooftop tent. Problem being there are no pull in spots for the individual tent sites....just parking along the camp road. Had to pitch our rooftop tent over the parking barrier. Also, sites are right on top of each other. On the plus side the creek is pretty and loud enough to drown out the road not far away.


Guide to Taos Ski Valley

Nestled in the stunning landscapes of New Mexico, tent camping near Taos Ski Valley offers a perfect blend of adventure and tranquility for outdoor enthusiasts.

Explore Scenic Local Attractions

  • The Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping provides access to beautiful river views and a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for families and pets alike.
  • Just a short drive away, Cuchilla Campground offers a serene creekside experience, perfect for those looking to unwind and enjoy nature.
  • For breathtaking vistas, La Junta Campground is situated near the confluence of the Red River and the Rio Grande, making it a prime spot for hiking and exploration.

Activities for Outdoor Enthusiasts

  • At Enchanted Circle Campground, visitors can enjoy hiking trails and fishing opportunities, all while soaking in the quiet, wooded surroundings.
  • The Lower Hondo Campground is perfect for those who love to build campfires and stargaze, with easy access to the refreshing waters of the Hondo River.
  • Taos Junction Campground offers a variety of activities, including swimming in the Rio Grande and hiking nearby trails, making it a great base for adventure seekers.

Amenities for a Comfortable Stay

  • Cabresto Lake Campground features picnic tables and toilets, providing essential amenities for a comfortable camping experience.
  • The Blackjack Tent Area is well-reviewed for its spacious sites along the river, complete with fire pits for evening gatherings.
  • Capulin Campground offers basic facilities like fire pits and picnic tables, making it a convenient choice for those looking to camp close to town.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Taos Ski Valley, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Taos Ski Valley, NM is Cuchilla Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Taos Ski Valley, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 31 tent camping locations near Taos Ski Valley, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.