Top Free Dispersed Camping near White Sands, NM

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Best Dispersed Sites Near White Sands, NM (18)

Showing results 1-10 of 18 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews In White Sands

91 Reviews of 18 White Sands Campgrounds


  • Ivy M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sierra Vista - Back Side Dispersed
    Jul. 25, 2024

    Sierra Vista - Back Side Dispersed

    nice post

    Sierra Vista’s Back Side Dispersed camping offers a pristine, serene outdoor experience. Its remote location provides ample space and minimal distractions, ideal for those seeking solitude and natural beauty. Proper preparation is key—bring sufficient supplies and be ready for self-sufficiency to fully enjoy this hidden gem. rv park rio hondo

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    Jul. 10, 2024

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Location + Free + Spectacular Sunsets = Great Option Near White Sands NP!

    This whole valley is just… something! A disappearing and reappearing lake, ancient human and mastodon footprint fossils, the birthplace of nuclear reactions and aerospace exploration -- all this AND hills of white gypsum sand upon which you can sled year round?  Not bad for the middle of New Mexico, between two mountain ranges. 

    However, camping nearby leaves something to be desired, even in the RV parks – which is never our thing. However, during a couple of visits we’ve spent the night at some BLM areas just a few miles to the east of the main entrance to the National Park. We’ve spent nights on either side of the highway, but the better boondocking area is on the north side of the highway here at Holloman Lake (not for swimming, read other reviews for details).  You’re right on the border of the air force base, so expect a lot of activity nearby.  In December, there were maybe 6-8 other RV's nearby, but lots of space to spread out.  Road in was good (a little rough in spots) but overall pretty easy, even for our 67 year old camper. The sunsets are always spectacular, even better if it's a bit windy as the fine grains of gypsum sand are in the air, creating gorgeous color.

    There’s nothing in the way of services at this place, just a good, quiet place to park for a few nights.  But, the wide open range has everything you need for solar power and Starlink.  

    Outdoor activities outside of the park can be found up in the mountain ranges to the east of Alamogordo, or to the west in the mountains closer to Las Cruces. 

    Alamogordo is just 15- 20 minutes away where you can get anything you might need, food, groceries, gas, laundry etc.  Oh, and go to the New Mexico History of Space Museum...super fun for kiddos of all ages!

  • F
    Camper-submitted photo from Sierra Vista - Back Side Dispersed
    Jun. 24, 2024

    Sierra Vista - Back Side Dispersed

    papa's games

    Waffle game is a browser-based game that you may play at any time. The game's rules are simple: just utilize the characters provided. Change them so they join together to form meaningful words. Furthermore, the waffle suggests hues such as dark orange, bright orange, and the original color. Use this to figure out what the words mean and where they are. From there, locate the keyword. Play the waffle game now to see who can identify the hidden keywords the fastest.

  • Mike B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    May. 23, 2024

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Convenient to white sands

    Super convenient (maybe 4 minutes) to White Sands National Park, the "lake" is reclaimed waste water from the nearby Air Force base and the whole area can kinda intermittently smell like stale farts. Fairly decent amount of flat space for RV's, but turning around might be tricky based on congestion.

  • MC The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    May. 23, 2024

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Good spot for boondocking White Sands

    Found the location on Google. During my time there the lake had a bit of a funk but not too bad. Some reviews said there wasn’t anything while they were there but alas I was not so lucky

    No amenities, just an empty lot, but decent enough for a night while exploring white sands. Gravel access road is pretty good and my low clearance sedan had no trouble with it

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    May. 23, 2024

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Decent spot

    DO NOT go in the water. There is currently an ongoing lawsuit against the USAF due to the amount of PFAS in the water from firefighting foam. That being said, it’s a great little spot if you’re planning on hitting White Sands NP. Was fairly packed during my visit last month but I still found a spot. Very quiet and peaceful!

  • William C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    Apr. 27, 2024

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Convenient but Noisy

    Good spot to camp near white sands. Very busy- but most people seem to stick to the large lot near the entrance. If you follow the road around to the west side of the lake there are additional spots that are a bit more secluded.

    The Air Force does regular flyovers throughout the day on weekdays. Very loud.

  • Crista G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    Apr. 19, 2024

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Busy but convenient and great sunset

    Quite busy and noisy with people running their generators. No privacy. The redeeming factor is the sunset was spectacular over the lake!

  • Crista G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dog Canyon
    Apr. 19, 2024

    Dog Canyon

    Beautiful, spacious, and quiet!

    Stayed for 3 days and only saw a few cars pass by that whole time. Felt very private and had plenty of space. Lots of beautiful birds and some bats flying around at dusk! Tmobile service was pretty good, mostly had 5G but did lose 5g service a couple of times. Starting to get hot in April!

  • Rachel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    Apr. 4, 2024

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Busy but great location for White Sands

    Pretty crowded on a Wednesday night in April. Had a little trouble finding a level spot far enough away from others but otherwise no complaints for this free camp spot, great sunset views!

  • amanda R.
    Camper-submitted photo from Baylor Canyon Rd Spur, BLM, Free
    Apr. 4, 2024

    Baylor Canyon Rd Spur, BLM, Free

    Great site!

    This was our first campsite on our cross country road trip. We arrived around 10pm and saw one other camper on the way in. It was pitch black outside so we were very pleased to wake up and see the giant mountain behind us the next morning. There were cows roaming about as it’s free range here. The road to the campsite was bumpy but not too bad. We were in a 2wd and had no issues. I’m hoping we can return to this campsite at some point but will be difficult as we live in Georgia 🥲

  • Twan M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dog Canyon
    Apr. 2, 2024

    Dog Canyon

    Desert Solitude

    Easy to access, plenty of spots along the main road and other spurs going off from it. Drove the whole way until it dead ends into State Park land (fenced) then turned around and went down a spur on the left to a great spot. Verizon service, starry skies.

  • Jess T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    Mar. 24, 2024

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Not Bad At All

    Super close to white sands, sunset and sunrise were great. It was relatively busy but the sites are far enough away from each other that it still felt private. At night you can hear the sounds from the highway and see the lights from the base/city. Also as an FYI, not sure I saw this ahead of time, the lake is actually a wastewater treatment pond so steer clear from the actual water.

  • Lilly D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Baylor Canyon Rd Spur, BLM, Free
    Mar. 22, 2024

    Baylor Canyon Rd Spur, BLM, Free

    Beautiful pit stop

    I stopped here just for the night on a longer road trip, but this was a very nice camp. Very quiet with lots of privacy. I made it to a campsite in a prius even though the road is rocky (if you have 4wd you’ll have a smoother ride, but 2wd makes it just fine). There was no wind the night I stayed.

  • Jani L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    Mar. 13, 2024

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Perfect Spot, plenty of space

    1990 Winnebago Chieftain towing a '95 Wrangler from LA > FL

    Got here late last night driving from Albuquerque and since it's essentially just all dirt/shrub, you're able to park wherever you can (just don't block the worn in dirt roads obviously). Had about 30 other RVs, campervans, 5th wheels, tents and cars parked all around. Any type of camper is welcome and their space respected. Quiet, everyone was respectful of one another. Mostly families with young children and retirees. Woke up to a beautiful lake. A bit windy though, for anyone thinking of tent camping or has a tall vehicle.

  • lThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Baylor Canyon Rd Spur, BLM, Free
    Mar. 7, 2024

    Baylor Canyon Rd Spur, BLM, Free

    Stunning Views, Tons of Privacy

    The road is pretty rocky, take it slow and you’ll be good though. 4wd not needed, I managed fine in a 2wd Escape, wouldn’t attempt going too far in with low clearance as some rocks are pretty big. There were quite a few Campers and 5th-wheels further down the way, but I found a good spot with venturing too deep. Person not too far from me pitched a tent, I car camp so can’t say how tent conditions would be, but saw him with a tent pitched & staked! I was up at 7am and they were gone, imagine they must’ve been pretty cold, temps drop quite dramatically and the winds whip up there. Heard coyote’s howling pretty nearby around 1:30am, and in the area again at 3am-ish. There was also lots of scat around, pretty large piles, thinking it’s cow as there’s several cattle ranches very close by and they seem to get loose often-be cautious when driving around, they pop out of nowhere on the main road to Baylor. Sunset is breathtaking!! I don’t recommend arriving here after dark whatsoever. Stars are surprisingly visible too- there’s a lot of light pollution from Las Cruces down below, but it didn’t seem to have much effect on star gazing while I was there. Will definitely return!

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Baylor Canyon Rd Spur, BLM, Free
    Dec. 25, 2023

    Baylor Canyon Rd Spur, BLM, Free

    Great spot

    This was easy to find, the road in is a bit rocky, but I saw All types of vehicles make it, just watch for a few rocks. Beautiful views and easy to get to hiking.

  • Daniel B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping off Corralitos Rd on I-10
    Nov. 27, 2023

    Dispersed Camping off Corralitos Rd on I-10

    Dead animals everywhere

    In the chill of November 2023, I found myself drawn to the desolate expanse of Dispersed Camping off Corralitos Rd on I-10, near Las Cruces, New Mexico. There, amidst the haunting shadows of dead horses scattered like forgotten relics, I lingered for a mere half-hour. This eerie spot, shrouded in mystery and decay, whispered secrets of forgotten tales amid the howling winds. A grim reminder of life's fragility, nestled just off the beaten path, where the line between the living and the dead blurs into obscurity.

  • Courtney M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dog Canyon
    Nov. 13, 2023

    Dog Canyon

    Beautiful New Mexico Mountain Views

    This was my husband and I’s first experience boondocking and we were looking for a location close enough to the White Sands National park that wouldn’t be to far of a drive and this location was perfect. Clean, Quite and Beautiful. We enjoyed seeing all the rock trails that have been created from previous visitors.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dog Canyon
    Oct. 12, 2023

    Dog Canyon

    Nice place to stay

    Numerous sites with fire rings and clean. The turn off from the paved road is difficult to spot and the unpaved road is rough. High ground clearance recommended.

  • PJ M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dog Canyon
    Jul. 5, 2023

    Dog Canyon

    Best free camping near Alamogordo

    About 20 minutes south of Alamogordo. Main dirt road is fine, even for larger rigs. Side road that runs north/south may give you issues.

    Plenty of obvious campsites, many of which are level. 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.

    Be advised, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is right next door, but dump station is clearly marked as only for guests. Water and dump station were physically locked at 4pm which is stupid.

  • Sam W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Raptor Lake Dispersed
    Jun. 14, 2023

    Raptor Lake Dispersed

    Perfect for Dispersed Camping

    Stayed here 04/26/23 for an overnight stop after visiting White Sands National Park. Great views of the lake and plenty of other vans/RVs around but everyone was very quiet and respectful



Guide to White Sands

Camping near White Sands, New Mexico, offers a unique experience with stunning landscapes and plenty of outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to relax or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails in the Organ Mountains. Many campers enjoy the scenic hikes available nearby. One reviewer mentioned, "Good spot to stay if you want to hike any of the trails in the Organ mountains" at Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground.
  • Visit White Sands National Park: Just a short drive away, this park is famous for its beautiful white gypsum dunes. A camper noted, "This is probably one of the coolest places I've visited in a long time" about the Backcountry Primitive Sites — White Sands National Park.
  • Wildlife Watching: The area is home to various wildlife, making it a great spot for nature lovers. One visitor shared, "The sunsets are always spectacular" at Raptor Lake Dispersed / Holloman Lake.

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the breathtaking views. A review for Sierra Vista highlights, "The mountain view is amazing."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many campgrounds offer a peaceful environment. One camper mentioned, "This campground was very quiet; two nights was the perfect amount of time" at Leasburg Dam State Park Campground.
  • Spacious Sites: Campers appreciate the roomy sites available. A review for Las Cruces KOA states, "Clean, roomy sites, nice people."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Raptor Lake Dispersed / Holloman Lake, have no amenities, so be prepared to bring everything you need. A visitor noted, "There’s nothing in the way of services at this place."
  • Weather Conditions: The area can be windy, especially at higher elevations. One camper at Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground mentioned, "Very windy road back to campground."
  • Wildlife Caution: Be aware of wildlife, especially when setting up camp. A reviewer at Baylor Canyon Rd Spur, BLM, Free warned about "large piles" of scat, likely from cows.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with amenities like clean restrooms and picnic areas. One family enjoyed the "clean and nice" facilities at Hacienda RV Resort.
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have activities for kids, like hiking or exploring. A camper at Las Cruces KOA mentioned, "Really nice pool," which is great for families.
  • Safety First: Always keep an eye on children, especially in areas with wildlife. A visitor at Baylor Pass West Trailhead Dispersed noted, "It’s a parking area for hiking with a few places for RVs to park for a night."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Hacienda RV Resort mentioned, "The sites here are also very close together."
  • Be Prepared for Noise: Some campgrounds near highways can be noisy. One camper at Leasburg Dam State Park Campground said, "Aside from an occasional train, this campground was very quiet."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Ensure you know where the nearest dump station is located. A visitor at Franklin Mountains State Park Campground noted, "No amenities like electricity, water or dump stations."

Camping near White Sands, New Mexico, offers a mix of adventure and relaxation, making it a great destination for all types of campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near White Sands, NM?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near White Sands, NM is Sierra Vista with a 4.7-star rating from 28 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near White Sands, NM?

    TheDyrt.com has all 18 dispersed camping locations near White Sands, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.