For those who want to experience White Sands, but still want the creature comforts of home, consider glamping for your trip. Glamping near White Sands, NM is a great way to go camping with the tastes of home. The Dyrt makes it easy to find glamping near White Sands.
This KOA is conveniently located one mile from I-10, overlooking the amazing views of Las Cruces, Mesilla Valley, and nearby mountains. Many upgrades have taken place over the last year, including Wi-fi with which you can stream and zoom, paved streets and a new playground. Choose from breathtaking view sites, big-rig friendly pull-thru sites, KOA Patio Sites with fire pits, Tent Sites or one-room Camping Cabins with refrigerator/freezer and fire pits. An RV wash area (Care Camps donation encouraged), 24-hr laundry and heated pool (seasonal) will complete your visit. Many come for one night and end up staying longer. Visit La Mesilla, known for its rich history and great cuisine. Shop for local specialties, chilies, and pecans at the popular farmers' market in downtown Las Cruces. Other area attractions include White Sands National Park & Missile Museum, Spaceport America Visitors Center, and the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. Pool: Mid May – Sept 31st. Max pull thru 85 ft.
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!
$32 - $34 / night
**Campground **
**Unique Yurts & Retro Campers **
Vacation home rentals
No hassle, self check in
**WIFI **
Family owned & operated
Our campground offers the full range of accommodations including:
> Primitive campsites
> Water & Electric (20-30amp) sites
> House Rentals - 2 BD/2BA , sleeps 6-8 guests
> Yurt Rentals - sleeps 6 - 8 guests
> Camper rentals - sleeps 2 - 6 guests
Please see our website for full details on all that we have to offer. https://www.gleatherland.com/
$5 - $60 / night
Relax and enjoy yourself in our comfortable shipping container homes located just a short drive from the nationally famous Hueco Tanks State Park!
$75 - $150 / night
Ranger
30 minutes from White Sands, quiet and well maintained. Book ahead of time to reserve covered picnic table sites especially if going during the summer.
Scout
Well managed KOA and short driving distance from White Sands National Park and Lincoln National Forest. This KOA is in the city so there is some traffic noise and there is a train that passes through at night. They have sleds to borrow for White Sands which saves you the hassle and cost of getting a sled at the White Sands park. Wifi was unreliable, but cellular internet worked fine on our phones.
GuideCity camping close to restaurants and stores. Only about 10 minuets from White Sands State Park. Partly shaded gravel sites with water, electric, fire ring, picnic table. Campsites are very close to pool, playground, and restroom/showers. Very clean with a well stocked store and friendly staff. The staff gave us great tips for local venues, loaned us sleds for White Sands and rewarded my boys with popsicles for their good manners.
Traveler
I worked for a few days in Las Cruces and I don't typically stay in developed campgrounds, especially off major interstates. What a treat this place was. I was very impressed at the quality, cleaniness, and care that has gone into maintaining this facility. Very friendly. It's on the list every time now heading down the I10. About 1 hour from White Sands.
GuideBig sites, had a tiny camper and tent. Plenty of room. Table and fire pit. Beautiful views! Showers, trails and a visitor center. Less than 30 min from white sands and Alamogordo. PRO-TIP go to Nenas ice cream and snack shop on Alamogordo and order mango creama with a scoop of ice cream. SUPER FRESH ingredients. Also Amigos Bakery has amazing baked goods and burritos.
GuideAmazing little gem located half an hour from White Sands. Recommend reservations if looking for electric sites. Plenty to do and see. Close drive into town for just about anything you could need but far enough to get the high desert. Clean bathrooms and showers. We only used electric site. Used the air conditioner for the hot mid days and heat in the early mornings. One evening we could hear what we think to be artillery explosions from the White Sands missile range by the Air Force Base. Nothing alarming if you have heard artillery before. Short lived and did not interrupt our experience.
LegendIn 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:
GuideThe campground is located in the Oliver Lee State Park, with access on paved roads. There is a dump and water fill station at the entrance. Many sites have electric and water. All have picnic tables, fire rings/grills, but no shade. The Comfort Station is well kept and clean, with running hot and cold water in showers and sinks. Toilets have running water. It’s very quiet in the night so you can enjoy the sound of night creatures. Sadly, although there is electricity at the sites, generators are run at times tearing up the silence and tranquility. Hiking trails are accessible from the campground, a strenuous treck into Dog Canyon and an easy Nature trail. The park is only twenty minutes from White Sands National Park. Great experience! I would come back here any time!
ScoutAs other people have mentioned, there are some sites that have small shelters built over the picnic tables, but I couldn't figure out a pattern to them, so it would be difficult to reserve ahead. (Also, many of them were at the RV sites--which have water and electricity but no sewer connections--which seemed like a waste since RV's come with built-in shade. Luckily, we had brought an 8' square canopy which was a lifesaver. About 15 minutes from Alamogordo and 30 minutes from White Sands, so convenient, too. It seemed to be full on Friday night but only half-full on Saturday night. (The Trinity Site was open on Saturday, so my guess was that some people went there and then moved on.) Nice flush bathrooms with free showers, and there were additional spigots and vault toilets for backup. Didn't go on it but the Dog Canyon trail looks like a beast and started from the campground. Highlight was definitely the views, especially during sunrise and sunset. The sites across from us ($42 and #44) would have been even better for views (though neither had the prized picnic table shade!).
LegendWe stayed at this campground during our #9Parks12Days road trip, and this was the fourth campground of ten on our trip. We did not have advanced reservations and arrived around 4:00 PM to find many open sites (this was early June). The sites are private, separated by cement brick walls, with a level gravel pad for the RV. However, there was a four-inch cement "lip" that stepped up to a huge, all-stone picnic table that could be a HUGE issue for accessibility. We have a special needs preschooler who cannot see well, including differences on the ground that are the same color. Luckily, when he did trip and headed straight for the huge, cement picnic table, I was between him and it, and he only ended up with a skinned knee and not a head injury.
The pool was nice and clean, we swam well into the evening hours after arriving on a very hot day. The playground was quite... scary. The equipment looks to be from the 1970's and was mostly climbing bars, swings, and a merry-go-round. Only the swings were appropriate for our little guy, although our 9-year-old had a lot of fun climbing around. I noticed the playground is no longer mentioned or shown on their website, so maybe the equipment has been pulled out.
The rec room is great - it was our saving grace on this stay along with the pool. Plenty for the family to do, and the welcome center is very nicely kept. In the morning we filled up our coffee mugs with great brew and chatted with the managers, who were very friendly and helpful.
For a quick overnight, we would stay here again, because it is only 15 minutes away from White Sands National Monument, and several other attractions are only a day trip away. Would like to see more shade, more grass or other softer ground cover in the future (i.e. mulch) and for it to be more accessibility-friendly.
RangerMy children and I stayed only one night at the Alamogordo/White Sands KOA, but it was a great place to stop and play! The kids enjoyed the pool and game room, our camping cabin was clean and neat. They had the nicest KOA showerhouse I have seen in my travels. They were having an ice cream social as we arrived which was a bonus after a long hot day of adventure. This was a great base for exploring the area, including White Sands National Monument and the White Sands Missle Range Museum/Missle Park.
Prepare for the heat! There is not much shade on these adventures. My one complaint about this KOA is it needed more shade around the pool.
RangerThis was a fantastic state park very close to White Sands National Park. The park is halfway up a mountain with great views of the desert valley / Tularosa Basin below. It’s far enough outside Alamogordo to feel remote but close enough to be able to get to White Sands and nearby amenities easily. Not all the sites in the park are level so be ready.
GuideNice facility and friendly staff. Close to the white sands national park.
GuideGood, clean state park campground central to Alamogordo and White Sands.
Pros:
Cons:
GuideGreat campground with nice semi-private deluxe sites. Nice central location to visit White Sands and the Billy the Kid Trail.
GuideWe stayed here 3 night while touring White Sands and doing the Billy the Kid Trail. Spacious patios on their deluxe sites.
TravelerEveryone was super nice! Place was well kept and clean. Note: there is lots of railroad train coming by throughout the evening WiFi could be better. White Sands National Park is very close.
TravelerStayed here while visiting White Sands National Park for 2 nights. Its a well kept fairly small campground. Everything worked as advertised. Highly recommend this place. Some nice hikes from the park with amazing views.
TravelerEXTREMELY friendly staff and very accommodating!! All of the sites are easily accessible to the showers and the location is perfect for White Sands National Monument. I would definitely stay here again if we go back to the region.
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
GuideAbout 20 minutes to white sands, clean bathrooms, well kept. Maintained a lot of space between campsites during pandemic. However there is a train close by that blew the horn very loud all throughout the night. Woke me up at 1am, 3am, and 5:30 am.
GuidePerfectly level, no trash, beautiful stars, sunset and sunrise over the mountains. A few other campers. No amenities but hoping no one leaves trash (as that rudeness has closed many other great BLM sites). Went to White Sands National Monument early (25 miles) to get spot to park RV.
ScoutThis campground is very well maintained and convenient location if you are visiting White Sands. However I wasn’t thrilled that it was basically in the middle of town and rather noisy the night I visited. There was also several lights on through the night that shined into my sleeping setup.
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.
GuideWe stayed here shortly after White Sands was made a national park. Very clean facility, general store, bathrooms, and showers available. There was a “Pick n’ Grin” going on the night we stayed, where people played various instruments, and gathered to listen. We usually prefer primitive camping, but this was a lovely break from the norm.
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.
GuideWe spent three days in December here as a basecamp for White Sands. Everything was what we expected, and the cost per night is just about right. It's a solid option, but we'll probably look for something a bit wilder the next time we're in town. I'd recommend this to anyone who needs full hookups, needs to stay close to town, or gets KOA discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near White Sands, NM is Las Cruces KOA with a 4.7-star rating from 47 reviews.
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