The Dyrt can help you find the perfect horse camping site near White Sands. Finding a place to stay in New Mexico while traveling with your horse is easy. With our help, you'll find the best New Mexico equestrian campsites from scenic to easily accessible.
The high wall, needle-like spires of the Organ Mountains curve dramatically around a semicircle of Chihuahuan Desert habitat at the Aguirre Spring Campground. The campground, nestled at the base of spectacular cliffs, overlooks the Tularosa Basin and White Sands National Park. Alligator juniper, gray oak, mountain mahogany and sotol are a few of the abundant plant species here. Seasonal springs and streams occur in the canyon bottoms, with a few perennial springs that support riparian habitats. Entrance Gate Hours (change with Daylight Savings Time) Winter Hours (Nov - March): 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Summer Hours (March - Nov): 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. The campground has a total of 55 sites that are available at a first come, first served basis, and two group sites that can be reserved by calling 575-525-4300. Water is only available at the entrance of the recreation site by the Camp Host Site. RVs can camp in the campground but should be aware that the road up to the campground becomes narrow and winding. Due to safety precautions for vehicles, the recommended max length for RVs is 23 feet. All sites have a shade shelter, picnic table, grill and tent pad.
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.
Due to rehabilitation of camping sites, backcountry camping is closed.
Welcome to southwestern New Mexico, where public lands offer an amazing diversity of outdoor recreation opportunities. The BLM's Las Cruces District Office manages 5.4 million acres of public land and over 10 million acres of Federal mineral estate from the western side of the Guadalupe Mountains to the Arizona border, and from Sierra County and the southern edge of the Gila National Forest to the Mexican border. These public lands include majestic, scenic mountain ranges jutting from the desert floor, and towering over the surrounding desert. The confluence of the Chihuahuan desert, Rocky Mountains, great plains, Sonoran desert, and Sierra Madre make the area the most biologically and recreationally diverse region of New Mexico.
Guide
My bus was squeaking, twisting, driving at an angle, and it was a brutal drive... While I'll not come back because it's not well maintained, it does have very beautiful vistas, so that's why it got 3 stars.
Ranger
Stayed in #43. Most sites are uneven and short. BLM recommends nothing more than 23' long. Water available at host site near gate before driving about 4 or 5 mi to campsites. Road IS narrow and winding and steep in place but pave and ONE way (don't turn wrong direction). Toilets were clean and mens toilets all had soft-close lids. I am told womens do not. Campground was clean, great 4 mile loop hike, and other much more strenuous/technical options for mountain climbers. Mountain crags remind me of a mix of Tetons, Patagonia and Sawtooth in Idaho. Great views to Sacramento Mountains to the east (Ruidoso/Cloudcroft area--Sierra Blanca covered in snow early Nov.). White Sands nearby along with White Sands Missile Range Museum). Met some BLM peeps who were very nice, helpful and provided great information re: geology of the area and other points of interest. We brought our own 5 gal of water and were fine for 3 nights.
ALSO: shout out to New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors who were doing trail rehab./maintenance work while we were in area, yay!
GuideGreat sites with close and clean toilets. We found a few level spots that would work for rooftop tents, but most spots seemed a little rocky and uneven for tents. There is a lovely 4 mile hike that loops up in the mountains by the sites.
Ranger
We usually opt more for National Forests and Parks, but this was a great stop after a fabulous but more rustic experience camping at Chiricahua National Monument. This place has been updated and has more amenities than I’ve ever seen at an RV park including a dog bath! The bathrooms are updated and clean. Our view site was great and more spacious than the pull through ones. No one was to our right, so our site felt extra spacious. Staff were kind and helpful. Very clean and quiet park. I’d stay here again.
ScoutIt’s great to hear about the spacious sites and beautiful surroundings that enhance the outdoor experience. Your mention of nearby hiking trails is particularly helpful for those looking to explore. Sprunki
GuideWe stayed with the doggos and our son on a RTT and had a great time other people are camping and might be too loud for your taste but not too much to ruin it. Views are amazing especially from the hikes
GuideGreat campsite right outside of las cruces. Very pretty drive in but easy to fly by if you’re going too fast on the main highway. Good spot to stay if you want to hike any of the trails in the Organ mountains
GuideThis campground is good for tent and very small rv camping. The views of the Organ mountains were amazing with plenty of hiking trails.
GuideVery windy road back to campground. Putable water at beginning of road. Get it if you need it before you go up. Pit toilets, just okay. Sites are awesome! Spread out. Nice fire pits and covered picnic tables. Tucked right under mountain. Great views!
GuideBeautiful, manicured place on a hill overlooking town. Really nice staff and concrete/gravel site. We will be back!!
RangerThis place was well kept. Loved the camping cabin as a treat after a month of car camping. Hot showers, community kitchen, laundry, dog run. I also staying in one of the tent sites which was available despite the cold. Camping cabins are 1-4 and 3 and 4 are nicer just farther off the road.
RangerThis is probably the nicest KOA that we have stayed at. On a bluff overlooking the city, lots of amenities, clean restrooms and showers, friendly. Easy access to the freeway and city.
TravelerBeautiful camp grounds! There was plenty of space so we still got to have a fairly secluded experience. Some sites can be difficult to find a flat area for a tent.
They seem to be operating summer hours now, so the gates actually close at 8pm!
Watch out for ant mounds, flies, and gnats when setting up though.
RangerWe tent camped at Aguirre Spring campground over Father’s Day weekend in June 2022. I don’t know. Maybe it was too hot or I was too tired, or a combination of both with a causal connection. I love the outdoors but I can’t really think of anything good or bad to write about this campground.
It seemed like a nice place and the vault toilet bathroom was clean and extremely stocked with TP. There is a great trail called pine tree loop from which you can actually see real pine trees on the mountainside above the barren desert basin. We fell victim to the one-way road that other campers bemoaned too. The camp host’s phone is 575-644-9143 (as announced on the BLM’s voicemail greeting) and he was helpful when I called ahead and told me the campground was open (as of 6/22/2022, the Dyrt has an alert that the campground is closed for the season), that there was plenty of space, and that there was a fire ban.
We pitched our tent without the rain fly. Right when we layed down for the night, it started raining, so we scrambled to overlay the rain fly and then the rain stops. In the middle of a desert drought, if such a thing is a thing. The tent pad barely accommodated our 6-person tent and it seemed like all the sites suffered the same fate. We scouted the whole campground, mainly searching for shade and settled on a decent site with a giant boulder on the western side for some evening shade. The campground was maybe 1/3 full. Overall it was good to get outdoors for father’s day despite the fatigue.
ScoutIt really is beautiful here. Southeast New Mexico has mountains believe it or not. The camp is nestled up against one. It’s Memorial Day weekend and not too crowded. Highly recommend for the price (basically free). If you are tent camping and low maintenance this place rocks. If you have a huge rig I’m not even sure I would want to make the drive up the road to the camp site. Spots are small, so you would need to find the best spot if you have an RV or Trailer.
TravelerPretty good about 4 spots to pull off maybe more if you have a higher clearance vehicle and can make it back in farther my Camry couldn’t lol but still a nice place to stay a couple days good view of the mountains and the sunsets!
Lots of side by sides rip ridin around
GuideThis is a very nice KOA! I am constantly impressed with every KOA I stay at. This one is very well designed and spacious. Very clean and quiet. We arrived late and our packet was waiting for us in the box to the left of the ofc which was so cool. There is half court basketball, a pool, picnic areas, playground, tetherball, and laundry. New sites going in this year. Wifi is great.
GuideWe stayed here for 3 nights in early April. The campground was less than 50% full so very quiet and peaceful. The hiking was great and it was an easy drive for a day trip to White Sands which was delightful. The bathrooms were clean and the sites simple with no hookups but a shaded picnic table at each. It was windy for one day but otherwise it was a lovely spot.
GuideBeautifully done lay out. Pictures speak for themselves. Everyone friendly. Well done!
TravelerBeyond amazing campsite tucked up against an incredible expanse of towering mountains. Great hikes nearby. Clean out toilets. Sites are very well spaced—I felt like I was the only one around!
GuideSo the road in is at the 151 Mesquite Exit off IH 10. First 2 miles were blacktop, then 2 miles of 2.5 vehicle wide gravel road then 2 miles of single vehicle gravel road. Several turnouts for camp sites with many having rock fire rings.
Lots of dove and some quail.
A few cows in the area.
Lots to see if you get out and walk the area. Several hiking trails into the Mountain range.
Light noise to the south from El Paso/IH 10 to the West but not much to the East looking into the canyon or North. Saw many stars and satellites.
Would stay again.
Light traffic during sunlight by hikers.
Quite otherwise.
Sites are not level so be prepared
GuideGreat camping area with a variety of camp sites. All site are closely located to vault toilets that are kept clean. Each site has, pavilion, fire pit, charcoal grill, and bear proof trash cans. It does get busy, for best selection of spots arrive late morning to early afternoon.
Traveler
Stopped here for a night before visiting White Sands NP. Beautiful campground tucked between the Organ Mountains and the San Andrés National Wildlife Refuge. The views are incredible with trails and lots of rocks to explore.
You pay $7/night at the entrance through their envelope system (cash or check). There are pit toilets with toilet paper. Each site has a fire pit and pavilion with picnic table. Down the road, at the camp host, there is supposed to be water. We haven’t checked it out yet. Fill up before coming up to the campground because the camp host isn’t close yet. Gates lock each night, so no reentry after 6pm ( in winter).
LegendVery maintained KOA campground. Online reservation very smooth. Arrived at 2:30 Christmas afternoon. Registration packet was ready even if office was closed.
TravelerDrove in at 8pm in dark. First couple miles paved then ~3 miles to camping top. Many places to camp along way up. One other pop up VE camper near top, but I stayed far away. Saw a vehicle with 4-wheel ATV trailer on way out at 7am.
No traffic all night in camping area. Could hear the dull roar of freeway to the west. (White noise).
Good T-mobile reception. Watched end of Chiefs-Rams football game on iPhone. Go Chiefs! Won in overtime.
47 degrees dropped to 39 by morning.
Nice that this spot is not far off the I-10. Can work in Las Cruces Starbucks today and then move on to the Gila NF tonight.
GuideThis BLM is tucked in the midst of God’s creation and is well worth the drive in alone, let alone the peaceful stay.
The host is very welcoming and nice, she is about 4 miles before the campgrounds and has water for fill ups! I have a small 3.5 water kit so I was able to carry my kit to the hookup, however, for larger rigs prepare to have a 50ft (or longer) hookup.
The 4 miles of witnessing a backdrop of heaven makes you want to go the speed limit or under, nice twisties and curves up to the pay station (cash or check only).
I stayed at site 35, and although I did not completely setup my over-landing gear, I enjoyed my stay. This particular site has a slight incline but does have a small area that is leveled.
It was very quiet and peaceful here, has vault toilets, trash cans and picnic tables with shedding.
I will definitely be back! And, you cannot beat the $7 nightly stay (especially for the amenities on BLM ; hell, I’d pay for the views)
LegendIt’s tucked away off the main road so it’s very quiet at night (assuming neighbors aren’t an issue). It’s felt far enough apart so you had privacy. Several vault toilets and trash cans around the campground. There’s 2 loops, 55 sites total. Each site has a grill and a covered picnic table. There’s 2 hiking trails in the area and beautiful sunsets. There’s no water at the campground but water at the front gate by the host (3 mi from campground). The winter hours are 8am-6pm so if you don’t arrive at the gate by 6, you’re locked out. $7/night and definitely recommend!
New Mexico offers stunning landscapes and diverse terrains, making it an ideal destination for horse camping enthusiasts. With a variety of campgrounds that cater to equestrian needs, adventurers can enjoy both the beauty of nature and the thrill of riding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near White Sands, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near White Sands, NM is Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 50 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near White Sands, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near White Sands, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
