Best Campgrounds near Whites City, NM

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Whites City, NM has a lot to offer. Whites City is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Whites City and user-submitted reviews.

Best Camping Sites Near Whites City, New Mexico (39)

    1. Chosa Campground

    51 Reviews
    104 Photos
    384 Saves
    Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

    Chosa Campground consists of a 3.5-acre, pipe-rail fenced pad that offers a trash container and a safe parking space for your Recreational Vehicle plus a protected area to set tents, whatever your camping style. Chosa campground provides visitors a fee free location strategically located between two national parks with Carlsbad Caverns a short 11-mile drive north and Guadalupe Mountains National Park 27 miles south on highway 62.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Dispersed
    • Trash
    • Alcohol

    2. Sunset Reef Campground

    38 Reviews
    67 Photos
    260 Saves
    Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

    Sunset Reef Campground is a reclaimed well pad with 11 developed campsites; five RV spaces and six tent sites. Each site has a shaded picnic table, fire pit and grill for your camping convenience with a vault toilet on site. Visitors can dry camp at this campground for a maximum of five nights for free. If on the hunt for a great place to camp while exploring the two national parks in the area, this is the place to stay! Carlsbad Caverns is a 25-minute drive (14 miles) to the north and Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a 35-minute drive (30 miles) to the southwest. __

    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    • Dispersed
    • Tent Cabin

    3. Mile 10 - Dispersed Camping

    31 Reviews
    79 Photos
    383 Saves
    Whites City, New Mexico
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • ADA Access
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol

    4. Carlsbad RV Park & Campground

    34 Reviews
    69 Photos
    105 Saves
    Carlsbad, New Mexico
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access

    5. Carlsbad BLM Land Dispersed

    19 Reviews
    47 Photos
    196 Saves
    Whites City, New Mexico
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol

    6. Whites City RV Park

    22 Reviews
    16 Photos
    66 Saves
    Whites City, New Mexico
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access

    $20 - $45 / night

    7. Brantley Lake State Park Campground

    37 Reviews
    85 Photos
    163 Saves
    Carlsbad, New Mexico

    Located twelve miles North of Carlsbad, NM, the park offers boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking trails, exceptional bird watching, developed and primitive campsites and restrooms with showers. Whether you’re picnicking for the day, or camping in your RV for a week, you’ll be sure to find adventure at Brantley Lake State Park!

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access

    $8 - $18 / night

    8. Carlsbad KOA

    39 Reviews
    64 Photos
    117 Saves
    Carlsbad, New Mexico

    From the KOA website: Kick back with family and friends at this beautiful desert oasis built in 2000. This award-winning KOA is big rig friendly: All sites are huge 30/50-amp pull thrus with free Wi-Fi and free cable TV. The staff will spoil you as you enjoy the 2,000-square-foot community room, meals delivered to your site, a beautiful commercial laundry, outstanding restrooms, a fenced dog park and a heated pool. From this KOA in the heart of SE New Mexico, visit Carlsbad Caverns, Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park, Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, Roswell's International UFO Museum and White Sands National Monument. Check out the Robert H. Goddard rocket collection at the Roswell Museum and Art Center and the "Billy the Kid" history at the campground. A horse hotel also is available. See how this KOA is going green with the help of a wind turbine. Pool: March 15 - October 15. Max pull thru: 75 feet. Your hosts: Scott, Susan and Brian Bacher.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access

    9. Pine Springs Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    45 Reviews
    138 Photos
    180 Saves
    Salt Flat, Texas

    Overview

    The Pine Springs RV campground is not a traditional campground. Be aware, this is a paved parking lot. The area shares a popular and busy trailhead accessing four major trails. The area is frequently congested with day use hikers searching for available parking and with foot traffic from overflow parking areas. Before booking a reservation: It is your responsibility to review all (Site Details, Allowable Equipment, Allowable Vehicle/Driveway and Need to Know) for the individual campsite. Failing to do so may result in being prohibited from occupying the site upon your arrival. Refunds are not provided by the park. Pine Springs Campground is located near the Pine Springs Visitor Center, just off U.S. 62/180 and at an elevation of 5,730 feet. The location offers great hiker access to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park trail system. The campground is situated at the opening to the Pine Springs Canyon with spectacular views of the worlds best example of a fossil reef and of the vast Permian Basin to the east. The campground is open year-round and is busiest, March-May and September-November. High winds with over 50 mph gusts are common, especially during winter and spring.

    Recreation

    The Pine Springs Trailhead includes access to many different types of hikes. Hikes to Guadalupe Peak or the Bowl are strenuous, 8-9 miles, and have 2500-3000 feet of elevation gain. Another strenuous hike is the Devils Hall Trail (4.2 miles round-trip, 500 feet elevation gain, of the trail in a rocky, uneven wash which includes route-finding and boldering skills). For a more moderate hike consider the the Frijole/Foothills Trail. The El Capitan Trail offers excellent open views of the surrounding desert and close approaches to the cliff face of El Capitan. Because of its distance, lack of shade, some primitive route travel, and numerous elevation changes, this trail is best saved for cooler times of year and for people with experience in route-finding. The ruins of a Butterfield stage station, called the Pinery are next to the highway, and a short, paved nature trail connects the visitor center and the historic site. The Frijole Ranch & History Museum is 1.5 miles away. The grounds are always open, but the museum is staffed intermittently. Seven miles to the east on Hwy 62/180 is McKittrick Canyon. This area offers three trails, the McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail (0.9 miles loop), McKittrick Canyon Trail (4.8 miles round-trip to Pratt Cabin or 6.8 miles round-trip to the Grotto) and the Permian Reef Trail (8.4 miles round-trip, for serious geology buffs).

    Natural Features

    The Pine Springs Campground is in an area with small, scattered trees, shrubs, and grasses. Trees include gray oaks and alligator junipers, which cast partial shade at some sites. Texas madrones, bigtooth maples, chinquapin oaks, and ponderosa pines become more common along the canyon floor. Higher elevations include Douglas fir and hop-hornbeam. Shrubs include whitethorn acacia, Mexican orange, Apache plume, sumacs, and algerita. Desert-adapted plants also occur in this area, and include prickly pear cactus, New Mexico agave, sotols, and soaptree yuccas. Hunter Peak and cross-sectional views of the Capitan reef are visible from the campground. Roadside pullouts (one mile and four miles away) provide excellent views of El Capitan. Hiking into Pine Springs canyon or along the foothills reveals Guadalupe Peak. The Guadalupe Peak trail ascends to the highest point in Texas and offers excellent views of the surrounding desert. Birds commonly seen and/or heard around the campground can include Canyon towhees, turkey vultures, white-winged doves, common ravens, chipping sparrows, Says phoebes, common poorwills, and phainopeplas depending on the season. Night sky visibility is excellent and nearly pristine directly overhead, to the south, and the southwest. Nearby high ridges and peaks are situated to the west and north.

    Nearby Attractions

    Carlsbad Caverns National Park: In addition to a variety of cave tours, the national park also offers hiking trails and a scenic drive. Rattlesnake Springs and Slaughter Canyon, part of Carlsbad Caverns are nearer attractions for day use activities. Birding is excellent at Rattlesnake Springs. Lincoln National Forest: The Guadalupe District of the Lincoln National Forest is located just over the state line, north of the national park. Road access is through New Mexico, north of Whites City, via Dark Canyon Road to NM SR 137 through Queen (also the way to the national parks Dog Canyon). The forest provides for various camping, hiking, caving, hunting, and picnicking opportunities. Sitting Bull Falls is a nice waterfall and picnic area in the Lincoln National Forest. Five Point Vista is a glorious ridge road ride of the area, closer to Dog Canyon. Fort Davis National Historic Site and State Park: Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars' frontier military post in the Southwest. From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis was strategically located to protect emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso Road and on the Chihuahua Trail. This is located about 2.5 hours south of the park. A state park is located nearby with camping and a scenic drive. Also located in Fort Davis is McDonald Observatory with several programs available. White Sands National Park: Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here. Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site: Hueco Tanks State Park is located on the east side of El Paso, about an hour and a half from the Guadalupes. At Hueco Tanks, you can hike, rock climb, bird watch, study nature and history, picnic and stargaze. Visitors can take guided and self-guided tours to view rock imagery.

    Charges & Cancellations

    Individual Site: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you modify your reservation or change your stay dates. Cancelling your reservation prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time two nights before your stay will incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. Camping reservations cancelled the day before and day of arrival incur a $10 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. If you need to cancel or modify your reservation, you must do so through Recreation.gov. Group Site: Customers who cancel a group overnight reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee & forfeit the first night's use fee.

    • Pets
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Group

    $20 - $60 / night

    10. Dark Canyon Dispersed

    9 Reviews
    20 Photos
    139 Saves
    Whites City, New Mexico
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
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Recent Reviews near Whites City, NM

436 Reviews of 39 Whites City Campgrounds



Guide to Whites City

Camping near Whites City, New Mexico, offers a unique experience with stunning landscapes and proximity to natural wonders like Carlsbad Caverns. Whether you're looking for a free spot or a more established campground, there are plenty of options to suit your needs.

What to do:

  • Explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Just a short drive away, this park is famous for its stunning underground formations. Many campers appreciate the convenience, with one reviewer noting, "This is a great free area of land located conveniently between the Guadalupe mtns and The Carlsbad Caverns" at Chosa Campground.
  • Hiking in Guadalupe Mountains National Park: The trails here offer breathtaking views and a chance to see local wildlife. A visitor at Pine Springs Campground mentioned, "Great access to trails - we woke up and immediately did Guadalupe trail!"
  • Stargazing: The clear desert skies provide an excellent opportunity for stargazing. Campers at Sunset Reef Campground have enjoyed the night sky, with one stating, "Great night sky. Quiet."

What campers like:

  • Free camping options: Many appreciate the availability of free campsites. One camper at Mile 10 - Dispersed Camping said, "Spacious with fire rings, and a thousand times better than Sunset Reef."
  • Clean facilities: Campers often mention the cleanliness of restrooms and showers. A review for Brantley Lake State Park Campground highlighted, "Clean bathrooms and showers, hot showers, wheelchair accessible showers and bathrooms."
  • Convenient locations: Many campgrounds are close to major attractions. A visitor at Carlsbad KOA noted, "Good location for both Guadalupe Mountains NP and Carlsbad Caverns."

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities at some sites: Many dispersed camping areas lack basic amenities. A camper at Mile 10 - Dispersed Camping mentioned, "No sun or wind protection though!"
  • Weather conditions: Be prepared for changing weather, especially wind. One reviewer at Mile 10 - Dispersed Camping warned, "I was caught in a two-day dust storm with 70mph winds."
  • Road access: Some campgrounds may have rough access roads. A visitor at Carlsbad BLM Land Dispersed noted, "The road past the first parking area a little rough but 4WD made it seem easy."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for sites with amenities like picnic tables and restrooms. A reviewer at Carlsbad RV Park & Campground mentioned, "The showers are brand new. The laundry is clean and all the machines work."
  • Plan for activities: Make sure to have a list of nearby attractions. One family at Whites City RV Park enjoyed the location, stating, "Best part it was just at the entrance to get to the caverns."
  • Pack for the weather: Be ready for hot days and cool nights. A camper at Chosa Campground advised, "I highly recommend if you camp in Summer months to get there closer to sunset."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Some campgrounds have limited space for larger RVs. A visitor at Dog Canyon Campground noted, "The 'RV' sites are just a gravel parking lot."
  • Be prepared for dry camping: Many sites do not have hookups. A reviewer at Pine Springs Campground mentioned, "There are bathrooms but no hookups. No generator use either so be prepared to dry camp."
  • Plan for road noise: Some campgrounds are near highways. A camper at Carlsbad KOA pointed out, "Site is close to highway, so lots of road noise throughout the day and night."

Camping near Whites City, New Mexico, offers a mix of free and established campgrounds, each with its own charm and challenges. Whether you're in an RV or tent camping, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What camping is available near Whites City, NM?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Whites City, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 39 campgrounds and RV parks near Whites City, NM and 9 free dispersed camping spots.

  • Which is the most popular campground near Whites City, NM?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Whites City, NM is Chosa Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 51 reviews.

  • Where can I find free dispersed camping near Whites City, NM?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Whites City, NM.

  • What parks are near Whites City, NM?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 parks near Whites City, NM that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.