Best Tent Camping near Winston, NM

Recent Tent Reviews near Winston, New Mexico

200 Reviews of 17 Winston Campgrounds

• B

  Brody

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 24, 2023

  Appaloosa Area — Caballo Lake State Park

  Good Campground

  Stayed at the Appaloosa Campground. Was surprised when we should up that we had water. Electric works great. Ground is pretty hard and rocky so wouldn’t be good for tent camping.

• L

  Lara S.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 6, 2020

  Kingston Campground

  This is a cute little campground

  This campground is right off the highway, but not too much traffic. The small creek bed has nice water depending on the time of year. Too hot in the summer. Gets cold I. The winter, but it is a nice place when the weather is too cold to go further up the mountains to other campgrounds in the Gila. Vault toilet is clean. Only a couple of camp spots. We tent camp, but I think you'd be able to park a small camper or trailer.

• 

  David R.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 1, 2023

  Upper Scorpion Campground

  Awesome Cliff Dwellings - not a Bad Site

  The Gila cliff dwellings are awesome. Well worth the 1.5 hour drive in from Silver City. The Upper Scorpion campground is really a parking lot with nearby tent sites. Campers park in the lot. With that said I was the only occupant of the campground. It was very quiet with a spectacular night sky. The Lower Scorpion campground is the same. The host was very friendly and helpful. No services except pit toilets.

• 

  Jacob W.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 11, 2021

  Riverside Campground — Caballo Lake State Park

  Caballo Lake’s Riverside Campground

  Caballo Lake State Park has several campgrounds that aren’t represented on the Dyrt app map. We tent camped at the Riverside campground below the dam over Easter 2014. See my screenshot of the park map. Google map has 100s of reviews of this campground. It was ok. Kind of crowded and the Rio Grande flowed shallow and muddy (unlike in Del Rio, Texas, from where we had recently moved, where the river is beautiful, above and below Amistad Dam). Alas, at least it was nice to be outdoors.

• 

  Sierra N.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 16, 2023

  Meadow Creek Dispersed Camping

  Legendary creek side camping in a valley

  This trail requires 4x4 and high clearance. It is a bumpy road for all 3+ miles into the mountainside. But it is far worth the drive for the seclusion. There are plenty of spaces to camp before the creek. But we kept going for about 3 miles, hit a road gate, and started traveling into the valley. It will eventually open up and you will see meadow creek. Spots to the left and right of the fork, we settled at the bottom. No service in the valley. Extremely magical, and serene. Leave it better than you left it please! If you want a camp spot off the beaten path, this is it. Perfect for tent camping/car camping.

• 

  Jacob W.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 23, 2023

  Cherry Creek Campground

  Has lots of potential but . . .

  We tent camped at Cherry Creek campground in late July 2023. We arrived about 4pm on a Saturday and there were like 2 sites available. First come, first serve, no fee, but a ranger told me that could change soon. Lots of nice tall pines. The creek was dry. Very scenic valley. There’s a short, informal trail at the north end of the campground past the bathroom. The trail goes about 0.25 miles out; so 0.5 mile round trip. A nice evening or morning stroll or both. But…there was a big group next to us that partied loud and late—with a generator that lit up their site, and ours. Oh well! At least they were enjoying the outdoors like we were, I think.

• s

  samphrone J.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 2, 2021

  Sapillo Dispersed Camping Area

  lovely

  with our rv in the shop we've been getting some tent camping in. we were headed to another campground and had been on the road too long, sun dipping towards dusk, so we saw this turnout, easy to miss, and drove on in. lovely and spacious as others have said. not much litter. we picked up what little we saw. zero cell signal with verizon.

  what we especially enjoyed was being able to furrow way back in our 4x4 to a secluded spot. halloween weekend and we could hear some revellers but enough distance made it a bit charming rather than annoying. so much open land for hiking and the cdt meanders through.

  leaving we lost our way and found a small group of campers even further back in. really wonderful. chilly nights and early mornings. secret gem.

• E

  Eugenie B.

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 10, 2021

  Gila Hot Springs Ranch

  Close to Gila National Monument

  We pulled right into our campsite with hot and cold water at our site. I believe they pull it from the natural hot springs that run beneath the mountain. What a treat! Even if you're not glam camping with a fancy RV it's perfect! How many times have you had to wash your dishes in cold water st a campground. I pull a 37ft gooseneck horse trailer that is now used for camping. No amenities but next best thing to camping in a tent. There is a short walk to the natural hot springs down by the river which is really rustic and relaxing. Especially after climbing the step to the cave/cliff dwellings which are approximately 4 mi further up the road. The restrooms are flush toilets, hot water and a heated floor. Super clean! You can pay a small fee to utilize the "hot tub" which is more modern but the best part is that there's no ceiling! That means as you sit in the hot tub you're privy to the unobstructed view of the Milky Way! Bring a pair of binoculars! We saw several shooting stars and we blown away by the majesty of the heavens which were out "ceiling"!
  You can get out of the hot tub, go directly into the restroom/shower. There's a code to enter the two shower/hot tub complex. Great because it keeps unexpected/uninvited guests from entering. We parked at site #08 close to the restrooms. There are hookups for more luxurious RVs. We ran out of propane and were easily accommodated with a fire ring and wood for a small fee. Well worth it! Mornings were in the 30's. It warms up quickly so layering worked for us. The camp host were very accommodating and friendly. I loved watching them round up their herd of horses that roam freely through the campground from time to time. At sunset we watched deer in the pasture grazing happily. Then watched them hop right over the fence one by one! How fun is that! Sunrise and sunsets there cast the most beautiful hues on the rock formations surrounding the area. While walking down to the natural hot springs we were delighted to see sheep who had given birth to a couple sets of black & white faced twins! Too cute for words... Bring a lunch as there are picnic tables next to the creek. Great after soaking in the three separate soaking areas. I was told you could arrange pack trips on horses and explore any of the back country areas. This is love to return and take advantage of! As amazing as it is on foot and in the car it Hass to be mine blowing on the back of a horse! I was also told that they do trail rides for those less experienced riders. 

• 

  Mike M.

  Guide

  

  May. 24, 2019

  Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park

  Convenient spot when driving sales in New Mexico. Nice campground. The wate

  Convenient spot when driving south in New Mexico. Nice campground. The water level on the lake was pretty low. There is some good hiking nearby and also a bike trail that goes around the lake which is quite long. We were there early in the season so there was a lot of accessibility for campsites.

• D

  Dave S.

  Scout

  

  Mar. 28, 2019

  Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park

  Great Location

  A little confusion at the park enterance sent us to the incorrect loop, discovered shortly after we were in place. But camp host made a few calls and as it worked out we were able to remain in location. The helpfulness of each person along the way made this an excellent spot. We used this as a base to explore south central New Mexico.

• T

  Tyler M.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 1, 2016

  Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park

  Good campground for the area, but I prefer others

  Nice area, and probably one of the best areas in central New Mexico. I however prefer the areas more to the north of the state. This campground is clean, cheap and right on the lake. The amount of people varies. Good place to chill or swim. There is a place to launch boats as well, but the lake itself isn't all that big. I've seen people dish there before, but never seen anyone catch anything. Isn't too much to do around the area, and basically would just make a nice weekend trip if you were in that area.

• C

  Court M.

  Guide

  

  May. 28, 2018

  Black Canyon Campground - Lower

  Santa Fe National Forest

  Beautiful campground in Santa Fe New Mexico. We came to stay one night to go to Meow Wolf and ended up staying 3 nights I liked it so much. Would be 5 stars but the water spigot only worked intermittently, and it was difficult to get a site due to online reservations, some of which weren't even used but sites were still considered occupied due to reservation. I dislike National Park Campgrounds utilizing online reservations, it makes it hard for those of us who wish to ramble aimlessly.

  The birds are abundant here. I wore a red winter hat and had at least 10 hummingbirds buzz my head in one day. I could hear their wings and feel the breeze from them they came so close. Tons of shade here, and nice cool days with chilly nights in May. We had a night of sleet after a rainstorm with hail but the next two days were gorgeous. Conveniently located to Santa Fe amenities. I highly recommend this campground. Pit toilets were minimally smelly and relatively clean.

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 5, 2024

  South Monticello — Elephant Butte Lake State Park

  Beautiful, Remote, & Inexpensive

  Situated on the edge of a sprawling reservoir along the Rio Grande river, this park is the perfect place to enjoy the vast landscape of the area. The nearby town of Truth or Consequences, NM is small, but has all the services you might need for food, gas, supplies, or soaking in hot springs. 

  The campground is well spaced out, each spot has a picnic table with shade/rain structure (I’ll let you guess which purpose gets more use) and nearly all have electricity and water. That means NO generators! The bath house is clean and offers flush toilets, running sinks and warm showers. All sites are reservation only, but you can do that when you get there as there is plenty of LTE cell service.  We've never seen this place crowded in the winter months.  For what you get at this campground, it’s a bargain at twice the price. 

  The campground is ideal for solar power, as is the New Mexico weather. We also had no problem connecting with Starlink.  Hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing and all other sorts of desert recreation is available right from the campground.  Definitely worth the visit!

• E

  Elisa P.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 16, 2021

  Gila Hot Springs Campground

  Really peaceful and pretty

  Love the hot springs, great hosts, calm, and not too many people.

  Can get cold at night if you are in a tent, bring warm clothing

• P

  Peter M.

  Scout

  

  May. 30, 2019

  Rocky Canyon Campground

  Worth the effort

  This camp site is off a forest service road that gets pretty rough. Definitely tents only Recommend that you have 4wheel drive, motorcycle or atv. Right on the continental divide trail. Very quiet

• C

  Cathy C.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 22, 2021

  Lower Scorpion Campground

  Visited but did not stay

  We didn't actually stay there but leaving this review to explain why RVs and camper vans are discouraged. The campground is a small parking lot surrounded by walk-in campsites. If you are tenting it, a beautiful place!

• r

  rose

  Traveler

  

  May. 1, 2023

  South Monticello — Elephant Butte Lake State Park

  Very nice

  We camped here for 5 days. Water and electric on every site. Beautiful view of the lake. It was very quiet. The camp host was wonderful. We had some stakes that came with the tent and they didn't work. He gave us some heavy duty ones that didn't bend.

• 

  Brittany N.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 16, 2018

  Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park

  Too busy

  Pretty lake but too busy. Went on a what we thought was a slow weekend and campers/tents were side by side at the shore line all the way around the lake. It's also surrounded by soft sand which a poop ton of people get stuck in if you don't have the right vehicle.

• L

  Leslie M.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 15, 2022

  Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park

  Nice scenery

  Beautiful scenery and nice sites. Had a power outage for a bit, no running water or lights in restroom was a pain at the time. Obviously camping there are critters, but when my daughter saw a large black widow on our tent she had a little freak out. Just check your picnic table and keep an eye out.

• 

  Jessica M.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 2, 2018

  Lake Roberts

  Lake Roberts summer visit

  It’s a few minutes from the lake but it’s nice and open.. both times we’ve gone it’s had quite a few people but beyond being able to hear them we weren’t running into each other. Great for tents, or campers.. They have metal fire rings to help which was nice.

  Only drawback was one time people were running generators which were pretty loud.. but we’d still go back!

• 

  Beth G.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 19, 2023

  Mesa Campground

  Nice spot for trout fishing

  We stayed at Mesa Campground during a tour of the Gila National Forest with friends.

  The lake views aren’t great, but you can easily walk down to the shore.

  The trash bins and running water are really nice amenities. Our site had a table and grill and we were able to fit our truck with a rooftop tent and a truck with a small pull behind, but we were really close to each other.

  We’ve also caught and ate trout from Lake Roberts.

• 

  Anna R.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 17, 2018

  Lower Scorpion Campground

  Hot springs near visitor center

  Just a short hike from the visitor's center are a series of hot springs. The first spring is really just a trickle and can only be found by touch moving through the stream. I was able to set up a tent on the creek and dig down in the sand to find the hot water and then covered myself to get the geothermal properties. Not a traditional hot spring soak but a memorable experience. The next morning I could find the hot spring seam by the steam coming off the creek and did the same thing while watching coyotes traverse the canyon.

• 

  Tracy C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 11, 2018

  Black Canyon Campground - Lower

  Gorgeous campground 10 minutes from the Plaza

  We visited Black Canyon last August on our way to Colorado and stayed two nights. What a lovely and well maintained place. camp hosts were absolutely wonderful. campers were clean, quiet and respectful. Bathrooms were just pit toilets, but man... they were CLEAN! It is cool at night, even in August, due to the elevation. We were so cozy in our wool socks and sleeping bags in a tent. It even hailed on us hard one day. I liked this place so much we booked it again this summer, but were disappointed to see it closed for the month due to wild fires nearby and extreme drought. We get it, but are super bummed. This place is just gorgeous.

• 

  Beth G.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 19, 2023

  Sapillo Dispersed Camping Area

  Free and shaded

  This is one of our favorite springtime camping spots. There aren’t any numbered sites, but there are makeshift campfires and flat areas all around. The site also has trash disposal and vault toilets. Lots of trees for shade and hammocks.

  This spot is popular with large crowds and off road vehicle enthusiasts. Expect music until 10pm and the sound of engines. It’s a great place to boondock with a generator.

  Lots of easy trails to ride around on with our mini bikes. Plenty of space to set up camp with 2 families and a few smaller tents.

  Lake Roberts is just zip the road for fishing opportunities.

• 

  Angela G.

  Guide

  

  Jan. 24, 2021

  Mesa Campground

  Good National Forest Camping

  Stayed here with a couple of friends in late December of 2019. Great proximity to Gila National Forest, which is the primary reason we chose this campground. Obviously was very cold during December, but we were comfortable with an all-season tent & sleeping bags.

  Camp hosts were super nice and gave us a lighter when we couldn’t find ours, which was a saving grace when it came to be dinner time. Picnic tables were great, especially when you’ve become used to primitive camping without such luxuries. Pit toilets were clean and accessible. Overall, nothing special but a great campground for the location and the helpfulness of the hosts.

• 

  Brandon H.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 7, 2020

  Dipping Vat Campground

  Very isolated campsite

  I needed to find a spot for the Labor day weekend that wasn't over crowded. This campground is very isolated infact it's about an hour to an hour and a half of off road driving to get to. I was very impressed with the drinking water faucets located throughout the campsite, and the clean bathrooms. There are two sides of the campsite, on on side your in the woods with tall pine trees to shade your tent and campsite. The other side is open no trees, but it does overlook the lake so be sure to bring your canopy. It's a paid national forest campsite of $5/night. The forest trucks/rangers do stop in several times during the day to make sure everything is ok. Heard Elk in the morning, wolves and bats at night. This is a great location to get away from the busy hustle of city life

• L

  Lin

  Guide

  

  Oct. 22, 2021

  Caballo Lake State Park Campground

  Great views of Caballo Mountains and Lake

  This campground is not far from I-25, not far from Truth or Consequences, with easy access on paved roads. There is a dump and water fill station as well as sites with electric and water, fire pits, a grill, and a pavillion with half walls for shade and privacy. Dispersed camping is available down by the lake near the boat ramp. Cell coverage is iffy, at best. Comfort Stations are clean, toilets have running water. There is only cold water at sink, and sporadic warm but mostly cold water in showers. There are no surfaces to set things down on. Only very few hooks in shower and toilet stalls. Waking up with calls from the cranes across the lake made my day happy! You’ll enjoy the sounds of night creatures, although the noise from I-25, depending on the direction of the wind, can be deafening, especially if you are in a tent. Bring ear plugs! Sunsets are breathtaking! If it were warmer I’d love to go out on my paddle board. I’d come back to this campground again and again!