Camper submitted image from Datil Well Recreation Area Campground - 1

View Photos

Camper submitted image from Datil Well Recreation Area Campground - 2
Roads
Camper submitted image from Datil Well Recreation Area Campground - 3
Facilities
Camper submitted image from Datil Well Recreation Area Campground - 4
Signs & Maps
Camper submitted image from Datil Well Recreation Area Campground - 5
Nature
Unlock Planning Tools in App

Established Camping

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground, near Socorro, New Mexico, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without the fuss. This campground is known for its clean facilities, including solar-lit restrooms and spacious sites that offer a mix of privacy and beautiful scenery.

Visitors rave about the stunning night skies, perfect for stargazing, and the well-maintained trails that lead to breathtaking vistas. One camper noted, “Remarkable night skies when clear,” making it a great place to unwind after a day of exploring. The campground is also conveniently located near the Eagle Guest Ranch, where you can grab essentials or a bite to eat.

If you’re up for a little adventure, the nearby Very Large Array and Gila National Forest offer plenty of hiking opportunities. Just a short drive away, you can also find Pie Town, famous for its delicious baked goods. Whether you're stopping for a night or planning a weekend getaway, Datil Well is a solid choice for a peaceful retreat in nature.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground is located in New Mexico

Detail location of campground

Directions

The Datil Well Recreation Area Campground is off of US 60. Go 1 mile west of Datil on US 60 or south on NM 12.

Address

Socorro Field Office 901 S. Highway 85
Socorro, NM 87801

Coordinates

34.154286 N
107.858093 W

Open in Google Maps

Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 4 users
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Drive Time

Presented byToyota Trucks

Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 4 users
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • WiFi
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info


2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

75%
25%
0%
0%
0%

5.0

out of 5

12 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 10, 2025

So peaceful

This was the second time we have stayed here. It’s about a quarter of a mile off the main road so it’s very quiet and peaceful. There are 22 sites and three of them do have electric. The rest are all dry camping, but they do have nice picnic tables and fire rings attached. Some pull through sites. Vault toilets are available throughout the park and there is water available. There is also a little lending library that is open from 10 to 2 that has Wi-Fi available . Great hiking trails in the area. Half price with your make America beautiful pass.

Site10
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Lisa M., August 10, 2025
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Lisa M., August 10, 2025
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Lisa M., August 10, 2025
Reviewed Jul. 28, 2025

A great stopover location while traveling Hwy 60

We have been camping here for 8 years including a Thanksgiving celebration with neighbors.  Over that period of time, many very nice improvements have been made to the infrastructure. Every site has been renewed, the toilets have been completely upgraded to solar lighting and to overnight fee is still $5.00.  If it works with your travel schedule, don't miss this one.

Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by John H., July 28, 2025
Reviewed Jun. 15, 2025

Quiet, beautiful Camp Ground!

Quiet restful afternoon and night. Just $5.00 and 50% off with Parks pass! Can't beat that deal. Camp host directed us to an electric site. This is a dream campground. Made me nervous it was so cheap.

SiteSite-19
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by J W., June 15, 2025
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by J W., June 15, 2025
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by J W., June 15, 2025
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Oct. 17, 2024

Good trails straight outta campground

Stayed 2 nights. No reservations, so had to take chances. Several spots open on a Friday. Most spots roomy and decent spacing. Clean toilets and water and only $5 per night; $2.50 with a Senior NPS Pass. 3 spots have electric hookups but all taken. Quiet (other than one morning before sunrise). There is a host site. PieTown down the road with excellent pies--If you go, eat at Pie-O-Neer (best option---great reviews and did not disappoint). Sign said they're open year round. Good proximity to VLA (Very Large Array).

One very good ADA accessible site with concrete walk straight to bathroom from ADA site.

Trailhead at one end of campground, with some good routes/options, Easy to moderate. We did pick ripe pinyon pine nuts that had fallen on ground (Oct. is pickin' season). They were very good eatin'.

One camper started generator up well before sunrise…  :(

ALSO: Shout out to New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors (NMVFO) who did trail maintenance there a while back (per sign near trail) :)  yay!

Site5
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Mark M., October 17, 2024
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Mark M., October 17, 2024
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Mark M., October 17, 2024
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Nov. 27, 2023

Well kept gem in the Western New Mexico highlands

Well maintained little BLM campsite right on US-60. Remarkable night skies when clear. $5 a night gets you access to brand new, clean solar toilets, (they light up at night even with no power!) water during the warmer seasons (already off as of 11/25) and mostly decent phone signal if you care about that. 

The Eagle Guest Ranch nearby has a gas sation, basic necessities, alcohol, and a cafe that serves all your standard diner fare. Beautifully polite people staffing the place. A highlight in the mostly barren stretch between Magdalena and Springerville. 

The campground is attached to a fantastic 3.25 mile loop trail that takes you to three fantastic vistas and isn't hard at all. 

Worth as a stop for a day, or a destination for a weekend trip. The Very Large Array is a stone's toss away; as well as further hiking opportunities in the Gila National Forest by way of NM-12, and the Cibola National Forest by way of the aforementioned US-60.

Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Jorge G., November 27, 2023
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Jorge G., November 27, 2023
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Jorge G., November 27, 2023
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Sep. 28, 2023

Very Nice and Newly Renovated

The sites were very nice and clean with some sites in the woods and others in the clearing. The sites in the clearing have concrete telescope pads. The pit toilets were like brand new with solar lighting. Big rigs would have trouble fitting into this campground.

Datil, Mew Mexico is a few minutes away and has a combined gas station, restaurant, and grocery store for your needs.

And, a few miles west on US 60 is Pie Town, New Mexico with two bakery's that sale fresh baked pies. But they sale out quickly.

Site16
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Daniel C., September 28, 2023
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Daniel C., September 28, 2023
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Daniel C., September 28, 2023
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jun. 3, 2023

The best!

This is an awesome campground. Very spacious sites, lots of pull throughs with Ramadas, clean, yes, clean fire pits, scenery is beautiful, lots of trees for privacy but those that need solar can find sites as well, great trails with a gazebo, clean grounds (no glass), pristine bathrooms and trash facilities. The only down for me in a Class C is no dump site and as far as I can find, nothing within an hour';s drive at best. I guess I'll use the bathrooms in the park! 😏 I'll be here again for sure!

Site10
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed May. 13, 2023

Quiet and spacious campground

Very well maintained, nice campground. The sites are pretty far from each other, and almost all have a ramada. A few sites have electricity, but by the time we arrived these sites were already taken. There are water spigots all around the campground, but not at the sites. The restroom (chemical toilet) is clean and during the night is well lit. Reservation is not available, first come first serve, but approx. half of the sites were still available when we arrived, around 7 pm. The fee is $5/night, but if you have Golden Age passport, America The Beautiful Senior pass or similar, it's only $2.50/night.

Site6
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Aniko S., May 13, 2023
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Aniko S., May 13, 2023
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by Aniko S., May 13, 2023
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Sep. 3, 2022

Very well maintained and friendly hosts

This is one of the best maintained campgrounds I have stayed at in recent years. New tables and shelters. Some sites have electricity and some even have telescope pads. All have a great fire pit. The hosts were very helpful and friendly. The best part was the incredible night sky full of stars and the milky way. I had a very peaceful and restful night. I’ll be stopping here again.

Site17
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Datil Well Recreation Area Campground by David R., September 3, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities and facilities are available at Datil Well Campground?

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground offers 22 sites with picnic tables, shelters (ramadas), and fire pits/rings. Three sites have electricity, and some even feature concrete telescope pads for stargazing. Water spigots are available throughout the campground but not at individual sites (water may be turned off in winter months). The facility has clean, solar-lit pit toilets that illuminate at night. While most sites are dry camping, they're spacious with good separation between neighbors. The campground fee is $5 per night, with a 50% discount for Senior National Park Pass holders. The area also includes hiking trails with a gazebo nearby.

Are there photos available of Datil Well Campground?

Photos of Datil Well Campground are available online through various camping websites including The Dyrt. These images typically showcase the campground's spacious sites with ramadas (shelters), fire pits, picnic tables, and the surrounding landscape. Photos often highlight the telescope pads at some sites, the solar-lit toilet facilities, and the beautiful scenery. For the most current and comprehensive visual documentation, check the BLM website or official camping platforms. The campground's pristine facilities and night sky views are particularly well-documented in available imagery.

What is the elevation of Datil Well Campground in New Mexico?

While the exact elevation isn't specified in available information, Datil Well Campground is located in the higher elevations of west-central New Mexico. Based on the general topography of the Datil area, the campground likely sits at approximately 7,000-8,000 feet above sea level. This elevation contributes to the excellent stargazing conditions frequently mentioned by visitors, as well as the potential for snow and cold temperatures during winter months. For precise elevation data, contacting the BLM office that manages the recreation area would provide the most accurate information.

What do visitor reviews say about Datil Well Campground?

Datil Well Campground consistently receives high praise for its exceptional maintenance, cleanliness, and value. Campers appreciate the spacious sites with ramadas, clean fire pits, and well-designed layout offering privacy between sites. The solar-lit pit toilets are frequently mentioned as being remarkably clean and well-maintained. Many highlight the exceptional stargazing opportunities and the concrete telescope pads at some sites. The $5 nightly fee (discounted with passes) is considered an outstanding value. The campground is noted as peaceful and quiet, being set back from the highway. Some limitations include no cell service in the area, potential for extreme weather in winter, and difficulty accommodating big rigs.