Established Camping
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park
Closed For the Season
This campground is closed for the season from August 29, 2024 through February 27, 2025.
Closed For the Season
This campground is closed for the season from August 29, 2024 through February 27, 2025.
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, near Alamogordo, New Mexico, is a fantastic spot for those looking to soak in stunning views and enjoy the great outdoors. This campground offers spacious sites with picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for evening gatherings under the expansive starry sky.
The park is known for its breathtaking 360-degree vistas, with towering cliffs to the east and a wide valley stretching out before you. Visitors rave about the clean facilities, including showers and restrooms, making it easy to stay comfortable during your stay. One camper noted, “The site was very spacious and the campground nice and quiet, clean and well kept.”
For adventure seekers, Oliver Lee is a great base for exploring nearby attractions like White Sands National Park, just a short drive away. The campground also features several hiking trails, including the challenging Dog Canyon trail, which starts right from the park. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer retreat, this campground has everything you need for a memorable outdoor experience.
Description
State Park
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
Fee Info
Peak Season Oct 01 2023 - May 31 2024 Daily Entrance $5.00 Camping $10.00-$90.00
Off Peak Season Jun 01 2024 - Sep 30 2024 Daily Entrance$5.00 Camping$10.00-$90.00
Peak Season Oct 01 2024 - May 31 2025 Daily Entrance$5.00 Camping $10.00-$90.00
*Displayed rates do not reflect discounts, attribute fees (electrical hookups / water hookups), taxes or incremental charges
**Weekly rates may not be available for all sites
Location
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — Oliver Lee State Park is located in New Mexico
Directions
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 32.74667, -105.91583 32°44'48"N, 105°54'57"W LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES SE OF ALAMOGORDO, NM. FROM ALAMOGORDO, TAKE US HWY 54 SOUTH 8 MILES. TURN LEFT(EAST) ON DOG CANYON ROAD AND GO 4 MILES TO THE PARK.
Address
409 Dog Canyon
Alamogordo, NM 88310
Coordinates
32.74527108 N
105.91523027 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiGood
- VerizonGood
- AT&TGood
- T-MobileFair
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Contact
General Info
Reservations