Sitting at 6,940 feet along the base of the Sandia Mountains, Turquoise Trail Campground sits five miles north of I-40 off Route 14, making it a practical overnight base for travelers passing through or staging a visit to Albuquerque. The campground divides cleanly into two zones: an RV loop with full hookups accommodating rigs up to 70 feet, and upper and lower tent loops set back behind the office, where scrub brush and trees provide partial separation between sites. Road noise from Route 14 carries into the campground, and nearby dogs bark intermittently at night, so light sleepers may want to plan accordingly.
The tent areas have a noticeably different feel than the RV section. Sites include a leveled gravel pad, picnic table, and standing grill, and the tent loops are shadier than the RV loop, which reviewers consistently describe as gravel with little shade and sites stacked close together when full. The campground runs at capacity regularly, particularly during summer months and around Albuquerque's October balloon festival. Open fires are restricted; only stove fires are permitted.
Two bathhouses sit between the office and tent loops. They're basic in finish but consistently described as clean, and shower tokens are included with the nightly fee, with each token providing seven minutes of hot water. James N. sums it up as "picnic tables, showers, laundry, clean restrooms, all nestled in the pine and fur trees." A laundry room, dishwashing sink, dump station, WiFi, and a small office with museum round out the on-site facilities.
Winter temperatures at this elevation can drop to 16 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes the campground better suited to RV stays in colder months. Tent campers tend to have a more comfortable experience from spring through fall. Nearby options for comparison include Albuquerque Tijeras Mountain RV Resort and RV Park, Leisure Mountain RV Park, and Hidden Valley Resort. Reservations are available and pets are welcome on leash.
As Dave V. puts it, the campground is "convenient and sufficiently met our needs." That framing holds up across most reviews: this is a functional, well-maintained stopover with reliable amenities, best suited to travelers who need a clean place to rest, shower, and access Albuquerque without paying city lodging rates.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsTurquoise Trail Campground is located in New Mexico near Cibola National Forest and Grasslands
Directions
From Albuquerque: Follow Interstate 40 east. Take Exit 175, (Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, NM 14) which is 6.5 miles from Tramway Blvd. Go 4 miles north through Cedar Crest. We are located on the left side of the road; look for the campground billboard and Museum of Archaeology signs. Turn left (west) on Snowline Road and go 1/4 mile. From Santa Fe: Exit Interstate 25 at Exit 278A, or if in town, go south on Cerrillos Road. Follow the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway or NM Hwy. 14 south for 44 miles . Look for the camping and Museum of Archaeology signs; turn right on Snowline Road and go 1/4 mile.
Address
22 Calvary Rd
Cedar Crest, NM 87008
Coordinates
35.14302853320918 N
106.36758258317515 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/28/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 35 usersLast on 8/28/26
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 10 usersLast on 8/28/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/28/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 35 usersLast on 8/28/26
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 10 usersLast on 8/28/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
- Tent Cabin
- Equestrian
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- WiFi
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Contact
General Info
Reservations
Drive Time
- 21 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 52 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 3 hrs 3 min from Farmington, NM
- 3 hrs 19 min from Las Cruces, NM





































