Best Tent Camping in New Mexico

From the vast Chihuahuan Desert to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, New Mexico has a wealth of opportunities to get outside and explore. For outdoor adventurers, there’s skiing in Taos, whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande, and plenty of hiking, from the Southern Rockies to dusty desert canyons. That’s what makes camping in New Mexico such a varied and fulfilling experience.

Carlsbad Caverns provides ample opportunities to hike, explore, learn about desert wildlife, even appreciate a few thousand Mexican free-tail bats take flight. They swarm out of the cave every night at dust for an audience that often numbers in the hundreds. It’s a perfect excuse to stick around the park after dark and do some camping in New Mexico.

Of course, the only camping available within Carlsbad Caverns National Park is backcountry camping, so come prepared to Leave No Trace. Keep in mind that the desert landscape is often dry, so fire bans, even some backcountry cooking bans, are frequently in effect in the drier months. On the upside, backcountry camping permits are free and you can grab one at the visitor center when you arrive.

Visit White Sands National Monument for an unmatched, natural experience. Acres upon acres of white gypsum dunes stretch into the distance, offering hours of diversion, be it hiking across the dunes or sledding down them. If you forgot your sled, don’t worry, you can pick one up in the gift shop. Just be sure to enjoy these activities early in the morning or late in the evening during the summer months; it gets hot in the desert during midday!

As for camping in White Sands, it’s backcountry camping or nothing and sites require a short hike through the dunes. You’ll be camping on the gypsum, surrounded by shifting white hills, dark night skies up above, and no other campers in sight. It’s definitely a unique experience. Permits are $3.00 per person and can be picked up at the visitor center.

Wherever your adventures take you in the Land of Enchantment, get out there and let The Dyrt help you locate the best camping in New Mexico.

Best Tent Sites in New Mexico (110)

    1. Dispersed Camping off FS 542

    26 Reviews
    Tijeras, NM
    Website
    +1 (505) 346-3900

    "When you turn into Juan Tomas (FS 542) Rd - be sure to go straight down nearly to the very end of the road. You’ll see signs marking campsites (refer to photos). Sites were large with fire rings."

    "There are multiple site identified with lot signs and fire rings. Some of the spots are Easier to access than others. Be prepared for a road that in rough shape."

    2. Backcountry Primitive Sites — White Sands National Park

    23 Reviews
    Holloman Air Force Base, NM
    Website
    +1 (575) 479-6124

    "This isn’t a campground but backcountry camping with a hike to the site of under a mile, so it’s perfect for backpacking trips for families."

    "Currently the sites are closed due to Covid (as of 10/28/20), but the ranger said they were putting a plan in place. I believe there were 8 spots, all in the Interfunks area."

    3. Big Tesuque Campground

    10 Reviews
    Tesuque, NM
    Website
    +1 (505) 753-7331

    "- Nice babbling brook alongside campsites, fun for kids to play in (COLD, but shallow), and makes for great white noise.

    • Convenient to Santa Fe (20-25 min from downtown)
    • drive up the mountain 4"

    "If you're tent camping, Big Tesuque is AMAZING!! It's small, but absolutely beautiful. Each site has a picknick table and a tent pad. There are basic toilets. No showers, no sinks."

    4. Silver City KOA

    8 Reviews
    Arenas Valley, NM
    Website
    +1 (575) 388-3351

    "Nice weather."

    "Clean all heating worked."

    5. Enchanted Circle Campground E<< - #1 Campground in NM

    7 Reviews
    Angel Fire, NM
    +1 (254) 434-8657

    $75 / night

    "You will feel like you are alone in the back woods where someone set up a great camping site. The fire pit is huge and has benches all around."

    "No electricity but water is available near the owners home. This is boondocking in a very safe environment! You do not have to worry about anything."

    6. Sierra Vista - Back Side Dispersed

    7 Reviews
    Organ, NM

    "But if you keep going all the way to the trail head and turn left, you can access more dispersed and remote camp sites just around the bend."

    "I got up the top trail fine in my f-150, it is kinda sketchy though so be careful , but the views up top are great , spaced out a lot better"

    7. Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping

    8 Reviews
    Valdez, NM
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-6200

    "Right off the road, literally. it hidden behind some trees so the barrier between the site and road makes for a little privacy. Great spot for a day or two right next to a creek so you fall asleep to"

    "First coms first served with mostly tenting spaces."

    8. Cuchilla Campground

    7 Reviews
    Valdez, NM
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-6200

    "Sites are right on a creek & have picnic tables."

    "Picnic tables were marked up, but the sound of the River was so worth all of it."

    9. James Canyon Campground

    7 Reviews
    Mayhill, NM

    "The site stayed at had a fire ring/grill, picnic table and a tent pad. One of the sites had an Adirondack shelter. This site is close to US 82 which means road noise but I ignored it after 20 minutes."

    "Located just a couple miles outside of Mayhill, NM inside the Lincoln National Forest, this primitive camping spot is directly off of US 82 and has a 5 spots total."

    10. Lower Karr Canyon Campground

    6 Reviews
    Lincoln National Forest, NM
    Website
    +1 (575) 682-7570

    "Easily accessible and had vaulted toilets available. Saw plenty of wildlife including elk, wild turkey, and mule deer."

    "Lower Karr Canyon campground is about 6 miles from the main highway at High Rolls, NM. The last 2 miles or so being rather rough dirt."

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Tent Camping Reviews in New Mexico

3659 Reviews of 110 New Mexico Campgrounds


  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 10, 2019

    Escondida Lake Park & Campground

    A fishing pond and inexpensive sites

    This is a state park campground that offers everything from basic tent sites to full hookups near a small pond for fishing (no swimming or boating). There's a picnic table (numbered with the site so there's no question which one is which) and fire ring. Bathrooms offer flush toilets, no showers and it is not heated. Numerous portable toilets also got the park around the pond and play area. In early December only 4 of the sites are occupied and one person was fishing. It's handicapped accessible with a paved path to a small dock.

  • Michael M.
    Aug. 30, 2017

    Coal Mine Campground

    Great for a weary traveler

    Visited the coal mine campground after driving a 500 mile day, so it was a set-up eat and crash situation. I did make a reservation on line, but that cost more than the $5 per site fee and was not necessary even though it was memorial day weekend. The fee is great because it is primitive, no electricity, no water at all, not just hookups, but the bathrooms were nice and clean with no sinks.

    If you are prepared for a primitive camp with your own water and batteries for your electronics it is great. They have fire rings, grills, picnic tables and level places for tents.There are also nice back-in sites for boondocking RVs and the road up to the campground is fine for big rigs.

    I ran into two mountain biker's here from Ireland that were riding the Continental Divide trail from The Mexican border in New Mexico to the Canadian border in Montana. They were staying here since the Trail goes through here. Paddy & Conner were very interesting people and I was fortunate to have run into them here.

    I enjoyed my stay with a peaceful quite nights sleep and a short hike in the morning before breakfast cooked on the campfire. I would recommend this over a hotel stay if your passing through Grant's New Mexico on I40. You can probably get a site for the night anytime your passing through.

  • marycatmathis  ..The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 29, 2020

    Oak Point Campground

    Lovely, Beachy, Scenic

    These coordinates are a rough estimate, but this entire forrest road is filled with amazing campsites you can simply pull off and camp in. currently there’s a fire ban, so it makes it hard to stay warm at night, but the stars are amazing. it’s quiet. it’s lovely. there’s canyon walls for miles. it’s really amazing. some of these pics are from the nearby canyon that’s a bit of a walk up the road, but most are from our campground. loved our first experience camping in New Mexico!

  • Andrea P.
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Angel Peak NM Badlands | Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful spot! Can get some intense winds

    I loved my stay here--absolutely incredible views, not too crowded.  Covered picknick tables and good pit toilets.  

    I left my tent up while visiting Chaco.  Some wild weather came through and when I got back my tent had nearly gone over the canyon rim despite being staked down and weighted with my sleeping bag and pad.  I'd strongly recommend tying at least one tent line to the shade structure around the picknick table in times of iffy weather.

  • Jacob  W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 23, 2022

    Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground

    Outdoor ambivalence but still outdoors

    We tent camped at Aguirre Spring campground over Father’s Day weekend in June 2022. I don’t know. Maybe it was too hot or I was too tired, or a combination of both with a causal connection. I love the outdoors but I can’t really think of anything good or bad to write about this campground.

    It seemed like a nice place and the vault toilet bathroom was clean and extremely stocked with TP. There is a great trail called pine tree loop from which you can actually see real pine trees on the mountainside above the barren desert basin. We fell victim to the one-way road that other campers bemoaned too. The camp host’s phone is 575-644-9143 (as announced on the BLM’s voicemail greeting) and he was helpful when I called ahead and told me the campground was open (as of 6/22/2022, the Dyrt has an alert that the campground is closed for the season), that there was plenty of space, and that there was a fire ban.

    We pitched our tent without the rain fly. Right when we layed down for the night, it started raining, so we scrambled to overlay the rain fly and then the rain stops. In the middle of a desert drought, if such a thing is a thing. The tent pad barely accommodated our 6-person tent and it seemed like all the sites suffered the same fate. We scouted the whole campground, mainly searching for shade and settled on a decent site with a giant boulder on the western side for some evening shade. The campground was maybe 1/3 full. Overall it was good to get outdoors for father’s day despite the fatigue.

  • A
    Aug. 13, 2020

    Jacks Creek Horse Camp

    Gorgeous but busy campground

    We arrived early on a Tuesday and snagged a tree heavy site on the upper loop. The sites on the outside of the loops are decently wooded, smaller and not well suited to RVs. The sites on the inside of the loops have longer, RV sized pull in and little trees. Vault toilets are well maintained by the very active camp host, Mark. There is potable water from a well two miles down the mountain and trash, but packing out much that can’t be burned is encouraged. Pick up firewood in Pecos, there is enough dead & down tinder at the site. Dogs allowed on leash at all times, quite time begins at 10pm. The closer we got to the weekend, the more crowded and noisy the site became. One night, multiple campers arrived after dark and noisily set up camp. I’m sure the state parks being closed forced more people into the National Forest, but it’s a great site. There are several trailhead and just down the hill is easy access to creeks and fishing. We had great weather, upper 70’s during the day, dipping to low 50’s overnight. Each site has large fire rings with cooking grates and at least one picnic table, some with two. Sites are close together so try to grab one at the end of the loop for a little privacy.

  • M
    Aug. 7, 2021

    Jacks Creek Horse Camp

    Jack’s Creek

    Lovely small camping area about 15 mi north of Pecos, NM on NM 63. 2 loops. Good sites for car/tent camping. Well maintained with clean vault toilets. Fire rings and picnic tables. Rained every afternoon (real boomers!) while we were there, but no problem for us. Will definitely visit again!

  • Jacob  W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2022

    Eagle Creek Mescalero Cabins

    A good, open Mescalero alternative to the closed Lincoln NF

    We tent camped at Eagle Lake aka Eagle Creek campground on the Mescalero Apache Reservation over Memorial Day weekend 2022. The surrounding Lincoln National Forest was closed because of extreme fire risk, so there were very few places to camp in the Sacramento Mountains and escape the heat of El Paso. We used camp stoves because of a fire ban. We camped among the pine trees in the first tent area. There were clean porta-johns in that area. The showers and permanent bathroom were located up in the RV park about a 3-mile round trip walk on the road from the first tent area, so it’s more practical to drive to the showers. The permanent bathrooms and showers were clean.

    Very pretty scenery, surrounded by mountain ridges and peaks and pine forest. There were two small lakes and a small creek flowing through the campground.

    The campground format is kind of laissez faire because there aren’t assigned sites and it’s first come, first serve. The first tent area seemed about half full and we found a good site. We didn’t scout the second tent area because the host said there weren’t as many trees there. The first tent site was developed on a forested slope albeit they built flat rectangular-like terraces into the slope where you can pitch a tent(s) and park your vehicle(s).

    Eagle Creek, near Ruidoso, had a similar feel to the Mescalero Nation’s Silver Lake campground near Cloudcroft, but Eagle Creek had a more quiet vibe. The main drawback was the 10:00 am checkout time, but we were still able to cook up some breakfast burritos as we broke camp. Good times.

    Update 6/22/2022: At some point after my review, the Dyrt deleted the actual campground, which is where the road forks and moved my review to the nearby and similarly named RV resort, which is totally different. I love the Dyrt and I’m a pro ranger but sometimes c’mon man.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2024

    Brown Springs Campground

    Very Nice Campground & Free

    Brown Springs OHV Campground : (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4.5 Price 2024: $ Free Security: No, though patrolled Usage during visit: 3/4s Site Privacy: Dispersed junipers Site Spacing: Good Pad surface: Gravel Reservations: No Campground Noise: No Outside Road Noise: If there are OHVs then there will be a lot. Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: No Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Pit toilets , moderately clean Showers: No Cell Service (AT&T): 4 bars Setting: amongst rolling hills, juniper and sagebrush Recent Weather: 70s Solar: Great Insects: None during our stay Host: No Rig Size: Large Sites: All 9 or so sites are nice w covered picnic tables.


Guide to New Mexico

New Mexico offers a stunning backdrop for tent camping, with diverse landscapes ranging from mountains to forests, making it a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers should check out local activities

  • At Big Tesuque Campground, visitors can enjoy hiking trails that lead to breathtaking vistas and a serene babbling brook, ideal for family fun.
  • Cuchilla Campground provides easy access to the Taos Ski Valley, where campers can explore nearby trails and enjoy refreshing dips in the creek.
  • For those seeking solitude, Dispersed Camping off FS 542 offers a peaceful environment with opportunities for wildlife spotting, including coyotes.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Silver City KOA features clean facilities, including showers and picnic tables, making it a comfortable stop for families.
  • James Canyon Campground offers well-maintained pit toilets and fire rings, ensuring a pleasant camping experience.
  • Aspen Basin Campground provides a beautiful setting with ample shade and access to hiking trails, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature.

Unique features of New Mexico camping