Looking for dispersed camping near Guadalupe Mountains National Park? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. From secluded to easily reachable, we offer dispersed campsites near Guadalupe Mountains National Park just for you.
Chosa Campground consists of a 3.5-acre, pipe-rail fenced pad that offers a trash container and a safe parking space for your Recreational Vehicle plus a protected area to set tents, whatever your camping style. Chosa campground provides visitors a fee free location strategically located between two national parks with Carlsbad Caverns a short 11-mile drive north and Guadalupe Mountains National Park 27 miles south on highway 62.
Dispersed camp sites are located along most secondary roads and may not be marked. Popular locations can be recognized by the telltale flat disturbed area that has been used as a camp site before. Not all flat spots are sites. If possible, please use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances. To further protect your public lands, campers must not dispose of any refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or in any manner pollute the surrounding area.
A Wilderness Use Permit is required for all use of these campsites. An interesting hike along the Permian Reef Trail meanders up 2,000 feet to Wilderness Ridge where the sudden transition from rock to trees is refreshing. Once on top, the trail is level through forested and open areas and takes you to the edge of the escarpment where the view is outstanding. Wilderness Ridge Campground is in the trees, and worth the extra distance to save the resource from unnecessary damage.
$6 - $48 / night
Traveler
BLM land that is close to Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns. Great cell reception. A fenced in area of land, that has dumpsters, just of the highway. Some traffic noise, but not that bad. Free camping by two National Parks!
Traveler
Quiet place away from others, which we like. We followed the GPS coordinates and found a spot away from the freeway. It had a firepit and we weren't super close to our neighbors. We could see them, but they were a ways off. Sunrises were beautiful and the weather in April pleasant. Occasional wind gusts, but not too bad. We stayed for 4 nights.
10 minutes from the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Once you enter, you have a 15 minute drive to get to the Visitor's Center. And, this spot is only 25 minutes from Carlsbad, with Walmart, restaurants and gas stations.
First we tried Carlsbad BLM Land Dispersed, but didn't want to stay in the lot right off the freeway. And we walked the road going further up and it was too rutted for our 36 ft travel trailer. We could have done it but wanted something not so hard on our camper.
Next we tried Carlsbad Caverns Dispersed. We followed the coordinates here on Dyrt.com and it took us way out into a cow field (with very aggressive cows) and eventually a dead end. It was a bit tricky getting turned around. We never did see places off the side of the road to boondock. Right after the grates there is a dirt lot off to the left but was too close to freeway and others for us. If you do that one, just don't follow the GPS coordinates.
We needed to refill our water and use a dump station, so I called around. White City RV charges $15 for dump and refill (too much), and we found an Ice House America at the White City gas station the had water refills for $.25 a gallon (good for our drinking water bottles, but not good for filling our RV). Finally we called Greasewood RV. Neil, the owner, was super nice. He told us we could just pull up to any open spot at his park and fill our water tanks, dump our black tank and use the big trash bin. He also said he had spaces for us to stay if we wanted to. He offered $20 a night instead of his usual $30 a night which I thought was super nice of him. If we had known that, we may have stayed their instead since we calculated that it costs us $18-$20 a night to boondock. We like having electricity when possible because we have a full size fridge to keep cold.
Anyway, we really enjoyed this spot. Our kids even found a sinkhole with what looked like a small cave near our campsite.
Traveler
We tried this location. It looked like it could be just what we wanted. However, we followed the GPS coordinates here on Dyrt.com and though the road was smoother than the one across the street, it took us way out on a small dirt road that led to a cow field (with very aggressive cows) and eventually a dead end. It was a bit tricky getting turned around. We never did see places off to the side of the road to boondock.
Just as we left the freeway, right by the grates there is a dirt lot off to the left but it was too close to the freeway and others for us. If you decide to try this spot, just don't follow the GPS coordinates.
We ended up staying 4 nights at Mile 10 - Dispersed Camping, and we really liked it.
GuideWhat can I tell you that a hundred reviews hasn't already mentioned? It's a large, level, gravel parking lot a quarter mile off of Hwy 62/180 8 miles north of the Texas border in New Mexico. It's clean, mostly quiet, and close to both Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Perfect if that is where you are headed the next morning or if you are just passing through. Not some place I would visit just to camp. If you are doing any of the above, I recommend it. I would stay here again.
LegendOnly 10 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns NP and about 25 minutes from Guadeloupe Mountains NP!
The area is a large fenced in gravel lot. Plenty of spots for trailers/RVs/and any other campers. Very easy to find right off the highway! Pretty crowded compared to most dispersed camping areas, but still a very easy spot to get to. If you want more secluded areas, there are more campgrounds further down the gravel road. A few fire rings here and there.
Dispersed area, there is a large trash bin in the campground. Verizon service was good!
Traveler
We found a little gravel track off the road and parked for the night. Some cows roaming nearby. Served as a good free camp out for us to check out Carlsbad caverns the next day.
Traveler
Multiple pull offs along the paved road to sitting Bull Falls. The road follows a winding canyon up to a natural spring and waterfalls. There's a picnic area at the falls and trailhead to loads of hiking into Lincoln National Forest. No facilities at the campsites but there is water, trash, and bathrooms at the end of the road at the bottom of the falls. Well with the visit!!
GuideWent on a birthday road trip, and found this site by chance. Because of the old cattle corral, my friend and I were both able to set up our hammocks for the night. If you have dispersed camped before, this site is great. Pack it in, pack it out, would stay here again in a heartbeat.
LegendThis was our first boondocking experience and we loved it! This is absolutely an entry level boondocking spot, but that was perfect for us. There is a gravel parking lot that is pretty level and trash cans. There are no facilities other than that though. The big draw of this place is being right outside of Carlsbad Caverns NP. We also lucked out and were camping there when another couple we knew were(totally by chance!) and we met an additional couple while there. While we were here we also visited Guadalupe National Park. I highly recommend this spot! Make sure you come stocked up with supplies though because it is a bit of a drive to get to town!
GuideGood place to boondock! You get the low hum of the oilfield. Road can be kinda rough but we did it in a Camry. We were the only ones. May get a visit from some cows.
TravelerThis was our first boon docking night ever, and it was great. The large site has four trashcans, far enough from the road so there isn't any noise or many lights, and is super quiet. You can see SO many stars in the clear sky, and the mountains are beautiful.
TravelerThis was a great camping spot off the beaten path. I would make sure to have high clearance and even 4 wheel drive for the steep rocky drive up if you plan to go past the main camp area. I was worried it would be busy this time of year, but we were the only ones there. We drove up the road a way past the camp site. Beautiful views. It did get very windy at night. Very quiet and far off from traffic noise.
GuideEasy access to camping spots, marked only by a fire ring of rocks. No amenities at all. No shade. Windy. But if you are planning to visit Carlsbad Caverns and it’s full everywhere this isn’t a bad spot.
ScoutWe had just drove to Carl's Bad Caverns and needed a place to camp for the night, the campsite we had planned on going to was all filled up and someone recommended Chosa Campsite to us. When we got there, it was total isolation in the middle of the desert...a single dump with a nasty mattress leaning against it, a dead rabbit square in the middle of the road, no maintenance what, no water or electricity. We just decided to go home after that and get a hotel 😥 Basically just a dirt plot in the middle of nowhere...but if your into camping in a dirt plot with a dead bunny go for it!!!
LegendFREE BLM site with easy access from highway. Paved road leads right to large compacted dirt/ gravel lot, very level, a lot of space for any size rig. Some tent camping observed on the outside of the fenced off lot. One dumpster available, but no recycling. Good Verizon & AT&T service. Good place for a quick overnight or a place to pull off the road for a rest.
GuideI went further up the trail past the lot and there are a few spots up there as well. Nice view of the city and zero noise. Trail up to the top is a rough one though. High clearance needed and offroad tires recommended if going past the lot camp spot. Great off the beaten path spot.
LegendOnly 10 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns NP and about 25 minutes from Guadeloupe Mountains NP!
The area is a large gravel lot with some brush and scubs scattered about. Plenty of spots for trailers/RVs/and any other campers. Very easy to find right off the highway! There is no turn off if you are headed west. You'll have to make a Uturn about a mile up the highway. This campsite was less busy than Chosa campground, which I stayed at the night before. A few fire rings here and there.
Dispersed area, pack in pack out. Verizon service was good!
GuideOur first NM BLM camp was here. Literally 6 miles north of the Texas border. We got there at 5pm in 90 degree weather. Luckily we had a swamp cooler to keep us cool. I highly recommend if you camp in Summer months to get there closer to sunset. It cools down quickly when the sun is down, and gets as cold at night as it gets hot in the day. We left around noon before it got too hot.
GuideChosa Campground is essentially a giant gravel parking lot. Pretty much a last ditch effort, free campsite near the caverns. Great for overlanders and the RV crowd as it’s nice and flat. There are no bathrooms, no electrical hook-ups, and no shade. Plan accordingly.
RangerThis is a great BLM spot. Flat parking lot like fenced in space. Plenty of room to spread out. We only stayed two nights visiting Carlsbad Caverns (20 min drive) and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Great T-Mobile service.
Gorgeous sunsets over the Guadalupe Mountains (if you’re coming from the south also a gorgeous ride through the mountains with great views of El Capitan)
This was our first time staying on BLM lad and we will definitely be doing more of it. Seemed way better than some of the rv parks that were in Whites City. Especially if you like quiet and solitude
GuideTraveled 10 hours to visit Carlsbad Caverns. Found this spacious location, was not very busy (only two other campers), spacious and quiet. Beautiful view of Carlsbad range. This is a BLM managed site with no utilities except trash bins.
GuideThis is a good place for dry camping. Right off the road. GPS takes you straight there. 6 or 7 miles from Carlsbad Caverns. Not far from Carlsbad, NM. Very few people came through. I went past the first two sites on down a short distance to a great spot on the left. There was a rock fire ring there. Another big spot on down a little on the right. Great view of the mountains. No services, but not far from Carlsbad. Cell service is full 5G!
Can't beat it for free campsite.
LegendOnly 20 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns NP! This is area is about 2.5 miles off the highway. Only about .7 miles on a pretty level gravel road with some small ruts here and there.
There aren't sites per say when you get to where the GPS takes you. It's a long stretch of gravel road with some areas to pull off. I didn't see any fire rings, but it was a good spot to pull off for the night that is a couple miles from highway noise. Would be easy for any large camper to make its way here. (There is another dispersed site directly across the highway from this spot that has fire rings and a bit better of a view, but the road is rougher)
Dispersed area, so pack in pack out. Verizon service was good!
Traveler
Only 5 minutes from Carlsbad caverns, this dispersed OHV trail is accessible to anyone with a vehicle that can make it over potholes and speed bumps. Gorgeous views of southern New Mexico and the chihuahuan desert are worth it when you wake up
GuideGood dispersed spot with no amenities. Just drive through the open fence and pick a spot. Very quiet and wide open in March. Area is wide open with typical desert bushes, nothing other than twigs to collect for fire wood. Road up is kind of rough and likely requires some 4x4 depending on how far you take it.
GuideIt is a 2 mile drive on gravel to get to this place… however if QUIET is what you are looking for, it is WELL worth the drive! We drove our 2003 Itasca (34’ long) motorhome here, and found a PERFECT flat spoke on the first left “road” after crossing the cattle guards into this dispersed land!
We see cars and trucks on the road FAR away… but HEAR NONE of them!
Wonderfully quiet! Beautiful sunrises… views… and sunsets! What a blessing! Praise Yahweh (God)!
GuideYou probably won’t see any other campers. Very primitive campsites. At night we could hear the coyotes.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas, where you can enjoy the great outdoors without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. This area offers a variety of options for those looking to immerse themselves in nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Guadalupe Mountains National Park?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Guadalupe Mountains National Park is Chosa Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 50 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Guadalupe Mountains National Park?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Guadalupe Mountains National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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