Best Tent Camping near Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Tent Camping Reviews near Guadalupe Mountains National Park

302 Reviews of 8 Guadalupe Mountains National Park Campgrounds

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  Troy W.

  Legend

  Jun. 30, 2019

  Guadalupe Peak Wilderness Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

  Guadalupe Peak + Views + Carlsbad Caverns

  The main reason why you might want to stay at this campsite during your visit to West Texas and Guadalupe Mountains National Park is to summit Guadalupe Peak and stand on the highest point in Texas. And the main reason why you hike to the peak is to see the views. 

  There are no facilities or amenities at this campsite - no water, no restrooms, no shelters, no firewood, no wifi. Just views that stretch on for miles and miles.

  You'll likely start your trip by checking into the Pine Spring Visitor Center where you can obtain a backcountry use permit. Permits are issued on a first come, first serve basis so try to arrive as early as possible and preferably before noon. During peak visitation periods permits may be in demand, so it might be a good idea to stay one night at the Pine Spring campground. If the Pine Spring campground is full, there is some Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land nearby in New Mexico. Ask the visitor center for more info. The backcountry permit authorizes camping in designated sites in the established backcountry campsites. Fires are prohibited so containerized fuel is your best bet to be used for cooking.

  The hike from the Pine Springs Visitor Center to the Guadalupe Peak campground is 3.1 miles - and it is almost all uphill. The hike from the Guadalupe Peak campsite to the peak is an additional 1 mile. The campsite is on a nook of the mountain and marginally protected from high winds. There are a few trees and a few rock windbreaks near the tent pads. The winds often exceed 80 miles per hour, so even if it is not windy when you arrive, secure your tent with additional guy lines. Elevation gain from the visitor center to this campsite is about 2200 feet. You'll need to carry all of your water for your ascent and descent so be prepared to haul 4 to 8 liters depending on the season, heat and personal needs. 

  After you've conquered Guadalupe Peak and hiked around other parts of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, check out the nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico.

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• 

  Dare To Everywhere .

  Ranger

  Oct. 17, 2020

  Pine Springs Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

  Mostly private, close to trailhead

  Stayed: 10/12 - 10/14/2020 - $15/night

  Site: 5

  Vehicle: Hyundai Rogue

  Equipment: Tent

  Beautiful little first come, first served campground within Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Pretty private for the most part, although we could easily see site 4 and the people staying there.

  I was hoping for site 1 or 2, as you can park directly in-front of the site, but those were both taken, along with sites 19& 20. Site 5 wasn’t too bad of a walk from the parking area, but it was a little further back. This was fine because we had privacy and two separate areas. One with our picnic table and a second area for the tent. We just weighed the tent and tarp down with rocks, because it was too rough for the stakes.

  We were excited to stay here so that we would have easy access to the Guadalupe Peak trail in the morning. A short trail takes you to the visitor center. The campground is right at the trailhead of 4 trails and is adjacent to the RV section. The RV section holds the trailhead, water filling station, bathrooms, potable water, dishwashing station and self-registration.

  It was nice to have bathrooms and running water after a long trip. No showers. Beautiful views of the mountains and stars. A great place to stay if you’re visiting the park for more than a day!

  AT&T and Sprint: Poor & spotty

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• 

  Sara S.

  Legend

  Jun. 12, 2016

  Pine Springs Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

  simple campground

  What a nice place to stop and use as a 'home base' for hiking in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park! Simple campground with no showers, but decent bathrooms. Site was nice and level with a tent pad and even had a bit of shade. No reservations are taken here, but for the inexpensive price tag- it's worth a shot to find a spot. The park was only 1/2 full or so when we stayed there. It was peaceful and the sites felt spacious and truly connected to nature.

• 

  GoWhereYouAreDraw N.

  Legend

  Apr. 30, 2019

  Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

  Great place to beat the Texas heat!

  Dog Canyon is located on the north end of Guadalupe Mountains National Park aka the highest point in Texas. Though secluded, Dog Canyon fills up fast so arrive early or plan in advance to claim your spot.

  Due to the elevation, this campground is cooler and has more shelter than the Pine Springs campground.  Dog Canyon has excellent trail access with options of one-day or shorter day hikes.

  Ranger recommendations:

  • Have a full tank of gas
  • Bring your propane stove - fires are not allowed in any of the campgrounds.
• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  Nov. 16, 2022

  Pine Springs Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

  "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"

  General: There is a tent section and an RV section; RVs of any kind (including our van) are not allowed in the tent sites. We pulled into what we thought was an overflow parking lot to discover it WAS the campground! 

  Site Quality: Diagonal paved parking spaces along the perimeter - each large enough to fit a camper and additional vehicle; these have picnic tables but no hookups or other amenities. The sites in the middle are suitable for larger RVs (Class A) but they don’t have picnic tables. On the upside, the sites are level and there is a gorgeous view of the mountains. 

  Bathhouse: Decent bathhouse with flush toilets and sinks. Soap dispensers and air dryers but no paper towels. No showers. 

  Activities: Lot of hiking trails, many of them strenuous; the most popular one is the Peak trail. We opted for McKittrick Canyon; the trailhead for this hike requires a drive.

  Other: This is the FIRST place in all of Texas (and we’ve been in the state for over a week) where we have seen recycling receptacles! There is also a dishwashing sink, a nice bonus. Be aware that your smartphone/watch may not give you the correct time (my Apple watch and my husband’s Garmin displayed different times!) The park is on mountain time although it is close to the border of central time so expect confusion.) Quiet hours are 8 pm– 8 am, longer than usual but not a problem for us. Limited cell service with Verizon. This was not what we expected for a campground, and we were dismayed that it was paved; with the views, it could have been a much nicer campground if more natural.

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• 

  SwitchbackKids

  Legend

  Jul. 6, 2017

  Pine Springs Campground

  Beautiful, scenic, hiker's paradise!

  Guadalupe Mountains National Park is seriously underrated. And their developed campground, Pine Springs, is a gem in the NPS.

  Pine Springs is located near the visitor center and main hub of the park, making it a great base camp for epic day hikes in the park.

  When we first arrived at the park, we felt adventurous and got a backcountry permit (free) for several overnights we planned to do throughout the park. However, since there is no road running up and over the huge ridge, and most of the trails don’t easily connect, we quickly realized that our plans would require a lot of hauling our packs up and down 3,000-foot elevations changes and camping in sub-freezing temperatures each day. Our first night was spent up along the ridge in the “Bowl,” but our other three nights were spent in Pine Springs.

  Pine Springs checked off most of our requirements for an awesome campsite: cheap (only $8/night for a tent site), close to the highlights (the classic Guadalupe Peak trail leaves from the parking lot) and scenic, spacious sites (check, check). Amenities were the basic flush toilets and picnic tables, but for the cost, that was more than understandable.

  There is a lot the Guadalupe Mountains offers, including the hikes we mentioned: The Bowl loop, Guadalupe Peak (highest point in Texas!), McKittrick Canyon hiking, and some of the greatest sunsets of our entire trip.

  You can read much more about our four days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Guadalupe Mountains)

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• 

  Ashley & Derek V.

  Guide

  Jul. 20, 2018

  Pine Springs Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

  Perfect location for Guadalupe Mts Ntl Park

  This is the best place to be when hiking/touring Guadalupe Mts National Park, especially if you plan to hike Guadalupe Peak (the trailhead is in the parking lot). The sites are nice - some are a short walk-in, some are right next to your parking spot.

  We don't RV, but the RV sites were underwhelming - it's just a parking lot with no hookups.

  The restrooms were nice and clean, but no showers. This wasn't fun when you're sweaty and stinky from hiking all day. There was also a dish washing station. There's one bathroom with flush toilets, and another at the other end of the campground with vault toilets. The closest hotel, store, and restaurant are all ~30 minutes away in White's City so bring everything you need.

  There's no campfires allowed (ever), plus they had a slightly increased burn ban when we were there so we couldn't use camp fuel products but I understand that you normally can use them. Good thing we had a backup butane stove.

  It's a very pretty location and is a great campground, especially for being in the middle of nowhere!

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• 

  Kaloo D.

  Scout

  Aug. 29, 2024

  Tejas Wilderness Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

  a dream destination for true nature lovers

  Tejas Wilderness Campground neal fun in Guadalupe Mountains National Park sounds like a dream destination for true nature lovers and those seeking a break from the hustle of modern life. The remote, tent-only setup offers a pure, immersive experience, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and deep shade from tall trees—perfect for those hot Texas summers. While the absence of amenities like electric hookups or showers might be a drawback for some, it’s exactly what makes this spot ideal for a peaceful retreat. Just be sure to come prepared with water and enjoy the beauty of the wilderness!

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• 

  Bridget C.

  Scout

  May. 24, 2018

  Pine Springs Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

  Great Campground for Tents / Hammocks

  This is a great campground for tents & hammocks. If you are in an RV is it parking lot camping only. There is a working restroom (no showers) as well as a washing station for dishes. It is in the perfect spot for many of the main trails in the park. We visited in July. The nights were nice, however, from 11am-6pm it is best to find shade or something to do (we drove around and explored the area).

  Closest gas station is in Dell City (about a 30 minute drive) that is also the closest place to get food or ice, so just be prepared! I have more pictures and information here on my blog.

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