Looking for the best dispersed camping near Salt Flat? Find the best information on dispersed campgrounds near Salt Flat, including photos, reviews, and tips. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Texas camping adventure.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/
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
Scout
Two 40 ft toy haulers fit great place
TravelerReally nice place to stop. Impeccable cell service, lots of space with any neighbors far away, and location 20 minutes away from Carlsbad Caverns can't be beat. No sun or wind protection though!
RangerComing from Carlsbad the GPS may have you get off at Chosa Campground and there’s a dirt road connecting that to this site, but recommend you turn around to get back on the highway going north and then exit at this marker. Even camped right off the highway the noise didn’t bother us, but a few people continued down the roads going further away. Windy and hot until the sun went down!
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!!
TravelerLike others have said. Easy to find and access road is doable for almost any rig. Sunrise and sunsets are amazing. Cows can be persistent and if you have a dog be careful it doesn’t get trampled. Loved the spot and would definitely return
TravelerLots of room! Nobody around. Right off the main HWY.. kind of a hidden gem! Not so bad if you don't mind cows or cow poop! Lol! Nice little spot.. easy for my truck and trailer to get in here! Plus room for others!
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.
ScoutAbout 7 miles away from Carlsbad Caverns. A half dozen spots right at the entrance. It was empty so we stayed near the front with a small rock fire pit. There are other spots deeper in the field but we didn’t go that far in. Easy to find entrance, easy to find a spot, easy to get to Carlsbad Caverns or Guadalupe Mountains NP. Great for a quick overnight spot.
GuideRight off of the highway, the coordinates took us right to it! The trail is bumpy but not horrible. We’re driving a 34 footer! 10 minute drive to the caverns, and pretty quiet (even considering being on the highway) not too many people have come down here. We’ve stayed 4 days with pretty little traffic!
TravelerQuiet 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.
GuideNot sure why so many people spend $70 a night when they have the ability to go hook up free. Got free water at the local gas station pulled out here absolutely no money for the next few days
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!
LegendThis area is v easy to find. Right off 62/180 at mile marker 10. On the right hand side of the road if heading north towards Carlsbad. The turn off isn’t marked but there are several signs right around it. Gravel/dirt road is in pretty good shape. Most any car should be able to drive down it. The sites start almost immediately and are well spaced. There were no other people around when we were here in January! Prepare yourself for the wind if you are here in winter. It was no joke! We also stayed across the street at Sunset reef for a night. Both are nice! Less privacy at Sunset reef but there’s a pit toilet if that’s important to you, as well as sun shelters and picnic tables.
GuideIt was a simple place but It does the job. Very near of the freeway but it’s still kinda quiet. You can do campfire, tent and RV ok. You can go it’s safe.
ScoutEntrance was super easy to find- right off the highway next to mile marker 10. Road was good as well, our Honda Civic had no issues. Felt very safe, you can see the highway and town lights from campsite.
GuideWe were going to stay at the sunset reef camp across the street but they were totally full. So we went to the Dyrt for help. Found this on across the street. The signs were a little confusing for where to camp exactly but we found a nice spot to set up. The highway noise is pretty loud but when it gets late it’s not so bad. You have great views no bathroom, and clean. We are traveling on a budget road trip and this is just what we were looking for to call it a night!
TravelerIt was actually hard for me to find this location. I followed the Dyrt map exactly and found a gravel road with turn offs, so hopefully I’m in the right place!
I can hear the occasional semi down the highway, but it’s dead silent for the most part. I opted to sleep in my car instead of my tent - there was a lot of shrubbery in my area. It’s 90° around 9pm at the end of May, so a little warm, but nothing beats the desert night sky.
GuideFelt very safe, mostly just grass and yucca trees for vegetation. Had a lot of fun going to Carlsbad Caverns and enjoying the peace and quiet of the desert at night.
GuideMy buddy and I were road-tripping from Washington State to Texas and this was our last stop. What a way to end this awesome trip! We had an amazing view of the stars and even caught one of space x star link satellite system!
GuideJust some dirt sites off of dirt road, easy access from highway can only access entry from eastbound. Inside my van I can barely hear the highway no problem.
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.
GuideThis is very primitive campsite with no facilities. We did not see any other people while we were there. Close to Carlsbad NP.
ScoutWe had a great stay! Just a few campsites and only two other people. we drove in with our van. Even though you can see the highway it was completely quiet. Beautiful view and sunset. No restrooms or showers and please clean up your mess after you!
GuideYou probably won’t see any other campers. Very primitive campsites. At night we could hear the coyotes.
TravelerThis campsite is super easy to find seeing that it’s right off the mile 10 marker. Literally just flat ground, no amenities of course, but good proximity to Carlsbad Caverns NP. Perfect for one night, pack out your trash!
GuideBig dirt lot just off the highway. Not too much road noise considering you can see the highway. Close to Carlsbad Caverns. Pack out your poop!!
TravelerDates: 12/28/2020 and 12/29/2020
Vehicle: Dodge Caravan
Camp Setup: In-van
As there is currently no camping within Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Mile 10 is a perfect (and free) place to spend the night in order to get an early start at the park.
It's easy to find (literally AT the Mile 10 marker) and relatively private, given its vicinity to the highway. There is a some noise from the highway, but a fair enough trade off for the price and proximity.
We arrived after dark (7:30pm at the end of December), but had no trouble finding our way. There were already a few other vehicles taking advantage of the site, but we were able to find a spot for our van.
The actual campground is great. The ground is flat and relatively free of debris. There are some lights from Carlsbad and some of the mining operations in the distance (and of course lights from vehicles on the highway), but otherwise it's completely dark, giving an absolutely amazing sky full of stars and the full moon. And of course the sunsets/sunrises are simply amazing.
Fair warning: the area has absolutely no cover or wind breaks, so you WILL experience the wind. Be sure to secure your belongings/trash, and come prepared with appropriate clothing (especially in the winter).
Camping near Salt Flat, Texas, offers a unique experience with stunning landscapes and a chance to connect with nature. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to pitch a tent or a place to park your RV, there are several campgrounds nearby that cater to different needs.
Camping near Salt Flat, Texas, provides a chance to enjoy the great outdoors while experiencing the beauty of the Guadalupe Mountains. Whether you're hiking, stargazing, or just relaxing, there's something for everyone in this stunning area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Salt Flat, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Salt Flat, TX is Mile 10 - Dispersed Camping with a 4.3-star rating from 30 reviews.
