Best Tent Camping near Salt Flat, TX

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.

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!

General: small campground (four “RV” sites and nine tent sites (plus one group tent site). Access is remote (only one 60-mile paved option and one 30-mile dirt road alternative) so you need to make sure you have filled up with gas in Carlsbad as there are no services within many miles of the campground. No cell reception at all (not unexpected). Be aware that the park is on mountain time but close enough to the central time zone border that your smartphone/watch may not display the correct time!

Site Quality: The “RV” sites are just a gravel parking lot. Each site has a picnic table and while the sites are spaced a decent amount of distance apart, there is no physical separation between the sites. No hookups. The tent sites are walk-in. 

Bathhouse: We were expecting a pit toilet in such a remote location but there is one men’s and one women’s bathroom with a flush toilet and sink. They were very clean. Soap dispensers but no paper towels. Although there was no hot water, the restrooms were heated, which was a nice bonus. 

Activities: There is a .6-mile nature trail and several more challenging hiking trails. There was a horse corral behind the RV sites, but we did not see any horses while there. About 25 miles away is Sitting Bull Falls, a spring-fed waterfall that is a nice side trip. 

We camped here because we were not able to get reservations in the other more popular campground in Guadalupe Mountains NP. Access between the two sides of the park is long (about 60 miles) so while this was a nice, comfortable campground, it is not easy to get to.

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.

This place rocks. It’s perfectly placed between the Caverns NP and Guadalupe mountains NP. It’s free and has a clean vault toilet and trash cans. Right off the highway and tucked down a gravel road and very quiet at night. Sites are close together but everyone was respectful of quiet hours (7am-10pm) during my 2 night stay. There are five sites for you to pull through for larger rigs and then six camping sites. On the sign it states that you can’t stay unless you’re in an official site but others camped out along the rail which wasn’t an issue with me. Each site has a picnic cable that’s covered, grill and nice fire ring. Had good AT&T service and could work remotely. Definitely would recommend this place! I stayed Monday and Tuesday night and sites were filled both nights but people tend to filter out in the late morning so that’s the chance to snag a spot!