Pine Springs Campground, near [Guadalupe Mountains National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/texas/near/guadalupe-mountains-national-park), is a straightforward spot for those looking to immerse themselves in the stunning Texas landscape. While it might feel more like a parking lot than a traditional campground, it offers easy access to some of the best hiking trails in the area, making it a solid base for outdoor adventures.

The campground features clean restrooms and a dishwashing station, which campers appreciate after a long day on the trails. Many visitors have noted the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, especially from the perimeter sites, where you can soak in the scenery while enjoying a peaceful evening. As one camper put it, “The views from my campsite were stunning!”

If you’re up for some hiking, you’re in luck. The campground is just a stone's throw from several trailheads, including the popular Guadalupe Peak Trail, which promises a rewarding challenge. Just be prepared for a bit of dry camping, as there are no electric hookups or showers available. 

While some campers mentioned the lack of privacy and the parking lot vibe, the friendly atmosphere and proximity to nature make Pine Springs a worthwhile stop for a night or two. Whether you're in an RV or pitching a tent, this campground serves as a gateway to the wild beauty of the Guadalupe Mountains.

## Overview

 The Pine Springs RV campground is not a traditional campground. Be aware, this is a paved parking lot. The area shares a popular and busy trailhead accessing four major trails. The area is frequently congested with day use hikers searching for available parking and with foot traffic from overflow parking areas. Before booking a reservation: It is your responsibility to review all (Site Details, Allowable Equipment, Allowable Vehicle/Driveway and Need to Know) for the individual campsite. Failing to do so may result in being prohibited from occupying the site upon your arrival. Refunds are not provided by the park. Pine Springs Campground is located near the Pine Springs Visitor Center, just off U.S. 62/180 and at an elevation of 5,730 feet. The location offers great hiker access to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park trail system. The campground is situated at the opening to the Pine Springs Canyon with spectacular views of the worlds best example of a fossil reef and of the vast Permian Basin to the east. The campground is open year-round and is busiest, March-May and September-November. High winds with over 50 mph gusts are common, especially during winter and spring. 
## Recreation

 The Pine Springs Trailhead includes access to many different types of hikes. Hikes to Guadalupe Peak or the Bowl are strenuous, 8-9 miles, and have 2500-3000 feet of elevation gain. Another strenuous hike is the Devils Hall Trail (4.2 miles round-trip, 500 feet elevation gain, of the trail in a rocky, uneven wash which includes route-finding and boldering skills). For a more moderate hike consider the the Frijole/Foothills Trail. The El Capitan Trail offers excellent open views of the surrounding desert and close approaches to the cliff face of El Capitan. Because of its distance, lack of shade, some primitive route travel, and numerous elevation changes, this trail is best saved for cooler times of year and for people with experience in route-finding. The ruins of a Butterfield stage station, called the Pinery are next to the highway, and a short, paved nature trail connects the visitor center and the historic site. The Frijole Ranch & History Museum is 1.5 miles away. The grounds are always open, but the museum is staffed intermittently. Seven miles to the east on Hwy 62/180 is McKittrick Canyon. This area offers three trails, the McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail (0.9 miles loop), McKittrick Canyon Trail (4.8 miles round-trip to Pratt Cabin or 6.8 miles round-trip to the Grotto) and the Permian Reef Trail (8.4 miles round-trip, for serious geology buffs). 
## Facilities

 The campground features 35 sites total with 20 tent, 13 RV and 2 group sites available by reservation.Campsite occupancy is limited to 6 persons or 2 tents, per site. Group sites allow 10-20 persons per site.\_No open fires (this includes portable propane fire rings and charcoal) are permitted anywhere in the park. Only cooking stoves or lanterns using containerized fuel are permitted.\_\_Tent sites are hike-in only (38 277 from parking) and cannot accommodate RV parking due to the narrow access road. Each site offers a tent pad and picnic table.\_RV sites are paved but very basic, offering picnic tables at most sites.\_No shower facilities, hookups or dump stations.\_The park is remote. Fuel your vehicle and purchase supplies before heading to the park. The visitor center bookstore carries limited camping and hiking supplies.\_The use of weight-bearing hammocks, slacklines, tarps or similar devices tied to natural and/or manmade features is prohibited. This regulation is intended to protect the landscape and environment in the park, as these devices may cause damage to trees and other features and encourage camping out of bounds and off designated camping pads. Incidental and temporary lines for clothes drying or Wilderness food storage are not subject to this limitation.
## Natural Features

 The Pine Springs Campground is in an area with small, scattered trees, shrubs, and grasses. Trees include gray oaks and alligator junipers, which cast partial shade at some sites. Texas madrones, bigtooth maples, chinquapin oaks, and ponderosa pines become more common along the canyon floor. Higher elevations include Douglas fir and hop-hornbeam. Shrubs include whitethorn acacia, Mexican orange, Apache plume, sumacs, and algerita. Desert-adapted plants also occur in this area, and include prickly pear cactus, New Mexico agave, sotols, and soaptree yuccas. Hunter Peak and cross-sectional views of the Capitan reef are visible from the campground. Roadside pullouts (one mile and four miles away) provide excellent views of El Capitan. Hiking into Pine Springs canyon or along the foothills reveals Guadalupe Peak. The Guadalupe Peak trail ascends to the highest point in Texas and offers excellent views of the surrounding desert. Birds commonly seen and/or heard around the campground can include Canyon towhees, turkey vultures, white-winged doves, common ravens, chipping sparrows, Says phoebes, common poorwills, and phainopeplas depending on the season. Night sky visibility is excellent and nearly pristine directly overhead, to the south, and the southwest. Nearby high ridges and peaks are situated to the west and north. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Carlsbad Caverns National Park: In addition to a variety of cave tours, the national park also offers hiking trails and a scenic drive. Rattlesnake Springs and Slaughter Canyon, part of Carlsbad Caverns are nearer attractions for day use activities. Birding is excellent at Rattlesnake Springs. Lincoln National Forest: The Guadalupe District of the Lincoln National Forest is located just over the state line, north of the national park. Road access is through New Mexico, north of Whites City, via Dark Canyon Road to NM SR 137 through Queen (also the way to the national parks Dog Canyon). The forest provides for various camping, hiking, caving, hunting, and picnicking opportunities. Sitting Bull Falls is a nice waterfall and picnic area in the Lincoln National Forest. Five Point Vista is a glorious ridge road ride of the area, closer to Dog Canyon. Fort Davis National Historic Site and State Park: Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars' frontier military post in the Southwest. From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis was strategically located to protect emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso Road and on the Chihuahua Trail. This is located about 2.5 hours south of the park. A state park is located nearby with camping and a scenic drive. Also located in Fort Davis is McDonald Observatory with several programs available. White Sands National Park: Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here. Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site: Hueco Tanks State Park is located on the east side of El Paso, about an hour and a half from the Guadalupes. At Hueco Tanks, you can hike, rock climb, bird watch, study nature and history, picnic and stargaze. Visitors can take guided and self-guided tours to view rock imagery. 
## Charges & Cancellations

 Individual Site: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you modify your reservation or change your stay dates. Cancelling your reservation prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time two nights before your stay will incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. Camping reservations cancelled the day before and day of arrival incur a $10 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. If you need to cancel or modify your reservation, you must do so through Recreation.gov. Group Site: Customers who cancel a group overnight reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee & forfeit the first night's use fee.

Pine Springs Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Salt Flat, TX is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Texas camping has to offer. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Texas camping adventure.

Salt Flat

The Best Camping Near Salt Flat, Texas

Guadalupe National Park

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.  

simple campground

Back in May, my wife and I made the trip out to West Texas to check out the Guadalupe Mountains. However, when we arrived at 11pm, the park was completely deserted. There didn't appear to be any information available outside the front office or around the campsite. Anyway, we started to set up camp and realized that we could smell smoke. After some deliberation, we decided to pack up and head towards a different park in NM. Upon further investigation, it appeared to be a fire that caused the park closure. No ones fault, but it still sucked getting out there and having to immediately pack up to head out. 

Looked nice, but we weren't able to stay.

	Primitive campsite on trail near highest mountain peak. There were several primitive campsites in close proximity. Our campsite had a large metal bear box in which you could store food and packs. The site was large enough for a few tents (2-3), we had a group of five and have more than enough room. Nearby, there was a compostable bathroom that was shared by the surrounding campsites. The toilet is rather open, and they ask to add on soil/mulch after using the bathroom. There is not a water source (to my knowledge) anywhere on the mountain or close to the trail, so you must pack in all water. This campsite is approximately a mile from the (insert mountain trail here); where it meets with (this trail), the peak is a half-mile further along. Additionally, if you continue along the (trail with the campsite), it connects with a ridge-side loop, with breathtaking views atop the ridge that look out over an immense canyon (flatlands?). On a clear day, you can easily see the Rio Grande, Mexico, and the cliffs and mountains across the border.

Camped close by

Right up against the Guadalupe Mountains! They have water, real bathrooms, and a decent amount of shade...a great combination in Texas. Sites are great, you park and then walk 5 to a few hundred feet to your very private, semi-shady site. Short walk to the visitor center and some hikes (from easy to extreme) start here. No reservations but not super busy, at least not in May. Good wildlife too! 


Pine Springs 

Developed campground with pit toilets and more modern amenities within walking distance, full cell phone reception and flushing toilets. There is a central parking area and each campsite is a short walk from the car to the picnic bench and fire ring. Short trees and sagebrush offer some privacy between campsites. The site we stayed in was a bit cramped even though we had three, two-man tents. You can walk to the visitor center from the campsites. 

Beautiful views of Guadalupe peak. The star gazing was decent, not as great as some other parks (Big Bend NP, Joshua Tree NP). We didn't have time to summit Guadalupe Peak but we did the Frijole Ranch Museum and the Smith Spring Trail which was great. 

Underrated campground in the shadow of Guadalupe Peak

**This is a beautiful park with stellar camping. It is close to all the things you’ll want to do in the National Park. You are nestled among the famous cliffs and mountains of the area surrounded by interesting plants and wildlife. There are separate loops for tents and RVs with the full amenities of a state park...thankfully including water.**

**Yay: this is a hot and sticky area and although there are no showers the bathrooms have full water, allowing you take a washcloth bath. Sites are spread out well for good privacy.**

**Nay: not too much shade, but not awful for TX.**

**Surprise: lots of hikes leave right from the campground, simplifying the day a little! As always the rangers are great. Incredible sunsets.**

Guadalupe Mountains 

If you're a tent camper, this is a gorgeous campground. Again indivdual walk-in sites, gorgeous views and amazing hiking opportunities.

Bathrooms were clean.

RV "camping" is more a paved parking lot where they allow you to stay over night. Is also shared with trailhead parking. There are a couple of nice single sites along the edge, luckily we were able to snatch one of these.

parking lot camping; tent sites are nice

This is a great campground for tents &amp; 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](https://nuttyhiker.com/guadalupe-mountains-national-park/).

Great Campground for Tents / Hammocks

Cute little place 

Campers should know that despite being small and “unknown” this campground fills up without warning. The pit toilets are NOT smelly and there is a water source. You will need to hike a short distance in to your tent site but it is totally worth it!

Small and sweet.

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!

Perfect location for Guadalupe Mts Ntl Park

The campground is “what you see is what you get,” &amp; there’s not very much to see. If you do your research you know to be prepared though, so it shouldn’t be an issue! It is primitive camping, so bring out everything you would need. Guadalupe is such a beautiful National Park &amp; worth visiting so that you can hike the peak (fun fact: it’s higher than El Capitan in Yosemite)! It’s the tallest point in Texas. The trail is not all that strenuous but it does take up a good deal of time (about 6 hours) so you have to make sure you’ve got enough daylight. 


Be Prepared!!

The tent camping sites are all private making it a very peaceful experience! The views are beautiful with access to several hiking trails.  There are vault toilets at the tent sites with flush toilets at the rv lot.  There are no other facilities but if you are looking for remote primitive camping this is a great option!

Peaceful at the base of the mountains

Tent spots were just a short walk to the trail head to go up to the peak. Spots are first come first served, so get there early. We lucked out and got the last one by just a few minutes. Get up and on the trail super early in the late spring/summer months. If it’s a sunny day it is very hot and it gets pretty miserable on the trail. There is really no way to get relief when done (no showers to cool off). Toilets were clean. The sky at night was amazing. Don’t forget to stop at the visitor center, there were some neat displays and some historical building ruins to see. It was fairly windy during our stay and we had to use rocks to help hold down our tent, since we only had the flimsy stakes that came with the tent with us to use. We’d definitely stop there again if we wanted to hike in the park.

Ranger Review: Pine Springs

The campground itself is kinda cool.  Good usual amenities in usual National Park fashion.  The wild nightlife that can be seen and heard is really, really cool.  And of course the hiking and views are absolutely incredible. 

Incredible

This campground is very scenic and right at the base of Guadalupe peak.  It is very close to the visitors center.  There are 4 trailheads that start here and the GPT is very strenuous and 100% uphill.  You can also climb El Capitan or hike to Devil's Hall.  The views here are hard to beat.  I would not go in summer months but that's my personal opinion.  They don't reservations.  First come, first served

Most beautiful part of Texas

A visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park is not complete without a hike up to Guadalupe Peak which the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet (2,667 m). This trip was better and brighter because I had the opportunity to test a new light system by HeadSpin Outdoors. 

On your way into the park fill up with gas and pick up supplies either in the towns of Fort Stockton, Pecos or Van Horn. The route passing through Pecos is more direct, but the road is often crowded with large trucks traveling to the oil fields. The route that passes through Van Horn is longer, but more relaxing and scenic. I advise taking the route through Van Horn.

**Campground Review:** 

Guadalupe Mountains National Parks operates on a first come first served basis and does not take campsite reservations. If you are driving to the park from one of the major Texas cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or Austin you must leave early in the morning (4am) to arrive early at the park (1pm) in order to secure a campsite. The drive is typically 8 to 10 hours. We elected for a different plan. We left after work at 6pm on Thursday, drove 5 hours and camped at Monahans Sandhills State Park. Reservations can be made at almost all of the Texas State Parks, so we made a reservation at Monahans Sandhills SP.  We knew that we could arrive late and still have a reserved campsite. Then the next day we continued to GMNP at a leisurely pace. We arrive by 1pm and secured one of many available campsites - #12.  

Arriving by mid-day allowed us the option to choose between a number of short trails to acquaint ourselves with the park and acclimatize to the higher altitude. We had the options to explore The Devils Hall trail, The Smith Spring trail or The Pratt Cabin trail. We elected to hike the Pratt Cabin trail. 

The Pratt Cabin trail was a nice introduction to the park for the first time visitors in our group. The trail is a 4.8 miles long out and back hike, relatively flat and the leaves were just starting to change colors. There was water in the creek. And at the turnaround point of our hike there was a historic stone cabin - Pratt Lodge. We returned to camp and had a nice meal. Campfires are not allowed in GMNP so we brought a propane camp stove.The night was cool, but pleasant.

The next day we woke up early and set off for the hike up to Guadalupe Peak. The hike typically take about 4 hours up and 3 hours down. We left early at 8am so that we could avoid the potential crowds. Our group summited without any problems in about 3:30 hours. We celebrated at the top, took some photos, signed the log book and took in the views. We then descended the trail. On our way down the wind picked up and at one corner the wind was whipping around at what I would estimate 40 mph. We reached our campsite by early afternoon and relaxed. At the Pine Springs campsite the winds picked up speed and for the rest of the day and into the night. Many tents in the campground were collapsing or blowing down. Luckily we had secured our tents with extra cordage and rocks. 

Overall, this is an excellent park to car camp or backpack. On previous trips to this park I've backpacked up to Guadalupe Peak as well as Pine Top. There are many good trails with trailheads near the Pine Spring campsites. There are latrine toilets near the tent camping sites and normal toilets near the RV camping sites. There are no showers in the park so be prepared to embrace nature.The true beauty of this park is not really the summit of Guadalupe Peak, but the rustic nature of the high desert trails and views.

**Product Review of HeadSpin Light System** 

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I am provided products to test. For this outing I was provided a HeadSpin Light System.

For more info: [www.headspinoutdoors.com](http://www.headspinoutdoors.com)

I was immediately impressed with the HeadSpin Light System when it arrived in the mail. When I unboxed the product I discovered that it was contained within a sturdy semi-hard case. There were five easily identifiable pieces within the kit - the light head, a handle, a headband, a bicycle mount and a wall charging plug. There was also an instruction manual, sticker and USB cord. The system is very intuitive to use.

The light head is the primary unit that can be combined with the accessories to form multifunctional lights. I'm a fan of good design and I liked the rounded square form of the light head. It has four buttons on top. One button turns on the unit. One button increases or decreases the intensity of the light. One button switches the light pattern from wide to spot. And one button switches the light to a flashing strobe. 

I received the light system just prior to my trip, so I wasn't able to charge the unit at home. One of the great advantages of this product is that it is a rechargeable light with a lithium ion battery. I took the entire kit in the car and charged it with the included USB cable plugged into the car socket. The USB cable can also be plugged in to any portable power bank. By the time that we reached our destination, the unit was charged. This came in handy as we set up our tents in the middle of the night.

The next day we hung the HeadSpin light in a tree above our camp kitchen and used it like a lantern to cook. The soft wide light provided great lighting for camp chores.

I also used the light for walking on some trails. Typically I used the lowest setting, because this light is bright. I played around with the higher settings but my friends kept asking me to turn it down because it was too bright. Hahaha, too bright. See the demo video.

I only used the light system with the headband accessory. I didn't use the handle nor the bike attachment. I think that the handle would be useful around the house. I think that bike attachment plus the headband attachment would be great for a bike packing trip. One could attach the light to the bike's handlebar when riding. Then disconnect it and spin it onto the headband for other activities.  

So who might like this light system? Anyone that likes multi-functional lights. I think that I'll find use for it around the house. It would also be useful to keep within a vehicle. This would be ideal for bikepacking. Hunters might like the intensity of the light, but I'm guessing that they would like a red light added. And of course it would always be useful for camping. If you are in to overloading where you need a reliable, rechargeable bright light this product would be a no brainer. The ability to charge the light from a variety of sources makes this a game changer for me. 

**Likes**:

Super bright light

Super soft light

Multifunctional

Outlet and USB rechargeable 

Nice design

Quality construction

**Dislikes**:

I'd like to see a red and maybe a green light

I'd like the buttons to be a little more tactile

Overall I am very impressed with the HeadSpin Light System. I have the feeling that I am just starting to discover all of the functions, features and uses. If you'd like to find out more about the light system or buy one visit their website at: [www.headspinoutdoors.com](http://www.headspinoutdoors.com)

Ranger Review HeadSpin Light System at Guadalupe Mountains National Park

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&amp; 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&amp;T and Sprint: Poor &amp; spotty

Mostly private, close to trailhead

My friends and I stayed at Pine Springs Halloween weekend, first come first serve basis for reserving. We arrived around 10am and there were still 10 or so spots left, we ended up at spot 19. Even with 30+ campsites, our site was tucked away and it felt secluded. The campground is right next to the visitor center and next to some major trailheads. Bathrooms are close as well. Be sure to bring cash for your campsite deposit! :) 

Beautiful and Secluded! 

Late December

Stayed 1 night in camper van. Tent sites were full so stayed in RV parking lot. Sites were painted lines on the concrete but big enough to have some space to yourself if you park correctly. Had a couple more secluded sites tucked in the corner. Free water pump, no electric. Bathrooms and dish station conveniently located. Trailheads in parking lot. Great location and $15. Would stay again

Not bad for RVs, tent sites looked nice

Dates: 12/30/2020

  
Vehicle: Dodge Caravan

  

Camp Setup: 2 Person Tent

  

The Pine Springs camp sites are amazing! Each camp site is tucked away amongst trees and cacti, creating something of a mini-interpretive trail just getting to your site. This provided some much appreciated seclusion and privacy from other campers, but was not overly inconvenient for unpacking or using facilities. When we arrived, it was snowing, creating an absolutely magical atmosphere!

  

The campground includes plenty of parking for campers, as well as a few restrooms at the end of campground road.

  

As others have noted, the campground is currently first-come-first-serve. We arrived late morning (11 am or so), and most of the spots were already taken by that point. It was snowing and near freezing, so I can imagine that the spots go even quicker in better weather. 

  

I've stayed at campgrounds in other National Parks (Glacier, Zion, Bryce Canyon), and this is by far my favorite thus far. Very highly recommend!

Cozy Spot to Camp

It’s just a parking lot but it made it really convenient to hike Guadalupe Peak and explore a bit of the park by foot. 

Spots open up randomly during the day. 

There is no reserved marker on the parking/camping spots. So it feels like you shouldn’t leave your spot to drive somewhere else or someone else might take it. But we saw folks use cones to indicate a spot was taken and volunteers monitored available spots during the day. 

Good spot to launch

Limited sites fill up very fast as no reservations are available. Get there at sunrise and pounce on any spots that come open.
Decent bathroom, no showers.
Right next to trailheads so great for hiking.

Get there early 

The tent sites are clustered together near the vault toilet (smelly) and they are all walk in sites. Only tents are allowed in this area. The RV parking lot is by flush toilets and sink area. No tents are allowed. 
 The flies were terrible! It is really hot right now and shade is limited. 

Pine Springs June 2021

It's first come first serve, and seems to fill up quickly, but if you get a spot it's a really cool area at the base of the mountains. Easy access to trailheads, bathrooms, visitor center. It's crowded (as in there are lots of other campers around you) but everyone has a designated spot to fit a few tents. Still pretty cold in April!

Perfect for group or solo camping

This National Park is a gem for its rugged beauty and isolation. The “campground” is a paved parking lot conveniently located at the head of several trails in the park. The parking lot can accommodate cars up to larger RV’s in the pull through spots. There are envelopes located in 2 different locations. The kiosk by the restrooms are for the campground and the kiosk by the trail head are for the trail. You have to pay for access to the trails, but if you pay for camping, then you’re good. When I camped here there was a park ranger on site. There are also tent camp sights adjacent to the parking lot campground. Quiet camping under beautiful starry skies with awesome hiking!

Excellent trail head boon docking

Just like others have said, the RV camping is a parking lot. But when we were there in mid September, there only maybe 6 or 7 "RVs" camping. Most of the traffic was people parking for the trail head. 
Speaking of trails, the hiking from this campground is spectacular! Guadalupe peak was the trail everyone came to do, but there are multiple others that are just as beautiful. On those trails we were the only people our hiking. 
There is a nice restroom facility and potable water. You cannot hook your RV up to the water pump so bring a large jug to help fill up your water tank if needed. There is also a water bottle filler in the restroom building. 
The tent camping area is nice, with defined sites, not a parking lot 😉
You can run your generator until 8pm, although not many did. It cools down in the evening in mid September which was good for sleeping. There is no dump station. 
The views from the campground are great and the sunrise and sunset light is phenomenal. 

Yes it's a parking lot but you're surrounded by mountains!

We thought enforcement was a bit over the top but it is a np cg.
Great sunrises.

Nice views great place to hike.

If you're coming to hike, then its great. Many trailheads just feet away including the Guadalupe Peak summit trail. Restrooms are clean. Beautiful background scenery. Very quiet while I was there. If you're not coming to hike, then it's basically a parking lot with a bathroom and picnic tables. I came to hike so it was totally worth the $20.

Parking lot with bathrooms, water and picnic tables 

It’s literally a parking lot. Close to a trailhead. It’s reservation only now. 

Nice place to park 

Clean basic amenities. We used a RV site with our Campervan. The RV site could be more charming (it is basically a parking lot). Prefer the tent site.

National park

The campground is a parking lot within the National Park. You must have a reservation and it’s $20/night. 

Has clean bathrooms, running water, water fill up, and trash.  Close to trailheads and visitor center. 


Okay Campground within the National Park System

I found it to be fantastic, it was close to trail and well maintained. Please note this is a boon-docking site, and limit on generator use. It is right next where trail starts for Guadalupe Peek. When I visited the winds were exceptionally high. One day gusts got to near 75mph. Winds were coming out of NW and that is the direction the rv spots faced. I did bring my slide in for peace of mind. Be sure to look at wind forecast before you travel

Fantastic Trip

Guadalupe Peak trail was an awesome hike to the highest point in the state of Texas.

Camping at the base, next to the trail head was not as awesome. It was super windy, completely exposed to the sun, no privacy, and I got stuck with an RV spot despite being a tent camper since that was the only thing available. I had to shift around all of my gear and sleep in my trunk.

The redeeming factor was the nice, clear night and incredible stargazing.

Nice hike, nice views, not so nice camping

We loved the scenery and the surroundings but the campground is not really a campground, it’s a parking lot. Lovely evening - and met very friendly campers - no host, and at 12:30 very loud knuckleheads came in with no consideration for the other campers as they kept the diesel truck running and headlights on while they set up camp. Other than that - clean bathrooms and cleaning station. Not many camping options in this area but we are glad we stayed.  Visitor center informative. The corner sites are the best if you want a little privacy. We had reserved 31 but moved to 25 on-site (easy change on res.gov) in order to spread out a bit. Can easily see Carlsbad and hike in Guadeloupe from here. Loved the bat flight at Carlsbad!!! Also hiked Smith Springs Trail is an easy 2.5 mile hike that goes back into one of the canyons to a beautiful spring!

Scenery is spectacular - not camping, parking-loting 

**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.

"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"

Guadalupe mountains is such an under-rated national park! Most of the hiking here is pretty intense as most of this park is in the backcountry...definitely a backpackers and hikers paradise. Be sure to do you research on wildlife in the area if you aren't from around here. Also, the campground has skunks that walk around, make sure you zip your tent so that the door zipper is at the top of your tent because they have been know to open doors and crawl into bed with people. Site was a short walk away from my parked car 

Under-rated national park!

This is an asphalt parking lot in the middle of a wild, remote desert. It is not level or sheltered. It has a heated bathroom with running water, but no showers. It has a dumpster and recycling bins, a visitor's center nearby and a trailhead. It is a great disappointment to drive so far out of the way to "camp" at the foot of majestic peaks on a concrete lot. Next time I'll try Carlsbad.

This is a campground??

As other reviewers have noted, the RV sites are basically a parking lot.  I was able to get one on the outskirts so I had stunning views.  The tent sites appear to be spaced nicely.  All sites require reservations.  The visitor center and trailhead rangers were very friendly and helpful.  This is very wild Texas.

Very peaceful  - stunning scenery 

We passed through with out 27' camper and full-size truck for a couple of nights in the winter. Exploring this under-the-radar park was our main goal, and we were impressed by what we saw. The campground was, well, a parking lot.

  

A couple of trailheads leave from here, and backpacking is really what it's all about here. Biking wouldn't be much fun, as the only road into this area is SUPER steep and gets fast traffic. Proximity to the visitor's center is probably the biggest plus of this location. There's some decent birding here, if that's something you're into.

  

Otherwise, it's a cold, windy experience in the winter. Make sure you're ready for higher elevation and the temps that come with it.

Great backpacking basecamp

This is a great campground if you have an RV, or are car camping. There isn't much privacy, and very little cell signal (Verizon). Other carriers reported better on Recreation.gov. Great for one night, but if I was to stay here longer, I'd prefer the tent sites.

Nice Spot at the base of the giants

I enjoyed my stay here. The best sites are on the perimeter of the lot.

Pros - clean bathrooms, dishwashing area, fresh water available, close to lots of great hiking, picnic tables are available on perimeter sites.

Cons - some sites are in the parking lot , no hot water in bathrooms or dish washing area, no showers.

Nice but cramped

This is a good campsite but pretty much just a parking lot. Rv sites are easy to access (some are pull through, some are back in. There are bathrooms but no hookups. No generator use either so be prepared to dry camp. Great access to trails - we woke up and immediately did Guadalupe trail! Sites fill up on the weekends

Easy access to the park! 

If not for the great locale for hiking, this would be a 2 star (nice views). As noted in other reviews, this is a paved parking lot, with sites in middle being parking spaces. Parking on perimeter have some tables. Due to middle spaces being pull through parking spaces, with the markers on ground and receipt post across street there was a misunderstanding with a couple of hikers who parked in wrong place and so camper who paid waited and waited for them to finish their hike (hikes here can take all day). IF you can, mark your spot with something before you leave.

  

We did not reserve but got last spot 27 for a Mon/Tues stay. Nice clean bathrooms with flush toilets and soap. Campground is adjacent to trailhead parking so busy and some parked cars overnight.  Nice view of stars and milky way. Only 1 short trail for dogs.

  

We also used this as base to go to Carlsbad Caverns.

GREAT locale for hiking in Guadalupe Mtns.

It’s a nice campsite with a nice view but it was very hot and seemed we were unable to escape from the heat and was the worst when we woke up since our tent had trapped in all our body heat even with just the mesh on and no rain fly but it’s a nice and easily accessible campsite 

Photos of Pine Springs Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Real photos from real campers