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!
Dates: 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).