Recommendations for New Mexico campsites

[MountainTop]

We'll be traveling throughout NM in October with our MPG in tow and with a couple towing an rPod. We know we'll spend several days in the Taos/Santa Fe area, already have a place in Albuquerque for the balloon fest, and then will move south to Carlsbad and then west to Tucson. Would like to hear any recommendations or warnings about campgrounds, both state and private.

 

[TravelTiger]

This is a neat place, have not camped there but visited for the day:

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/roswell/valley_of_fires.html

 

[Karen_and_Guy]

Hi just wondering where you will be staying for the balloon fest and when you made your reservations? We are planning to be there in 2014. Thanks for any info. Sorry I cannot help with campsite recommendations.

 

[d_fergie]

The Oilfield workers have many of the campgrounds around Carlsbad filled up, the KOA about 15 miles north or Whites City near the Caverns (about 20 miles south)of Carlsbad might be better choices (I live in this area) if you like getting away from it all try Pine Springs or Dog Canyon campgrounds in Guadalupe Mountains National Park or there is camping in the Lincoln National Forest and some RV Spots at Queen, NM...

 

[d_fergie]

This is a neat place, have not camped there but visited for the day:

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/roswell/valley_of_fires.html

Valley of Fire is pretty cool and you have the Smokey Bear District of the Lincoln National Forest not too far away with Ruidoso, Cloudcroft and some campgrounds... Bonita lake near Ruidoso which was a prime destination was hit by fire last year, they say a few more years before it opens up again.

 

[pegmikef]

There is Brantley Lake State Park just a little north of Carlsbad off of 285 that has nice campsites if you are into that kind of camping.

http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/brantleylakestatepark.html

NM State Parks usually have walkin sites available where you don't need a reservation, but I always like a reservation if I know when I am going to be there.

And there is Bottomless Lakes State Park up near Roswell which is a nice park and good swimming . . . imagine a ninety foot deep natural lake in the middle of a desert.

 

[d_fergie]

There is Brantley Lake State Park just a little north of Carlsbad off of 285 that has nice campsites if you are into that kind of camping.

http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/brantleylakestatepark.html

NM State Parks usually have walkin sites available where you don't need a reservation, but I always like a reservation if I know when I am going to be there.

And there is Bottomless Lakes State Park up near Roswell which is a nice park and good swimming . . . imagine a ninety foot deep natural lake in the middle of a desert.

Water is way down in Brantley (as it is over much of our part of the country and further west).

 

[bking]

Two years ago we stayed at Whites City RV Park (http://www.rvparklist.com/rvpark/1853/) just outside the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns. It's not a pretty park, but the price was decent and the proximity to the National Park were positives. You can check out their reviews here - http://rvparkreviews.com/regions/New_Mexico/Carlsbad.html

 

[d_fergie]

Another cool thing to hit is http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/el_camino_real_de.html we passed by the NM Spaceport last year hunting Oryx following it.

 

[ABQscott]

Think about spending a few days at Heron lake, south of Chama NM. We stay in the dry camp area south end by the boat ramp. Beautiful

 

[d_fergie]

Here's a link to NM BLM campgrounds, http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/recreation_activities/camping.html and this country is pretty cool to travel through http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/las_cruces/mcgregor_range.html(all dirt road) you can get to from Dell City, TX, Alamogordo NM and from 20 miles or so outside of El Paso, Tx past Hueco Tanks on Loma Linda ...

 

[scottyb]

Wild Rivers Recreation Area is a place I intend to visit in the near future. Not too far from Taos and Red River.

 

[shovelguy]

We stayed in a very small, but clean and nice park just outside of Roswell, The Red Barn. We drove about an hour south to Carlsbad. We have also stayed at Elephant Butte outside of Truth or Consequences. We were there for a Heartland Rally. Nice place.

 

[d_fergie]

Came across this, this is pretty country and they have been getting rain recently... http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ollow_RV_Park_Campground-Alto_New_Mexico.html