Discover the best mountainous campgrounds in New Mexico

United States
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New Mexico

96% (5502 reviews)

Popular camping styles for New Mexico

Under $50

12 top mountainous campgrounds in New Mexico

98%

(232)

Star Gazer Ranch

1 site · RV, Tent40 acres · Laguna, NM

We are a secluded, one site camp. Our home is 22 miles west of Albuquerque NM. Just 4 miles from i40. Adjacent to Navajo reservation where “Breaking Bad” was filmed. Hundreds of acres of naturalized land. Panoramic view of mountains and unobstructed view of the night sky. Beautiful sunrises, sunsets and starry nights. We would love to share our homestead with you. Come unplug, Safe. Everybody welcome. Most of your questions are answered in this listing. Text me for any additional concerns.

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Taos Goji Farm & Eco Lodge

13 sites · Lodging, Tents40 acres · San Cristobal, NM

Taos Goji Ecolodge, is an historic property with ten renovated cabins and a 4-acre goji berry farm located on 40 acres of pristine land in San Cristobal, New Mexico. The cabins were built at the beginning of last century, originally for sheep herders. Both Alduous Huxley and D.H. Lawrence lived and wrote in this cabins, and later Elizabeth Kubler Ross and Ram Dass stayed here.

Camp Rio

59 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents9 acres · Mayhill, NM

Camp Rio, formerly named Camp @ Cloudcroft is located in beautiful SE New Mexico! The park is surrounded by thousands of acres of the Lincoln National Forest. The forest is laced with small villages, picturesque roads, riding, hiking, golf, and walking trails. Small valleys, surrounding mountains, racing streams, wildlife, birds, mountain glens and outdoor activities are available to Camp Rio guests. The small towns around us are Mayhill, Cloudcroft, Weed, and Pinion. These towns have scheduled activities such as arts and craft fairs, car shows, bluegrass festivals, dog shows, and Lumberjack days. Additional day trips to Alamogordo, Capitan (Smokey the Bear), Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Lincoln (Billy the Kid), Ruidoso (skiing), Sunspot (National Solar Observatory, Truth or Consequences (Hot Springs) and White Sands National Monument! Guests enjoy our upgraded free wifi to have the best of both worlds, surrounded by beautiful nature, while still being able to connect with family/friends/work. Our location is superb to use as a base camp for numerous attractions as a centralized location to have many adventures.

Healing on the Rio Grande !

19 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents1 acre · Albuquerque, NM

Come to New Mexico ! The Land of Enchantment. Sing Chants to the Moon, The Sun, The Rain, The Stars , The Beautiful Land and the Ancestors ! We won , an award with Hipcamp, Best of 2023 !!!! We are so happy to Host . Come enjoy organic . Urban Permaculture . Awesome, thanks for loving on our peaceful garden. It is an honor to serve the traveler, the camper, sweet tourist , wild vacationer , folks visiting friends and family , the many folks who explore and folks on grand adventures. We love to camp as well. BE OUTSIDE ! Heal from Nature . We have a lot to offer. Our place is good for folks who work on the road, Great WIFI ! Easy to manage a job while on the road . Eat flowers and herbs. There is a great herb store , herbal clinic and more . Just down the road, called, RED ROOT , next to the Food Co-op on Rio Grande Blvd. Our Space is in the heart of the Griegos Neighborhood , A very old style , old world area. Safe area. Same Hispanic families have lived here since 1712, no joke, that is real. Rural feel for an urban / suburban setting , space space, off street parking. We are NOT an RV park nor are we a " camp ground " . We Are an Organic Garden ( Urban Permaculture ) that you can stay inside a magical, growing goodness space . This place is very, very private . The parking area is not private . Our road is dead end , very low traffic . The garden wall around the whole tent area has a 6 foot tall , very thick wall , and trees , surrounding every thing. There is a forest and pond for ducks behind the garden . Our place is for Wildlife, to be fed, and given water and safe space to raise young. We are located in an area where the birds of the world fly from the north to the south and then change direction each season. Many lizards . Many wild mammals . There are many farms in the area. With Horses , goats , chickens , ducks , mules, donkeys , other livestock . We have no pets and no livestock. At night this is dark ( we do have solar lights on walk ways ) and it is peaceful. A safe zone for travelers . Serene , gentle and lovely . You get your privacy . New Mexico is so amazing, all year . We have inside space in Fall / Winter . Welcome to Mother Bosque Garden . Started in Corrales NM in 2010 . We are in the North valley of Albuquerque New Mexico 87107. The same families have lived here for 100, 200, 300 plus years . 1000s of years . Native people have lived in this valley for close to 20,000 years more . The Rio Grande is very close by ( 2 miles west of us ) bike or by car . We are close to route 40 and route 25, just 7 mins. away . There is a Food Co-op with in a 5 mins. drive . And a regular store and gas within one mile of our place. Come eat Traditional New Mexican Foods and Heal with Very Living Traditional New Mexican Herbal Medicines . Relax, rest, find repose. Happy travels, happy hiking, happy sleeping under the stars, happy home made food, happy resting. Old Town is close by, so is the Rio Grande River and Nature Center ( 2 miles up the street ) . So many things in our area to see, to do, learn history . Awesome food, music and arts/ crafts, everywhere. So much activity all over. SO MANY CULTURES and Languages , so much diversity !

Santa Fe Treehouse Camp

61 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents156 acres · Santa Fe, NM

This is a non-smoking, no candle facility. The camp was founded 40 years ago as a summer camp for kids. Now we welcome adults, and other groups to enjoy the vast and wild high desert nature up on this ridge. There are beautiful views and access to Shaggy Peak, the southernmost tip of the Rocky Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. Wander our land to enjoy various level hiking trails including a 20 minute hike to a creek and waterfall in the forest (some steep spots and creek is intermittent) or climb up Shaggy Peak (seasoned hikers only please). IMPORTANT: We are up 1.3 miles of dirt road (with 5-7+% grade in a few short stretches) and are not near public transportation so you will need your own vehicle! Be aware that the roads can be snowy, icy or muddy and rutted ( 4-wheel or All-trak recommended in certain times of year). We don’t guarantee the road will be plowed. We generally close for the season due to cold weather around Halloween and reopen just before Memorial Day.

White Sands Culinary Camp

6 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Alamogordo, NM

Just three short miles from Oliver Lee State Park, our primitive camp doesn't yet have all of the amenities of the state park, but we offer amenities the park doesn't! Your Camp Host, Chef Üdø, is onsite most days and evenings, and has 30 years' experience in the catering and private chef biz, and as a camp host. He's happy to coordinate hot meals for you and your companions! No more need to go into town to get a pizza or some icky fast food! We will make you a homemade pizza, dry-aged steak, brined chicken, buffalo burger, or lasagna...all in-house. Vegan, vegetarian, kosher, low-sodium, and most other dietary restrictions are no problem! We'll bake you a birthday cake, brownies, pie, or even Crème brûlée! Contact Chef Üdø for more details and please check out our menu in the “Extras” section of our campsite listing. We can make just about anything in our sanitary kitchen facilities. We cook with a spirit of Love and inclusion in our kitchen, and it shows! ❤️ Chef Üdø maintains current local food handler's certification, as well as HAACP federal certification. Prices are friendly and competitive with local restaurants. Vacuum-sealed frozen meals, aka “sous vide” available for most recipes. (Please check “extras” section for more detail) We offer a 15amp electrical connection, access to clean running water, and access to our 4 acre back pasture. And if you prefer a more luxurious camping experience, we offer a BnB experience in our amazing rooftop tent!! This package includes exclusive use of the entire campsite, as well as a catered meal for two! We feature unparalleled views of the sunrise over the mountains, as well as convenient access to the park and Lincoln National Forest, White Sands National Monument, BLM off-road parklands, and nearby Alamogordo. Firewood available onsite for friendly prices (provided there isn't a current burn ban). **Be among the first to experience the most luxurious tent camping in our SmittyBilt Overlander Gen. 2 XL rooftop tent! Crisp, freshly sanitized linens, soft fleece or cotton blankets available. (Please note rental is *only* for the rooftop tent. Jeep rental is not available). For warmer months, we provide Air Conditioning for the rooftop tent at no extra cost! Additional onsite and backcountry packages are available, including fully-catered backcountry excursions in the Lincoln National Forest, wildlife spotting tours, photo tours, and even backcountry drive-in movies are available! Campfire setup, breakfast and omelette bar also available. ***Please note we do not yet have a handwashing sink but provide a spigot or water hose.

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Raven's Nest On Route 66

2 sites · RVs4 acres · Church Rock, NM

A beautiful location located within Cibola National Forest boundaries (Mt. Taylor Ranger District West). Direct access to Six Mile Canyon and Mc Gaffey Lake via improved forest road. We are seasoned camping travelers and enjoy meeting other travelers on their journeys.Learn more about this land:18 miles East of Gallup, NM. Exit 39 on I-40, Jamestown, NM.GPS coordinates: N 35.46445 W 108.44220Beautiful red rock views on the Continental Divide. An amazing vibe delivered by The Land Of Enchantment. Peaceful, yet still connected to the pulse of the old Route 66. This campsite is in a second RV driveway next to our home.

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Agua de Vida

10 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · NM

This charming land has been in the family since my husband was a young boy. The Indian ruins and artifacts fascinated him then and he is still happy to share this history with whoever shows an interest. With all the improvements made by his father and family through the years, you will also learn to have a love for the history and beauty here on this unique 30-acre treasure. You can explore Native American ruins that were inhabited by some 2,000 people between 700-1100 AD. The grounds are wonderful to walk with a little lake which draws elk, deer, hawks, blue herons, etc. Easy to access just 3 minutes off I-25. We are 5 minutes away from the Pecos Natl Monument and 15 minutes away from the Pecos River with plenty of great fishing spots…Visit Santa Fe (20-minute drive) or Las Vegas (30-minute drive) with dozens of restaurants, museums, art galleries, etc. We look forward to your stay!

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1972 Winnebago Convert to Tiny Home

1 site · Lodging2 acres · Truth Or Consequences, NM

Learn more about this land:Relax and be inspired during your stay in the renovated Winnebago at, The Western Star. This is a quaint, cozy space designed and decorated with a mix of natural materials, old desert wood and old metal found on the property or nearby. There are 2 beds (full and a twin), 10 ft sloped ceiling, sink with cold running water- no hot water, flushing toilet, mini-refrigerator, electric 2 burner stove, toaster oven, heater, plates, forks, cups, cookware and electricity. There are curtains and sun blockers for privacy. When you wake up in the morning you will watch the sun rise over Turtleback Mountain. 1 block away is the Rio Grande and Rotary Park. It's 4 blocks to the main. Located in the downtown area and hot springs district, the property has a well that draws out the hot springs at about 98 degrees and pours it in to an outdoor tub- perfect for a warm winter day or summer evenings. It can be reserved for an additional fee upon arrival. 4 blocks from the downtown area you can easily access other spas, restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, thrift shops, and the grocery store. Wake up in the morning, walk down to the river and you'll see heron, coots, osprey, sandhill crane, red wing black birds, and so many more wildlife. The coyotes regularly sing throughout the night. I tend the property and you may see me around if I need to do light repair work. There is a care taker for the property who lives there and may be another guest as well. The property is 1/2 a city block. Your living quarters are private but the land is shared space. I'm available to engage if desired and I respect your privacy. The property is 6 city lots large and you will have access to 4 of them. Dogs are allowed for an additional fee. You must be responsible to clean up after them and they must be friendly with strangers.

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Perry Farms RV Park

15 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Socorro, NM

Perry Farms is the home place of the Perry Family, established in 1980, and provided much open space for the children to grow and play. It is located in the northern edges of the Chihuahuan Desert. Native fauna and flora as well as beautiful blue skies, with millions of stars provide peaceful, quiet moments of nature. Learn more about this land: Desert Camp consists of six RV spots with full hookups (electricity-30 and 50 amp, septic, water, and WIFI) and 11 unimproved tent camping areas on family property of Perry Farms. The land has arroyos, mesas, lots of flat areas to car camp, pitch a tent or sleep on the ground under the beautiful, dark New Mexico skies. There are also a few places to hang a hammock. To the west, there are miles and miles to hike, mountain bike, or just enjoy the view of the Magdalena Mountains. Neighbors are quiet and you can choose a spot away from anyone.

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Smugglers' Roost

10 sites · RVs49 acres · Animas, NM

Smugglers' Roost is located in Animas, NM, situated at the site of the infamous Clanton Gang’s hideout along Smuggler’s Trail. The community is positioned along the original Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Winter Route; a short two hour drive from Las Cruces , New Mexico or just 2.5-hours from either El Paso, Texas or Tucson, Arizona. We are located in the Middle of Everywhere, surrounded by wealth of wide-ranging activities and natural amenities which include extraordinary, yet uncrowded state and national recreation areas, caves, mines, ghost towns, museums, historic locations, native sites, observatories, local wineries and micro-breweries. Learn more about this land: Bring your RV and join us at Smugglers' Roost for our warm sunny days and starlit nights! We are a pioneering community which serves as a hub for exploration, creativity, trade and most of all... the passionate celebration of life! We offer 228 Full Hook-up RV Sites with 50-amp electric, water, commercial septic and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Pull-throughs are available and there's plenty of room to spread out! Smugglers' Roost is located in Animas, NM, situated at the site of the infamous Clanton Gang’s hideout along Smuggler’s Trail. The community is positioned along the original Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Winter Route; a short two hour drive from Las Cruces , New Mexico or just 2.5-hours from either El Paso, Texas or Tucson, Arizona. We are located in the Middle of Everywhere, surrounded by a treasure trove of wide-ranging activities and natural amenities which include extraordinary, yet uncrowded state and national recreation areas, caves, mines, ghost towns, museums, historic locations, native sites, observatories, local wineries and micro-breweries. BIRD WITH US! We offer an onsite birding station and three additional affiliated and nationally acclaimed birding sites, including one at the mouth of the famed Cave Creek Canyon in Portal, AZ only a short drive away. EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE! Our dead-dark night skies are nothing short of awe-inspiring, so come explore with our onsite star guides with telescopes!

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Tierra del RavenTree

1 site · RV, Tent18 acres · Placitas, NM

Ultimate peace and privacy. Nestled in juniper-wooded hills with sweeping views. Close to Albuquerque (20 minutes) and Santa Fe (40 minutes) but feels like a secluded retreat. Most people have no problem finding my place by entering my address in their GPS. However, I have had 2 HipCampers report their GPS directed them to a road called Camino de las Brisas or Las Brisas Loop. Turning here will lead you to a steep, dangerous road where it will be very difficult to turn around if you're in an RV and impossible with a trailer. Continue on Camino de Las Huertas to Senda Osa Vieja. It's marked with a street sign, a stone monument with brass plate. There's also a blue "private road" sign with a dragon. This land was purchased in 1956 by my archeologist parents because of the ancient pueblo site (dating from 1000 A.D.) and pit house sites (dating from 800 A.D.) Until the mega drought seriously impacted the land, a stream ran through it year round. Now it is only intermittent. Across the valley from this property, and within view of the campsite, is the site of a Spanish Colonial village, San Jose de las Huertas. It dates from the 1700s and is now owned by the Archeological Conservancy. This area is rich in history both Native American and Spanish. Learn more about this land: Located in the high desert 20 minutes from Albuquerque and 40 minutes from Santa Fe. Views of Sandia mountains, and near historic archeological sites. Within a 10 minute drive are popular mountain biking trails. Petroglyphs are a 20 minute, moderately strenuous hike from property. Very peaceful, quiet and safe. Read all the Rules and Safety info before booking so you understand exactly what facilities are and are not available, particularly if you in an RV or trailer.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Mountainous camping in New Mexico guide

Overview

In the southwestern US, New Mexico offers a distinct vibe not found elsewhere in the country, or even in the region. Here you’ll find Old West mining towns, restorative hot springs, and all sorts of historic sites, including ancient pueblos and protected national monuments, not to mention a distinct cuisine that borrows elements from Tex-Mex and Indigenous culinary traditions. You won’t be disappointed with the camping—the state offers a variety of terrains, from quiet forests to vast expanses of desert, and with five national forests, 30 state parks, and lots of untouched private land, there's no shortage of spots to set up a tent.

Where to go

Central and North Central New Mexico

New Mexico's Central and North-Central regions are home to many of the state's most popular cultural attractions, and both Albuquerque and Santa Fe are here. Area highlights include Bandelier National Monument and Petroglyph National Monument, as well as numerous pueblos. The most famous of these—the Taos Pueblo—is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years.

Northwest New Mexico

Cultural attractions abound in Northwestern New Mexico. Highlights include the Zuni Pueblo and the Acoma Pueblo—both the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the Navajo Nation call this region home. Other points of interest include the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Aztec Ruins National Monument, and El Mapais National Monument.

Northeast New Mexico

Situated where the Rocky Mountains give way to the Southwestern plains, this area is characterized by prairies, ranches, and Western charm. Popular historic and natural attractions include the Fort Union National Monument and the Capulin Volcano National Monument. Conchas Lake State Park and Ute Lake State Park offer ample opportunities for fishing, boating, and lakeside camping.

Southwest New Mexico

For a Wild West experience, head to the southwestern corner of the state. Here you'll find plenty of old ghost towns, historic mission communities, and pristine natural areas. The area is also rich with hot springs, particularly in the low-key spa town of Truth or Consequences.

Southeast New Mexico

Culture, history, and the great outdoors converge in southeastern New Mexico, home to both of the state's national parks (White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns) as well as a host of museums, from the New Mexico Museum of Space History to the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner. Fans of the paranormal won't want to miss Roswell, the site of the famous Area 51 UFO sightings and a de facto pilgrimage site for all things alien.