The best camping near Elephant Butte Lake State Park

Its name isn’t the only thing that’s memorable about New Mexico’s biggest lake and largest state park. On the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, this man-made oasis is the place to cool off from the summer sun. Bring your sailboat, kayak, or jet ski (or rent one) and take to the water; try your luck fishing for bass, catfish, and salmon; relax on the sandy lakeside beaches; or hike and bike along the lakeshore. Campers are spoiled for choice, with five developed campgrounds and several primitive camping areas on the beach.

• Best for beachside camping: Three Sisters Campground has secluded primitive camping for tents or RVs right by the lakefront.
• Best for boat access: South Monticello Campground has lakeside tent and RV campsites with electric and water hookups, and a boat ramp nearby.
• Best for RVs: Quail Run Campground has pull-through sites suitable for RVs up to 40’ with electric hookups and access to a dump station.

1. You can reserve sites at the park’s developed campgrounds and primitive campsites online via the New Mexico State Parks website.
2. Online reservations can be made up to six months in advance. 
3. Campsites can book up as fast, especially for holiday weekends, so book at least three months in advance.

When the mercury soars in summer, New Mexicans make a beeline for the lakeshore, so don’t expect to have the lake to yourself. Holiday weekends can get crowded, especially on the 4th of July—the fireworks display over the lake is legendary!—and several popular events and festivals are held around the lakeside throughout summer. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, mild temperatures make it possible to camp through all four seasons, but some campgrounds close from late fall through spring.

• Elephant Butte Lake State Park sits five miles north of Truth or Consequences along I-25, about a 2-hour drive from both Albuquerque to the north and El Paso to the south.
• Day passes are required for all vehicles entering New Mexico State Parks, and campsite booking fees also apply. Visitors arriving on foot or by bike can enter for free. 
• You can bring your own boat or watercraft to Elephant Butte Lake, and there are several marinas, boat ramps, and rental outlets dotted around the lake. Fishing licences are required to fish on the lake. 
• Facilities at Elephant Butte Lake include restrooms, picnic areas, playgrounds, RV dump stations, and a Visitor Centre. Paid wifi is available in the park. The adjoining town of Elephant Butte has a general store, gas station, and restaurants. 
• There are accessible restrooms, campsites, piers and trails at Elephant Butte Lake State Park.