Looking for good places to camp in New Mexico

[Debbie in Florida]

Hi All...Just two nights from New Mexico and looking at websites for nice places to camp. Looks like slim pickins'. Can anyone share experiences with places for my Casita and I to lay our heads? I want to stay around Santa Fe for a week or so and travel to Taos and some of the other Pueblos. I will go south after my foray into the northern part of state to head back to Alabama and Florida for winter. Maybe Carlsbad Caverns on the way. Right now Santa Fe is looking quite challenging! But all experiences in the state are welcome. I am willing to go to Alburquerque for spell but the balloon festival is coming up and so I might want to avoid getting too close there. Many thanks.

[M_C]

Bandoleer National Monument, it is about an hour from Santa Fe. If you are in the area of White Rock, the Rio Grand Gorge overlook is a great place to stop and look.

[daveandalice]

We have stayed a few miles north of Santa Fe at Black Canyon Campground which is a Forest Service site, really nice although no hookups.

Just up the road from there is Hyde Memorial State Park with electricity and water.

This year we headed up there without reservations and (we forgot it was a holiday weekend) and both campgrounds were full, we found a really nice campground a few miles south of Santa Fe called Rancheros De Santa Fe RV Resort which is an ex KOA campground. and just down the same road is a KOA campground.

Slim pickins around Taos although I was looking on Google Maps and it looks like there's several small Forest Service campgrounds just west of Taos along the Rio Grande on Hwy 570 just off Hwy 68.

Ojo Caliente Resort and Spa southwest of Taos has a campground.

Leaving Taos heading east along scenic hwy 64 through Eagle Nest is Cimarron Canyon State Park, there's two campgrounds along the hwy, the Maverick Campground and the Ponderosa. Maverick is on a lake and Ponderosa is mainly a big lot.

There's several Forest Service campgrounds along the "Enchanted Circle" scenic loop near Taos that runs through Red River and back down to Eagle Nest. If you have never been to Red River you really should do the loop and see it.

[CarlD]

There are plenty of Boondocking places in New Mexico, which can be found on Ioverlander. If you are looking for campgrounds, RV parks, etc. use google maps. There are numerous national forests with campgrounds also. We stayed at Coronado campground, a municipal campground, just north of Albuquerque, which was reasonably priced.

In Albuquerque make sure to take the drive, without the trailer, up to Sandia Crest. Do this on a clear day. You won't be disappointed. Bring a jacket.

if you are interested in birds, go south of Albuquerque on I25 and stop at Bosque Del Apache national wildlife refuge just south of San Antonio, NM It has a nice drive and visitor center. The quail at the visitor center are fun to watch.

If you take US 380 from San Antonio, NM east to Roswell on your way to Carlsbad Cavern, stop at valley of fire (GPS I33.685, -105.919), which is an interesting volcanic area and campground.

Also in this area is the VLA, which is a radio astronomy site on US60 west of San Antonio, NM. I have not yet had the opportunity to visit it, but it looks interesting.

[Chris Delker]

You might look into the Corps of Engineers campground at Cochiti lake - roughly 30-40 minutes from Santa Fe. Nearby Tent Rocks national monument is well worth a visit, though it may still be closed (was a few months ago).

[BizCrate]

You might want to pose your question to a FB group called "Camping New Mexico"
If you are specific about your route, your boondocking capability or your interests then folks will have awesome recommendations.
You mentioned Taos so I'll recommend Orilla Verde near the town of Pilar. Easy to get into. Don't try coming up after nighfall. The canyon road is curvy and is very dark. There are camp spots right on the Rio Grande that are beautiful. Some hook-ups, some dry camp. Fishing is good (need a license) and the views incredible. Cell connection is non-existent as is the case in most campgrounds.
Many State and Federal campgrounds in NM are limited in the hook-ups that they offer. Most will offer a spot to fill water and have a pit toilet. Others (busier) locations have more amenities. Many are reservable. Taos and Santa Fe are at 7000+ elevation. Currently it's beautiful during the day, the aspens are getting ready to change color. Night time temps are dropping to 35-40º. Wheeler Peak (near Taos ski valley) has gotten its first snow. Folks are still kayaking and rafting the Rio Grande, tho.
Head to Taos Mesa Brewing Taproom (not the Mothership) near the Plaza for some great brews and woodfired oven pizza. The mushroom has chunks of bacon and is heavenly. Across the road is World Cup for coffee and Rolling Still Distillery at the end of the block has entertainment some nights and stirs and nice Taos Mule. Authentic Northern New Mexican food at Orlando's is delicious - order the Tres Colores and you can thank me later.
Good luck in your search and Welcome to New Mexico!
(PS: Campendium.com has always worked well for me when researching.)

[spotteddog]

For convenience, the KOA in Las Cruces is very nice. Great views overlooking the city, terrific swimming pool, and of course close to interstates. Not far away is Guadalupe National Park with spectacular rock formations, trails, etc. GNP is rather spartan since the camp area is basically a parking lot and bath house.