Best New Mexico Campgrounds for Family Vacations
Experience a family vacation like none other when you stay at the best New Mexico campgrounds!
When it comes to camping with our kids, we have tried out many places across the United States, and New Mexico is no exception.
Below, you’ll find our favorite family campgrounds in the Land of Enchantment, as well as details on stellar amenities, types of camping and RV spaces available, nearby attractions and more.
We hope that you’ll have as much fun making memories in each of these places as our family did.
Happy camping!
Best Campgrounds in New Mexico 2023
Whether you’re doing a Santa Fe to White Sands road trip, or you’re spending your entire New Mexico in one home base, we’ve got plenty of suggestions for you below!
New Mexico is largely rural, and you’ll find that many of the campgrounds in the state are far off the beaten path.
We’ve included a good mixture of those far flung campgrounds (which are great for stargazing!) and ones that are more convenient to bigger cities like Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
If your trip allows for it, try to stay at more than one of these campgrounds to give you a glimpse at multiple areas of this beautiful state.
Lake Brantley State Park: Limestone Campground
Our camper in site 14 at the Limestone Campground in Lake Brantley State Park
Location: 7 miles north of Carlsbad, NM
Amenities: 30 amp electric hookup, water
Great for: swimming, hiking, biking, exploring Carlsbad Caverns
This campground feels much more remote than it actually is, meaning you’re less than 20 minutes from a grocery store, but you’ll feel as if you’re in the middle of nowhere!
Lake Brantley State Park has 2 areas: the main access road with the visitors center, Limestone Campground, and primitive campground; and another, separate entrance for day use.
I mention this because the main entrance turn-off on 285 coming north from Carlsbad isn’t well marked, so don’t miss it and go into the day use area instead.
Lake Brantley Campground Review
The Limestone Campground is incredibly quiet with around 30 sites.
The sites are situated in a circle, and all of them have incredible views of the lake and surrounding areas. The best views are in the outer ring, so keep that in mind when you reserve.
The bathrooms were large and air conditioned, and were within an easy walk of the entire campground.
My kids and I also did the hike that starts in the campground, which was convenient and provided beautiful views of the lake.
Carlsbad, New Mexico, has plenty of places to shop and eat.
If you’re interested in visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park, it’s an easy 45 minute drive south on 285.
For the best experience, I suggest a 2 day Carlsbad Caverns itinerary so you can see what the park is like above and below ground.
Don’t forget to add on the excellent ranger-led King’s Palace Tour to your time at the national park.
Comparison to Other Local Campgrounds
NOTE: There is a campground just outside of the gates at Carlsbad Caverns, but we don’t recommend it as that campground has no amenities other than hook-ups, and it is on a busy road.
We also preferred Lake Brantley State Park to the nearby Carlsbad KOA for a few reasons:
Lake Brantley State Park was quieter with fewer sites.
The views at Lake Brantley were far better than at Carlsbad KOA (which doesn’t have any real scenery to speak of).
Lake Brantley State Park was another 10-15 minutes closer to Carlsbad, NM, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Lake Brantley is incredibly cheap compared to the KOA. We paid around $15 a night at the state park, while the KOA is about 3x that price.
NOTE: Lake Brantley is a suggested stop on our Dallas to Arizona road trip itinerary, thanks to its convenient location near 2 national parks and proximity to Roswell.
Three Rivers Petroglyph Site
Location: off Highway 54 north of Tularosa, NM
Amenities: covered picnic tables, bathrooms, 50 amp electric, water hook-ups, pull through sites
Great for: getting away from it all, stargazing, White Mountains
PIN ME!
Located about 40 minutes north of Alamogordo, this remote but beautiful spot is worth the trouble of getting to.
It’s also on our list of the best places to visit near White Sands National Park!
Some campers use it as a base for everything in this area from White Sands National Park (about an hour’s drive south) to Cibola National Forest (Gallinas Peak and other areas are less than an hour’s drive to the north).
However, this spot could be a destination unto itself if you’re looking for incredibly dark skies and hiking with a side of ancient history.
Of the 10 sites, 2 have water and electric, while the others require campers to essentially boondock. You can access water inside of the clean restrooms if needed to cook.
Keep in mind that this area is very remote. You’ll want to pick up supplies and fuel up in Tularosa to the south or in Carizozo to the north.
Stop by the visitors center, which is on 54 at the campground turn-off. Here, you can learn more about the area’s history and get suggestions on where to hike.
The campground is on BLM land, so it is very inexpensive to stay here ($7/night for tent camping and $18/night for one of the W/E sites).
Sites are first come, first served, but this area is so remote, you’ll typically have several sites to choose from.
Don’t miss out on the more than 20,000 petroglyphs on the site’s loop trail! Get information on the petroglyphs hike from this brochure.
NOTE: as of May 2023, this campground is temporarily closed due to fire damage. Check this website for updated information.
Santa Fe KOA
The Camping Kiddos exploring the playground at the Santa Fe KOA
Location: 20 minutes east of downtown Santa Fe, NM
Amenities: game room, camp store, playground, water/electric, full hook-ups (some sites), pull-through sites, laundry, gem mining
Great for: Santa Fe National Forest, downtown historic Santa Fe, Meow Wolf
We stay at a lot of KOAs while camping—they’re fairly consistent in quality, and my kids love their amenities.
While the Santa Fe KOA wasn’t as big as some of the others in the franchise that we’ve visited (I’m looking at you, Cherokee NC KOA!), it is clean and conveniently located.
The layout of the campground is a bit confusing, but one of the employees guided us in with the property’s iconic yellow golf cart.
The property doesn’t have a pool, which isn’t surprising for 2 reasons:
1) This KOA is smaller than others we’ve visited, though the owners have been creative with how they use the space.
2) Santa Fe does get quite cold during the late fall, winter, and early spring. The campground closes from around November to March each year, and I can understand not wanting to do pool upkeep during the cold months.
The Santa Fe KOA did have a great playground, a small game room, and a well stocked camp store.
My kids’ favorite part was doing the gem mining in the sluice outside of the store!
For our many adventures around Santa Fe, the campground provided a great home base as it was 20 minutes or less from everything we wanted to do.
If you’re planning a Santa Fe to White Sands road trip, this is the idea place to start!
Alamogordo/ White Sands KOA
Location: Alamogordo, NM
Amenities: sand sledding rentals, pedal bike rentals, pool, playground, game room, laundry, camp store, book exchange
Great for: White Sands National Park, New Mexico Museum of Space History, pistachio farms, Holloman Air Force Base
Zooming around the Alamogordo KOA
We spent several days here while visiting White Sands National Park and beyond, and it was one of our favorite KOA campgrounds to date!
Thanks to its proximity to Alamogordo and the national park, the KOA is a great place to relax in between stops.
The Camping Kiddos on their morning coffee, tea, and hot cocoa run
The owner, Sandy, was a big part of what made our stay so great—she is incredibly nice and helpful, and she knew us by name after check-in.
The property doesn’t off the most spectacular views as it is in a mixed residential/commercial area of Alamogordo that isn’t too exciting.
However, the campground itself is nicely landscaped and quiet, and it doesn’t feel as if it is situated inside of a city.
Each site has a small wall to provide additional privacy while you’re eating or grilling out.
We had a blast with the amenities here, too.
This KOA does have a basic pool and a great playground.
It also had a big game room with board games, coloring station, lending library (for books and movies), a large TV for screening movies, a ping pong table, Duplos, and stacks of puzzles.
My kids lived in that game room when we weren’t out sightseeing!
We also loved the pedal cars that were for rent, and my kids gleefully tore around the campground during our rental hour.
Finally, I appreciated the free saucer rentals for White Sands sledding, which was worth the price of a night’s stay alone.
Make the most of your visit with this helpful one day in White Sands National Park itinerary.
We’ve also got suggestions for the 9 best places to visit near White Sands National Park.
Bottomless Lakes State Park
Location: 17 miles southeast of Roswell in central New Mexico
Amenities: paddleboating, hiking, paddleboarding, swimming, playground
Great for: lake vacation, visiting Roswell, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Mescalero Sands North Dune Off-roading Area
Bottomless Lakes State Park | photo by Stephen Hanafin
New Mexico’s state parks really are gems, and Bottomless Lake State Park is no exception.
The multiple lakes inside Bottomless Lake State Park are actually sink holes, which means that the water here is far clearer than what you get in most lakes.
Since this is a state park like Lake Brantley (above), the nightly price for a site is a bargain at $10.
There are about 20 spots with water and electric hook-ups, 5 or 6 with full hook-ups, and a handful of tent camping spots.
There’s a dump station onsite for anyone who chooses the W/E sites.
Inside the state park, you can explore the lakes with a paddleboard or pedal boat rental, or cool off in New Mexico’s famously hot summers at the swimming area.
In cooler times of the year, you can hop onto 5 miles of trails throughout the park.
Bottomless Lakes State Park is perfectly situated to explore this area of central New Mexico, including the alien-themed Roswell, about 20 minutes to the northwest.
If you can’t make it to White Sands National Park, check out the Mescalero Sands North Dune Off-roading Area just a few miles east of Bottomless Lakes State Park.
Mescalero Sands offers rolling dunes just like the national park, though the ones here are made of slightly darker sand.
Albuquerque KOA
RVs at the front office at Albuquerque KOA | photo by Larry Pearson
Location: southeastern Albuquerque just off of I-40
Amenities: pool, hot tub, bounce pillow, pull through lots, full hook-ups
Great for: families, visitors for the Albuquerque Balloon Festival
The easy access from I-40 means that the Albuquerque KOA is a great choice for a quick night’s stay.
However, this campground is packed with so much to do that you could easily base your entire Albuquerque vacation around its offerings.
Like most other KOAs, the campground has plenty of kid friendly activities from the bounce pillow (so much fun!) to the mini golf course.
You can rent a bike to get exercise in the park, or end the day with a long soak in the hot tub.
The campground is at the base of the Sandia Mountains, so you’re treated to beautiful views without leaving your campsite.
If you’re in town for the annual Albuquerque Balloon Festival, the Balloon Fiesta Park is an easy 20 minute drive from the campground.
Old Town Albuquerque is equally accessible, as it is only a 15 minute drive west on I-40.
This is the perfect place to start your Albuquerque to Las Vegas road trip or a New Mexico National Parks road trip!
Riana Campground on Lake Abiquiu
Location: 1 hour north of Santa Fe on the Abiquiu Reservoir
Amenities: stargazing, hiking, fishing, boating
Great for: getting away from it all
Lake Abiquiu | photo by Jake Gannett
While Riana Campground on Abiquiu Lake isn’t really on the way to anywhere, that’s kind of the point.
Out here, you have beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains—and you might never want to leave again.
In fact, artist Georgia O’Keeffe was so in love with a nearby mesa that she had her ashes scattered there.
You’ll want to plan ahead as there are only 13 water/electric sites. If you’re tent camping or don’t mind boondocking in your RV, the property has another 39 dry camping spots.
A few of these dry camping sites are hike-in, which makes for an even more interesting stay!
While you might be tempted to hang out at your campsite and admire the views, there’s plenty more to do here.
Swim at the beach, kayak around the lake, go hiking, or see if you can catch a fish or two.
Located on federal land, this campground is reservable through Recreation.gov, and is very reasonable per night (averages $15).
NOTE: Riana Campground at Abiquiu Lake is open from April to October each year.
Best Up and Coming New Mexico Campground
Tucumcari/ Route 66 KOA
Location: Tucumcari, NM
Amenities: pool, playground, laundry, pull through sites, full hook-ups, breakfast
Great for: Tucumcari Mountains, New Mexico Route 66 Museum, Mesalands Dinosaur Museum
The entrance into the Tucumcari/ Route 66 KOA
The Camping Kiddos cooling off in the campground pool
On our way from Holbrook, AZ, to Dallas, TX, we used the Tucumcari/Route 66 KOA as a spot to rest on the long journey.
It was also our third stop along historic route 66: we also explored Holbrook, AZ, and Winslow AZ on Route 66 before heading east to Tucumcari.
Because of our experiences there, the campground is on our list because it has BIG potential in the property’s new owners, and we’re excited to see what they do with it.
Before we arrived, the owners sent us a few text messages, reminding us our of visit and sharing important information on how to locate the campground.
They also introduced themselves as the new owners, and, overall, I felt welcomed before we even stepped foot on the property!
At check-in, the desk clerk was prompt and friendly. We were given free chocolate chip cookies, a Tucumcari KOA sticker, and information packet about the area.
This KOA was the only one (so far) where we’ve gotten treats at check-in, and I loved it.
The park itself was large with a wonderful view of the Tucumcari Mountain behind it.
Even though the property is just off of I-40, there was little road noise, thanks to the landscaping at the front of the campground.
Guests can also opt to buy a hearty breakfast, which is delivered to your site between 7 and 8 am.
While there is a pool and playground, both could use a bit of a refresh. The game room was nearly completely empty, though it had potential.
We’d love to see the owners spruce up these areas, and turn this KOA into a destination property.
Even without upgrading those amenities, we wouldn’t hesitate to return.
Camping in New Mexico FAQs
Camping in New Mexico FAQs
-
Yes! New Mexico is a wonderful state for camping.
From sandy Carlsbad in the south to mountainous Santa Fe in the north, New Mexico’s varied landscapes offer up many opportunities for tent camping, RV camping, and hike-in camping.
-
For pleasant temperatures and blue skies, the spring and fall are the best times to go camping in New Mexico.
These seasons are also when you’ll find the largest number of campgrounds open.
-
In the southern half of the state, February, March, and November are the high season for camping and tourism.
In the more temperate northern half of the state, April, May, and October are when you’ll find the most visitors.
-
The summers are very hot, so ensure that you have plenty of water when visiting.
The rainy season for most of the state is in the late summer (July and August), so come prepared with a few indoor activities just in case.
Most of the “scary” New Mexico critters—snakes, lizards, etc.—are nocturnal, so be careful when moving around your campground at night.
-
Yes, New Mexico state parks are open to anyone who’d like to make a reservation.
New Mexico state parks are beautiful and inexpensive. Unlike other states (like Florida), the New Mexico state park campgrounds generally have availability, especially if you plan ahead.
