Top Camping Spots Near Carthage, NM: Discover Nature's Best Trails & Sites
Explore the diverse camping options near Carthage, NM, where the striking landscapes of the Chihuahuan Desert meet the backdrop of the majestic Sacramento Mountains. For those seeking a recreational vehicle experience, the nearby Lake Sumner State Park offers spacious sites with beautiful views of the water, perfect for fishing, kayaking, and enjoying scenic sunsets. Tent campers will find numerous established campgrounds within the Lincoln National Forest, where shaded sites are nestled among towering pines, providing an ideal retreat for hiking and wildlife observation. For the more adventurous, dispersed camping options abound, allowing for a true escape into the untamed beauty of the region; the wide-open spaces provide ample opportunities for solitude and stargazing in clear night skies. Just a short drive away, the Mescalero Apache Reservation offers unique cultural experiences alongside breathtaking hiking trails and serene camping spots. Whether you prefer the comfort of RV amenities, the simplicity of tent camping, or the freedom of dispersed sites, Carthage, NM, is the gateway to unforgettable outdoor adventures.
South Monticello Campground is part of Elephant Butte Lake State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 27 min northwest of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 4,494 feet. There are a total of 48 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. All sites have electric and water hookups. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include dump station, boat ramp, restroom. Activities include boating, fishing, water skiing, floating sports.
Manzano Mountains Campground is part of Manzano Mountains State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 25 min southeast of Los Lunas, NM) with an elevation of 7,252 feet. There are a total of 27 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the end of November. Sites can accommodate RVs between 20 and 64 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 9 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $30.00. Some amenities include dump station, restroom. Activities include hiking trails.
Lions Beach Campground is part of Elephant Butte Lake State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 20 min northwest of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 4,534 feet. There are a total of 44 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 26 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. All sites have electric and water hookups. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, water skiing, floating sports.
Desert Cove Campground is part of Elephant Butte Lake State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 18 min northwest of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 4,534 feet. There are a total of 16 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. All sites have electric and water hookups. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, dump station, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, water skiing, floating sports.
Quail Run Campground is part of Elephant Butte Lake State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 18 min northwest of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 4,534 feet. There are a total of 25 campsites including 5 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 20 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 27 and 84 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. All sites have electric and water hookups. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, water skiing, floating sports.
Cedar Creek Campground is located in the Smokey Bear Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest (1 hr 26 min west of Roswell, NM) with an elevation of 7,000 feet. There are a total of 4 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. 3 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 35 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $25.00 to $100.00. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Aspen Group Area in Otero County is located 1 hr 38 min northeast of Las Cruces, NM with an elevation of 8,321 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to the beginning of September. Prices start at $100.00 per night.
Caballo Lake Campground is part of Caballo Lake State Park in New Mexico (54 min northwest of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 4,222 feet. There are a total of 63 campsites. The campground is open all year. 60 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 40 and 95 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 7 sites have full hookups (electric, water and sewer). 37 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $30.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include boat ramp, restroom. Activities include boating, fishing, water skiing, floating sports.
Percha Dam Campground is part of Percha Dam State Park in New Mexico (54 min northwest of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 4,150 feet. There are a total of 30 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 40 and 95 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 1 site has full hookups (electric, water and sewer). 29 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $30.00 to $35.00. Some amenities include shower, restroom, trash dumpster, ramada, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, rock climbing.
Cedro Peak Campground is located in the Sandia Ranger District, Cibola National Forest (just 24 min east of Albuquerque, NM) with an elevation of 7,120 feet. There are a total of 2 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $60.00 per night. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Upper Fir Group Area is located in the Sacramento Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest (1 hr 59 min west of Roswell, NM) with an elevation of 8,788 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to the end of September. Prices start at $100.00 per night.
Lower Fir Group Area is located in the Sacramento Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest (2 hrs 2 min west of Roswell, NM) with an elevation of 8,777 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to the end of September. Prices start at $100.00 per night.
Black Bear Group Area is located in the Sacramento Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest (1 hr 40 min northeast of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 8,612 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to the beginning of September. Prices start at $100.00 per night.
Oliver Lee Campground is part of Oliver Lee Memorial State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 17 min northeast of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 4,321 feet. There are a total of 42 campsites including 3 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 39 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 60 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 16 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $30.00. Some amenities include dump station, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Slide Group Area is located in the Sacramento Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest (1 hr 57 min northeast of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 9,206 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to the end of September. Prices start at $100.00 per night.
Leasburg Dam Campground is part of Leasburg Dam State Park in New Mexico (just 22 min northwest of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 4,016 feet. There are a total of 23 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 15 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 18 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $30.00. Some amenities include shower, playground, picnic table, restroom, amphitheater, telescope, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, hiking trails.
Coal Mine Campground is located in the Mount Taylor Ranger District, Cibola National Forest (1 hr 43 min west of Rio Rancho, NM) with an elevation of 7,459 feet. There are a total of 15 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $5.00 per night. Activities include hiking trails.
City of Rocks Campground is part of City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 31 min west of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 5,253 feet. There are a total of 41 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 15 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 4 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $30.00. Some amenities include accessible, restroom. Activities include hiking trails.
El Cerro Campground is part of Villanueva State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 7 min southeast of Santa Fe, NM) with an elevation of 5,799 feet. There are a total of 24 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs between 20 and 70 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 5 sites have electric and water hookups. 4 sites have electric hookups. 5 sites have water hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $30.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, restroom, ramada, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, hiking trails.
Cochiti Area in Sandoval County is located 40 min west of Santa Fe, NM with an elevation of 5,475 feet. There are a total of 80 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of March to the end of November. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 32 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 34 sites have electric and water hookups. 14 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $12.00 to $20.00. Some amenities include shower, swimming. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Tetilla Peak Campground in Sandoval County is located 43 min west of Santa Fe, NM with an elevation of 5,554 feet. There are a total of 45 campsites including 12 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid April to mid October. 33 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 24 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 25 sites have electric and water hookups. 10 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $12.00 to $20.00. Some amenities include shower, sewer hookup, boat ramp, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Paliza Campground is located in the Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest (53 min north of Rio Rancho, NM) with an elevation of 6,828 feet. There are a total of 12 campsites including 6 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. 6 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 22 and 35 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $8.00 to $50.00. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Bluewater Lake Campground is part of Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 54 min west of Rio Rancho, NM) with an elevation of 7,429 feet. There are a total of 41 campsites. The campground is open all year. 39 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 120 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 13 sites have electric hookups. 1 site has water hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $90.00. Some amenities include playground, boat ramp, restroom. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, water skiing, floating sports.
Rockhound Campground is part of Rockhound State Park in New Mexico (1 hr 1 min west of Las Cruces, NM) with an elevation of 4,594 feet. There are a total of 27 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 1 site has full hookups (electric, water and sewer). 20 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $35.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, dump station, restroom, ramada, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Juniper Campground is part of Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico (54 min northwest of Santa Fe, NM) with an elevation of 6,676 feet. There are a total of 2 campsites. The campground is open all year. 1 sites can accommodate RVs between 20 and 55 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include dump station, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Jemez Falls Campground is located in the Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest (1 hr 19 min west of Santa Fe, NM) with an elevation of 7,946 feet. There are a total of 50 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid November. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 18 and 47 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $10.00 per night. Some amenities include restroom, amphitheater. Activities include hiking trails.
Franklin Mountains Campground is part of Franklin Mountains State Park in Texas (just 22 min northwest of El Paso, TX) with an elevation of 4,743 feet. There are a total of 16 campsites including 10 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 4 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 5 months in advance. Prices start at $10.00 per night. Some amenities include restroom. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Black Canyon Campground is located in the Espanola Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest (just 23 min northeast of Santa Fe, NM) with an elevation of 9,130 feet. There are a total of 36 campsites including 7 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. 29 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 61 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $10.00 per night. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Ponderosa Campground in Los Alamos County is located 52 min northwest of Santa Fe, NM with an elevation of 7,585 feet. There are a total of 2 campsites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Activities include hiking trails.
Hyde Memorial Campground is part of Hyde Memorial State Park in New Mexico (just 25 min northeast of Santa Fe, NM) with an elevation of 8,770 feet. There are a total of 24 campsites including 3 yurts. The campground is open all year. 21 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 3 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $80.00. Some amenities include restroom. Activities include hiking trails.
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