Sleeping Under the Stars in New Mexico’s Best Remote Camping Locations

Updated March 19, 2025

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Camping in New Mexico

Boondocking in New Mexico offered the perfect blend of adventure and solitude with breathtaking landscapes. With its rugged mountains, expansive desert views and enormous rock formations formed from volcanos millions of years ago, New Mexico provides endless opportunities to boondock in its natural setting. Set up camp and find yourself under a sky filled with stars for both beauty and tranquility.

I am listing three campground locations we have stayed at while visiting New Mexico. Each of these camp spots were in a campground with limited amenities. I would camp at each of these locations again if I were in the area as we really enjoyed each of these campgrounds.

Understand that locations can change over time based on usage, weather, and human occupancy. Please do your research before staying at any camping location.

1. Sunset Reef Campground

Our first boondocking spot was at Sunset Reef Campground in Carlsbad, New Mexico. I found this spot on the Campendium app, and it is located about 15 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We drove in at night which always makes me a little nervous since I didn’t know where we were going, but it ended up being a great spot to camp for the night. This is a newer campground and has about 10 spots for camping.

Cost: You can stay here for FREE up to 5 days.

All spots are on a first come, first served basis. If all campsites are full, some people do camp on the perimeter of the campground which is lined with a fence.

Cell signal: Yes, Verizon

Generators: There is no restriction about generators but please be kind and limit your usage when others are around.

Amenities: Camping, fire ring, covered pavilions, picnic tables, trash bins, pit toilets, Guadalupe Mountain views. There are no hookups at this campground. Since this is a newer campground the pit toilets were really clean when we visited in 2021.

It is near the highway and although you can hear a faint highway noise it did not detract from the beauty of this area. This is a great place to view stars at night due to it being so dark and on the other side you are surrounded by the Guadalupe Mountains. When we pulled in at night there were 2 other campers, but they were gone by the time we woke up and we then had the place to ourselves.

Directions

To get to this spot you turn off of Hwy 62 onto Washington Ranch Road and take the first right across the cattle guard. There was no sign telling you which way to the campground but just trust me and keep going down that road and you will run right into the campground. I will definitely stay at this campground again. You will not be disappointed!!

GPS coordinates: 32.11970, -104.42430.

Water/showers/laundry at White’s City RV Park

Down the road from Sunset Reef Campground, you will find White’s City RV Park and Campground. While we were in the area, we used the showers at this campground for a minimal fee and filled our jugs of water. You will stop at their main office and pay for showers there. There is also a post office and laundromat located next door.

Address: 19 Carlsbad Cavern Highway, White’s City, New Mexico

These are the campsites at Sunset Reef campground, they were very nice and clean.

This is the cattle guard you cross on your way to the campground

Hiking Guadalupe Mountains

We did take some time to hike the Guadalupe Mountains in the morning. It was very hot and dry in the summer so take lots of water! Take a compass if you do hike the land as you dip down a hill and cannot see your campsite from there.

Guadalupe Mountains

2. Parks Ranch Campground

Parks Ranch Campground in Carlsbad, New Mexico. This campsite is located on a gravel road off the main highway and has some larger rocks to drive over but doable in a camper or van. We camped off the gravel on the way to the campground. Other campers say there are two caves to explore at this campground which we did not explore as we pulled in later in the evening.

Directions: From I-80 south turn left onto the dirt road before mile marker 10. Once on that road you take an immediate left. The road is bumpy with several big rocks. Continue on this road until you cross a cattle guard and then turn right right away. Stay on this road which takes you straight to the campground. As I stated we didn’t make it to the campground but camped along this road.

Cost: FREE. Maximum stay is 14 days. No reservations needed.

Amenities: We chose to stay along the gravel road before the campground. I cannot say what the actual campground is like although many say it is a nice area. Our campsite did have a rock fire ring. The area was very quiet and peaceful.

APPS: Campendium, iOverlander, The Dyrt, FreeRoam

GPS: 32.10975, -104.40701

Cell signal: Yes, Verizon

3. City of Rocks State Park Campground

Our Next camping site was at City of Rocks State Park in Faywood, New Mexico. This spot was so unique. If you look at this location on mapquest and look at it with satellite view it is amazing to see this small area of rocks protruding up in the middle of nowhere! It is about one mile square foot of land in the Chihuahuan desert region. These enormous rocks, protruding about 40 feet high, were formed about 34 million years ago when a volcano erupted. Over the years, erosion formed this area into the large rocks you see today.

Amenities and cost

We arrived at this location about 9:20 pm and it stated they closed at 9:00 pm but luckfully they leave space so you can still drive in after closing time. I booked this reservation online right before we headed there.

Cost: $10 a night plus $4 booking fee online. They also have walkup reservations available. Once we arrived we found our spot, looked around a little and then settled in for the night.

Amenities: 8 spots have water and electric. There are 41 spots without hookups. Available at each spot is a picnic table, fire ring and trashcan. Shade was provided by the many protruding rocks. You can make advanced reservations but they also have walk in spots if available. There is a pay station at the entrance.

Facilities: They have nice warm showers and a small gift shop you can purchase fire wood and ice if needed. The visitor center is open from 10am-2pm. There are several restrooms located throughout the park. They also have water spigots located throughout the park.

We spent two nights here just because we enjoyed walking around and climbing on the rocks. There were flush toilets located throughout the park but the showers were only located at the entrance so we had to drive to it which really wasn’t a big deal.

Our campfire at night. We roasted marshmallows of course :-) Don’t forget your roasting sticks.

During our time here we played games as a family, explored the area by foot and climbed lots of rocks. It was so relaxing. There were only about 6 other people camping in this area when we were there so it was very quiet. I definitely recommend staying at this park if you are in the area.

New Mexico was a quick trip on our way to Arizona! Let me know if you have any questions.

Where is your favorite place to camp in New Mexico?

Enjoy your journey,

Jennifer

Meet the author: Jennifer

I am a girl who loves to travel with my family and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US. You can usually find me dreaming up our next epic vacation or outside exploring natural landscapes. I am a fearless roadtripper who isn’t afraid to explore new and off the path adventures. 

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