Cave camping in New Mexico with campfires
Explore ancient pueblos, soak in restorative springs, and see Mission-style architecture in this southwestern state.
96% (116 reviews)
- New Mexico
96% (116 reviews)
Popular camping styles for New Mexico
Dog-friendly getaways
Under $50
5 top cave campgrounds in New Mexico with campfires
91%
(39)
Smugglers' Roost
10 sites · RVs49 acres · Animas, NM
Smugglers' Roost is located in Animas, NM, situated at the site of the infamous Clanton Gang’s hideout along Smuggler’s Trail. The community is positioned along the original Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Winter Route; a short two hour drive from Las Cruces , New Mexico or just 2.5-hours from either El Paso, Texas or Tucson, Arizona.
We are located in the Middle of Everywhere, surrounded by wealth of wide-ranging activities and natural amenities which include extraordinary, yet uncrowded state and national recreation areas, caves, mines, ghost towns, museums, historic locations, native sites, observatories, local wineries and micro-breweries.
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Bring your RV and join us at Smugglers' Roost for our warm sunny days and starlit nights!
We are a pioneering community which serves as a hub for exploration, creativity, trade and most of all... the passionate celebration of life!
We offer 228 Full Hook-up RV Sites with 50-amp electric, water, commercial septic and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Pull-throughs are available and there's plenty of room to spread out!
Smugglers' Roost is located in Animas, NM, situated at the site of the infamous Clanton Gang’s hideout along Smuggler’s Trail. The community is positioned along the original Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Winter Route; a short two hour drive from Las Cruces , New Mexico or just 2.5-hours from either El Paso, Texas or Tucson, Arizona.
We are located in the Middle of Everywhere, surrounded by a treasure trove of wide-ranging activities and natural amenities which include extraordinary, yet uncrowded state and national recreation areas, caves, mines, ghost towns, museums, historic locations, native sites, observatories, local wineries and micro-breweries.
BIRD WITH US! We offer an onsite birding station and three additional affiliated and nationally acclaimed birding sites, including one at the mouth of the famed Cave Creek Canyon in Portal, AZ only a short drive away.
EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE! Our dead-dark night skies are nothing short of awe-inspiring, so come explore with our onsite star guides with telescopes!
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$28
/ night
95%
(94)
Los Vallecitos Retreat
4 sites · RVs, Tents330 acres · Mora, NM
We have a unique location near the Santa Fe National Forest set on the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This camp spot is very private with plenty of room to spread out and enjoy yourself without the restrictions of a campground. The river frontage is right there where you can enjoy the sound of running water.
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$40
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100%
(3)
RLB Historical Stone Cabin
1 site · Lodging6 acres · Tererro, NM
The RLB stands for the last names of the given Ancestors (Rivera/Lawson/Bennett). This property & structures date back to President Grover Cleveland’s time. I found documents that he had signed for my grandfather. The main cabin was drilled to see how old it was. It was built somewhere around 1867 or 1868. The smaller cabins were built before the main cabin. The main cabin is one of the five Ladies of the Pecos River. There were only five cabins first built and settled in the territory that the logs were called dove and groove. The Stone cabin was built first and no record of the year other than it was before the main cabin. The cabin by the river was used as the kitchen until the main house was built. Then the River Cabin became the shed to store saddles and bridles, ropes & etc. My father moved the door from the side that is now a window to the front by the river and made it into a one room cabin. The front which is the kitchen now was added in the mid 80’s.
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$85
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100%
(6)
Flying Horse Retreat
4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · El Morro, NM
El Morro is rich with history. Home to the ancient Pueblo Indians, what is now the monument was once their settlement and visited by Conquistador's and explorers during early explorations. It's famous Inscription Rock has over 2000 names carved in sandstone, including one from Conquistador Coronado. Geronimo, and Billy the Kid are said to have frequented the area and even lived in nearby Candy Kitchen.
But today, a rich group of homesteader's make up the community. Artisan's, actors, musician's, writers, spiritual healers, organic farmers, and free thinkers inhabit the Valley.
The land here hosts retreats and workshops for those wishing to enrich their nighttime dream life. We provide a place for vision quest and have an emphasis on sound healing. Our SolTec Lounge is perfect for stress relief and can help induce lucid dream experiences.
Sitting near the top of Oso Ridge at approximately 7700', we have one of the most inspiring views in the area. From our firecircle, El Morro Monument, Los Gigantes, and numerous mesas are in complete view.
Learn more about this land:
Flying Horse Retreat is a place for spiritual seekers to find vision and renewal through sound healing and retreat. We offer private retreat, sound healing chair sessions, vision quests, and Summer Camp (coming soon), but we are very excited about opening up the land to campers. It is a unique opportunity to experience normally private areas of this sacred land.
Our remote and quiet 20 acres of heavily forested mountainside includes deep gorges and rocky terrain, while Ponderosa Pine canopies offer shade from the sometimes intense NM sun. Wildlife is plentiful, though sometimes elusive. Deer, Elk, Fox, Bobcat, Lynx, Wild Turkey, Roadrunners and Coyotes are all regularly seen on the land.
El Morro Monument, easily seen from our Firecircle on the opposite end of the Valley, is a world class travel destination. The water tank at the base of it's rock was a relied upon water source during early expeditions. Conquistador Coronado, Lt. Beale and other famed explorers stopped here before traveling further west.
Flying Horse Retreat is across El Morro Valley, near the top of Oso Ridge in the Zuni Mountains, and has a panoramic view of the surrounding mesas. You may want to get a closer view of Los Gigantes - amazing sand sculptures carved by the wind and sacred to ancient tribes. We're just a few miles from the Continental Divide and Pie Town is a couple of hours further south.
Though our location is pristine and remote, we do have a restaurant nearby. Ancient Way Cafe in El Morro Village is well known locally - and according to the National Geographic, one of the best restaurants in New Mexico. They have amazing pastries and desserts, and are open Thursday through Sunday, 9:00 - 5:00. They also have showers.
Two art galleries, a Feed Store, a Holistic Food Store, and a gift/coffee shop are right across the highway and next door to the Cafe. Come visit our eclectic community of actors, healers, artisans, writers, organic farmers, and unique thinkers. (We are 50 miles from a town where supplies can be purchased, though the nearby Feed Store has a few camp related supplies and their holistic and organic food selections may surprise you.)
You may also want to visit the local Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in Candy Kitchen. At any one time they are host to 50+ Wolves and Hybrids.
Note: The Google Maps indicator is at the gate. There is an additional 3 mile drive up the mountain to my home.
(Special pricing for longer stays. Campers can add $25 for a dream chair session, regularly $50.)
Projects under way:
Outdoor Solar Shower
B&B Room nearing completion
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$22
/ night
Granite Gap Adventure Park
6 sites · RVs, Tents100 acres · Cotton City, NM
Granite Gap lies west of Lordsburg on NM 80, 17 miles north of Rodeo. (Take the Road Forks exit off I-10 and drive south 11 miles.) Located in a transitional area between the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, Granite Peak and other limestone ridges and rock formations rise to 6,500 feet above the Gila River basin range, providing habitat for bighorn sheep, javelina, mule deer, cougar and coyote. In season, blooming ocotillo, cactus, agave, yucca and wildflowers brighten the coarsely textured landscape. Lizards, rattlesnakes, and the rare Gila monster crawl around the crevices. Gambel's quail, golden eagle, roadrunner, hummingbird, and northern mockingbird further enhance this desert drama playing against the backdrop of the Peloncillo Mountains. To the south, Cochise's profile, chiseled along the range top, watches over the ghosts of the Chiricahua Apaches. This location is great for Dark Sky viewing and the valley is already a hot stop for astronomers and many telescopes dot the land Rodeo valley landscape.
The land is private property located in the Southwest corner of New Mexico. The park is made up of beautiful desert landscape and offers beautiful scenic views overlooking the valley below. Currently the property offers off-the-grid camping only and there is no water source or electricity. The property does not currently have designated camp spots and guest are welcome to camp where they like as long as they stay within the property boundaries. The property boundaries are not currently physically marked and there will be markers installed in the coming year to identify the corners of the property. The gate at the entry to the property is locked and will need to be unlocked to allow for entry which will be coordinated through a local individual.
The area is the natural habitat for wildlife that could be dangerous such as Rattlesnakes, scorpions, Mountain Lions, coyotes and many other animals and insects native to the deserts of the Southwest and is raw terrain with loose rocks and difficult hiking conditions and is intended for experience hikers and climbers only. The location has no cell phone service and there is no way to call for emergency medical service. All visitors should proceed at their own risk. Granite Gap Adventure Part (GGAP) shall not be held liable for any injuries sustained on the property.
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$37
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Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
Cave camping in New Mexico with campfires guide
Overview
In the southwestern US, New Mexico offers a distinct vibe not found elsewhere in the country, or even in the region. Here you’ll find Old West mining towns, restorative hot springs, and all sorts of historic sites, including ancient pueblos and protected national monuments, not to mention a distinct cuisine that borrows elements from Tex-Mex and Indigenous culinary traditions. You won’t be disappointed with the camping—the state offers a variety of terrains, from quiet forests to vast expanses of desert, and with five national forests, 30 state parks, and lots of untouched private land, there's no shortage of spots to set up a tent.
Where to go
Central and North Central New Mexico
New Mexico's Central and North-Central regions are home to many of the state's most popular cultural attractions, and both Albuquerque and Santa Fe are here. Area highlights include Bandelier National Monument and Petroglyph National Monument, as well as numerous pueblos. The most famous of these—the Taos Pueblo—is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years.
Northwest New Mexico
Cultural attractions abound in Northwestern New Mexico. Highlights include the Zuni Pueblo and the Acoma Pueblo—both the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the Navajo Nation call this region home. Other points of interest include the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Aztec Ruins National Monument, and El Mapais National Monument.
Northeast New Mexico
Situated where the Rocky Mountains give way to the Southwestern plains, this area is characterized by prairies, ranches, and Western charm. Popular historic and natural attractions include the Fort Union National Monument and the Capulin Volcano National Monument. Conchas Lake State Park and Ute Lake State Park offer ample opportunities for fishing, boating, and lakeside camping.
Southwest New Mexico
For a Wild West experience, head to the southwestern corner of the state. Here you'll find plenty of old ghost towns, historic mission communities, and pristine natural areas. The area is also rich with hot springs, particularly in the low-key spa town of Truth or Consequences.
Southeast New Mexico
Culture, history, and the great outdoors converge in southeastern New Mexico, home to both of the state's national parks (White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns) as well as a host of museums, from the New Mexico Museum of Space History to the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner. Fans of the paranormal won't want to miss Roswell, the site of the famous Area 51 UFO sightings and a de facto pilgrimage site for all things alien.
Popular New Mexico trips
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