The best cave camping in New Mexico

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Welcome to Hipcamp! If you're looking for a unique camping experience deep underground, we've got you covered. With over 200 options in New Mexico, you'll find the perfect cave camping spot to satisfy your adventurous spirit. Whether you're a spelunker or just want to try something different, our top campsites like Los Vallecitos Retreat (58 reviews), Smugglers' Roost (30 reviews), and Chiricahua Clothing Optional - 41 Acres (16 reviews) offer incredible underground experiences. And with amenities like campfires, pet-friendly locations, and proper waste disposal, you can focus on exploring the caves and enjoying activities like snow sports, swimming, and boating. Plus, with prices as low as $19 per night, you can have an unforgettable camping experience without breaking the bank.

96% (59)

Top-rated campgrounds

The Gathering

1. Smugglers' Roost

92%
(48)
10 sites · RVs · 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. Learn more about this land: 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!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$40
 / night
Flying Horse Retreat

2. Flying Horse Retreat

100%
(13)
4 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · 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. 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 Note: Sorry, no after dark arrivals.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$20
 / night

Welcome to Hipcamp! If you're looking for a unique camping experience deep underground, we've got you covered. With over 200 options in New Mexico, you'll find the perfect cave camping spot to satisfy your adventurous spirit. Whether you're a spelunker or just want to try something different, our top campsites like Los Vallecitos Retreat (58 reviews), Smugglers' Roost (30 reviews), and Chiricahua Clothing Optional - 41 Acres (16 reviews) offer incredible underground experiences. And with amenities like campfires, pet-friendly locations, and proper waste disposal, you can focus on exploring the caves and enjoying activities like snow sports, swimming, and boating. Plus, with prices as low as $19 per night, you can have an unforgettable camping experience without breaking the bank.

96% (59)

Top-rated campgrounds

The Gathering

1. Smugglers' Roost

92%
(48)
10 sites · RVs · 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. Learn more about this land: 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!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$40
 / night
Flying Horse Retreat

2. Flying Horse Retreat

100%
(13)
4 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · 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. 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 Note: Sorry, no after dark arrivals.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$20
 / night

Public campgrounds in New Mexico

Stories from the community

Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field