The best star host camping in New Mexico

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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.

99% (5.3K) 220 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in New Mexico

Star Gazer Ranch

1. Star Gazer Ranch

97%
(268)
Highland Meadows, NM · 1 site · Tent, RV
We are a secluded, one site camp. Our home is 22 miles west of Albuquerque NM. Just 4 miles from i40. Adjacent to Navajo reservation where “Breaking Bad” was filmed. Hundreds of acres of naturalized land. Panoramic view of mountains and unobstructed view of the night sky. Beautiful sunrises, sunsets and starry nights. We would love to share our homestead with you. Come unplug, Safe. Everybody welcome. Most of your questions are answered in this listing. Text me for any additional concerns.
Pets
Campfires
Picnic table
from 
$29
 / night
Sugarhill Campgrounds🐞🙏

2. Sugarhill Campgrounds🐞🙏

98%
(63)
Mescalero, NM · 1 site · Tent, RV
Sugarhill Campground is beautifully located on the Homelands of the Mescalero Apache.  You will experience fresh mountain air in the cool pines, Native American Cuisine offerings and campfire storytelling. Enjoy nearby tourist attractions - St Joseph's Catholic Church, Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns, Space Hall of Fame, Historic Lincoln NM, Summer Horse RacingFitness Enthusiasts can enjoy mountain trail hiking, biking, golfing, disc golf, skiingLearn more about this land:Sugar Hill woodworks is nestled in the cool pines in the Mescalero Apache Indian reservation. Always nice meeting new friends and hearing their stories 😊..
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
$45
 / night
Juniper Mesa Camp

3. Juniper Mesa Camp

100%
(49)
Abiquiu, NM · 2 sites
Remnants of the ancient Tewa culture accompany breathtaking views of the Sangre de Cristo range to the east, Jemez range and village of Abiquiu to the south. On the north, vast dramatic views of the Plaza Blanca, stretch out toward the towering Sierra Negra peak. A few acres of short juniper forest top the mesa, leaving the sky wide open for stargazing. An easy 10 minute drive to Bode's general store, dollar store, Cafe Sierra Negra, Abiquiu Inn, 15 to Abiquiu Lake, and 20 to Ghost Ranch, 10 miles off.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$50
 / night
Ridgetop Oasis Private Tent Site

4. Ridgetop Oasis Private Tent Site

Santa Fe, NM · 1 site
Enjoy sunrises, sunsets, and a sky full of stars in your own private and fenced tent site. This site is the same as our cabin site. Rest assured that only one will be rented at a time, so that you are guaranteed privacy. This site can also provide the perfect opportunity for small groups (up to 4) with some campers who prefer to glamp and others who prefer to rough it. Please contact me if you'd like to rent both sites simultaneously. There is a composting toilet beside the cabin that tent campers may use. There is no running water or electricity. Please adhere to Leave No Trace Policies; Take only pictures and leave only shoe prints.
Pets
Toilets
from 
$50
 / night
Mountain View RV/Horse Motels Sites

5. Mountain View RV/Horse Motels Sites

99%
(64)
Edgewood, NM · 2 sites
Sweet Melody Farm combines our love of music, horses and beautiful spacious landscape of New Mexico. We traveled from Oregon to Pennsylvania and then to New Mexico traveling with our horses and cats. Along the way we stayed at many horse hotels, and wanted to offer weary travelers a place to stop over with their ponies and even without horses. We have 2 Airbnb listings for those needing or wanting to stay with more comfort and space. See our Airbnb links below! Learn more about this land:Sweet Melody Farm has a spectacular view of South Mountain and the stars. Rural residential RV park with full hookups, picnic table and horse shelter. The horse hotel is great for those folks traveling east/west on I-40 that need a safe and secure site to camp in their LQ trailer and rest their horses. The shelter is matted and paddock fenced for safety with 2" x 4" woven wire 4 ft high.100 ft by 100 ft outdoor arena too!We are suited for those that are looking for a base camp to explore the local national forests and eclectic destinations along the Turquoise Trail, Hwy 14. Santa Fe and Albuquerque are easy day trips from here.The map on this site is very old and does not reflect the many improvements and landscaping we have completed since this Google map location. 
Pets
Full hookups
from 
$40
 / night

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.

99% (5.3K) 220 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in New Mexico

Star Gazer Ranch

1. Star Gazer Ranch

97%
(268)
Highland Meadows, NM · 1 site · Tent, RV
We are a secluded, one site camp. Our home is 22 miles west of Albuquerque NM. Just 4 miles from i40. Adjacent to Navajo reservation where “Breaking Bad” was filmed. Hundreds of acres of naturalized land. Panoramic view of mountains and unobstructed view of the night sky. Beautiful sunrises, sunsets and starry nights. We would love to share our homestead with you. Come unplug, Safe. Everybody welcome. Most of your questions are answered in this listing. Text me for any additional concerns.
Pets
Campfires
Picnic table
from 
$29
 / night
Sugarhill Campgrounds🐞🙏

2. Sugarhill Campgrounds🐞🙏

98%
(63)
Mescalero, NM · 1 site · Tent, RV
Sugarhill Campground is beautifully located on the Homelands of the Mescalero Apache.  You will experience fresh mountain air in the cool pines, Native American Cuisine offerings and campfire storytelling. Enjoy nearby tourist attractions - St Joseph's Catholic Church, Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns, Space Hall of Fame, Historic Lincoln NM, Summer Horse RacingFitness Enthusiasts can enjoy mountain trail hiking, biking, golfing, disc golf, skiingLearn more about this land:Sugar Hill woodworks is nestled in the cool pines in the Mescalero Apache Indian reservation. Always nice meeting new friends and hearing their stories 😊..
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
$45
 / night
Juniper Mesa Camp

3. Juniper Mesa Camp

100%
(49)
Abiquiu, NM · 2 sites
Remnants of the ancient Tewa culture accompany breathtaking views of the Sangre de Cristo range to the east, Jemez range and village of Abiquiu to the south. On the north, vast dramatic views of the Plaza Blanca, stretch out toward the towering Sierra Negra peak. A few acres of short juniper forest top the mesa, leaving the sky wide open for stargazing. An easy 10 minute drive to Bode's general store, dollar store, Cafe Sierra Negra, Abiquiu Inn, 15 to Abiquiu Lake, and 20 to Ghost Ranch, 10 miles off.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$50
 / night
Ridgetop Oasis Private Tent Site

4. Ridgetop Oasis Private Tent Site

Santa Fe, NM · 1 site
Enjoy sunrises, sunsets, and a sky full of stars in your own private and fenced tent site. This site is the same as our cabin site. Rest assured that only one will be rented at a time, so that you are guaranteed privacy. This site can also provide the perfect opportunity for small groups (up to 4) with some campers who prefer to glamp and others who prefer to rough it. Please contact me if you'd like to rent both sites simultaneously. There is a composting toilet beside the cabin that tent campers may use. There is no running water or electricity. Please adhere to Leave No Trace Policies; Take only pictures and leave only shoe prints.
Pets
Toilets
from 
$50
 / night
Mountain View RV/Horse Motels Sites

5. Mountain View RV/Horse Motels Sites

99%
(64)
Edgewood, NM · 2 sites
Sweet Melody Farm combines our love of music, horses and beautiful spacious landscape of New Mexico. We traveled from Oregon to Pennsylvania and then to New Mexico traveling with our horses and cats. Along the way we stayed at many horse hotels, and wanted to offer weary travelers a place to stop over with their ponies and even without horses. We have 2 Airbnb listings for those needing or wanting to stay with more comfort and space. See our Airbnb links below! Learn more about this land:Sweet Melody Farm has a spectacular view of South Mountain and the stars. Rural residential RV park with full hookups, picnic table and horse shelter. The horse hotel is great for those folks traveling east/west on I-40 that need a safe and secure site to camp in their LQ trailer and rest their horses. The shelter is matted and paddock fenced for safety with 2" x 4" woven wire 4 ft high.100 ft by 100 ft outdoor arena too!We are suited for those that are looking for a base camp to explore the local national forests and eclectic destinations along the Turquoise Trail, Hwy 14. Santa Fe and Albuquerque are easy day trips from here.The map on this site is very old and does not reflect the many improvements and landscaping we have completed since this Google map location. 
Pets
Full hookups
from 
$40
 / night

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp 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

The best star host camping in New Mexico guide

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.