The best camping near Lincoln National Forest

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Lincoln National Forest adventure.

87% (28 reviews)

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Lincoln National Forest

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Lincoln National Forest

Apache Campground

25 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

from

$20

/ night

Deerhead Campground

30 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

James Canyon Campground

5 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

Saddle Campground

16 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

from

$20

/ night

Silver Campground and Amphitheater

30 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

from

$20

/ night

Silver Overflow Campground

52 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

Sleepy Grass Campground

45 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

100%

(2)

Upper Karr Recreation Area

6 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

Monjeau Campground

4 sites In Lincoln National Forest

100%

(1)

Oak Grove Campground

30 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

from

/ night

Skyline Campground

17 sites In Lincoln National Forest

100%

(1)

South Fork Campground

61 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

Three Rivers Campground

14 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

Monjeau Lookout

1 site · RV, Tent In Lincoln National Forest

Aspen Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Lincoln National Forest

Black Bear Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Lincoln National Forest

Lower Fir Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Lincoln National Forest

Slide Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Lincoln National Forest

Upper Fir Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Lincoln National Forest

100%

(2)

Sam Tobias Memorial Group Campground

3 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

100%

(1)

Baca Campground

15 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

Pines Campground

24 sites · RVs, Tents In Lincoln National Forest

This is our setup, we camped along the creek.

100%

(5)

Bluff Springs Dispersed Campsites

1 site · RV, Tent In Lincoln National Forest

Guadalupe Ranger District Dispersed Camping

1 site · RV, Tent In Lincoln National Forest

Lower Karr Canyon Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Lincoln National Forest

Top-rated campgrounds near Lincoln National Forest

96%

(242)

Camp Rio

59 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents9 acres · Mayhill, NM

Camp Rio, formerly named Camp @ Cloudcroft is located in beautiful SE New Mexico! The park is surrounded by thousands of acres of the Lincoln National Forest. The forest is laced with small villages, picturesque roads, riding, hiking, golf, and walking trails. Small valleys, surrounding mountains, racing streams, wildlife, birds, mountain glens and outdoor activities are available to Camp Rio guests. The small towns around us are Mayhill, Cloudcroft, Weed, and Pinion. These towns have scheduled activities such as arts and craft fairs, car shows, bluegrass festivals, dog shows, and Lumberjack days. Additional day trips to Alamogordo, Capitan (Smokey the Bear), Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Lincoln (Billy the Kid), Ruidoso (skiing), Sunspot (National Solar Observatory, Truth or Consequences (Hot Springs) and White Sands National Monument! Guests enjoy our upgraded free wifi to have the best of both worlds, surrounded by beautiful nature, while still being able to connect with family/friends/work. Our location is superb to use as a base camp for numerous attractions as a centralized location to have many adventures.

94%

(26)

Mars Research Base (MRB)

8 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Boles Acres, NM

Nestled amid the breathtaking mountains near Alamogordo, New Mexico, our off-grid camping haven is a gateway to the untamed beauty of the desert. Campers can enjoy the serenity of nature while being just a stone's throw away from the Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, offering fantastic hiking opportunities. Whether you choose to pitch a tent or park your RV, our property is the perfect base for outdoor adventures, complemented by wildlife, mesmerizing sunsets, and the warmth of a campfire shared with friends.

86%

(22)

White Sands Culinary Camp

6 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Alamogordo, NM

Just three short miles from Oliver Lee State Park, our primitive camp doesn't yet have all of the amenities of the state park, but we offer amenities the park doesn't! Your Camp Host, Chef Üdø, is onsite most days and evenings, and has 30 years' experience in the catering and private chef biz, and as a camp host. He's happy to coordinate hot meals for you and your companions! No more need to go into town to get a pizza or some icky fast food! We will make you a homemade pizza, dry-aged steak, brined chicken, buffalo burger, or lasagna...all in-house. Vegan, vegetarian, kosher, low-sodium, and most other dietary restrictions are no problem! We'll bake you a birthday cake, brownies, pie, or even Crème brûlée! Contact Chef Üdø for more details and please check out our menu in the “Extras” section of our campsite listing. We can make just about anything in our sanitary kitchen facilities. We cook with a spirit of Love and inclusion in our kitchen, and it shows! ❤️ Chef Üdø maintains current local food handler's certification, as well as HAACP federal certification. Prices are friendly and competitive with local restaurants. Vacuum-sealed frozen meals, aka “sous vide” available for most recipes. (Please check “extras” section for more detail) We offer a 15amp electrical connection, access to clean running water, and access to our 4 acre back pasture. And if you prefer a more luxurious camping experience, we offer a BnB experience in our amazing rooftop tent!! This package includes exclusive use of the entire campsite, as well as a catered meal for two! We feature unparalleled views of the sunrise over the mountains, as well as convenient access to the park and Lincoln National Forest, White Sands National Monument, BLM off-road parklands, and nearby Alamogordo. Firewood available onsite for friendly prices (provided there isn't a current burn ban). **Be among the first to experience the most luxurious tent camping in our SmittyBilt Overlander Gen. 2 XL rooftop tent! Crisp, freshly sanitized linens, soft fleece or cotton blankets available. (Please note rental is *only* for the rooftop tent. Jeep rental is not available). For warmer months, we provide Air Conditioning for the rooftop tent at no extra cost! Additional onsite and backcountry packages are available, including fully-catered backcountry excursions in the Lincoln National Forest, wildlife spotting tours, photo tours, and even backcountry drive-in movies are available! Campfire setup, breakfast and omelette bar also available. ***Please note we do not yet have a handwashing sink but provide a spigot or water hose.

89%

(35)

Timberon NM Golf & RV Camping Site

2 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Timberon, NM

Timberon New Mexico is considered a small peaceful retirement community. The town is located within the Sacramento Mountains on the southern edge of the Lincoln National Forest. The town has a 9-hole golf course, lodge, pool, church, airstrip and a volunteer fire department. Guests in the area can enjoy many activities such as camping, fishing, swimming, golfing, hiking, biking, ATV/UTV, winter activities, local restaurant and two well equipped stores for groceries and other camping and RVing accessories. Check out Timberon.org for town details.

98%

(52)

Sugarhill Campgrounds🐞🙏

1 site · RV, Tent4 acres · Mescalero, NM

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 😊..

100%

(12)

Tularosa Vineyards & Winery

4 sites · RVs10 acres · Tularosa, NM

We are a winery and vineyard that offers RV parking, with 20/30/50 electrical hook ups. We have a tasting room and retail shop, our hours currently are 12-5 daily CLOSED on TUESDAY. Our Estate grown wines are produced and bottled on our site. We have pistachio trees and pecan trees, tranquil property that offers a beautiful redwood deck enclosed with Ivy outdoor patio with tables and chairs. Attractions located nearby include White Sands 30 miles away and Ruidoso. RV Parking Pad with 20/30/50 Electricity is $40 / night Dump station available for $20 Bring your picnic, we do not have food.

Edge of the Rez

2 sites · RVs, Tents4 acres · Mescalero, NM

Learn more about this land:Its dark, try to setup your camp before the sunsets. No light pollution unless there is a full moon. We are a primitive site with safe well water drawn from a sandstone bed. Walking distance to National Forest and 8 miles from Cloudcroft. Free-roaming horses, elk, mule deer, whitetail, turkey, and all critters in between. Awesome sunsets and perfect for stargazing.

100%

(15)

Cienega Arroyo Ranch

2 sites · RVs, Tents740 acres · Ruidoso Downs, NM

On a working ranch, this campsite is located up a secluded arroyo off of the Hondo Valley and Rio Ruidoso in San Patricio, NM. This ranch is nearly 1400 acres total that is available for exploring and wildlife watching. During wildlife watching, it is possible that you could see roadrunners, squirrels, coyotes, rabbits, hawks, deer, elk, lizards, foxes, and many different types of song birds. A road south of the campsite is available for hiking down.Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs are just over a 20 minute drive from this campsite. Historic Lincoln and Fort Stanton are a quick drive from this area as well. The Hurd Gallery can be visited by driving down the highway a couple miles. A fishing spot open to the public on the Rio Ruidoso is available for fishing just a few miles down the highway as well. It has been reported that this arroyo contained a cienega many years ago which was a marshy area fed by a spring, before groundwater wells ran it dry. Most cienegas are now extinct in the southwest. Sheep and Firewood were the main commodities produced off of this ranch before cattle became dominant. NM State Land is 640 of these acres which requires an annual permit for recreational use.

98%

(127)

Stargazers Mountain Camping Retreat

4 sites · Tents5 acres · Nogal, NM

Learn more about this land: We have sites available for bringing your own tent or car/truck camping. We have a port-o-potty. Beautiful 360 views on top of a Mesa. Wildlife is all about. 420 Friendly.

96%

(47)

Sugarhill Woodworks

2 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Mescalero, NM

Learn more about this land:Nice outdoor views with elk usually in the yard in the early mornings, outdoor grills available outdoor fire pits available. Very nice view of the church, and we have a homemade zipline!

90%

(5)

Casa Linda Campgrounds

4 sites · RVs, Tents35 acres · Picacho, NM

Casa Linda is a Vineyard with Ambiance. It originally settled in 1860-70’s by sheriff Kimbrell(sheriff before Brady-killed by Billy the Kid) Set on 30 plus acres of vineyards, orchards, greenhouses & terraced fields leading down to the river. Main house built in 1930-40’s by legendary Actress Linda Darnell who had many famous guests including John Wayne. Come relax, enjoy the views, stargazing, fishing, hiking. As well as this areas’ wineries, breweries, casino, ski Apache +!

95%

(29)

El Mistico

7 sites · Lodging30 acres · Nogal, NM

Unplug from the city to soak up in nature and experience El Mistico Ranch. El Mistico Ranch consist of 30 acres of natural high desert land with natural spring waters, nearby Lincoln National Forest as our next door neighbor, you are actually just a short drive to Capitan for basic services and shopping; Ruidoso for arts, golf, dining, skiing, and more. The climate is mild here and the property is vegetated with pinon pine, juniper, and a variety of cacti. We're delighted to introduce you to Chester, our friendly Saint Bernard. At just a year old, Chester is a gentle giant with a heart of gold, spreading joy to all who visit. Chester not only brings warmth and joy to our guests but also plays an important role in taking care of the property. He roams around the ranch, ensuring that everything is in order and providing a sense of security to our guests. Sometimes, he even accompanies guests to their units to ensure they arrive safely.

The best camping near Lincoln National Forest guide

Overview

About

Lincoln National Forest is a delight for the senses! Gaze upon cacti, smell the spruce at the top of the Sierra Blanca mountains, and feel the cool water on your skin relaxing at Sitting Bull Falls. With a range of elevation comes a range of activities; trails for both beginner and experienced hikers or hop on your horse and explore Dog Canyon Trail that traverses up over 2,000 feet (gnarly!). Camping is cushy and available year round, allowing you to experience the vast array of wildflowers at Bluff Springs in the springtime, or surf the snow in the winter at Ski Apache. With scenic mountain views, ranger programs to brush up on the area, and easy access to the town of Ruidoso, Lincoln is a mountain lovers dream without the crowds!

Nearby attractions

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is a breathtaking destination offering unforgettable camping experiences beneath starlit skies, thrilling hikes through rugged peaks, and a chance to uncover ancient petroglyphs.