Santa Fe, New Mexico is well-known for its arts and culture, culinary scene, and fun festivals. However, this unique city is also a favorite spot among outdoor enthusiasts because of the stunning mountains, forests, desert landscapes, and fall foliage. You can immerse yourself in the nature side of Santa Fe by planning a camping trip in or around the city.
Here are the best campgrounds and RV parks for an overnight stay near Santa Fe.
Rancheros de Santa Fe Campground
My favorite campground to call home while checking out Santa Fe is the Rancheros de Santa Fe Campground because it’s wooded, has spacious sites, and is nicely located on the outskirts of town. This campground is typically open from March until November and is also along Historic Route 66, adjacent to the Santa Fe Trail. You may even be able to stay here during the off-season because there are some back-in sites for self-contained RVs, although water hookups may not be available. With 22 acres of piñon pines and junipers, this campground features Northern New Mexico campsites for RVs, trailers, vans, and tents. There are also some cabins available to stay in. Amenities here include a hiking trail, outdoor pool, playground, laundromat, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, and dog run.
Trailer Ranch RV Resort
Another option to stay at is the adults-only (21+) campground of the Trailer Ranch RV Resort, which is in the heart of Santa Fe. This campground offers full hookups, restrooms with showers, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, a library, and seasonal pool. You can catch a city bus from here to get to the plaza and other areas of town. In addition to the 21+ campground, there is also a 55+ retirement community at this property. There is a two-night minimum stay here, and tents are not allowed. It’s a pet-friendly park with a fully fenced dog park for furry companions.
HIPICO Santa Fe’s RV Park
HIPICO Santa Fe is an equestrian facility that hosts horse competitions and other types of events. It also has an RV park onsite that you can stay at even if you don’t have a horse! This RV park is about 20 minutes from downtown Santa Fe, so you can expect a peaceful experience and scenic sites. Your site rental here includes 30/50-amp hookups with water and Wi-Fi. You’ll have easy access to hiking and biking from the RV park. The maximum length of stay here is 14 days, and the price per night is $46. Monthly RV storage is also available at the park.
Hyde Memorial State Park
There are some lovely state parks that offer camping in the Santa Fe area of New Mexico, including Hyde Memorial State Park. This is a year-around park that sits at 8,300 to 9,400 feet elevation and is filled with trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. The campground has 50 developed campsites, seven electric-only sites, yurts for rent, group campsites, and an RV dump station. There are vault toilets here but no showers.
Santa Fe Skies RV Park
The Santa Fe Skies RV Park is situated just south of Santa Fe and on the top of a hill to enjoy the spectacular views of the region. On 17 acres of land, this RV park has 98 campsites – 55 of which are pull-throughs and 43 that are back-ins. All sites have 20/30/50-amp electric service, water, sewer, and patios. Other amenities are free Wi-Fi, propane, laundry machines, a dump station, restrooms with showers, and a walking trail. This park makes it easy to take a scenic drive on the Turquoise Trail as well to check out the historic and artistic villages of Cerrillos and Madrid. Nightly and weekly rates are available here.
Big Tesuque Campground, Santa Fe National Forest Campground
One of the big natural attractions in this part of New Mexico is the Santa Fe National Forest, which has some scenic campgrounds to consider for your trip. The Big Tesuque Campground is a walk-in campground for tents only – no RVs or trailers. There are just 10 campsites here, which have grills and picnic tables. The fall season is especially popular for camping here because the yellow-colored aspen trees. Above and below the campground, there are some great trails for hiking, biking, and skiing. There is one vault toilet at the campground, and the camping area is 12 miles from downtown Santa Fe.
Black Canyon Campground, Santa Fe National Forest Campground
Another popular national forest campground is the Black Canyon Campground, which is larger and has 36 campsites for RVs and cars. There are also six walk-in sites for tents only. The campground offers vault toilets, picnic tables, grills, and a camp host onsite. However, there is no electricity or dump station here. The campsites here are just $10 per night and are located about eight miles from downtown Santa Fe. Check out the trails, picnic areas, and skiing options along NM 475 near this campground.
Santa Fe KOA Journey
There’s a KOA campground in Santa Fe that you can stay at and enjoy visiting the local attractions from. The max pull-through length is 65 feet, and the campground has plenty of shade for warm days. The Santa Fe KOA Journey offers 50-amp electric service, Wi-Fi, cable TV, a dog park, and firewood and propane for sale. In addition to RV sites, there are also spaces here for tents and cabins you can rent. The KOA is typically open for camping between March and November but closes in the winter.
Aspen Basin Campground, Santa Fe National Forest Campground
As you explore the Santa Fe National Forest even more, you can stay by the large parking area at Santa Fe Ski Basin at the Aspen Basin Campground, which is 15 miles from downtown Santa Fe. This campground has space for RVs and trailers, in addition to tents. There are 10 campsites here with picnic tables and fire rings. There’s also a vault toilet at the end of the parking lot. Many people camp at this undeveloped camping area before backpacking into the Pecos. Summer and aspen season (in the fall) are the most popular times to camp here, although the campground is open year-around.
Pecos Canyon State Park Campgrounds
Pecos Canyon State Park is another local state park in the Santa Fe area that offers camping. The park is at an elevation of 7,628 to 8,196 feet and has multiple recreation sites and fishing access areas. This is a newly established state park and the 35th one in New Mexico. Camping has only recently opened up here in three campgrounds: Mora, Tererro, and Bert Clancy. At least for now, Mora offers 11 sites by reservation, Tererro 13 sites by reservation, and Bert Clancy nine sites on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost to camp here is just $10 per vehicle, and the campground is open year-around, with peak season between May and October. A vault toilet and picnic tables are available here for campers.
Piñon RV Park
If you need a simple, convenient, and affordable place to stay on your way to or from Santa Fe, consider the Piñon RV Park. I once got stuck in a bad snowstorm while passing through this area and found a nice home for the night until it was safe to continue driving my RV. This friendly and low-key RV park is open year-around and close to the Santa Fe Regional Airport. It’s southwest of downtown and close to the interstate too. Call or stop by the campground to book your site. A nightly stay is $40, and Wi-Fi and bathrooms are provided onsite.
White Rock Visitors Center RV Park
If you’re looking to explore the greater region of Northern New Mexico, you might enjoy staying at the White Rock Visitors Center RV Park. It is northwest of Santa Fe in Los Alamos and open year-around. The RV park does not take reservations but has 16 RV spaces with 30/50-amp electric hookups available on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll pay via self-service machine, and the camping fee is $20 per night.
