CampgroundsDB

First-come camping in New Mexico (no reservation needed)

New Mexico has 113 public campgrounds you can camp at without a reservation, 63 free and 42 charging a fee. All are run by the U.S. Forest Service.

113
Total
0
Reservable
113
First-come
Lower ScorpionUpper Scorpion

First-come campgrounds vs. dispersed camping

Every campground below is a named, developed site that takes no reservations: show up, find an open site, pay if there's a fee. Dispersed camping (boondocking) is different: camping on open public land away from any campground. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26). Where that land is in New Mexico, and each unit's own rule: New Mexico BLM land on publiclandsdb.com.

Most first-come campgrounds by town: 25 near Catron , 17 near Taos , 12 near Grant , and 8 near Lincoln .

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Aeroplane Mesa Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Agua Piedra Group Area Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 Amole Group Shelter Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 Apache Creek Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Armijo Springs Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Aspen Basin Santa Fe · National Forest · First-come
Sites
10
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Aspen Group Campground Otero · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 Baca Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Bear Trap Socorro · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Ben Lilly Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Big Tesuque Santa Fe · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Bighorn Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Black Canyon (new)campground Santa Fe · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Bonito Creek Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Borrego Mesa Santa Fe · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Bosque Torrance · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Buzzard Park Rio Arriba · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Cabresto Lake Cabresto Lake is approximately 7 miles northeast of the town of Questa · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Capulin Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $18.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 Cebolla Mesa Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Cedar Springs Rio Arriba · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Cedro Peak Group Campground Bernalillo · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 Cherry Creek Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Comales Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $20.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 Cosmic Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Cottonwood Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Cowles San Miguel · National Forest · First-come
Sites
9
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $6 per vehicle per night
 Cruces Basin Trailhead Tres Piedras · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Cuchilla Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
3
Season
May to September
Fee
Free
 Cuchillo Del Medio Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Dipping Vat Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Duran Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $20.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 El Porvenir Las Vegas · National Forest · First-come
Sites
13
Season
05-01 to 12-31
Fee
Single Site: $8 per vehicle per night
 El Rito Rio Arriba · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Ev Long San Miguel · National Forest · First-come
Sites
14
Season
05-01 to 10-31
Fee
Single Site: $8 per vehicle per night
 Forks Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Fourth of July Torrance · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Goat Hill Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $20.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 Gwynn Tank Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Head of the Ditch Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Holy Ghost (campground) San Miguel · National Forest · First-come
Sites
23
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $8 per vehicle per night
 Hopewell Campground Tres Piedras · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $24 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 Hughes Mill Socorro · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Iron Creek Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Iron Gate San Miguel · National Forest · First-come
Sites
14
Season
05-01 to 11-30
Fee
Single Site: $4 per vehicle per night
 Jacks Creek Pecos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
39
Season
05-01 to 10-31
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 James Canyon Otero · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 John F Kennedy Valencia · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Johnson Mesa San Miguel · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Junebug Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $30.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 Karr Canyon Lower Otero · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Karr Canyon Upper Otero · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Kingston Sierra · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 La Bobita Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $20.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 La Junta Canyon Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $20.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 La Sombra Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $20.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 Laguna Larga Rio Arriba · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Lagunitas Tres Piedras · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Las Petacas Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $20.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 Lower Black Canyon Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Lower Canjilon Lakes Campground Canjilon · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Lower Hondo Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Lower Scorpion Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Luna Park Socorro · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Mccrystal Colfax · National Forest · First-come
Sites
55
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $28.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 Mcgaffey Oso/page McKinley · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10-$15 per night
 Mcmillen Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Mesa Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Middle Canjilon Lakes Campground Rio Arriba · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Mills Canyon Harding · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Mills Canyon Rim Harding · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 New Canyon Torrance · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Oak Grove Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Ojo Redondo Cibola · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Paliza Family Jemez Springs · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per night (up to 2 vehicles and 5 people per site)
 Pueblo Park Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Quaking Aspen McKinley · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Quemado Lake - El Caso Campground #1 Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Quemado Lake - El Caso Campground #2 Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Quemado Lake - El Caso Campground #3 Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Quemado Lake - El Caso Campground #4 Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Quemado Lake - El Caso Campground #5 Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Quemado Lake - Juniper Campground Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per night
 Quemado Lake - Pinon Campground Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per night
 Quemado Lake - Pinon Group Sites Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per night
 Railroad Canyon Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Red Cloud -new Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Rio Chama Abiquiu · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Rio Chama Group Campground Abiquiu · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Rio De Los Pinos Campground Rio Arriba · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Rocky Canyon Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Sam Tobias Memorial Group Campground Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 Sapillo Group Campground Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Silver Overflow Otero · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $28 per night
 Skyline Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Slide Group Campground Otero · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 South Fork Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $20 per night
 South Fork Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Springtime Socorro · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Tajique Torrance · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Three Rivers Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per night
 Trout Lakes Rio Arriba · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Twining Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
4
Season
May to October
Fee
Free
 Upper Black Canyon Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Upper End Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per night
 Upper Gallinas Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Upper La Junta Taos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $20.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
 Upper Scorpion Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Valle Tio Vinces Public Corrals Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Water Canyon Socorro · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Water Canyon Group Site Socorro · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Willow Creek Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Wolf Hollow Catron · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free

Common questions

Is there free camping in New Mexico?

Yes. 63 public campgrounds here are free and first-come: Aeroplane Mesa, Apache Creek, Armijo Springs, Aspen Basin, and 59 more.

Can you camp on BLM land in New Mexico?

Yes, in most places. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26). Where BLM land is and each unit's own rule: publiclandsdb.com.

Campgrounds you can book ahead: camping in New Mexico.