Albuquerque Area Campgrounds

[dewdev]

We are traveling from Maine to Albuquerque with Ollie next December to visit the grandkids. Any suggestions on a nice campground around Albuquerque would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[permit bob]

It would depend on what you're looking for, i.e. dispersed, hookups, private, etc. I lean towards no hook ups.

Also, the timing of your trip. Many USFS campsites, my favorites, close for the season that time of year, so do your homework.

One of my "easy favorites" is Cochiti Lake Campground run by the Corp of Engineers about an hour north of Albuquerque. Used to be open year 'round with some hookups; great showers! Quiet, easy, scenic. But, recent restrictions have made it a bit unpredictable; investigate.

Loma Linda Campground, just south of Jemez Springs, NM, an hour north of ABQ, I believe is open year around. Hot springs close. First Come First Served.

Joe Skeen CG west of ABQ, at the south end of El Malpias Lava Flow is open year 'round. That's about an hour west below Grants, NM. Very cool scenery.

There are KOA's, Casino Campgrounds i.e Isleta, Sandia, Rt. 66, Santa Anna, if you prefer that form of camping/parking. I have never stayed at any of those, but they are close.

One surprising unit is Coranado State Park in the town of Bernalillo, NM nothing fancy, but they do have hookups, State Park, relatively quiet, and only 15 mins. north of ABQ. usually packed for Balloon Fiesta. Open year 'round and conveninet.

Lot to see in NM.

All the best, E

[Mike and Carol]

2 hours ago, permit bob said:

One of my "easy favorites" is Cochiti Lake Campground run by the Corp of Engineers about an hour north of Albuquerque. Used to be open year 'round with some hookups; great showers! Quiet, easy, scenic. But, recent restrictions have made it a bit unpredictable; investigate.

We’ve stayed at Cochiti Lake COE, too.  We tried to go back a year or two ago but it was closed due to the NM COVID shutdown.  It looks like it is open now.  Nice campground.  We’ve stayed at Kirtland AFB too, but you have to be military or retired.  Mike

[Overland]

Cochiti is a kind of co-op deal between the COE and the Cochiti Pueblo, and I understand it can be a contentious relationship at times.  They enjoy the benefits of having the lake and the small neighboring community there, but the dam and lake itself has been an environmental pita.  

Anyways, the area is under Pueblo control when it comes to COVID, and they've all been pretty strict about it as have the other Pueblos.  I think even Chaco as been closed due to access.  

[dewdev]

Thanks Bob and Mike.

Since we will be at the CG for 2 months, full hooks ups are desired.

I think the wife wants to stay closer to Albuquerque as she will be going to the Son's home daily. What do you all think about the CG's close to ABQ?

Also are  these CG's safe?

[routlaw]

While I've spent lots of time in NM I am not familiar with any of the CG's mentioned above other than the state park in Bernalillo. As stated its small, quiet and a bit tight but the worst part is getting in and out of the damn thing. Access is on a very busy highway often with some construction going on. More trouble than its worth unless its for just a night or two. Sounds like you need a full hook up site closer into ABQ. Best of luck.

[Tideline77]

New Mexico camping

New Mexico Free Camping

 

I know this thread is rather old , But  I wanted to share this

 

I am planning a trip to New Mexico and I stumbled across this YouTuber that has quite a bit of New Mexico content 

 
the videos are not that spectacular but the information is  detailed

 

see you out there 

 

edit ( added New Mexico Free Camping )

Edited Saturday at 11:15 AM by Tideline77

[jd1923]

20 hours ago, Tideline77 said:

I am planning a trip to New Mexico and...

Thank you for this, Robert. So, are you planning at trip to NM when 100 Oliver owners are heading to your home state for the rally? (just kidding) Long way from Alabama to the great SW! Come see us if you get a bit further west. I have mapped out dozens of amazing boondocking sites in the Prescott, Kaibab and Tonto NF and local BLM areas.

Funny thing is... the week of the Rally, I'm working in Albuquerque. I really wanted to meet up with Art and D @MAX Burner on our next visit to ABQ but they will be with the 100 others down in Alabama!

I can drive 6+ hours and stay at the event hotel where I teach my class. Or, we could take the Oliver to take our time to and from. I would need a campground/RV park in reasonable proximity to Marriott Courtyard Airport hotel, so all the suggestions in the old thread above would be too far.

Thinking about staying at the Isleta resort and casino (with hotel and RV park) since it's just 10 minutes south of the airport, looks decent if you have to stay in a RV park! I need to decide soon whether and make either hotel or RV park reservations. I will call them next week. It doesn't look like anything else nearby. Except, for those who are Vets (not us), the Kirtland AFB FamCamp is in SE ABQ with good reviews.

[Tideline77]

It’s our first trip in our Oliver and a couple months behind schedule because my bride delayed her retirement a few extra months ………I have been chomping at the bit to go to the southwest and have been gleaning information from old threads on the forum

I went to the rally last year as a non owner visitor to tour the open house Olivers and see the real thing .

very welcoming group at Guntersville and very knowledgeable , I hate to miss it this year

Steve Morris and others without hesitation gave me an Oliver tutorial

that cinched it for me and then I started looking at the used market real hard and found a 2022 that the owners were negotiable 

 

Ready to get on the road after planning this for over 3 years

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 09:55 PM by Tideline77