Boondocking in New Mexico
Not all RV travelers want the comfort and glam of a luxury RV resort. Maybe you like this sometimes, or maybe it’s not really your scene. After all, the whole point of camping is to get away from the modern world and experience the great outdoors completely unobstructed. But this doesn’t mean you have to give up comfort altogether. After all, there’s only so much sleeping on the hard ground a grown body can take. So the easy compromise is boondocking.
Boondocking is RV camping without all the hookups. This way, you can have all the comfort and convenience of an RV while opening up the realm of camping possibilities. However, some places are easier (and more legal) to boondock than others. We’ve listed a few of them below so when you want to hit the road and explore our great state, you’ll know exactly where to head first. If you’d like some of our staff’s favorite camping spots, or if you want to check out some Airstream trailers for yourself, stop by our location in Albuquerque, New Mexico, near Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, and Alamogordo.
State Parks
The biggest concern you should have is whether or not you’re allowed to set up camp on any given piece of land. Laws vary from state to state, although there are certain, general laws you can count on to be the same everywhere. Private land is usually off limits except when you have the permission of the owner. State parks are generally okay, especially when there’s a designated campsite. These campsites don’t come with the kinds of hookups you’d find in fancier campgrounds, but they signal where you can park for the night.
Some of the more popular state parks that come with a plethora of boondocking sites include Cimarron Canyon, Heron Lake, and Sumner Lake. The benefit of camping at a state park is that you’ll not only be able to find designated areas where you can boondock, but you can enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery our great state has to offer. From sprawling lakes to flower-studded fields to never ending forests, each new location will take your breath away.
Campgrounds
Even though lots of RV campgrounds provide hookups, this doesn’t mean you have to rule them out altogether. There are lots of boondocking campgrounds that will let you set up camp in a contained facility without ruining your idea of a true camping experience. The benefit here is that you’ll still have a community to connect to and security to depend on. Check out some of the great KOA campgrounds across the state to find what you’re looking for.
BLM Land
Public land in general is available for temporary boondocking. The general rule of thumb is that you’re in one place for no longer than two weeks. Public land is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), so when you're looking for a camping spot that’s really off the beaten path, you’ll be looking for BLM land. The possibilities for the right camping spot are extensive, spanning from hiking trails and driving routes, to larger federal land, and more. Maybe you’re interested in the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. These are prehistoric rock art sites with more than 21,000 glyphs to view along great hiking trails.
There’s also the Angel Peak Scenic Area, about 10,000 acres of scenic terrain and scenic vistas you won’t want to miss out on. It’s a popular spot for paleontologists, as fossils appear with the regular erosion of the rock formations, and you might just be lucky enough to spot a mammoth bone.
And the list goes on and on and on. There’s no shortage of places to dry camp here in the state of New Mexico, it’s just about where you want to start. If your RV isn’t suited for boondocking and you’d like to upgrade to an Airstream camper, then stop by Airstream of New Mexico and ask one of our friendly staff to show you the models that best suit your needs. We proudly serve Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, and Alamogordo, NM.