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Upper Karr Recreation Area

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Located off the Sunspot Scenic By-Way, Upper Karr Campground is located just east of White Sands National Monument, which you should not skip over if you haven’t been.

From there you may want to check out San Andres National Wildlife Refuge, a gem of wilderness where only the most badass animals that have mastered the scorching summers and freezing winters of desert living thrive.

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Available campgrounds nearby

Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Lincoln National Forest

Mars Research Base (MRB)

9 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 +!

Midtown Mountain Campground and RV

32 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents2 acres · Ruidoso, NM

Midtown Mountain Campground and RV is one of the top 5 RV Parks and Campgrounds in New Mexico, as rated by RV Life Magazine. We have the fastest WiFi in any RV Park in New Mexico. And we are one of the top destination locations in the Nation! Ruidoso New Mexico has it all from horse racing, casinos, hiking, fishing, shopping and much more!!! Midtown Mountain Campground and RV Park is at it's center. Come stay here and get out there!!!

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 $45 / night Dump station available for $20 Bring your picnic, we do not have food.

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!

White Sands Manufactured Home & RV

1 site · RV10 acres · Alamogordo, NM

White Sands Community is an award-winning property offering RV spaces in the scenic town of Alamogordo. The community offers dramatic views of the 9,000-foot Sacramento Mountains. The pull-through RV spaces feature full hookups (30 and 50 amps), paved lots, privacy walls, and free cable TV. Amenities include a spacious clubhouse with large-screen TV and billiards, resort-style swimming pool, playground, basketball court, shuffleboard, and laundry facilities. Walking distance to major stores and restaurants Flexible lot rental options Ideal location for Snow Birds 15 minutes from White Sands National Park Amazing views! Professional onsite management team On site amenities: Clubhouse Potable water Dog park Laundry facilities Showers Game room Garbage Bathrooms Picnic area Playground Cable TV Outdoor pool Nearby amenities: Disc golf swimming Basketball golf hiking biking walking trails wineries

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.

More to explore nearby

100%

2 ratings · 3 reviews

Colleen M.recommends

January 4, 2019

This campground is free and not that far from the ranger station and Cloudcroft. There is 6 camping sites, but sometimes the locals (teenagers) will come during the weekend and make there own site deeper in the woods but close by so they may walk by your campground or accidentally into. There is a restroom that is often cleaned and has toilet paper. The cleaner will even take your trash for you. Easy access to the sites. They have fire rings and benches, but sometimes they will move them around. Best spot would be the site on the left side, on the top, close to the trees. You will have a little more privacy and easy access to firewood. Went there for my birthday with family and friends so plenty of room. One of my favorite spots :)

Kate G.

June 21, 2017

There's a vault toilet, picnic tables and for rings. What more do you need? This no-fee campground is beautiful. There's an old railroad bed that makes a great hike right at the end of the parking area.

Kate G.

May 13, 2017

This campground is free! There are only 6 tables and vault toilets but the scenery is wonderful and you can't beat the location. It's very close to Cloudcroft so you can stock up on supplies or hit a restaurant if you don't want to cook. It's basically a big meadow with sites at the perimeter. There's an unsigned trail leading up into the trees that looks like it used to be a railroad bed.

Other campgrounds in Lincoln National Forest

Sam Tobias Memorial Group Campground

Sam Tobias Memorial Group Campground

3 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Upper Fir Group Campground

Upper Fir Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Slide Group Campground

Slide Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Lower Fir Group Campground

Lower Fir Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Black Bear Group Campground

Black Bear Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Aspen Group Campground

Aspen Group Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Lower Karr Canyon Campground

Lower Karr Canyon Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Upper Karr Recreation Area

This is our setup, we camped along the creek.

Bluff Springs Dispersed Campsites

1 site · RV, Tent In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Stream at the beginning of the trail

Three Rivers Campground

14 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Skyline Campground

Skyline Campground

17 sites In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Monjeau Campground

Monjeau Campground

4 sites In Upper Karr Recreation Area

View of the mountains at sunset.

Baca Campground

15 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Sleepy Grass Campground

Sleepy Grass Campground

45 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Silver Campground and Amphitheater

Silver Campground and Amphitheater

30 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Saddle Campground

Saddle Campground

16 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Pines Campground

Pines Campground

24 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Deerhead Campground

Deerhead Campground

30 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Apache Campground

Apache Campground

25 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Sierra Blanca from Windy Point (copyright Jeff Rauland)

Monjeau Lookout

1 site · RV, Tent In Upper Karr Recreation Area

South Fork Campground

South Fork Campground

61 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Out our back window

James Canyon Campground

5 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

The view from my hammock.

Oak Grove Campground

30 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Silver Overflow Campground

Silver Overflow Campground

52 sites · RVs, Tents In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Guadalupe Ranger District Dispersed Camping

Guadalupe Ranger District Dispersed Camping

1 site · RV, Tent In Upper Karr Recreation Area

Top parks near Upper Karr Recreation Area

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Lincoln National Forest

Franklin Mountains State Park

Cibola National Forest

Fort Leaton State Historic Site

Saguaro National Park

Big Bend National Park

Big Spring State Park

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United States
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New Mexico
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Lincoln National Forest
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Upper Karr Recreation Area

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