Is Datil Well Recreation Area Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

Can I see photos of campsites at Datil Well Recreation Area Campground before I book?

Yes! Datil Well Recreation Area Campground has 1 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

Are there showers at Datil Well Recreation Area Campground?

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

How many campsites does Datil Well Recreation Area Campground have?

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground has 22 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Datil Well Recreation Area Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Datil Well Recreation Area Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Datil Well Recreation Area Campground?

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground offers: Restrooms, Potable Water, Electrical Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Datil Well Recreation Area Campground?

Popular activities at Datil Well Recreation Area Campground include Hiking, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

4.58

121 reviews

901 S. Highway 85, Socorro, NM, USA, 87801

Top 10% in NMWinter

Stargazing

Featured in:Desert Camping New Mexico#3 Primitive Camping New Mexico Winter Camping New Mexico +11 more

First-come, first-served

This campground doesn't take reservations — sites are claimed in person on arrival, so there's no availability to check online. Plan to arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays.

Quick Facts

7,441 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

22 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

ElectricWiFi

Book on Bureau of Land Management Official Website

Get Directions

First-come, first-served

This campground doesn't take reservations — sites are claimed in person on arrival, so there's no availability to check online. Plan to arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays.

Quick Facts

7,441 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

22 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

ElectricWiFi

Book on Bureau of Land Management Official Website

Get Directions

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Group Site Fee$30.00

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

575-835-0412blm_nm_comments@blm.gov

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

901 S. Highway 85, Socorro, NM, USA, 87801

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

901 S. Highway 85, Socorro, NM, USA, 87801

Nearby places

Magdalena (~37 miles, approximately 47 minutes), Pietown (~20 miles, approximately 25 minutes)

Weather at Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

Best Time to Camp at Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

Best season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of mild daytime temperatures (typically 55–75°F) and crisp, clear nights (20–40°F), making hiking and viewpoint photography especially pleasant at 7,441 ft. Grasses on the San Augustin Plains turn golden and the pinyon‑juniper/ponderosa contrast beautifully, while wildlife is active and solitude is easy to find — campsites are quieter than summer but still reliably accessible. Expect fewer crowds than lower‑elevation New Mexico destinations; note that early fall/ Peak months: October, September, November, June

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.5 / 5

Fall called best season: pleasant highs, clear nights, golden grasses and fewer crowds.

Planning Tips

About Datil Well Recreation Area Campground

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground sits at 7,441 feet on New Mexico's San Augustin Plains, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This small high-elevation campground offers tent, RV, and primitive sites with electric hookups, vault toilets, and potable water amid pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine. Reviewers consistently praise the exceptionally clean vault toilets, spacious sites with good privacy, and dark skies for stargazing.

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground offers various camping options including tent sites, RV sites with limited electrical hookups, and a group shelter.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of mild daytime temperatures (typically 55–75°F) and crisp, clear nights (20–40°F), making hiking and viewpoint photography especially pleasant at 7,441 ft. Grasses on the San Augustin Plains turn golden and the pinyon‑juniper/ponderosa contrast beautifully, while wildlife is active and solitude is easy to find — campsites are quieter than summer but still reliably accessible. Expect fewer crowds than lower‑elevation New Mexico destinations; note that early fall/ Peak months: October, September, November, June

Elevation7441 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies a transition zone where pinyon-juniper woodland meets ponderosa pine forest, with rolling hills opening to panoramic views of the San Augustin Plains. An ancient volcanic basin stretching to the horizon. The surrounding geology tells the story of central New Mexico's volcanic past. Wildlife is active: reviewers report bats at twilight, blue jays, lizards, red-tailed hawks, and rock squirrels. Dark skies make stargazing exceptional. The 7,441-foot elevation brings crisp mountain air and dramatic contrasts. In fall, golden grasslands set against the darker evergreens create striking photography conditions.

Lodging & AccommodationsNo lodging accommodations, such as cabins or glamping options, are provided. Camping options are limited to tent sites, RV sites with limited hookups, and a group shelter.

Programs & ActivitiesThe visitor center acts as a mini-museum with historical photographs and artifacts from Datil's past, offering educational insights into the old Magdalena Livestock Driveway.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

14 days maximum consecutive stay.

Guests Allowed Per Site

Information not explicitly detailed.

Groups

The group site includes six tables under two separate shade shelters, grills, a fire pit, and accessible parking near a vault toilet.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Reservation PlatformsReservations for accessible campsite #18 or group shelter must be made by calling 575-835-0412. No online reservations system is provided.

AccessibilityAccessibility features include vault toilets, water spigots with easy-to-use lever valves, a wheelchair-accessible visitor center, and an ADA-compliant campsite (site 18) with accessible picnic tables, fire rings, and grills.

Site SizeStandard sites can accommodate small RVs (under 25 ft) or camper vans. Site 18 includes a concrete pad for parking.

PrivacySites are well spaced with ample tree coverage for privacy. "Clean, large sites with lots of trees for some privacy," summarized one reviewer.

Total Campsites22 campsites

Recommended SitesCampsite #18 is recommended for accessibility; sites #17, #19, and #21 feature power hookups. Pull-through options for RVs are available.

Best CampsitesSite 18 includes a concrete parking pad and accessible features for wheelchair users. Reviewers note spacious sites with good tree coverage throughout the campground, though no other specific site numbers are mentioned in reviews.

Amenities available

Electrical hookups are available at 3 of the campsites. There are three restrooms and two potable water stations within the campground. Visitor Center Open from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Thursday – Monday.

Potable water

Electricity hookups

WiFi

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground provides a quiet, scenic environment for recreational activities such as hiking, stargazing, and wildlife observation. The location is particularly noted for its dark skies, making it ideal for amateur astronomers. The hiking trails offer beautiful vistas and interpretive signage, while some hikers report occasional wildlife sightings.

Hiking

Wildlife viewing

Cultural and Educational Programs

Winter Activities

Water Sports

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available; the campground relies on double-vault toilets which are described as exceptionally clean. "The pit toilets are so clean that you could eat off the floor," noted one reviewer.

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trash & RecyclingMultiple large dumpsters are provided near the vault toilets, although accessibility for wheelchair users might be limited due to the height of openings.

Cell CoverageCell phone reception is inconsistent across the campground, depending heavily on carrier. "No cell signal for AT&T unless you are up on the hiking trail," noted one reviewer. Verizon users reported weak but usable service near the road or group shelter area.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

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Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.6

121 reviews

Top-Rated

Datil Well Recreation Area Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

The campground is widely praised for its cleanliness, affordability, and serene environment. Vault toilets are consistently noted as exceptionally clean, and the camp hosts are described as friendly and accommodating. Some reviewers appreciated the nearby attractions like the Very Large Array (VLA) radio observatory.

Review Summaries

Based on 121 reviews

Best sites at a glance

Pulled from per-site mentions in 121 reviews.

Campsite 18Loved
Campsite 18 is ADA-compliant and highly praised for its accessibility features.
Site 21Mentioned
"Site 21 was quite large.

What Campers Love

Clean vault toilets, well-maintained trails, dark skies for stargazing, spacious campsites with good privacy, and affordable camping fees ($5 per night). "Cleanest pit toilets I have ever seen," was...

Based on 121 reviews

Common Concerns

Limited water availability, inconsistent cell phone service, and barking dogs during the night were common complaints. "The barking dogs of other campers while trying to sleep," noted one reviewer....

Based on 121 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring water as spigots may occasionally be closed. Arrive early as the campground fills up by 6 PM during peak times. Sites are first-come, first-serve.

Based on 121 reviews

Seasonal Insights

Winter camping offers solitude and unique snow-covered trail hikes. Spring and fall are noted for pleasant weather and star-filled skies. Summer is busier, with occasional accessibility issues due to...

Based on 121 reviews

Camper Quotes

"It's DARK. If you're a casual sky watcher or a serious amateur astronomer, this is a great place to enjoy pristine skies." "Hosts are super nice. At $5 a night it just can’t get any better." "Vault...

Based on 121 reviews

Accessibility Features

Accessibility reviews highly praise campsite 18 for its thoughtful features like accessible picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. "Campsite 18 was designed to be accessible. It must be reserved by...

Based on 121 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

Dogs are welcome but must remain leashed. Some campers reported disturbances from barking dogs at night. "Bring water. The spigots were not open," advised one pet owner.

Based on 121 reviews

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