Sunset Reef Campground
BLM
Write a Review Washington Ranch Rd. Carlsbad, NM 88220 575-234-5972 Official WebsiteGPS: 32.1095, -104.4253
Location submitted by: @fearoftheknownrv
Overview of Sunset Reef Campground
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by LokiStormbringer on 4/6/2024
Longest RV Reported: 44 feet (Class A)
Reported by Zelda Z on 10/30/2021
Number of Sites 11
Pad Type gravel
Elevation 3,608 ft / 1,099 m
Max Stay 5
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about Sunset Reef Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 575-234-5972
Ellie asked on 12/26/2021
Do you need to make a reservation for Sunset Reef Campground?
Andrew asked on 9/22/2023
How safe is this area for leaving your rig and going to the caverns
ds9writer asked on 9/10/2021
We're looking to stay somewhere near Carlsbad Caverns - but in a tent -- this campground looks like it's all gravel -...
Reviews of Sunset Reef Campground 95 people have reviewed this location.
“Why So Many 5 Star? Meh At Best ”
Reviewed 4/6/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
This campground is tiny and you’re packed tight with others. There are trash cans, but when I was there they were overflowing with trash. The pit toilet was out of toilet paper, but it was clean at least and what camper doesn’t have their own TP. When I got there all of the camp spots were full and despite what the rules sign says I ca... more
This campground is tiny and you’re packed tight with others. There are trash cans, but when I was there they were overflowing with trash. The pit toilet was out of toilet paper, but it was clean at least and what camper doesn’t have their own TP. When I got there all of the camp spots were full and despite what the rules sign says I camped on the outer perimeter like many others. There is nothing really to see or do from camp. It’s fine for a quiet one night but I have no clue how some people want to stay there longer than that.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Awesome Boondocking Spot”
Reviewed 4/4/2024
Days stayed: | 4 |
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It’s first come first served but even if you miss out in the best spots, there is plenty room around the perimeter. All gravel and a little dusty and a short rocky drive in but nice covered picnic tables, plenty of maneuvering room and a pit toilet.
Bryan would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“One Of Our Favorites”
Reviewed 4/4/2024
Days stayed: | 4 |
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Awesome dry FCFS FREE Campground. Great views. Big rig friendly is slots are open. Several Huge Pull Thru Slots With Nice Covered Tables. Several Tent Sites With Covered Tables. Lots If Room To Camp Around The Edges If The Sites Are Full. Pit Toilets on site As Well.
Bryan would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Average Stay. ”
Reviewed 2/28/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
We arrived around 8pm and found a perfect spot to park for the night. It was pitch black but easy to navigate. We set up our camper, turn our generator on and relax. As we were getting ready for bed, we were stunned by a huge bright light shining in and out of our camper. My first thought was oh my gosh someone is about to break in. I ... more
We arrived around 8pm and found a perfect spot to park for the night. It was pitch black but easy to navigate. We set up our camper, turn our generator on and relax. As we were getting ready for bed, we were stunned by a huge bright light shining in and out of our camper. My first thought was oh my gosh someone is about to break in. I then thought it was someone maybe just walking their dog, however we peaked out the window to find out a man was looking in our car, back around our camper and shining in all of our camper windows continuously. I then told my husband that we need to go ask him what the heck he was doing. As soon we open the door the man shines his bright light in our face and goes on to YELL “quiet hours are from 7am-10pm and it’s way past 10pm, you need to shut that generator off because people are trying to sleep.” I kid you NOT we look at the time and it is 10:03. We comply because we are decent humans. However for the man peeping inside our camper and car with his bright light was absolutely disgusting and disrespectful. When you “boondock” there will be a chance someone has a generator. You are not paying for the campsite and there was NO sign saying we could not have a generator. We made sure of it before we got there. We even read the reviews and some had generators. We also have a very quiet generator and the lad that screamed at us had solar so that explains it. Not to mention camping on BLM land is open to anyone that needs to park and allows generators. Great view though and cute cows. Would not stay again.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great lot with amenities”
Reviewed 2/7/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 5 |
RV Length: | 21' (Travel Trailer) |
This campsite was great! It is free, it has 5 pull through spots with covered picnic tables and fencing, many trashcans, and a very clean pit toilet. We arrived on a Thursday afternoon and there were 2 spots with covered awnings open. Over the weekend all the covered spots were taken, a few tent campers, and many camped along the outer... more
This campsite was great! It is free, it has 5 pull through spots with covered picnic tables and fencing, many trashcans, and a very clean pit toilet. We arrived on a Thursday afternoon and there were 2 spots with covered awnings open. Over the weekend all the covered spots were taken, a few tent campers, and many camped along the outer fence. People would come in at night and there were always spots along the fence open. This place was very nice and quiet, even with being so closely parked to others. There is a laundromat down the road in White's City that was nice and cheap. Carlsbad Caverns are about 20 min away, and Guadeloupe Mountains is about 30 mins the other way. I drove through Artesia NM as I was leaving and there was a free dump and water at (32°50'51.4"N 104°23'55.7"W) which was great.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Perfect Place For A Few Days Of Boondocking”
Reviewed 2/4/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
When we (family of 4) arrived on a Wednesday evening in early Feb, all of the pull through sites were full but there was plenty of space around the perimeter fence. There are about 8 pull through sites, maybe 6 tent sites and enough space for 7-8 more rigs around the fence (depending on size). We ended up staying for 4 nights due t... more
When we (family of 4) arrived on a Wednesday evening in early Feb, all of the pull through sites were full but there was plenty of space around the perimeter fence. There are about 8 pull through sites, maybe 6 tent sites and enough space for 7-8 more rigs around the fence (depending on size).
We ended up staying for 4 nights due to high winds and explored Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe NP and popped up to Roswell for the UFO museum. The caverns and NP were amazing and the UFO museum is pretty much as expected. All of the park personnel and fellow campers we encountered were very friendly but I can’t suggest going into Carlsbad unless you need to restock at Walmart.
The first night at Sunset Reef, there were two rigs that ran generators all night but, since we were over at the fence, we didn’t hear much. After that, it was very quiet (other than the winds that aren’t uncommon in this area). The pit toilets and trash were well maintained and the area was very clean.
I am so grateful for well maintained, safe and free camping spots like this one!
camper-896182 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Perfect Place To Stay When Visiting Carlsbad Caverns”
Reviewed 1/31/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Beautiful sunrise and peaceful dark nights. Trash, toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, level spots, good AT&T. About a dozen others staying, tents, vans, campers.
white.van_no.plan would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Free Spot To Stay For Visiting Carlsbad Caverns”
Reviewed 1/27/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 1 |
RV Length: | 34' (Travel Trailer) |
This “campground” is a gem. Free, level, maintained spot. Sites were close together but they were level, had a covered picnic table on a cement pad, trash can, and fire pit. The vault toilets that were lit at night. Pull thru sites that were first come first serve. It was cold and windy when we were there but there were tent campers t... more
This “campground” is a gem. Free, level, maintained spot.
Sites were close together but they were level, had a covered picnic table on a cement pad, trash can, and fire pit. The vault toilets that were lit at night. Pull thru sites that were first come first serve. It was cold and windy when we were there but there were tent campers there as well. We were here for just a quick 1 night before visiting Carlsbad Caverns. Our 35’ trailer pulled by a long bed truck easily fit in the site. I wish the BLM offered more of these near other nationwide attractions
I+E would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Quiet, Great Location For Exploring The Parks Nearby!”
Reviewed 1/25/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
RV Length: | 30' (Fifth Wheel) |
Quiet Boondocking campground tucked far enough back from the highway that you don’t see or hear it too much. There’s no sign on the highway at the turnoff, follow GPS coordinates and you’ll be fine. There are 5 RV sites with fire rings and tables, 5 tent sites with the same. Pit toilets and garbage cans. Plenty of parking for RVs aroun... more
Quiet Boondocking campground tucked far enough back from the highway that you don’t see or hear it too much. There’s no sign on the highway at the turnoff, follow GPS coordinates and you’ll be fine. There are 5 RV sites with fire rings and tables, 5 tent sites with the same. Pit toilets and garbage cans. Plenty of parking for RVs around the sides of the area as well, there’s a metal fence that encloses the campground. Cell signal was strong enough to stream and work off of for both AT&T and Verizon.
Water for a charge at the gas station in Whites City ($15 for up to 60 gallons). We couldn’t find any other free water, some reviews mentioned a spigot in the Rattlesnake Picnic Area, we checked it out but it was turned off. We came in from Roswell and used a free dump station in Artesia.
ForeverWanda would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Safe, Easy, And Nice”
Reviewed 11/24/2023
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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We got here later in the afternoon. A bunch of spots open. Definitely recommend
camper-888197 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
noted 12/5/2023
Be sure to note the 5 day stay limit. I'm so used to 14 days at BLM sites that I assumed it would be here.
noted 1/23/2023
FINDING THE CAMPGROUND: Some apps do not have the small dirt road that goes into the campground, like Waze. The coordinates will take you to approx. the correct place where you exit National Parks Hwy onto Washington Ranch Road. Once you are on Washington Ranch Road, take the FIRST small gravel road to your RIGHT. There is a cattleg... more
FINDING THE CAMPGROUND:
Some apps do not have the small dirt road that goes into the campground, like Waze.
The coordinates will take you to approx. the correct place where you exit National Parks Hwy onto Washington Ranch Road.
Once you are on Washington Ranch Road, take the FIRST small gravel road to your RIGHT. There is a cattleguard there, it is narrow, it looks like it could be going onto private property, and you can not see the campground from there. Just follow that dirt road, over the rise, and you will see the campground.
WATER:
There is a water point in a national park day use area, just 3 miles away. Ok for a hose and a can, I would not recommend it for a camper unless you have a very long hose.
So further on down Washington Ranch Road, follow the signs to Rattlesnake Springs. Rattlesnake Springs is part of Carlsbad Cavern National Park. Carlsbad Cavern National Park pipes water via a pipeline across the desert to Carlsbad Cavern National Park. Rattlesnake Springs is a day use area, and they have picnic tables, trash and recycling receptacles, and a bathroom. Behind the bathroom, is a spigot. Right now in 1/2023, they have a cover on the spigot, secured by a shoelace, to prevent freezing. Easy to remove, just put it back the way you found it. You can put a hose on it and fill a water container. One of the other campers here at Sunset Reef said that when he was filling his containers, a ranger drove by and smiled and waved at him and kept going. Walking further down the road, there was a pond, and swimming on the pond was a mallard duck. It is normal to find mallard ducks in the desert, right?
PROPANE: Tractor Supply does not. Tractor Supply sent me to;
Southwest LP Gas, 3025 National Parks Hwy., Carlsbad, NM 882200.
575-885-6303
Hours are 8-5. They charged me 3.59/gal on 1/20/2023.
DUMP STATION: I hear that there is one in Carlsbad, I did not go looking for it. I have not checked either of the National Parks that bracket this campground, yet, either.
RULES SIGN:
If this place is monitored by cameras, they must be the ones in space. I have not found any hear yet.
The "designated spaces" were always full. Many more of us parked around the edge, I have been here 5 days now, and no authority has come in to say otherwise. Everyone here now, is considerate, and tries to respect the quiet time rule, 10pm - 6 am, and we all have stories to tell. Campendium shows other boondocking locations nearby if you want total solitude.
noted 1/14/2023
Propane fill station in Carlsbad, water fill at White City gas station for no cost
Leandra
OHSunset Reef Campground
Date Visited: February 1-4, 2021Address: Washington Ranch Road, Carlsbad, NM 88220GPS: 32.1095, -104.4253WebsitePrice: Free Reservations: NoStay Limit: 5 NightsPets: YesRestrooms:...
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
Site Amenities
- big rig
- picnic table
- pull thru
Facilities
- restrooms: vault
Pets
- pets
Nearby
White's City RV Park
It works. REALLY tight spots. 7 min from Carlsbad NP entrance.
- Wide Turns Only
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