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Old 03-01-2012, 11:55 PM   #1
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Boondocking near Carlsbad Caverns?

Is there any place, within a reasonable drive, to boondock for 2-3 days near Carlsbad Caverns? I haven't quite figured out how to find free short term parking areas, except for National Forests.
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Old 03-02-2012, 03:02 AM   #2
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Is there any place, within a reasonable drive, to boondock for 2-3 days near Carlsbad Caverns? I haven't quite figured out how to find free short term parking areas, except for National Forests.
this free allstays website lists walmarts and other places that have free overnight parking for rv's. it is kept up to date by users of the site.

Walmart Store Locations Map - Wal-Mart Guide
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Old 03-02-2012, 08:01 AM   #3
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Might try freecampsites.net

they seem to have a selection near Carlsbad. Happy trails.

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Old 03-02-2012, 08:47 AM   #4
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Not free but cheap!

I know it's not boondocking but if you can afford pretty inexpensive camping, try the New Mexico State parks. Brantley Lake State Park is just north of Carlsbad and is really a nice park.

Check out the website here: Brantley

New Mexico will also allow out of stater's to purchase an annual pass for $225 that allows you to camp in any state park for as little as $4/day. Really is a bargain and trust me, NM has some great parks!
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Old 03-02-2012, 11:00 AM   #5
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not too far away is one of my favorite National Parks, Guadalupe Mountains. There is NO dispersed camping but their is a large parking lot where RVs may dry camp for up to two weeks. This is one of the most beutiful places to camp and hike in west Texas and about 30-40 minutes from the caverns. I am not aware of any place in the area of Carlsbad to boondock accept maybe Walmart in town. If you can afford a few dollars a day go to Guadalupe!
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Old 03-03-2012, 11:41 PM   #6
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I prefer to be far enough away from other campers that our yappy little puppy can't see or hear other people. We have a 264 watt solar system and 2 house batteries so we only run the generator for the microwave. My plan is to avoid being where we would need A/C.

How do I find BLM land for dispersed camping via the internet? My searches never lead to anywhere specific.
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Old 03-04-2012, 12:09 AM   #7
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Ok, there is a Walmart in Carlsbad. I was hoping for someplace more remote for nightime. At the South Rim of the Grand Canyon I drove 2 miles south of the entry gate and .5 mile on a forest road and found a quiet place for the night in a National Forest.

I've wondered about church parking lots, also. Most are empty during the week. Anyone ever drycamp there? It's not so much the $, it's quiet I'm looking for and I hate to spend money just to park overnight and be 10 feet from another moho. I don't need hook-ups and plan to spend the days at the cavern.

If the National Parks would allow short term dry camping I'd be a happy camper.
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Old 03-04-2012, 01:49 AM   #8
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Quote:
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I prefer to be far enough away from other campers that our yappy little puppy can't see or hear other people. We have a 264 watt solar system and 2 house batteries so we only run the generator for the microwave. My plan is to avoid being where we would need A/C.

How do I find BLM land for dispersed camping via the internet? My searches never lead to anywhere specific.
LTVA And Bureau of Land Management (BLM) RV Camping

Find a Forest by State

http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/suz...charge-cgs.pdf

http://blog.rv.net/2012/03/forest-se...pdates+Feed%29
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Old 03-04-2012, 07:19 AM   #9
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okmunky,
We camp out around Queen, NM in the Lincoln National Forest lots of room to roam. Just South of the Carlsbad airport there will be Dark Canyon Road (CR-408), take this road (only goes west) and follow it out to where it intersects with SH-137, turn South here and this will take you to the Queen area. There is a forest service office located in Queen that can help out with maps of the area. The area around Queen is about 50 miles from Carlsbad Caverns by road and this may be a longer drive than you want.
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Old 03-07-2012, 02:11 PM   #10
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Thanks everyone!
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Old 07-05-2012, 11:32 AM   #11
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I haven't been there in years, but there use to be an old gas station at the base of the hill before going up into the park where we stayed. Take this as very old info, could be totally different now.

Kartchner Caverns south of Benson AZ was the best one we have ever been to visit. We saw it the first year it was open to the public several years ago, check it out sometime if you like Caverns. A tip if you want to see it and cannot get reservations is to park at the entrance gate late at nite before the day you want to take the tour. They take walk in's on a first come first serve basis for the tours. It use to be booked months in advance when it first opened. Not sure if it now.
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Old 07-12-2012, 09:38 PM   #12
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We were just there a month ago and it was too hot to Boondock unless you don't mind sweating and trying to sleep. For the most part its too hot just about anywhere right now unless you get up in the mountains somewhere.
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Old 07-13-2012, 03:05 PM   #13
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X2 on Kartchner Caverns. Very nice tour.
We were there at the end of August last year, mid-week and was easy to get right in. I imagine weekends would be more crowded.
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Old 07-13-2012, 03:56 PM   #14
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