campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USFSCibola National Forest and Grasslands · New Mexico

Black Kettle Campground

Campground is located at an elevation of 2,100 feet and has 12 camping units.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.2,087ft
Comf.Mar-Nov7 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Santa Fe7h23real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 2,087 ft, Black Kettle Campground has a 7-month comfortable window (Mar-Nov). Winter nights average around 30°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on cool nights and quiet. Softest on quiet.

Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.

When to go

02 · CLIMATE
JFMAMJJASOND
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Feb
Mar-Nov
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
82%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Mar 29
Last spring frost; first fall frost Nov 3.
72°F
Average July low.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Santa Fe
415 mi
7h23
02
Albuquerque
424 mi
7h25
By drive time
Santa Fe · 7h23Albuquerque · 7h25Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 0.1 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
0.1 mi
Method

We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →