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

Mcdowell Campground

Campground has pullouts for campers.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.2,943ft
Comf.Mar-Dec8 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Santa Fe5h59real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 2,943 ft, Mcdowell Campground has a 8-month comfortable window (Mar-Dec). Winter nights average around 30°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast.

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 · Jan
Mar-Dec
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
86%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Apr 5
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 31.
71°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Santa Fe
339 mi
5h59
02
Albuquerque
348 mi
6h01
By drive time
Santa Fe · 5h59Albuquerque · 6h01Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 2.1 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Trail segments
27

Water & Access

To nearest major road
2.1 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 →