1
Pull-thru
USFSSanta Fe National Forest · New Mexico
Rio DE Las Vacas Campground
Overview Less than two hours from the city of Albuquerque, Rio de las Vacas Campground offers a cool oasis from the New Mexico heat.
Sites15all reservable
Elev.8,271ft
Comf.May-Sep5 months
Max rig42 ft1 pull-thru
Electricnonesites
From Albuquerque1h59real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 8,271 ft, Rio DE Las Vacas Campground has a 5-month comfortable window (May-Sep). Winter nights average around 15°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. All 15 sites are reservable in advance, so plan ahead. Popular weekends book out. Of the sites, 1 pull-through, and the longest takes a 42-ft rig. Within about 4 miles: 5 peaks, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on shade and reservability. Softest on roomy sites.
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
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Apr
May-Sep
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
69%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
May 20
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 6.
52°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Albuquerque
94 mi
1h59
02
Santa Fe
121 mi
2h27
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 8.6 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 15 SITES
Color byShow only
15 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.
0
Walk-in
0
50-amp
0
Accessible
4
Prime
15
Sites
★ The standout
Site 004
RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND · prime location · shaded.
To neighbor
202 ft
Location
Prime
Type
Standard
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
12
Peaks
5
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
8.6 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.