Pine Springs Campground - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

The NP gets five stars as do the many trails but this is a campground review and the campground is an asphalt parking lot with facilities shared by hundreds of daily day use hikers. No hookups but no alternatives within 30 miles.

The campground is no longer first come, first served. All campers are supposed to make reservations through Recreation.gov even if you want a site for the same day. Apparently, the National Park Service is requiring a strict crackdown on unit length. They have also changed the lengths allowed (reducing length) for some sites and reduced the number of RV sites. Otherwise, the other reviews are accurate.

Beautiful area, but pitiful camping. Campground is patrolled by a rude volunteer that evicts anyone towing even a small trailer. The campground is essentially a small asphalt parking lot with lines painted for spaces. The only “RV’s” that seem to be allowed here are camper vans 21 feet long or less.

Glad we stopped here after seeing Carlsbad Caverns. We arrived before 2 pm. Almost full but glad we snagged a spot. Great hikes. Fabulous stars at night and wonderful sunrise

We stayed here on December 21. We were in a class C 26 foot RV. As other shared it is just a parking lot. There are no services and it is in a remote location. Gas or food is 40 miles away. It is a popular spot for campers. In fact the camping spots were all filled. It is first come first serve but there were plenty of spaces available. It seems people stay maybe one or two days at most and then move on. It is a center for adventure seekers. The hiking here is phenomenal. There are some easier hikes and difficult with lots of opportunity for different skills levels. We were visiting with our kids. It is close to Carlsbad carvers which we visited but it’s just a really neat place. We saw road runners and deer. If you’re used to RV parks just be prepared for boondocking. Also, one thing this area is subject to Highwinds. We were blasted by 40 knot winds one night. And it’s a fairly common occurrence. They do warn you on the board about upcoming Highwind. It seems they routinely good winds of 60 knots.

Decent location. Cheap! Yes, the RV area is a parking lot. Clean flush toilet rooms. Lots of hikers! We scored a level stall. There were only three when we pulled in mid-afternoon. The other two were taken shortly after. First come first served. We stayed several days. Lots of turnover, but it filled each evening. Plan to get there early afternoon.

It is great to camp right in the National Park, but it is just a parking lot. Fresh water is for filling jugs only. Can not attach your hose to fill tanks. But all that being said the hikes there are beautiful! https://youtu.be/MDdXI3-KoGk

OK, it’s a parking lot, but we got lucky pulling in at 1600 on 10/31/18 and scored an end slot with space and fine views. Who can complain for $4.00/night? Traveling involves rolling along and making the best of the experiences as they come up.

March 23rd 2018. Park was fantastic, but this is about the Pine Springs Campground. I totally get all the reviews below. It has a nice tenting campground but for RVs, it's a paved (level) parking lot, which means great Solar. it's off grid, but the Flush Toilet rest rooms were in very good condition. Campground is small, walk in only, and is full by noon, even in March. Many trails branch right off the parking area (I'm going to quit calling it a campground) and the views from the lot were stunning. Had some strong wind blow through at night that had many tenters sleeping in the restrooms, but the asphalt held all the trailers in place just fine. Visitor Center and rangers were great. We stayed there in a 20' Travel Trailer and would definitely stay here again! We drove up from Monahans Sand Hills SP and I would recommend a close "prior night" to get here in the AM. There were many circling disappointed campers in the afternoon, but the rangers were rather firm on overnight parking outside the designated area and the closest alternative campground was a distance away. Make sure you start with a full tank as there aren't many gas stops around. Closest was in Oria about 50 miles East.

Don't agree with previous comment. Guess you need to decide why you're coming to the park. Yes you're cramped in but you come for the mountains and hiking. Wish we could have gotten in but full and had to go up road to koa and pay $50+ to be crammed in with 100+ other campers. Would much rather have been here. Rangers are so helpful and nice.