Santa Barbara Campground

Carson National Forest — fishing, hiking

Location: Vadito, NM, NM

Price: From $30 per night

Price range: $30–$80 per night

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (75 reviews)

Season: May through October

Santa Barbara Campground is situated nicely on the edge of the Pecos Wilderness area and next to Rio Santa Barbara, a beautiful and healthy trout stream.Santa Barbara is located in a mixed forest of spruce, fir and aspen trees, which provide some shade throughout the day. At an altitude of 8,900 feet, temperatures can cool off during the summer nights.Trail access to Jicarita Peak, with close access to North Truchas Peak, Sipapu Ski Resort, the town of Vadito, and the town of Penasco are all nea

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/santa-barbara-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Santa Barbara Campground sits on the edge of the Pecos Wilderness next to Rio Santa Barbara, a healthy trout stream. Google reviewers consistently praise it as a beautiful, peaceful campground nestled in mountain peaks with excellent access to hiking and fishing.

Wildlife alert: Bobcat, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, American Pika, American Beaver, Clark's Nutcracker, and Western Terrestrial Garter Snake documented in the area.

Insider tips for Santa Barbara Campground: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand Call ahead if planning to park multiple RVs at a single site, as some sites like Triple Occupancy allow dual driveways Site 001 and others offer direct views/sounds of the Santa Barbara River

Skip Santa Barbara Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You plan to camp outside May-October — seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Santa Barbara Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally from May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Agua Piedra Campground (Vadito, NM), Amole Canyon Group Shelter (Penasco, NM), Rio Bravo Group Shelter (Taos, NM), Jacks Creek Group Area (Pecos, NM).