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Rio De Las Vacas Campground

Santa Fe National Forest

🏕️ CampgroundBandelier / Los AlamosNew Mexico⭐ 4.6 (124)
Rio De Las Vacas Campground
🟢 8 open windows as of Oct 12 — soonest Mon Oct 12–Thu Oct 15
Availability checked 9h ago · changes fast, verify before you drive
🐕 Dogs allowed — all 15 sites here that publish a pet policy say yes.
Per-site pet policy from Recreation.gov site details (RIDB), checked 2d ago.
📈 CampSage caught 4 cancellations here in the last 7 days — set an alert below to catch the next one.
Book / check availability →🧭 Directions
💡 In short

Rio De Las Vacas Campground in New Mexico has 8 open booking windows on Recreation.gov right now, the soonest Mon Oct 12–Thu Oct 15. Reserve directly through the booking link above — cancellations go fast. To catch future openings the instant they appear, set a free CampSage cancellation alert.

📅 Open dates
Mon Oct 12 – Thu Oct 153 nightsbook these dates →sites #001, #004, #010
Fri Oct 16 – Mon Oct 193 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →👥 RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #011 & RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #012 next to each othersites #001, #006, #009, #011, #012, #014, #015
Sun Oct 18 – Wed Oct 213 nightsbook these dates →👥 3 in a row, RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #002–RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #004 next to each othersites #002, #003, #004, #008, #010, #013
Mon Oct 19 – Thu Oct 223 nightsbook these dates →sites #007
Tue Oct 20 – Fri Oct 233 nightsbook these dates →sites #005
Fri Oct 23 – Mon Oct 263 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →👥 RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #002 & RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #003 next to each othersites #002, #003, #007, #008, #010, #013
Tue Oct 27 – Fri Oct 303 nightsbook these dates →sites #004
Wed Oct 28 – Sat Oct 313 nightsbook these dates →sites #005

📷 What these sites look like

Photos of sites that are open right now, from recreation.gov. Angles vary by park — usually the site and its parking pad.

Campsite RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #001 — Site 1 in the shade of conifers.
Site RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #001 · Site 1 in the shade of conifers.Forest Service
Campsite RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #004 — Campsite four has two picnic tables, fire pit, and is surrou
Site RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #004 · Campsite four has two picnic tables, fire pit, and is surrouForest Service
Campsite RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #010 — Campsite 10 has clear blue skies with a picnic table, fire p
Site RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #010 · Campsite 10 has clear blue skies with a picnic table, fire pForest Service
Campsite RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #006 — Campsite 6 has a picnic table, fire pit, and shade from near
Site RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #006 · Campsite 6 has a picnic table, fire pit, and shade from nearForest Service
Campsite RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #009 — Campsite nine provides shade, a fire pit, and a  picnic tabl
Site RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #009 · Campsite nine provides shade, a fire pit, and a picnic tablJanice M Naylor
Campsite RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #011 — Campsite 11 is a double driveway site with two picnic tables
Site RIO DE LAS VACAS CAMPGROUND #011 · Campsite 11 is a double driveway site with two picnic tablesJanice M Naylor
⚡ EV charging nearby

Nearest DC fast charging: 8.7 mi away (straight line).

⚡ Francis Energy8.7 midirections →

Distances are straight-line, not driving — the road can be much longer where a river, a lake or a canyon sits in between. From OpenStreetMap — community-mapped, so plug types can lag reality. Verify on your charging network’s app before counting on a charger.

🔭 Planning further ahead?

We watch the next 60 days closely — that's where cancellations show up. recreation.gov takes bookings out to about April 2027, so there may be 2+ night stays past our window.

📊 How often sites open up here

CampSage's scans caught 21 openings at Rio De Las Vacas Campground over the last 30 days, on 20 separate days, most of them for stays anywhere from same-day to about 17 days out and the openings typically covered 2–3 nights.

These are the openings our own scans saw — not a figure the booking system publishes. We re-check availability several times a day, so the real number can be higher.

🏕️ About this campground

💵 $20/nightStandard Nonelectric🎒 backcountry🎒 car camping🎒 fishing🎒 hiking🎒 horseback riding

Ratings

4.6★★★★★121 ratings
5★93
4★17
3★4
2★3
1★4
Star ratings from recreation.gov (they don't publish written review text). Read & leave reviews on recreation.gov ↗

📶 Cell coverage camper-reported

T-Mobile0.2/4
AT&T0.1/4
Verizon0.0/4
Sprint retired0.0/4

💡 Insider tips from campers

❓ Rio De Las Vacas Campground FAQ

How do I reserve a campsite at Rio De Las Vacas Campground?

Rio De Las Vacas Campground in New Mexico takes campsite reservations through Recreation.gov. On this page, use the “Book / check availability” button to open the live booking page, see which dates are free, and reserve your site.

How much does it cost to camp at Rio De Las Vacas Campground?

Campsite fees at Rio De Las Vacas Campground run about $20/night, as listed by Recreation.gov. Exact rates vary by site type, number of campers, and season.

How can I get a spot at Rio De Las Vacas Campground when it's fully booked?

Popular campgrounds like Rio De Las Vacas Campground often fill months ahead, but campers cancel every day and those sites reopen for booking. CampSage checks availability for you and sends a free email the instant a cancellation opens — set an alert on this page and you can grab the spot before anyone else.

How often do campsites open up at Rio De Las Vacas Campground?

CampSage's scans caught 21 openings at Rio De Las Vacas Campground over the last 30 days, on 20 separate days, most of them for stays anywhere from same-day to about 17 days out and the openings typically covered 2–3 nights. These are the openings our own scans saw — not a figure the booking system publishes. We re-check availability several times a day, so the real number can be higher.

Is Rio De Las Vacas Campground a good campground?

Rio De Las Vacas Campground holds an average rating of 4.6/5 from 124 camper ratings on Recreation.gov. The full star breakdown is shown above.

Is there cell service at Rio De Las Vacas Campground?

Of the carriers campers have reported on at Rio De Las Vacas Campground, T-Mobile rates highest at 0.2 out of 5 from 29 reports. See the carrier-by-carrier breakdown above — service can still vary by campsite, terrain, and weather.

Where is Rio De Las Vacas Campground located?

Rio De Las Vacas Campground is located in Bandelier / Los Alamos, New Mexico. Tap “Directions” above for driving directions, or see nearby campgrounds lower on this page.

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👥 Group size (Pro):
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Explore

Camping in Santa Fe National ForestEvery campground it managesCampgrounds near Bandelier / Los AlamosNearby areas🌲 National Forest campingSimilar campgrounds📖 Recreation.gov Booking Windows (2026)Booking guide📖 Campsite Cancellation Policies & RefundsBooking guide

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