RV Parks In Chama, New Mexico

Chama sits at 7,871 feet elevation in the mountains of northern New Mexico near the Colorado border, famous as the home of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, a coal-fired narrow-gauge steam train that runs through spectacular mountain passes and valleys to Antonito, Colorado. The area has several RV campgrounds and parks, with some free camping options in the surrounding Carson and Santa Fe national forests. This small mountain town draws RVers who love trains, fishing, hunting, and high-country scenery -- the Rio Chama and its tributaries offer excellent trout fishing, and the surrounding mountains are thick with elk, deer, and wild turkey. Highway 17 climbs north from Chama over 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass into Colorado, following the same route as the historic railroad through some of the most dramatic scenery in the southern Rockies. RV parks in Chama tend to be small, family-run operations with a relaxed mountain-town atmosphere, and the town itself has a handful of restaurants, outfitters, and shops that cater to outdoor enthusiasts and railroad fans. The fall aspen display in the mountains around Chama is legendary, with entire mountainsides turning brilliant gold from late September through mid-October, making it one of the premier fall color destinations in all of New Mexico. The area's remote location and high elevation give it a genuine frontier feel, and the pace of life is slow in the best possible way for RVers looking to decompress. The Rio Chama below the dam is a designated Wild and Scenic River with Class II-III rapids that draw kayakers and rafters during spring and early summer runoff. Elk hunting in the surrounding mountains is world-class, drawing hunters from across the country each fall, and the general deer season keeps outfitters and campgrounds busy through November. For RVers who want a genuine mountain escape with steam trains, trout streams, and fall color that rivals anything in Colorado, Chama delivers an experience well worth the drive into this remote northern valley.

Dump stations are only one piece of the trip puzzle. Before you set out for your trip to Chama, New Mexico, it's worth taking thirty minutes to check that the basics are in place — the four areas below are where unprepared RVers most often get stung.

Of the campgrounds near Chama, a portion% are free while a portion% charge a nightly fee. Full-hookup parks in the Chama area run about $30 to $50 per night, with rates at the higher end during peak fall color season and the summer railroad operating months. Weekly and monthly rates may be available at some parks. Dispersed camping in the surrounding national forests is completely free with a 14-day stay limit, and the quality of the primitive sites -- mountain streams, aspen groves, meadows -- makes it some of the best free camping you'll find anywhere in the state. During the peak Cumbres and Toltec railroad season from June through October, campgrounds near town fill up, especially on weekends and during fall color peak.