RV Parks In Ruidoso Downs, NM

Ruidoso Downs sits at about 6,400 feet elevation in the Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico, immediately adjacent to the resort town of Ruidoso and home to the famous Ruidoso Downs Race Track and the All American Futurity, the world's richest quarter horse race. The area has several RV campgrounds and parks, with some free camping options in the surrounding Lincoln National Forest. While nearby Ruidoso gets the tourism spotlight, Ruidoso Downs provides RVers with more affordable camping options while keeping you within minutes of everything the mountain resort area has to offer. The race track draws huge crowds during the summer racing season from late May through Labor Day, and the Hubbard Museum of the American West next door has an impressive collection of horse-related exhibits, carriages, and Western art. The Lincoln National Forest rises in every direction around the valley, with Ski Apache just a short drive up the mountain for winter skiing and summer scenic chairlift rides. The Rio Ruidoso flows through the area, and the combination of mountain scenery, pine forests, cool summer temperatures, and horse racing creates a vacation atmosphere that draws Texas and Oklahoma RVers north by the thousands each summer. RV parks in Ruidoso Downs range from full-hookup campgrounds along Highway 70 to more rustic options closer to the forest, all benefiting from the mountain elevation that keeps summer highs well under 90 degrees. Nearby Billy the Kid Casino adds gaming entertainment to the mix. The village of Lincoln, a National Historic Landmark preserving the buildings from Billy the Kid's time and the Lincoln County War, sits about 30 miles east on Highway 380 and makes for a fascinating half-day history excursion. The Sacramento Mountains are also home to the Mescalero Apache Reservation, which operates the Inn of the Mountain Gods resort and casino along a beautiful mountain lake just south of Ruidoso. For RVers seeking cool mountain weather, horse racing excitement, forest recreation, and a lively resort-town atmosphere, the Ruidoso Downs area packs remarkable variety into a compact mountain valley.

Of the campgrounds near Ruidoso Downs, a portion% are free while a portion% charge a nightly fee. Full-hookup parks in the Ruidoso Downs area run about $30 to $55 per night, with rates at the higher end during racing season and summer peak months. Weekly and monthly rates are available at some parks for extended summer stays. Parks in Ruidoso Downs tend to be somewhat less expensive than those in Ruidoso proper, giving you savings while keeping you just minutes from the resort town's amenities. Free camping in the Lincoln National Forest is available with a 14-day stay limit, offering mountain camping at no cost. During the All American Futurity on Labor Day weekend, expect full occupancy and premium rates at every park in the valley.