NM National Park Bandelier Nat'l Monument

Camped 3/20-3/25/17. $12/nite, half price for senior/access pass. All sites non-E, water nearby. Dump station. Flush toilets, no hot water or showers. (Toilets in 2 of 3 loops under renovation in Spring 2017. Well-tended porta-potties provided in the interim.) Bear boxes in some sites, so if your site is without, keep food in vehicle or galley. Even though black bears are very rare, ravens will pillage your site, so keep it clean!

Caveat: pavement for many sites is short, but you may be able to park your TV across the drive w/o going off pavement (which would probably get you a citation). Site 9 is pull through, sites 8 & 10 are plenty long for both TD & TV. We haven't assessed others.

This was our 3rd time here, first in a camper. Solar power is great here b/c sun is so strong. It can be windy at times, but that's what you get in the mountains. Campground is just below a ridge, so a lot of the wind passes overhead. Warm to hot in summer on top of the plateau, cold in winter w/occasional snow. Very dry; bring saline solution for your nose, unless you're already accustomed to a lack of humidity.

This is a veritable playground for almost any interest. Nearby: cliff dwelling ruins, hiking, national forest, giant (and dormant!) volcanic caldera, Jemez Mountains, Los Alamos Nat'l Laboratory, science museum, Santa Fe and all its history and galleries. Birdwatching is good.

 

Update. Sites long enough for TD & TV: 3*, 6, 7, 8, 9 (pull thru), 10*, 11, 17, 25, 28, 31, 32, 39*, 40, 41 (pull thru), 43* (park side by side), 45, 47 (park next to), 50, 52, 53, 54, 55 (pull thru), 57

(* =for my future reference, favorites)

Sites are a mix of open and shaded, with some having both conditions. Some would be nice to camp at with friends, as two or more back up to each other; the opposite applies if you don't want to be too close to others.

Happy camping,
Diana