Know Before You Go – FAQs

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Know Before You Go - FAQs

Welcome and Bienvenidos to the “Land of Enchantment!”

New Mexico is known for its breathtaking sunsets and mountain air. From high desert to aspen vistas our 35 state parks have something for everyone! Whether it be a mountain hike or water skiing at one of our lake parks, there is always something new for you and your family to experience.

Know Before You Go

The Frequently Asked Questions will be updated to provide the latest information. We look forward to serving you on your next adventure at a New Mexico State Park.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

On January 1, 2025, the New Mexico State Parks Division implemented changes to its Fees and Boating Rules. These changes include differentiation in resident and non-resident camping and day-use fees. The changes also impact life jacket wear and boat registration fees on human-powered vessels.

The following downloadable fliers provide a synopsis of these changes that are currently in effect.

Parks Fee Changes (PDF)

Boating Rule Changes (PDF)

Fee Change: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF)

Official Fees Adjustments & Rule Amendments as of January 1, 2025

The following documents contain all amendments to the 2025 New Mexico State Parks Fees

18.17.2 NMAC New (PDF)
18.17.2 NMAC Repeal (PDF)
19.5.1 NMAC New
19.5.1 NMAC Repeal (PDF)
19.5.2 NMAC Amendment (PDF)
19.5.6 NMAC Amendment (PDF)

Park Safety Tips 101

1. Bring plenty of food and water
2. Recreate with friends
3. Plan your trip and leave the plan with a loved one or at the park visitor center
4. Ensure that your cell phone is fully charged
5. Know your limitations
6. Observe wildlife at a safe distance
7. Stay on the trail
8. Take breaks during your excursion
9. Ensure your pets are properly secured
10. Wear your life jacket

Camping is available at the following state parks

The following parks are available for camping. Check the Park Alerts page to ensure there are no closures at your park of choice. Some parks follow a seasonal closure schedule and are only open at specific times of the year.

Which state parks are open for Day-Use only?

Can I buy a Day-Use Pass online?

Yes. We encourage you to buy a Day-Use Pass online from Reserve America before you get to any New Mexico State Park. You can also buy your Day-Use Pass at the park, at one of our many self-pay stations, or by phone at 1-888-NMPARKS.

We encourage visitors to have exact cash or use a check for the self-pay system.

Beginning January 1, 2025, day-use fees will be as follows.

Resident Day Use $5.00
Non-resident Day Use $10.00

To purchase a Day Use Pass – Click Here

Camping Rules

Quiet hours are between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Check in time is 4pm, after this deadline the site will open for new reservations. No Refunds.
Campsite check-out time is 2:00 p.m
Campsites can be reserved six (6) months in advance.
Campers may not retain and leave a campsite vacant for more than 24 hours.
Campers are prohibited from moving to another camp site once in the park without coordinating the move with state park staff.

Camping Fees

Reservation Fees
(Subject to Change)

Reservation – non-refundable	Cancellation fee per night
$4 for 1 night	$9 for 1 night
$8 for 2 nights	$13 for 2 nights
$12 for 3 or more nights	$17 for 3 or more nights

The fees in the following table go into effect January 1, 2025

Entrance Pass/Permit	Fee
Resident Day Use	$5.00 per vehicle from 5/1 to 9/30 annually
Non-resident Day Use	$10.00 per vehicle year-round
Walk-in/bicycle	No Charge
Resident School Bus	No Charge
Non-Resident School Bus	$15.00
Commercial Charter Bus	$50.00
RV Dump Station per use (non-campers)	$10.00
Rio Grande Nature Center Parking Fee	$5.00 per vehicle (all users year-round)
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens – Adult	$10.00 per person
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens – Child (7-12)	$5.00 per person
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens – Child (under 7)	Free
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens – Adult Group	$5.00 per person (groups of 20 or more)
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens – Youth school groups	$1.00 per person
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens – AZA Adult	$5.00 per person
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens – AZA Child	$3.00 per person
Camping Pass/Permit	Fee
Resident Primitive	$10.00 per vehicle per night/walk-in/bicycle
Non-Resident Primitive	$15.00 per vehicle per night/walk-in/bicycle
Resident Developed	$15.00 per vehicle per night/walk-in/bicycle
Non-Resident Developed	$20.00 per vehicle per night/walk-in/bicycle
Water hook-up	$5.00 per day (only at sites with water)
Electric hook-up	$10.00 per day (only at sites with electricity)
Sewer hook-up	$5.00 per day (only at sites with sewer)
Resident Annual Day Use permit	$75.00
NR Annual Day Use permit	$150
Disabled Veteran	Free (NM Resident Veteran with 50% or more disability)
Resident Annual Camping Permit	$300.00
Resident Senior Annual Camping Permit	$150.00
Resident Disabled Annual Camping Permit	$150.00
Resident Vet/Military Annual Camping Permit	$150.00
Non-Resident Annual Camping Permit	$600.00
Replacement Annual Camping Permit	$25.00 (with proof of purchase)
Special Use Permit	$30.00

Annual Camping Pass/Permit (ACP)

Options for an Annual Camping Pass/Permit (ACP)

Resident Annual Camping Pass/Permit A resident is an individual with a valid New Mexico State Identification Card or NM license plate.	$300
NM Senior Annual Camping Pass/Permit New Mexico Resident *Senior, 62+ Must be Purchased at NM State Parks’ Santa Fe headquarters or any NM State Park Visitor Center only. This ACU cannot be purchased online. Proof of Age and Vehicle License Plate Number are required at the time of purchase.	$150
NM Disabled Annual Camping Pass/Permit (proof of disability required) a New Mexico handicap motor vehicle license plate issued to them; a parking placard for mobility-impaired individuals with the photograph of the placard holder issued to them by the Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division; a New Mexico Department of Game and Fish lifetime hunting and fishing card containing their name; a written determination from the United States Social Security Administration finding that they are currently eligible for Social Security disability benefits supplemental security income disability benefits; or a photocopy of the award letter the United States Department of Veterans Affairs issues indicating they have a one hundred percent service-connected disability. This cannot be purchased online. Disabled Passes must be purchased at an NM State Park Office or the Santa Fe Headquarters.	$150
NM Veteran/Military Annual Camping Pass/Permit NM veterans with a 50% or more disability will continue to receive a free annual day-use pass and three nights of camping each year.	$150
Non-Resident Annual Camping Pass/Permit Proof of I.D. and Vehicle License Plate Number are required at the time of purchase.	$600
Replacement Annual Camping Pass/Permit Customers are required to sign an affidavit when making the request in-person.	$25

It may take up to three weeks to receive your Annual Camping Pass/Permit (ACP) in the mail.
To ensure effective delivery, please double-check your mailing address and immediately contact Reserve America to update the address if needed. [1-877-664-7787]
If making an online reservation the ACP number must be entered at the time of online checkout.
State Park staff will verify your pass/permit upon your arrival.
Your ACP has two parts, one for your tow vehicle and one for the camping unit. The tow vehicle portion of your ACP must be permanently affixed to the lower left-hand portion of your tow vehicle windshield. The camping unit portion of the ACP must be affixed to a window on your camping unit where it is visible from the outside. If you don’t have a camping unit (i.e. tent camping) both parts of the ACP must be permanently affixed to the lower left-hand portion of your vehicle. An ACP is valid for a full 12 months from the month and year of issue. This includes if the pass/permit was purchased in 2024. It does carry over into 2025 during the transition to the new State Parks Divison fee structure.
An ACP covers the base camping fee and can only be applied during the valid 12-month pass/permit period.
The ACP can only be used by the person who purchased it; it cannot be transferred to another person.
The ACP cannot be used for more than one campsite at a time.
The ACP cannot be used to make reservations at more than one state park for the same period.

Annual Day-Use Pass/Permit (ADU)

Resident Day-Use	$5
Non-resident Day-Use	$10
Walk-In/Bicycle	No Charge
Resident School Bus	No Charge
Non-Resident School Bus	$15
Commercial Charter Bus	$50

New Mexico Residents are exempt from paying day-use fees from October 1st through April 30th.
ADU is only valid for the calendar year in which it was purchased.
ADU is not valid for reservations.
ADU is not valid for camping, yurts, lodges, cabins, or reservation of group shelters.
An ADU should hang from the rearview mirror of your vehicle when your vehicle is parked in a New Mexico State Park.
An ADU placard is transferable and valid in any vehicle.
An ADU entitles you to day admission at 34 of 35 New Mexico State Parks. Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad is the only state park for which separate entry fees are charged.
Vehicles in the park between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. are subject to camping fees.
Customers with an ADU can access event facilities (e.g., group shelter, lodge, rally site) to attend an event for the day.

Will my National Parks pass work at New Mexico State Parks?

National/Federal discount passes are not accepted at New Mexico State Parks. This includes America the Beautiful – The National Parks, Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass, and Golden Age and Golden Access passes.

Seasonal Closures

Several New Mexico State Parks have seasonal and other types of closures due to weather, wildlife and land conservation, construction, holiday closures, and other factors. These closures can impact specific lakes, campgrounds, comfort stations, visitor centers, and more. Always check with the individual park you plan to visit by logging onto our Find a Park page for contact information and Park Alerts.

Can I reserve a group shelter for the day?

Group shelters are available by reservation. Check the specific park pages and the campsite reservations pages for additional information.

Can I build a campfire?

In parks that are open for camping, some parks may allow for campfires and others may not depending on the local fire conditions. Please see the Parks Alerts section for each park for the latest on fire restrictions and other information.

Are pets allowed?

Pets are allowed at most state parks and must be on a leash at all times. Only service dogs are allowed at Rio Grande Nature Center and Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Parks. Please pick up after your pets and dispose of waste in the trash receptacles provided.

Are boats required to be registered (i.e. Certificate of Number) ?

Before heading out on the water, please ensure your boat registration (Certificate of Number) is current—all N.M. Motor Vehicle Division offices are open for vessel registration and expired registration can be renewed online. Click here to renew your registration online. For all other vessel processing, the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division field offices are open for appointments. Click here to make an appointment.

Is swimming allowed?

Some parks have designated no swimming areas. Information for each park is available on our Find a Park page.
It is recommended that children have adult supervision at all times and wear a life jacket when they are near the water (e.g., shoreline, river bank).
Swimming shall be at the swimmer’s own risk.
Swimming is prohibited within 150 feet of marinas, fishing piers, docks, ramps, dams, or as otherwise posted.
Visitors using air mattresses, inner tubes, surfboards, sail or wind, styrofoam flotation devices, paddleboards or other similar articles shall wear a United States Coast Guard-approved life jacket or flotation assist device.
Swimming may be subject to more stringent laws or rules or regulations of a landowner (e.g. United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation) from which the division leases the land or reservoir.

Late/Cancellation Policy

Unoccupied campsites reserved through Reserve America or the park will be made available to other visitors if the reservation holder fails to occupy the site or notify either party by 4 p.m. on the day following the scheduled arrival date. After this deadline, the site will open up for new reservations. No refunds will be provided to the original reservation holder.

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Welcome and Bienvenidos to the “Land of Enchantment!”