Santa Barbara Campground
Carson National Forest, New Mexico
Sold out? We check Santa Barbara Campground for cancellations and email you the moment a site opens.
Cancellation alerts
Sold out for your dates?
Free to start. Email alerts included.
As of October 2026, Santa Barbara Campground is a campground in Carson National Forest, New Mexico with 12 campsites. Santa Barbara Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.
- PermitSnag checks Santa Barbara Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
- Santa Barbara Campground is located at 36.0891° N, 105.6101° W.
- people allowed on 8 of 12 sites
- 8
- people allowed on the largest site
- 40
Santa Barbara Campground reservations and next available dates
October 2026
Campsites at Santa Barbara Campground
- Standard 10
- RV 2
- Accessible 1
What an RV fits
- 25 ft1 site
- 30 ft3 sites
- 32 ft2 sites
- 35 ft1 site
- 40 ft3 sites
- 45 ft1 site
- 48 ft1 site
Amenities
- restrooms
- potable water
At a glance: Setting: Forest.
Things to do: fishing, hiking, horse riding.
All sites at Santa Barbara Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov
Every site is in the SANTA BARBARA CAMPGROUND loop.
| Site | Type | Sleeps | Max RV | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | 24 | 32 ft | - |
| 002 | RV | 32 | 32 ft | - |
| 005 | Standard | 8 | 40 ft | - |
| 009 | Standard | 8 | 30 ft | - |
| 012 | Standard | 8 | 30 ft | Accessible |
| 013 | Standard | 8 | 40 ft | - |
| 014 | Standard | 8 | 35 ft | - |
| 015 | Standard | 8 | 30 ft | - |
| 016 | Standard | 8 | 40 ft | - |
| 018 | RV | 40 | 25 ft | - |
| 020 | Standard | 8 | 48 ft | - |
| 021 | Standard | 16 | 45 ft | - |
About Santa Barbara Campground
Overview
Santa Barbara Campground is situated nicely on the edge of the Pecos Wilderness area and next to Rio Santa Barbara, a beautiful and healthy trout stream.
Recreation
This is a great drop off point for hikers and horseback riders seeking close access to the Pecos Wilderness and Jicarita Peak.
Facilities
The campground has 15 single sites, each containing a table and fire ring; two double sites, each containing two tables and a fire ring; one triple site containing three tables and a fire ring; and two quad sites containing four tables and a fire ring. Vault toilets, drinking water from faucets and trash removal are provided. There are no horse facilites within the campground. First-come, first-served sites are available.
Natural Features
Santa Barbara is located in a mixed forest of spruce, fir and aspen trees, which provide some shade throughout the day. At an altitude of 8,900 feet, temperatures can cool off during the summer nights.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888.
Nearby Attractions
Trail access to Jicarita Peak, with close access to North Truchas Peak, Sipapu Ski Resort, the town of Vadito, and the town of Penasco are all nearby. All are within 8-15 miles from the campground. Most services are available in Taos, NM, 25 miles north of the campground or Espanola, NM, 45 miles southwest.
Rules and notices at Santa Barbara Campground
Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 28, 2026. Check Santa Barbara Campground on Recreation.gov
Notices from Recreation.gov
Standard Single Family sites: Recreation Use Fee allows ONE camping unit ONLY.
Double, Triple & Group sites: Refer to Specific Site # for capacity limits.
Extra Vehicles: Cannot be paid for in advance - upon arrival coordinate with the host for payment and where to park.
Late Arrivals: campers are not considered a "no-show" until 24 hours after arrival date check in time. Our policy is that your site will not be released before that.
FIRST COME FIRST SERVE sites must be booked in person. DO NOT call to determine availability, as they are only available on-site.
Bears frequent the area: please obey all food storage rules and regulations. Check with your host for details.
Don't Move Firewood : Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org .
Off-road vehicles are not permitted in the area.
There are no horse facilities within the campground itself.
Click here for more information on the Carson National Forest.
Opening and closing dates are weather permitting, please call 928-537-8888 for more information.
Santa Barbara Campground FAQ
How hard is it to get a campsite at Santa Barbara Campground?
Santa Barbara Campground is rated "Moderate to Book" based on historical demand. With 12 sites available, you have good chances of finding availability, especially on weekdays.
How do I find last-minute availability at Santa Barbara Campground?
Cancellations happen frequently at Santa Barbara Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.
How many campsites does Santa Barbara Campground have?
Santa Barbara Campground has 12 campsites.
More campgrounds in Carson National Forest
Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.
- Fawn Lakes Campground availability19 sites
- Amole Canyon Group Shelter reservations1 site
- is Echo Amphitheater campground open13 sites
- Hopewell Lake Campground availability33 sites
- Agua Piedra Campground reservations46 sites
- is Cimarron Campground open36 sites
Campgrounds
Browse Campsites
Monitor campsite availability across federal and state parks. Get alerts when sites open up at sold-out campgrounds.
New Mexico
8 popular campgrounds
- Eagle Nest Lake Campground
- Fawn Lakes Campground
- Gallo Campground
- Vista Linda Campground
- Water Canyon Campground
- Black Canyon Campground (Santa Fe National Forest, Nm)
- Bottomless Lakes Campground
- Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways Campground
California
8 popular campgrounds
- Atwell Mill Campground
- Buckeye Flat Campground
- Canyon View Group Sites
- Cold Springs Campground (Ca)
- Crystal Springs Campground (Ca)
- Crystal Springs Campground Mid-Sized Group Sites
- Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping
- Indian Cove Group Campground
Oregon
8 popular campgrounds
- Little Crater Lake Campground
- Cave Creek Campground
- Acorn Woman Lakes Campground
- Big Lake West Campground
- Bolan Lake Campground
- Cavitt Creek Falls Recreation Site
- Clearwater Falls Campground
- Cultus Lake Boat In - West Campground
Utah
8 popular campgrounds
- Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground
- Devils Garden Campground
- Natural Bridges Campground
- North Campground (Ut)
- South Campground (Ut)
- Sunset Campground (Ut)
- Watchman Campground
- Anderson Meadow Campground (Fishlake NF, Ut)
Ohio
8 popular campgrounds
- Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Grand Lake West Bank Marina
- Kiser Lake State Park Kiser Lake Grandview Area Tie Ups Campground
- Lake Logan State Park Lake Logan Marina Beach 1-18 Campground
- Lake Loramie State Park Earls Island Dock Back Campground
- Pike Lake State Park Pike Lake Cabins and Day Use Shelters
- Scioto Trail State Park Stewart Lake Campground
- Buck Creek State Park G Dock Campground
- Buckeye Lake State Park Fairfield Beach a Docks Campground
Minnesota
8 popular campgrounds
- Cass Lake Loop Campground
- Fenske Lake Campground
- Glacial Lakes State Park Lower Campground
- Jeanette Lake Campground
- Lake Bronson State Park Lakeside Extension Campground
- Lake Maria State Park Backpack Campsites
- Lake Shetek State Park Prairie Campground
- Maplewood State Park Grass Lake Campground: Hollow Loop
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our campground pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Takes less than a minute.