What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellations within 14 days of arrival are not refunded, because we are holding the reservation and cannot let other guests book what is already reserved. Cancellations outside the 14 days become a coupon or gift card, less processing fees where they apply.

Are you open all year?

Yes. Winter is quiet and mild, with skiing up the road in Cloudcroft; busy season runs May through October, so book early.

Do the RV sites have full hook-ups?

Every RV site is full hook-up, with a mix of 30 and 50 amp service. There is EV charging by RV sites 1 to 7.

Yes: we are groovy with pets on a leash. The Stargazing RV Site has a private fenced area where your dog can be off the leash.

There are trout in the Rio Peñasco, which flows through camp. The riverside tent sites and Sweet Daisy are steps from the water.

When is the cabins’ hot tub open?

The private hot tub behind the Cozy Cabin and the Family Cabin is open May 1 to October 1.

Can we hold a wedding or reunion here?

Yes. The pavilion is $100 for a half day or $150 for a full day ($25 an hour), and the outdoor stage is concert-ready with lighting. We can help coordinate weddings, reunions, retreats, church services and workshops, and you can rent out the whole park.

Is there food at the park?

Ristras, the food trailer, is on site near the river, and the camp store carries coffee and camping basics.

How far is Cloudcroft?

About 20 minutes up Highway 82 to the Village of Cloudcroft. White Sands is about 45 minutes, Ruidoso Downs about an hour and Carlsbad Caverns about two hours.

Call 575-687-3715 or email campriomanager@gmail.com. When you write, include your email and phone number so we can answer.

Mayhill · New Mexico

6,500 feetabove stress

RV sites, tent camping, glamping and cabins on the Rio Peñasco, about 20 minutes below Cloudcroft. Open all year.

Open all yearTrout in the riverPets on a leash welcome

Camp Rio4.5151 reviews · 151 GoogleOpen all year

Camp Rio is a family campground on eleven acres of mountainside in Mayhill, with the Rio Peñasco flowing right through it. Clay and Julie Speer bought the park, then The Camp at Cloudcroft, in 2020, and a vote in the local paper gave it its new name. It has 38 full hook-up RV sites, 15 tent sites, four glamping stays and four cabins, trout in the river, and in winter more deer and turkey than people.

A family boutique campground

A river through the middle of camp

The Rio Peñasco runs through the park, and the trout are literally in front of you at the riverside sites: an easy cast from your chair. Clay and Julie run Camp Rio as a safe, clean, relaxing place for families, and they are groovy with pets on a leash and group events too. Call or email and they will help make your trip happen.

Ask about dates

Four ways to camp

RV sites

38 full hook-up sites with 30 and 50 amp service, from the river up to The Cove.

Tent camping

15 tent sites: seven on the Rio Peñasco, plus mountain-view and private sites.

Bring the dog

Pets on a leash are welcome. The camp store even sells trucker hats for dogs.

Cabins and glamping

Six places to sleep with a roof over your head, each with its own page.

Cozy Cabin

A queen and a daybed for three, a covered porch and a hot tub out back.

Family Cabin

The old main office, remodeled in 2025: a king, sleeper sofas and a gas range.

Sweet Daisy

A vintage Shasta down by the Rio Peñasco, steps from the trout.

Gypsy Village

A painted wagon and a teardrop: two bedrooms, an outdoor kitchen and a hammock.

Band Camp

Three bedrooms in school buses, a big deck and a fire pit. Parking for three.

CTM: Chillin The Most

A former music hall turned glamping cabin, with a view of the mountainside.

Fall comes early at 6,500 feet

The cottonwoods by the office turn gold while the desert below is still hot.

Camp Rio by the numbers

Besides the gorgeous surroundings and wildlife (deer, turkey, ducks) the hosts and owner were wonderful. Clay was very present and chatted with the campers. All the hosts were so friendly and happy.

Julie P., September 2026, on Google

Glamping

Daisy, Prince and the Blues Brothers

Camp Rio's glamping has a sense of humour. Sweet Daisy is a vintage Shasta down by the river. Gypsy Village pairs a painted wagon with a teardrop trailer and an outdoor kitchen. Band Camp is three bedrooms in school buses: two blue ones, Jake and Elwood Blues, and a purple one that will be Prince, of course.

Meet Sweet Daisy

All year

Duck races, chili and Friendsgiving

The Triple Clown rubber duck races run on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day weekends. There is a chili cook-off and cornhole tournament, a motorcycle camping weekend with a fish fry, and Friendsgiving in November. The pavilion and the outdoor stage host weddings, reunions, church services and concerts.

See the year

What campers say

We love Camp Rio and the owners Clay and Julie. We’ve been camping here for more than 30 years with my Cousin Rick Cearley and his wife Maray. Great camp ground no stress.

Jeff C., May 2026, on Google

Day trips from camp

Drive times from Camp Rio. Photos courtesy of Google.

White Sands National Park

About 45 minutes: up 82 or 130 into Cloudcroft, then down through Alamogordo.

Bluff Springs

About 45 minutes: left on 130, then left again on the forest road to the falls.

Carlsbad Caverns

About two hours: right out of the park, east through Mayhill and south to Carlsbad.

Golf at The Lodge

About 20 minutes up 82 into the Village of Cloudcroft.

Osha Trail

About 25 minutes: up 82 through Cloudcroft, then right as you leave town.

Ruidoso Downs

About an hour via 82 and 244. Deer, elk, turkey and wild mustangs use that road: drive with care.

From Clay and Julie

We are honored to have you and your family and other guests stay with us, and we only hope you enjoy yourself here as much as we love being here and hosting you.

Clay & Julie Speer

Owners, Camp Rio

Camp Rio

Find us on Rio Peñasco Road

2180 Rio Penasco Road in Mayhill, about 20 minutes below the Village of Cloudcroft on Highway 82. Drone videos of the drive in, from Mayhill, Cloudcroft and Highway 130, are on the park map page.

Park map and drive-in videos

Around camp

View post

A river through the middle of camp