Bandelier National Monument
Los Alamos, NM
Ancestral Pueblo cave rooms and ladders carved into soft volcanic tuff in Frijoles Canyon. Parking in the canyon is limited; on busy days a free shuttle runs from an overflow lot near the entrance.
Bandelier National Monument lies near Los Alamos, New Mexico, and covers about 33,677 acres (136 square kilometers) of wilderness. It is named for ethnologist and author Adolph Bandelier, whose novel The Delight Makers is set in Frijoles Canyon. The monument preserves petroglyphs and cave dwellings left by the Ancestral Puebloans.
The short, paved Pueblo Loop Trail leads to the cave dwellings via steep wooden ladders and narrow doorways, and one cave holds a kiva tall enough to stand in. The museum in the visitor center displays artifacts from the 13th century. More than 70 miles (over 110 kilometers) of trails add to that. The Tsankawi unit lies 12 miles (19 kilometers) away on NM 4 and has a 1.5-mile loop past petroglyphs and cave dwellings.
Important for campers: according to Fodor's, from mid-June to mid-October drivers arriving between 9 am and 3 pm must park at the White Rock Visitor Center (10 miles east on NM 4) and take the free shuttle. Check the current rules with the park before you go.
- Nearest town
- Los Alamos, NM
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 35.7787, -106.2706
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, September and November. Hot in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
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Nearby
© Tom Cunningham · CC BY-SA 4.0Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
© Craig Martin https://www.inaturalist.org/people/craigmartin · CC0Valles Caldera National Preserve
© Grendelkhan · CC BY-SA 3.0Meow Wolf – House of Eternal Return
© Rpotance · CC BY-SA 4.0Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Campsites nearby
- Main Gate Park RV ParkMotorhome stopover7 mi from Bandelier National Monument · 10 pitchesMotorhomesWaste disposal
- Roadrunner RV ParkMotorhome stopover16 mi from Bandelier National MonumentMotorhomes
- Los Pinos ParkMotorhome stopover17 mi from Bandelier National MonumentMotorhomes
- Los Suenos de Santa FeMotorhome stopover18 mi from Bandelier National MonumentMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
- Santa Fe Skies RV ParkMotorhome stopover18 mi from Bandelier National MonumentMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- RV SiteMotorhome stopover25 mi from Bandelier National MonumentMotorhomesElectricity
All campsites in New Mexico · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Bandelier National Monument?
Bandelier National Monument is in Los Alamos, NM, at GPS 35.7787, -106.2706. It is about 20 mi from Santa Fe.
Can you camp near Bandelier National Monument?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Juniper Campground Loop A, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 35 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Bandelier National Monument?
Bandelier National Monument is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Jemez Mountain Trail: Bandelier, Valles Caldera and Jemez Springs and Turquoise, tuff and great houses – by camper through the high desert of northern New Mexico.
What is there to see near Bandelier National Monument?
Places worth a stop nearby: Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument (12 mi), Valles Caldera National Preserve (13 mi), Meow Wolf – House of Eternal Return (18 mi) and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (19 mi).
When is the best time to visit Bandelier National Monument?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)