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Chaco Culture National Historical Park › New Mexico
› San Juan County
› Gallo Campground
› Campsite #18
Campsite #18 at Gallo Campground, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM
$20
Campsite #18
| Drive-In | 6 people |
| 35 ft | Back-In |
| 2 | fair |
3/8
3/12
Campsite #18 Features: Drive-In access, Back-In parking, 35ft driveway, Fire ring, Picnic Table, RV Site, Tent Site, Trailer Site, Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (25)
4.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 64% |
| 4 star | | 28% |
| 3 star | | 4% |
| 2 star | | 0% |
| 1 star | | 4% |
@CalebR9866723 · Camped on Mar 2, 2026 at Campsite #18
Brought my wife out here to see the Chaco Canyon ruins and watch a lunar eclipse. We had a great time, and I highly recommend camping out here for the gorgeous night skies!Pros:- Open year-round- Campground is very easy to access by car; signage is clear- Campsites were well maintained and free of trash- Sunset views are amazingCons:- Vault toilets were out of commission; port-a-johns were FULL
@JessicaC246083 · Camped on Dec 20, 2025 at Campsite #18
Great campsite for access to the fantastic Chaco Canyon. Campsite has heated bathrooms with running water (no showers though), nice flat tent sites, picnic tables, and fire rings. The location is really spectacular with a view of Fajada Butte.
No Service
@MichaelF110976 · Camped on Sep 22, 2025 at Campsite #18
Chaco is superb. Campsite was clean and comfortable. Other campers were courteous. Stars were stunning without the moon!
No Service
@PatriciaH36547 · Camped on Jul 14, 2025 at Campsite #18
This was the first visit to this campground and the ruins. Clean bathrooms, accessible to our camp site. The location was amazing. Doing reservations on line was pretty easy. The staff at the visitors center were so amazing. They were very friendly and helpful. Looking forward to our next trip ( just not in July), it was way too hot.
No Service
@MichaelC616917 · Camped on Jun 30, 2025 at Campsite #18
It was a great experience. My brother and I saw so many cool things including one night we saw things moving in the sky (not stars,not planes or satellites, ) the movements were to fast and at quick angles. We got pictures of it though. Then in the morning I was looking up on the ridge line and I asked my brother what was that thing hovering above the cliff (he took a picture of it and it looked like some kind of ship. Then it was gone (we didn't even see where it went) but we have a picture of it. We were excited
No Service
@RobertM1452522 · Camped on Apr 23, 2025 at Campsite #18
Well, it automatically gets points just for being in Chaco Canyon and two minute's drive from the visitor center. One of the most amazing places to visit imaginable, if you like breathtaking landscapes and Ancestral Pueblo dwellings. The Great Houses are a marvel to behold. This campground makes you feel like you live there, if only for a day or few. There is a small house ruin in the cliff alcove that is part of Gallo Campground, and the Wijiji trail begins from the entrance to the campground. Many pluses. It may be desolate, but they provide ample bathroom with running water for all campers, as well as a fire pit, parking place, and a square sandbox type thingy of packed sand perfect for pitching tent. Stargazing is great, although you may see some strange lights up there....it is New Mexico after all. Come commune with the ancient Chacoan spirits at Gallo Campground, it is an experience!
No Service
@MatthewD639755 · Camped on Mar 28, 2025 at Campsite #18
Its a nice campground, and the other folks there were friendly and quiet at night. If you go in March be prepared for lots of wind and cold nights! Im glad we were not in a tent. Also a great base camp to explore all the trails at the park.
No Service
@RicoM7187A45D9 · Camped on Nov 11, 2024 at Campsite #18
Mostly excellent. However, we got there after 5, the ranger station was closed, and all the sites that showed available on recreation.gov were empty but marked reserved. Turns out they just do that, you have to confirm with a ranger the next day. Was very confusing.
@DouglasO5168FE · Camped on Nov 7, 2024 at Campsite #18
We were told not to come as road was impassible.
No Service
@CynthiaF136923 · Camped on Oct 29, 2024 at Campsite #18
The campground was meticulously maintained. The NPS host was helpful and an overall lovely person. I do wish the dump station was in operation while we were there, it had been closed for the season. We were there for 3 nights and had a wonderful trip.
No Service
@salvadorm2DE77 · Camped on Jun 27, 2024 at Campsite #18
Very basic campground, but clean. Restrooms were clean and a great plus. Very friendly and helpful staff. If you like roughing it, I would highly recommended!
No Service
@PeterH7075759 · Camped on May 1, 2024 at Campsite #18
Peaceful gorgeous setting, and so many stars!
@KennethB453248 · Camped on Apr 8, 2024 at Campsite #18
Amazing place, very remote, down a rough road for 5-7 miles. Campgrounds are clean, as are restrooms. Night sky was perfect for stargazing. Hiked to many of the ancient pueblan sites. Pueblo Alto hike is daunting for the first 100 yards, then mostly flat and beautiful.
No Service
@DavidS3927304 · Camped on Apr 6, 2024 at Campsite #18
The campground was very nice, and the staff were helpful. We were camping with the dogs, and it was really nice having the Wijiji trail so close to the camp site so that we could walk them easily when we were at camp. The South Mesa trail was an excellent way to get some spectacular views of the Canyon and beyond. We also appreciated the efforts to protect the delicate environment and ecological sites.
Major Issues
Major Issues
@DavidS3927304 · Camped on Apr 6, 2024 at Campsite #18
The campground was very nice, and the staff were helpful. We were camping with the dogs, and it was really nice having the Wijiji trail so close to the camp site so that we could walk them easily when we were at camp. The South Mesa trail was an excellent way to get some spectacular views of the Canyon and beyond. We also appreciated the efforts to protect the delicate environment and ecological sites.
Major Issues
Major Issues
@ThomasD6597226 · Camped on Apr 3, 2024 at Campsite #18
Campsite was clean, had running water and good restrooms, was quiet and well kept. Just as what we wanted and expected
No Service
@JoAnnH5321302 · Camped on Oct 15, 2023 at Campsite #18
Great campground in a remote park. Be prepared for a rough road for access. That is part of the charm.
@LaurenC8727476 · Camped on Apr 11, 2023 at Campsite #18
Nice clean campground close to the Chaco Canyon sites. The sites were a bit close together and it should be more clear that their is no potable water for rigs (only a sink for drinking water/washing dishes). Road in was also pretty rough.
@yolandarF6F3F5 · Camped on Dec 20, 2022 at Campsite #18
Bathroom with running water. No showers. Filled up with other campers. Quiet. Beautiful stars all around. Except in winter, when your breath fogs up the windows which becomes ice.
@russelll9E35FF · Camped on Oct 17, 2022 at Campsite #18
The hosts were wonderfully helpful, the site is beautiful, and UNLIKE so many other "rec.gov" CG where you have to drive all day only to find "CG FULL" because NO RESERVATIONS are taken and it's only FF we knew before driving for an hour from HWY 550 that we actually had a campsite!!
No Service
@StuartHEA5BAA4 · Camped on Sep 19, 2022 at Campsite #18
We really enjoyed out stay and the night stars with the Milky Way was fabulous!Only disappointing thing was the lack of Park Ranger led tours and they didn't do the 'Night Sky' program.
Major Issues
@CherylM3564547 · Camped on Sep 13, 2022 at Campsite #18
We camped for three nights, and really enjoyed our stay. It was a good amount of time for seeing Chaco, and we had great weather to do it in. The campground is your basic without any privacy, since there aren't trees there. But having two bathrooms with flush toilets, and a place to fill up your water bottles, like they have at airports was such a bonus. It's also cool that there are small ruins right at the campground. The entire park and campground are very well done. We did a ranger guided tour of one of the sites, and found it so interesting and informative.
No Service
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