City of Rocks State Park

We spent three nights here in May 2026, on our spring 2026 loop through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. We were in site 30A, then site 17 in the Pegasus North area for the last night, and paid about $25 a night. Our full field report is still being written, so here is what to know about the place itself.

The short version

City of Rocks State Park covers about one square mile of Chihuahuan Desert in southwestern New Mexico, roughly halfway between Silver City and Deming. Its rock pinnacles, some as tall as 40 feet, stand in rows with lanes between them that look like city streets, which is where the name comes from.

A little history

• The rock is Kneeling Nun Tuff, volcanic ash from an eruption about 34.9 million years ago at the Emory caldera, which forms much of the southern Black Range east of the park.
• The ash was hot enough to weld into solid rock. Cooling cracks, freeze and thaw, plant roots and water then sculpted the pinnacles over millions of years, which is why many have flared bases.
• The park was established in May 1952 to protect the formations.

What it is known for

• Campsites tucked in among the rocks.
• Stargazing, with an observatory in the park.
• 5.5 miles of hiking, biking and interpretive trails, a desert botanical garden, birding and a visitor center with exhibits.

Camping

• Reservable sites include developed sites plus four water and electric sites, one with 50 amp service and three with 30 amp.
• There are also first-come, first-served sites, two of them with water and electric.
• Restrooms with showers, vault toilets and water in the campground. Group camping is available, and there is no primitive camping.

Good to know

• Reservable sites are booked through New Mexico State Parks.
• Fees apply for day use and camping, so check the park's fees and permits page.
• Table Mountain, just north of the park, is made of three younger ash-flow tuffs.