Everything to Know About Oliver Lee Memorial State Park

New Mexico has some incredible hidden gems, and Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is one of those gems!  The beauty of the desert is unmatched here with desert mountains behind you and blossoming cacti around you.  

Camping here makes for a great headquarters for visiting the unique White Sands National Park.  And you’re only a 20 minute drive from the town of Alamogordo, which has everything you need.

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park offers a great campground with hiking and history in their visitor center.  So let’s dive into why you should check out this hidden gem!

Important Links (Map, State Park Website, Link to Camping Article)

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park website

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Camping – Make Reservations Here

Park Map

Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!

Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Camping Trips Details Again!

New Mexico Fees – New as of Jan. 2025

Location

Let’s start with the location of Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.  The park/campground is just 20 minutes from Alamogordo, NM which has a Walmart and other shops for any needs.  The state park is also just 30 minutes from the entrance of White Sands National Park, which is a beautiful place everyone should see.

However, if you are coming to visit for just a day, you might be looking at a bit of a drive.  Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is 3.5 hours from Albuquerque, NM, about 1.5 hours from El Paso, TX, 5 hours from Midland, TX and 5 hours from Tucson, AZ.  But while the park is a bit in the middle of nowhere, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views!

Address: 409 Dog Canyon Rd. Alamogordo, NM 88310

Fees

Like most state parks, there are day use fees and camping fees that you should be aware of.  As of January 2025, prices in New Mexico state parks have increased and there is now a price difference for state residents and non-residents.  

Daily Fees (New Mexico Residents): $5 per car

Daily Fees (Non-Residents): $10 per car

Camping prices have also increased, but we’ll get to that later.

If you are planning on visiting several of the New Mexico State Parks in the near future, there are 2 types of Annual Passes that you can purchase.  Either the Day-Use Annual Pass or the Annual Camping Pass.  While these cost more money up front, they can save you a decent amount if you are planning on spending a lot of time in the parks.  

Season Dates

Because this park is located in the desert, there are different season dates that you should be aware of.  

Peak Season: From October 1st – April 30th – All campsites must be reserved online and the park can be busy during this time.

Off Season: From May 1st – September 30th – All campsites are First-Come-First Serve due to the hot and rainy season.  

Hours

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is a 24-hour park, but the visitor center is only open from 9am – 5pm.  If you show up and the visitor center is closed, there is a pay station right near the entrance where you can pay your daily fee.  

Parking 

If you are just visiting Oliver Lee Memorial State Park for the day, you will find that there isn’t much parking.  There are about 10 spots near the visitor center and that’s it.  

If you are camping here, the campground is small enough that you can walk everywhere you need to access.  In short, you don’t have to worry about parking because you’ll be parked at your campsite.

A Touch of History

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is named after Oliver Milton Lee (1865 – 1941).  He settled in the area where the state park stands today and he had a large ranch here.  

He is primarily known for bringing water to the dry Tularosa Basin area, where he was integral in directing water down into the town of Alamogordo.  He also used his political power to bring a railroad into the area.  This effectively founded Alamogordo and put the town on the map.    

The park is nowhere near the size of his ranch at its height (1 million acres).  But the park serves as a memorial for the great man who brought water to a desert area.  

What to Expect

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park has 640 acres to its name, and isn’t the largest park in the state.  However, its rich history, beautiful mountains, and flourishing desert plant life will leave you loving this park!

With 44 campsites (some electric, some dry) at the base of the Sacramento Mountains, the campground is beautiful.  The town is far below you, making both the days and evenings extremely quiet and peaceful.  And the night sky is enough to take your breath away with stunning stars.  

There are incredible desert birds and plant life here to enjoy, as well as a picnic area. And if hiking is your game, the Dog Canyon Trail begins right behind the visitor center.  

Hiking

Speaking of hiking, there are only 2 trails in the park.  And they are VERY different in difficulty  

First up is the Nature Trail.  This trail takes you from the visitor center back into Dog Canyon for about 0.15 miles.  Here you can see abundant plant life and flowing water if it has rained recently.  This trail is easy and flat and can be done by just about anyone. 

The second trail is the Dog Canyon Trail which is a challenging trail and should only be attempted if you are a skilled hiker.  With over 3,500 feet of elevation gain and nearly 11 miles to reach the top, this is not an easy hike.  Make sure you start early, pack plenty of water, and know your limits on this trail should you attempt it.  

Personal Note: When we camped here, I had a cold and didn’t feel well enough to attempt the Dog Canyon Trail, despite very much wanting to.  Do your research before attempting this trail.   

Camping

As previously mentioned, there is a great campground in Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.  This campground consists of 2 loops that are all connected by a paved road.  The campground offers a mix of campsites with electric/water and dry camping sites.  There is also a group camping area down the road that is only open during their busy season (Oct – April).

There are 16 campsites with Water/Electric Hook-Up.  These sites can accommodate 25′, 30’, 40’, or even 45’ foot campers, just be sure to read the description of the site before you book it.  All remaining campsites are dry sites, meaning they do not have water or electricity.  These too vary in size, so make sure you read the description before booking!

Besides that, the campsites are fairly typical with a picnic table, fire ring w/grill, and a place to park your car.  Tents and campers are all welcome here for an affordable fee.  

One other thing to note, campsites MUST be booked online if you intend to stay between October and April.  Whereas, sites are first-come first-serve from May to September.  The maximum amount of time you can camp at Oliver Lee is 14 consecutive days.  

Price Comparison

New Mexico camping prices took a pretty big jump in January of 2025, especially for out of state visitors.  **Disclaimer: these prices do not include taxes/fees.  This section is just to give you an approximation of price so you can budget accordingly.**

The prices for Oliver Lee Memorial State Park are as follows:

Non-Electric Site

• $15 per night (New Mexico Residents)
• $105 per week (New Mexico Residents)
• $20 per night (Non-Residents)
• $140 per week (Non-Residents)

Camper/RV Site

• $30 per night (New Mexico Residents)
• $210 per week (New Mexico Residents)
• $35 per night (Non-Residents)
• $245 per week (Non-Residents)

Group Camping (Only Available Oct – April)

• $90 per night 
• $630 per week

Again, these are the new prices to camp in Oliver Lee Memorial State Park as of January 2025.  

Things to do in the area

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is not near any major New Mexico cities, but it is very close to Alamogordo.  The town of Alamogordo has many restaurants/fast food places, shops, a Walmart, hotels, and a laundromat.  While this town won’t have everything you could ever need, it will come pretty close!

If you are looking for more things to do in the great outdoors, you’ll love exploring White Sands National Park!  Just a 30 minute drive from Oliver Lee, this one of a kind park offers hiking, picnicking, and best of all, sand sledding!

Whether you want to simply check this national park off your bucket list, or you want to dive into the history and spend hours here, you’ll love visiting White Sands.  

Conclusion

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is a great state park surrounded by mountains and desert beauty.  This little park has great camping, hiking, a picnic area, and a touch of New Mexico history.  

So whether you come for the day or stay for 2 weeks, you’ll be able to enjoy the desert in all its glory.

As always, feel free to reach out to me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com if you have any questions!

-Happy Hiking and Camping!