Gallo Campground. Sleep in your RV or tent at the edge of Chaco Culture National Historical Park at the 29-site campground, with views from some campsites to Fajada Butte and from others to a small stone structure against the canyon wall. Some prime sites are closed due to rockfall. Running water is available at the bathrooms.
Horse-Thief Campground. Located along County Road 7950 to Chaco (near where the pavement ends), the rustic five-acre campground offers tent and RV sites. Expect big sky views and access to short trails for hiking and biking. No electricity or running water is available. Generators are allowed.
Chaco Outlier. Rent one of two small cabins or four campsites 19 miles south of Chaco Canyon on Navajo Service Route 9, where Mount Taylor dots the southern horizon. The cabins have a simple kitchen and bed. Campsites look out over the nearby mesas and junipers.
Angel Peak Scenic Area and Campground. The fingerlike spires of Angel Peak jut out of the badlands near Bloomfield, visible for miles and often a worthy scenic detour off US 550. Linger a while at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management–run campground, 39 miles north of Chaco, which has nine free sites for tent camping, with concrete pads, fire grates, and picnic tables. A vault toilet and trash bins are available; water and electricity are not.