Located in Bernalillo, New Mexico, Coronado Campground is an RV park that offers camping spots with sheltered structures between each site, which were built to provide privacy for guests. The RV section is open year-round, but the tent camping area closes from November 1st to March 1st. The park is known by many for its central location between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, facilitating access to both cities. Phil, the park director, says that "people come from all over the world to enjoy the surrounding attractions," such as the International Balloon Fiesta, hiking, kayaking, and visiting museums. The park strives to offer a clean and safe environment for visitors, and the staff makes an effort to be friendly and helpful. Policies, such as a speed limit of 10 miles per hour and quiet time from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., are in place to ensure patron's safety and comfort.
Coronado Campground offers 23 sites year-round, 19 that provide water and electrical hookups with shelter, 4 non-sheltered sites with exclusively electrical hookups, 8 tent-sheltered sites that do not include electrical hookups, and 11 developed non-sheltered sites. The sites with water and electrical hookups are all pull-through, while the spaces with only electrical hookups are back-in. The RV sites come with shelters that have picnic tables and fire pits, with the exception of the sites that only supply electrical hookups. Similarly, the tent sites come with pavilions that have picnic tables and fire rings, while the developed non-sheltered sites have small picnic tables and fire rings. The campground is surrounded by trees, which provides shade for visitors, and the sites are relatively spaced out in an effort to create a more comfortable and private camping experience.
The sheltered sites and the RV section are the most popular among guests, explains Phil. The campground also has bathroom facilities with showers and property-wide WiFi. There is no main office building, but there is a small office for check-in and check-out.
The campground is not surrounded by buildings, which Phil believes creates a relatively private and comfortable environment. The Rio Grande River is visible from the campground, and there are historical sites adjacent to the property that can be accessed through a gate. A trail that leads down to the Rio Grande River extends from the campground as well.
Coronado Campground is also situated in fairly close proximity to several attractions and activities that guests can enjoy during their stay. These include the International Balloon Fiesta, which takes place every October, natural history museums, the Petroglyphs National Monument, and kayaking and tubing down the river. For those interested in exploring the local culinary scene, Phil suggests several restaurants in the surrounding area, including The Range Cafe, El Pinto, Beyond Pizza and Subs, and a Chinese restaurant called Double Dragon.
In the words of Phil, the director of the park, a few particular aspects of Coronado Campground that the establishment is known for are its location and views as well as its unique sheltered structures between each site that provide guests with privacy. The RV section of the campground is open year-round, however, the tent site area closes from November 1st to March 1st. Phil says that the campground is popular during the warmer months when many people are traveling. The early part of the season sees snowbirds coming from warmer areas, and Phil believes that the location of the campground between Albuquerque and Santa Fe "makes it easily accessible." The campground attracts a diverse range of people from around the world, including families, couples, and elderly people. According to Phil, many of the people that come to the park comment on the beauty and setting of Coronado Campground. In a review, one visitor commented, "The location at Coronado Campground is beautiful, and the sites are large and well-maintained. It is a very picturesque setting. The campground host was perfect."
The campground has a number of policies to ensure the safety and comfort of guests. The speed limit on the property is 10 miles per hour, and pets must be kept on leashes and picked up after. Quiet time is from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., and visitors are provided with a printed form of the rules and regulations when they check in. There is limited interaction with patrons, except during the check-in process and when enforcing the rules, to allow the visitors to enjoy their privacy during their stay. Phil says that his favorite part of the job is meeting people from all over the world who come to stay at the campground
In the 1970s, Coronado Campground was constructed as a campground, and it was run by the state for about 20 years. The state shut it down, and the town council of Bernalillo took over the management. The campground has been run by the town council for about 20-25 years, and it is currently managed by Phil Montoya, the director of the park. Phil has a background in fisheries and wildlife science, thus, he decided to move to Bernalillo where his wife is from to apply to Coronado Campground and become their director. "I love meeting people from all around the world with different backgrounds and stories," mentions Phil regarding his favorite part of the job. Since the town council leased the property, there have not been any major new additions or renovations, but standard maintenance of the buildings and shelters has been conducted. Phil suggests that there is a future plan to add a multi-use facility with laundry machines, a small kitchenette, and several showers.
106 Kuaua Rd
Bernalillo, New Mexico 87004
United States
Campground
Town of Bernalillo
