Brantley Lake State Park

Camped in a 35” motorhome. We are self-contained so cannot comment on restrooms/shower facilities. Probably wouldn’t stay again – would prefer something closer to the caverns. Site #18

Pros –

• Camp hosts were very helpful.
• Nice views of lake.

Cons-

• Some spaces are very unlevel and are not depicted that way in the description or photos on the reservation site. We had reserved #22 but it was not possible to park our motorhome in the very sloped site. We had to pay a cancellation fee to move to another site.
  
• Very windy – maybe just the time of year we went.
  
• Not as convenient to Carlbad Caverns as we had hoped.

We love this state park as a base for our adventures around the Carlsbad area of New Mexico. Public campgrounds around Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains are lacking and we don't mind the day trip approach from Brantley Lake. As some reviewers have noted, it is some 6 miles from the interstate so if you want something more convenient, find a private RV park. Campsites are well spaced and many have views. You are on the prairie so expect open land and winds. The state is overhauling the restroom so an inconvenience for this year with temporary facilities that were really clean when we were there in February. We had a full hookup site which is unusual for NM state parks. You still can't beat the price compared to surrounding states. This is a remote park with little to do but relax, enjoy the views, and walk trails to the lake and boat ramp.

First stopped there a year ago and loved it. Appeared to have had a fire and it was pretty rugged but great view. Returned again last year and the sand stickers or goat heads were just horrible. My dogs had them all over their coats wouldn't get off the pad. I am still finding them in my camper that came off me. Bathrooms are nice and clean but can't take the stickers. If that would not be a problem for you, then it is a great place.

Wifi: Verizon - 20 down, 5 up, ATT - 20 down, 5 up....We loved Brantley Lake State Park. The views were great, the sites were fairly level, everything was spacious, and even with neighbors we never were disturbed. The bathrooms are under construction, but the outdoor concert style restrooms worked just fine. Our cell signals were strong, we didnt have to worry about overflowing dumpsters, and it was easy to access our site. The only downside (which may be an upside to some) was that we were half an hour away from any sort of store. That meant we had to be more aware of how much gas we had on our motorcycle before we went anywhere. We would definitely be back.

Nice little campground. Half reservation, half first come sites. Bath house and restrooms still under renovation and by the looks of it they will be for quite a while. Didn’t check the temporary facilities but people were using them. A couple of short trials to hike on but not much else to do. Good price for water and electric site (dump on the way out.) Quiet, clean, sites mostly level. Excellent Verizon coverage without a booster. AT&T was ok but not great.

Why no mention of the bath house being renovated and shower/toilet trailers for use? Not only that, one of the trailers was out of order. So of the 6 shower/toilet stalls available only 3 were open for use. We arrived after 1pm and one of the usable toilets had neither toilet paper nor paper towels and each of the 3 had overflowing waste baskets. Tried to shower in the "cleanest" of the 3 and initially a burst of water came out of the shower head and then quickly became a trickle of lukewarm water. Halfway through the shower (sic) the water flow stops; took about 3 minutes to return to a trickle.

If there had been a message on the website stating no showers we'd have gone elsewhere. Not even a sign posted at the entrance to the park.