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I don't know if this is a permanent situation or not, but the dump station, which is located on the northbound side of Highway 101, is closed. I'm reporting this on August 27th, 2018. I walked past the barricades and took a look. the water was working although a very weak stream. However the dump receptacle was already filled to the brim. Gross! I asked about it at the Patrick's Point State Park pay station, and they were aware that it was closed but didn't know any time frame.

I enjoy photographing beautiful areas, and it's always great not to have to drive a long distance before dawn to get to your objective. At only 3.6 miles from the dunes Visitor Center to the entrance to the camping area, this is perfect for exploring the Monument.

And now for the smell report: if you've read several reviews about this site you know that several people have detected a distinct odor emanating from the lake. My report in the third week of April, 2019: no smell! it may depend on the season or the amount or direction of wind, but it was fairly breezy when I was here, and I walked up and down the area for a good distance, and my sniffer detected no problem.

Here are the coordinates to the turn in off Highway 70:

32.803913, -106.122912

I had to swing wide to get through the narrow gate with my long rig and car, but I did not have to negotiate a u-turn down the road in order to have a better angle for entering. It may be tight with a longer rig if you're heading southwest on Highway 70 toward Las Cruces, New Mexico. Heading toward Alamogordo on 70, it was no problem.
Coming from Las Cruces, look for a tall Cemex sign. (See photo) The next road on the North is the entrance gate.

I arrived in the late afternoon on a Sunday, and several of the places were already occupied, but I was able to park my 35' rig parallel to the lake with no problem (after disengaging my car). There were no issues with noise or rowdy behavior. Everything was quiet and peaceful. An excellent experience!

I'll just add my praise to the other positive reviews. I arrived mid-afternoon on the first Sunday in October. There were lots of spaces open and I easily found one that was flat and fit my 34' motorhome plus my tow car. The setting is more like a park than a campground. I lucked out in that there were no generators being run during my visit. (I rejoiced in my new solar installation that allowed me to be generaror-free for the evening!) Generator hours are 8am - 8pm. It was early fall and many folks enjoyed an evening camp fire. The smell brought back many memories at first, but became a little much with such a proliferation!

I checked out the restrooms and they were impeccable. No showers or other services, but easy access to clean potable water. As noted, there is no dump. My Verizon cell service was a very weak 1-2 bars 4G, but my cell phone booster made for 3-4 bars.

The nightly rate is $12, but only $6 if you have a National Park Senior Pass.

I only stayed one night but wished I had more time. I believe there is a 14 day limit. You will be glad you came if you visit this area!