Sandia Resort & Casino

This is blacktop-boondocking. It's for an easy, quick overnighter. Please don't drag out your BBQ, chairs, etc. It's not a campground so you don't take anything out of your RV in the parking lot. You enjoy what the casino has to offer and then you go to bed in your RV. There is room for your pull-outs generally but I don't think I would use levelers for fear of damaging the parking lot surface (it's already pretty level). Please be a good RV citizen and not ruin it for the rest of us by acting like your at a campground. Sandia can easily withdraw this nice opportunity to enjoy their facilities.

Sandia allows you to park your RV in empty parking spaces in their east side lots. Usually you can find a couple other RVs already there. Sandia has a nice buffet that we enjoyed the night we stayed over in the parking lot. If there is an event at the Kiva outdoor theater, the parking lot might get crowded and difficult for large RVs to find space. You might check for big show dates.

...From our spot, we had beautiful views of the lights of the valley. Many other campers were taking advantage of the free overnight spot. We planned to go in and maybe play BINGO or slots as is the custom when sleeping for free in a casino parking lot. BINGO was over for the night, so we risked a whopping $5 on penny slots. We had fun and left the building with $7 profit! .... more in our blog.

Like most casino camping you'll be parked on the pavement. We never put out our rugs, etc. We do put out our slides as we are off the beaten path of most traffic. Our site was pretty level.There was some road noise but it didn't keep us awake. There was some paving work going on in one of their other lots during the day time and we could hear it.

We always pay back free casino camping by getting a players card. We ate one meal at the casino and played the penny machines a couple of evenings. There is a smoke-free room where you can play if you don't smoke, like us. We had fun and I even won $46 the first night!

During our stay we stocked up at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods since we rarely find them on our travels. We toured Old Town and enjoyed the small shops and artwork. We ate at Central Grill and Coffee House and had a great breakfast. Their wifi is really fast. We had to update our operating systems and apps.

We took a day trip to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument and hiked the two trails there. This is an amazing place, another must see in New Mexico!

We had a great view of the Sandia Mountains right from our site. If you visit the BIEN MUR Indian Market across the road from the casino, be sure and check out the buffalo ranch next to it. We happened to see the owner out feeding his herd and he was very friendly and told us about his herd. It was cool to see these beautiful beasts out grazing!

Guard came over to us very quickly and told us they still weren't allowing boondocking in the lot. Something about capacity issues and too much trash being left behind? Bummer

It's Balloon Festival week and there is dry camping for $69.00 a night in their parking lot. No benefits of free play or buffet, just a place to park. Felt price was steep where other areas like several Walmarts were free.

They no longer have free parking - new management.
$25 for backup and $35 pull thru
No hookups

We pulled in after dark thinking they offered overnight RV camping for free. I called and learned that they charge $33 for a pull-thru lot with NO hookups. If you have AAA or the casino's club card they charge $32. We opted to leave and find a free spot at Walmart a few miles away.

I called to ask about staying in the parking lot and was told no problem and it was complimentary. I originally headed to parking lot furthest south and just north of Tramway Rd. I didn't see any other campers so wondered if I was in the right spot. Finally security came around and stopped by and was super nice. I verified with him that I could stay the night, and he said sure but I was in the wrong lot. He wasn't sure though if my rig was going to fit through some of the tighter places with the construction, so he gave me a ride in his truck over to the lot. It turned out it was a piece of cake. The lot they want you stay in is the lot furthest West closest to I-25. It's the employee entrance off of Tramway and your first left. They are currently doing construction building a new admin building just north of this parking lot. Being close to I-25, there is some noise, but not bad.

We enjoyed a decent dinner at one of the restaurants inside. This is a very convenient location to Abq.

Hard to find safe, easy acess spots here in the Albuquerque area! This worked well for us for a quick overnight stay. They do have a three night maximum stay.

RV parking is in the lot area closest to the main street you enter the casino from. This is our 3rd stay here over the years. Always been trouble free, and the cell towers are solid.

Balloon Fiesta week ends tomorrow and the casino is telling me it's $55/night with no hookups, and I could stay all 5 nights I'll be in town, at that nightly rate.
I'm confused how other campers stayed free two weeks ago.
I got this info on the phone. I may stop in tomorrow and ask at the guard gate to the RV lot, to see if I get different info. If so, I'll update this review.
I moved away from Albuquerque last year due to the high crime rate. I always liked that Sandia Casino has lots of security patrols.