Need a place to do some free camping on Route 66?
Along one of the main stretches of highway going east and west through the southern states sits San Jon. A tiny little town so small you might blink if you miss it, sitting right at the edge of the New Mexico and Texas border, on interstate 40. This is more of a place to overnight while passing through, not set up camp for a few days.

The Details for Free Camping on Route 66

Name: San Jon Municipal Park
Location: San Jon, New Mexico
GPS: 35.1075, -103.3317
Elevation: 4000’ish
Cost: Free – Free camping on route 66
Number of campsites: No designated sites.
Hookups: None.

Amenities: There are bathrooms that might be open seasonally? They were open the last time I was here in September 2021. There is also a tiny little library if you have some books you’d like to exchange!
Privacy: No.
Parking: Some spots might be level. Some not. You will be pulling into the city park and just finding a place to pull off the main ‘road’.
Noise: While this is a very tiny town… there is some town noise. I heard sounds throughout the night may have been rumple strips in the road being driven over?
Cell signal: Full Verizon coverage
Scenery: Eh. It’s a place to stay while driving.

I have stayed in this park twice so far. It’s about 5 hours away from home. If I’m starting a trip out west and have the ability to leave Friday after work, I know I can make it here and even after dark will have a place to stay the night.

San Jon is a tiny town with a population of under 300. In this town, there’s a small municipal park. It’s easy to find, right off the main highway. There are plenty of welcome signs at the front.
Please note that this location is just for an overnight stay. Try not to spend multiple nights here setting things out and “camping”.

Multiple entrances to the park all connect. It’s small, just a block or so. You can easily drive through, even at night, to find the best place to park.
I’d personally recommend going further back away from the road, since you will have some road noise. There are also light poles around, so make sure you have some window coverings.

I’ve stayed here twice. While there have been a few other vehicles, we’ve always been spaced out pretty far so no one can hear one another. Just a note though, it is an open park so you WILL see one another. I’ve seen vans, a camper, and even a few people just going car camping.

AMENITIES

Whoever is in charge of taking care of things at this city park does an amazing job at keeping up with it!
There are picnic tables spread out all around the outside, and you can pull up and park right next to one. The way everything is laid out, you can park facing almost any direction so you can choose what way your door faces.

A small playground sits to one side of the park. A big wide open grassy field is directly in the middle. This is where the bathrooms are. The bathrooms themselves were unlocked and open while I was there, and they were pretty spotless as well!

Small charcoal grills, the kind you’d typically see in any type of city park that encourages cookouts and picnics are spread out.
There is also a basketball court, and tennis court.

Free Little Library

Directly in front of the bathroom door is a Little Free Library. If you haven’t seen one before, they’re perfect for any traveling reader!
Spread out all across the country, people build wooden boxes with shelves and then fill them with books. They are “free” to take. If you do take a book, please also replace it with one of your own you’d like to donate… return the book… or bring it to another little library.
I go through books quick, and always try to donate to these community boxes (littlefreelibrary.org , if you want to read more about this initiative).

IN THE AREA

The Llano Estacado is one of the largest mesas in the US. I’ve driven over this many many times while traveling out west, and never had any idea it existed, until I saw this sign. From here you can see the very distinct ridge line of it. The cities of Amarillo, Lubbock, and Odessa even sit right on the mesa. Reading about it definitely explains the dust storms that are terrifying to get stuck in out in west Texas!

From San Jon, if you drive straight north on 469 you’ll run directly into Ute Lake State Park.
There you’ll find a lake that’s around 13 miles long, loaded with lake activities!
Spend less than half an hour driving west, further down Interstate 40, and you’ll make it to the town of Tucumcari. This town seems to have a little more to do if you’re looking for restaurants, farmers markets, museums, etc.

San Jon is a tiny town without a whole lot to do if you’re a fan of activities once you pull in for the night, but it provides a great little spot to overnight. Free campsites along route 66? Heck yes. Save your money for better things!

Have you spent a night here? How did you like it? Head over to Instagram and let me know.

San Jon sits right along historic route 66. Interstate 40 is a major highway that connects Amarillo to Albuquerque. Most people who seem to use this overnight location are just passing through on their way elsewhere.
There is a gas station just around the corner from the park and the woman behind the counter was absolutely lovely.

If you get a chance, walk to the front of the park to look at the sign for the Llano Estacado.
It’s a good laugh from this area, because when you look straight out to see it…. you’re just met with a view of industrial buildings blocking most of the view.
The next two photos show both the sign, then looking out past the sign.
Welp, a historical marker is still a historical marker I guess, hahahahahah.

Route 66 stretches across a fairly big chunk of the country. Another city on the same highway I spent a few days in is Tulsa. I spent a whole lot of time eating, drinking, and shopping my way through that little city, as well as seeing some fun roadside attractions like the Blue Whale!

Route 66 passes through Amarillo in Texas. If you’re taking the full drive, pop juuuust south of there for a stop at Palo Duro, right outside Amarillo.