Best Places To Camp In Northern Arizona

From canyons to prairies, peaks to plateaus, the Kaibab National Forest, which is nestled on the Colorado Plateau, offers layers of opportunity for discovery. The Mogollon Rim forms the southern boundary while extending to the north almost to the Utah border. Located in Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park encompasses 277 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. The immense Grand Canyon is a mile (1.6 km) deep, and up to 18 miles wide.

Grayling Campground offers more seclusion, while Cutthroat Campground is a small, tent-only area that’s more under-the-radar. Apache Trout Campground offers excellent sites for small and large groups, and enough amenities to make camping comfortable for visitors of all ages. Make sure to camp at one of the designated pull-outs along the road here and don’t leave a second fire ring. The Forest Service established these campsites to reduce erosion along the roadside. Sites are closed seasonally for Mexican Spotted Owls to breed from March 1 to August 31.

Saguaro National Park Near Tucson

Dirt roads are numerous with dispersed camping allowed throughout the entire area. The dispersed campsites here are spacious and mostly level. This is a good location for boondocking in an RV or trailer.

The sites are spacious, and despite the campground’s proximity to the road, the noise is minimal compared to the respite of the campsites. Pumphouse Wash is another good spot for free camping near Flagstaff. It’s not nearly as scenic as Edge of the World, but it’s much more easily accessible.

Alamo Lake

The campground is 14 miles south of Flagstaff or 13 miles north of Sedona within Oak Creek Canyon. Zane Grey is only 27 miles from Sedona, making it a close drive to attractions that will be of interest to people of all ages. When you get back to the campground, you can clean off in the well-maintained showers and laundry facility, and then head back to your RV site to relax and enjoy the free wi-fi. This park is sure to go down in the books as one of your best RV trips in Arizona. Patagonia State Park is another excellent choice for campers seeking seclusion, where you can rent a boat to access dispersed campsites on the water. If the crowds don’t bother you, check out Manzanita Campground near Oak Creek, where the swimming holes are popular in the summer.

The campground is a small, tent-only facility comprised entirely of walk-in sites. Of the lake’s five campgrounds, Brookchar is nearest to the water. The stocked lake draws anglers, and boat rentals an… Alto Pit OHV Campground is located at the foot of Granite Mountain Wilderness Area, at an elevation of 6,200 feet.

Please check that this widget Google Overviews has a Google Place ID set. Our rates are at their lowest for the year, and we’re booking up fast! If you find that you’re the type of person who regularly considers buying a t-shirt that reads, “I Stay Off the Beaten Path,” well you should go ahead and buy it already. While getting to know your neighbors in a small town is nice, sometimes you need a little big box action, some big city civilization to cure those empty desert blues.

Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon

Camping fee ranges from $10 to $20, depending upon site type. Camping fee is $22/night for the single-family site and $32 for a double family site. Water and electric hookups only, 30 amp site is $52 per night.

Hike or run the trails around the campsite and take in epic views of the San Francisco Mountains. Avoid Closed Areas – Portions of BLM land and national forests will periodically be closed to the public. MVUM Maps – Pick up paper USFS and BLM motor vehicle use maps in ranger stations to identify roads with potential dispersed camping opportunities. Coronado National Forest has several other dispersed camping opportunities near Patagonia, including along San Rafael Road. Since these are even deeper in the forest, you can expect them to be even quieter and more private than Harshaw Road, although border patrol vehicles are still a common sight.

If you don’t have a rig and want a different type of experience, the KOA also offers teepees to rent for a fun night with none of the setup. Campers love the clean facilities of the Flagstaff KOA, although during summer weekends the campground can feel a little cramped, particularly if you’re camping in a tent. Not only is nearby Cave Creek Canyon beautiful, but it’s also home to some of the best birding in Arizona . Don’t forget to check it out in addition to Chiricahua National Monument. This dispersed camping area is also very quiet and peaceful with amazingly dark night skies.

Coyote Buttes North Daily Lottery The Wave

This is an ideal spot in summer if you like fishing as the lake is stocked with trout. The cool, clear, and deep waters are ideal for swimming, canoeing, and small boats. Most campsites are an easy stroll from the lake, although a few are lakefront. The campground is surrounded by lush desert and views to the mountains.

The main campground is divided into two areas – the western half is larger, but both sides have a good selection of sites with lake views. The campground has 90 campsites and a quick glance at the campground map shows which sites have prime views and real estate. There are no RV hookups here, but there is a dump station, as well as laundry and shower facilities. Grand Canyon National Park’s lone campground on the North Rim offers spectacular camping and excellent day hiking from May to October. This side of the Canyon’s about 1,000 feet higher in elevation, sees fewer crowds and offers its share of outstanding views along the Rim.

Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced in order to help you make the best choice for you. Catalina State Park resides at the base of gigantic Santa Catalina Mountains, rich with wildlife, desert plants, and approximately 5000 saguaros.

What kid—old or young—wouldn’t want to explore underground caverns? To give guests a fully immersive experience, the park offers an on-site campground with both tent sites and cabins. Children can visit the Discovery Center to learn more about the caverns and the wildlife that live in the area. Just know that there’s not much room to turn around at the end of the road. The campsites are decently spaced, so you’re in for a quiet and peaceful night without many close neighbors. These dispersed campsites are located about 15 minutes south of Marble Canyon on BLM land just off of Highway 89A. The best campsites look out over the Colorado River .

There are large bass, carp, bluegill, and more, al swimming in the lake. As one of the only locations in Arizona to offer beachfront camping, we had to include the beautiful Lake Havasu State Park. The white sand beaches of Lake Havasu offer a peaceful and scenic spot to camp, with panoramic views of the lake and mountains beyond. A popular bird-watching destination, visitors to Lake Havasu might see Anna’s Hummingbird or a Great Horned Owl.

Thankfully, checking the weather forecast ahead of time can keep you protected from the worst. With that in mind, the sites at Eads Wash are idyllic and plentiful. Easy access back into town for food, gas, firewood, laundry, and just about anything an RVer or camper could need.” –The Dyrt camper Shari G. Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers that love to score the best site!

Mountains, saguaros, organ pipe cactus, and what can only be described as a green desert, make this an outstanding area of natural beauty. In the far south of Arizona, near the Mexico border, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is an often overlooked gem. For anyone looking to get away and camp out under a star-filled sky in the desert, this is the place to come. With towering cliffs, flowing water and a rich diversity of flora and fauna, Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness remains as one of Arizona’s truly unique areas. Its 19,410 acres of designated wilderness beckons adventurers who yearn for solitude and scenic splendor.

Rancho Sedona Rv Park

We made new friends and connected with old friends during our stay at Craggy Wash. It has over 26 single sites and 1 group site for a small get-together of 25 people. Tents, small motorhomes and RVs up to 16-feet are allowed in this pet-friendly campground. Pine Grove Campground is within the lush Coconino National Forest of northern Arizona. To reach here, go southeast on Lake Mary Road from Flagstaff and continue for 19 miles. You can get to the campground via a short spur off from Lake Mary Road.