Best Places To Go Camping In Arizona

We have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp and are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper community be inclusive. Use this a “pick-your-own-adventure” rubric to plan ONE beautifully epic day in the nation’s 15th National Park.

Permits can be acquired for those wishing to do the excellent hike to the waterfall, a popular multi-day trek with backcountry camping. Tent campers will have access to composting toilets, picnic tables, and drinking water. There are no further amenities, and it’s worth noting that campfires are not permitted. This is a great camping destination for those seeking beautiful surroundings and natural experience. Bass fishing tips before they set off, then enjoy a few days of peaceful fishing on the lake, surrounded by breathtaking panoramic natural views.

Slide Rock State Park is just a short drive away, as are some of the best hikes in Sedona. All these campgrounds can be booked up to six months in advance on a rolling date basis. In addition to being close to Tucson, the campground is also handy to the western section of the Saguaro National Park, Old Tucson Movie Studios, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Great hiking is at your doorstep here, with the stunning Valley View Overlook trail just minutes away. Quiet except for birdsong, this campground has an end-of-the-world type feel, but still offers a reasonable level of comfort, with showers and flush toilets. Ground fires are not allowed at Bonita Canyon, but you can bring a fire pit that sits at least six inches off the ground .

This Easy Hiking Trail Will Take You To A Hidden Hanging Garden In Arizona

Unlike Freidlein Praire, Larson Ridge sites can accommodate larger RVs and trailers without the rough roads to access. “The two little sites are clean and each has an old wooden picnic table setup there are for sure toilets. Would be a perfect little spot to watch the stars.”–The Dyrt camper Candice E.

RVs up to 38 feet long are permitted in the area, but there are no hookups. Spencer Canyon is a mountain campground, situated at the head of a forested, shallow canyon just a short distance from the Catalina Highway. It has over acres of water within a beautiful desert landscape, making it one of the most scenic recreation areas in Arizona.

Aspen Campground

Arizona is home to various scenic forests, gushing waterfalls, rugged terrains, and breathtaking red rock formations. We all know that the best way to be in the company of mother nature and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city is to go camping. Just the mere idea of camping in Arizona also beside a lake, in a forest or a desert sounds peaceful, and that’s precisely what you’re going to find in Arizona. That’s because there is rich diversity here for your camping experiences.

The campground offers showers and restrooms, and each campsite has an electric hookup. Tent and RV sites all have potable water, as well as picnic tables and fire rings. The park has three boat launch ramps, so boat campers, this is a great destination for you.

What People Are Saying About Tombstone Rv Park & Campground

You’ll love the towering pines that surround the lake, as well as the fishing opportunities, nature trails, and impossibly dark night skies well suited for stargazing. The wide-open spaces, ample dispersed camping sites, and warm temperatures at night are enough to attract any desert camper to Tonto National Forest. The forest itself has an abundance of pine-shaded mountains and deserts dotted with Saguaro cacti. With such a vast array of natural landscapes, you’ll be sure to find something you love. Tonto National Forest is located close to the Valley of the Sun and Phoenix and is an extremely popular free-camping site for those looking to escape the humdrum city life.

The South Rim is the largest camping area and is open all year. The north side is higher and open only from May 15th to October 31st. Camping here ranges from warm nights out in the desert to sitting by a campfire beneath ponderosa pines, or even lazing by a lake, perhaps with a fishing rod. For more ideas, check out Recreation.gov, Arizona State Parks & Trails, or Hipcamp, which lists public and private campgrounds around the state. The best of River Island’s campsites are #30 through #37, eight spots on a grassy area overlooking the Colorado River. The remaining sites are still nice – and cater to larger RVs – but the waterfront sites are where it’s at.

Apache Trout Campground

If you live in Phoenix, Tucson, or another desert city, be sure to pack warm clothes, sleeping bags, blankets, etc. as the chill of a high country night may catch you off-guard. Most spots are residents & some manage their outside areas better than others. Staff was friendly when reserving, but never saw/heard from them once at the park.

Unfortunately, there’s no swimming in the lake, but there is a great trail that loops around it. With plenty of shady spots to pitch up, you won’t find it hard to relax here after an action-packed day in Tonto. It’s a blend of everything, with wildflowers, canyons, and swimming holes at easy reach. To give you some inspiration on where to start, we’ve listed some of the best campgrounds in Arizona. Grab a pen and note ’em down; from the newbie to the camping wizard, there’s something here for every type of camper.

This area is not only a great spot for wildlife watching, but it’s also home to several trail systems for hikers and nature fans. Named after the Saguaro cactus, this lakeside camping experience is one of the best Arizona has to offer. Located in the Tonto National Forest, Saguaro Lake offers great recreation and even better views. The shores of the lake are studded with majestic Saguaro cactus, with stunning mountain views beyond. In the lake, great boating is accompanied by superior fishing. There are large bass, carp, bluegill, and more, al swimming in the lake.

He fills most of his shelves with American West history books, some of which he’s read. When he’s not writing or reading, he enjoys road trips, traveling with his fam and researching American West history at OldWest.org. Sign up for our free email to join 85,000+ readers getting epic travel, hiking, camping and gear ideas every week. Catalina State Park at the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains is one of the quickest ways to escape Tucson for stunning desert camping. To see more of the area, take a scenic drive to Point Imperial, the North Rim’s highest point, then down to Cape Royal, an excellent place to be for sunset. In Arizona’s best small towns, you’ll see plenty of evidence left from those Wild West and gold mining days, along with modern quirkiness and plenty of awe-inspiring scenery.

Here, adventure seekers will find a popular swimming hole and an incredible natural waterslide that offers a thrilling, white-knuckle ride that spans 80-feet across a smooth sandstone surface. Here, jaw-dropping vistas can be discovered after a long hike or by simply pulling off the road. You’ll find red-rock deserts and dense forests, waterfalls and dry basins… and much of it’s all-seasons. Whether you’re looking to flee Phoenix or stop off for a while in the middle of a monthlong voyage, these are the Arizona campsites you need to hit. If you haven’t experienced the Mogollon Rim, it’s time to take a trip. The Mogollon Rim is home to hundreds of miles of sprawling Arizona forest.

There are many RV, group and tent sites provided at the park with water and electric hookups. It has over 46 spacious single-unit campsites with grills, flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, and fire rings. One RV or two tents are permitted per site, but there are no hookups. Cave Springs campground is one of the most popular Arizona campgrounds. It is nestled within the red rock cliffs in a forested canyon near Sedona, Arizona. The campground is 14 miles south of Flagstaff or 13 miles north of Sedona within Oak Creek Canyon.

The Grand Canyon

One mile north is the River Island Unit where you can go camping. Some sites even provide water, sewer, and electric hookups. Ten-X Campground is in northern Arizona and quite close to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Situated within beautiful Kaibab National Forest, just 4 miles south of the park entrance, Ten-X is a peaceful and quiet area with 70 single-family campsites and 2 group campsites. Aspen is one of the popular Arizona campgrounds to have spacious sites, a marina, scenic lakes, and many facilities.

Unless you’re one of those who like to mingle with others even while camping, this can be a damper that might keep you away. Apart from the above, you can find many smaller roads leading to lesser-known campsites. Try fishing and boating at Lake Havasu State Park, where birdwatching is also popular. Saguaro Lake is also a great destination for anglers, in the Tonto National Forest where mountain views are accompanied by cacti all around.