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Established Camping

Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Ponderosa Campground will be open as First-Come First-Served only from May 1 - November 3, 2025.For your convenience, a fee machine is located onsite to purchase camping passes.

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Ponderosa Campground, near Payson, Arizona, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. With spacious sites surrounded by beautiful tall pines, it’s a great place to kick back and enjoy the outdoors.

This campground is known for its clean facilities, including well-maintained restrooms and ample drinking water. Campers rave about the friendly hosts who are always ready to help, making your stay even more enjoyable. As one visitor put it, “The camp hosts are awesome... they drove us to our spot and got us set up with some firewood.”

For outdoor activities, you’ll find plenty of hiking and biking trails nearby, perfect for exploring the stunning forest landscape. The area is also great for fishing, with streams stocked with trout just a short distance away. While some campers mentioned the highway noise, many found that the further you go into the campground, the quieter it gets.

Ponderosa Campground is open from April to October, making it an ideal summer getaway. Plus, with the charming town of Payson just a quick drive away, you can easily grab supplies or enjoy a meal after a day of adventure. Whether you're camping in a tent or an RV, this spot offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of Arizona's natural beauty.

Reservation Info

Reservations can be made by visiting Recreation.gov. Reservations must be made 3 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 6 months in advance for the standard sites or 12 months in advance for the group sites.

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Location

Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest is located in Arizona

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Payson, Arizona, go east on State Route 260. The campground is located on the south side of 260. A campground sign is visible before the campground entrance.

Coordinates

34.2988889 N
111.1141667 W

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Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 5 users
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 1 user

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Drive Time

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Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 5 users
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 1 user

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

10 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 26, 2025

Nice place

Nice place a lot of trees not much sunshine if you're on solar, host was nice, T-Mobile 5G non-existent

SiteB4
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed May. 7, 2024

Peaceful

I loved this campground. friendly host, spacious sites, and reasonably priced.

SiteA10
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by FearLes , May 7, 2024
Reviewed Aug. 10, 2022

Great campsite!

We’re we there during the week so there were very few others there. Camp hosts were amazing, very helpful. It rained and stormed each day. There were running streams all around, but no mud. Beautiful forest, lots of hiking or strolling paths. No TV very limited cell service.

SiteD-5
Month of VisitAugust
  • after the rain
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  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by Bev M., August 10, 2022
  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by Bev M., August 10, 2022
Reviewed May. 24, 2022

Beautiful tall pines

We enjoyed this camp site for its beauty day and night. The stars at night were unbelievable. The sites are large with grill, fire pit, and barbecue. No hook ups. Toilets were primitive (think outhouse) but secure and clean. There is some highway noise so take care selecting site.

SiteA9
Month of VisitMay
  • set up
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  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by Donna V., May 24, 2022
Reviewed May. 9, 2022

Great little campground!

Campground is very clean, seriously I’ve never seen cleaner restrooms at a campground! I was camped at the back of the campground and it was really quiet, I couldn’t hear the highway at all. There are bear safes for your food if you are rent camping, and plenty of back roads to bike ride or hike. The camp hosts, Patti and John S. Are awesome too, they drove us to our spot and got us set up with some firewood, and were very friendly. If I wasn’t on my way to the east coast, this is definitely a place I would visit again!

Month of VisitMay
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  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by Aubrey S., May 9, 2022
Reviewed Oct. 3, 2021

1st time camping payson

The site was amazing, tall trees, clean bathrooms, fire and bbq pits, also a bear safe for your food. Firewood is sold here for 8$ and the the camp hosts are really nice. Everything is with in walking distance of the camp sites and the drink water is next to the bathrooms. It was very quiet out there and at night the woods came to life with owls and coyotes howling but we didn't get to meet Lary the bear who apparently frequents the camp area looking for snacks.

SiteC-6
Month of VisitOctober
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  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by B O., October 3, 2021
  • (47) View All
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2021

Spacious Sites but Close to Highway

The only drawback to this popular weekend campground near the Mogollon rim, is its proximity to the highway. The drone of logging trucks and other vehicles is mostly a nuisance in the early hours and in the evening when you'd rather just listen to the sound of crickets and nocturnal birds. Of course, the further into the camping area you go the lesser the impact from the road. 

Otherwise, this campground is a lovely example of Arizona mountain country, with tall Ponderosa Pines and hearty shrubs covering the forested landscape. This campground provides a shaded refuge from the sun with opportunities to hike, bike, or drive, to some inspiring viewsheds.   We run on solar, so found one of the only spots with enough sun to keep us charged up.

While it was super busy on the weekend, the mid-week peace of this place was priceless. Just down the road near Upper Tonto Creek, there are many popular, multi-use trails for hiking, horseback and mountain bike riding. The creek is stocked with trout for fly fishing enthusiasts. The fresh water is very palatable (which is rare for AZ) and the pit-toilets are efficiently kept clean by the annual resident camp hosts who work hard keeping this large campground tidy. They will also sell you some firewood or chat you up about the area or just about anything else.   

The town of Payson is less than 20 minutes away and has all the services and restaurants you could want. I highly recommend going to Alfonso’s Mexican take out– absolutely worth it.  We went for dinner, then couldn't resist a breakfast burrito the morning we left.

Month of VisitApril
  • A quick 360 around our site.
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  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by Shari  G., August 8, 2021
  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by Shari  G., August 8, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jun. 9, 2020

One of Favorite campsites in Arizona!!

This is one of my personal favorite campsites in Arizona, for many reasons.  It's very clean, with drinking water and well maintained toilets/trash facilities. The camp hosts are very diligent about quiet hours so you can rest assured that the nights will be peaceful. This is also a short drive from Payson so easy access to supplies and at times, cell phone reception if needed.

This is one of the first campgrounds you will find when hitting the Mogollon Rim so it can get warmer due to lower elevation in the summer months. It is a great jumping off point though for exploring other regions of the area and a short drive from the Horton Creek Trail starting point.

This is a large campground and A loop is right by the road so will be very loud with trucks. D loop has the largest campsites and the most privacy between your neighboors.

SiteD7 and D6
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2019

All depends on the site

Nice campground overall. I enjoyed the easy access off the 260 and also the paved roads. We had a great campsite with tons of space D08 but it was also close to the bathroom. 2 issues were the flys and the bees. It was overload. They actually had bee and fly catchers up before we even got there and they still were an issue. Overall not bad but probably won’t come back.

  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by Emily Z., September 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by Emily Z., September 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Ponderosa Campground (AZ) Tonto National Forest by Emily Z., September 29, 2019
Reviewed Aug. 25, 2019

Great site

Clean, functional, and staff was very understanding and helpful and even was very flexible when we had a miscommunication and some extra cars and tents. Stayed around end of May and weather was fantastic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the reviews like for Ponderosa Campground in Payson, Arizona?

Ponderosa Campground is highly regarded for its cleanliness, peaceful environment, and beautiful surroundings. Campers consistently praise the well-maintained facilities, particularly the exceptionally clean restrooms. The camp hosts are frequently mentioned as helpful, friendly, and diligent about enforcing quiet hours. Many visitors appreciate the tall trees and natural beauty, with spectacular stargazing opportunities at night. Some campsites experience highway noise, so site selection matters. The campground receives predominantly 4-5 star ratings from visitors who value its cleanliness, spaciousness, and proximity to outdoor activities.

How much does it cost to stay at Ponderosa Campground?

Ponderosa Campground offers reasonably priced camping. Firewood is available for purchase at $8 per bundle from the camp hosts. For current nightly rates, reservation fees, and seasonal pricing changes, contact Tonto National Forest or check the official USFS website before your trip. The campground is considered a good value given its amenities and beautiful setting.

What camping options and amenities are available at Ponderosa Campground?

Ponderosa Campground offers spacious non-hookup sites equipped with grills, fire pits, and barbecues. Amenities include clean restrooms (vault toilets), drinking water stations located near bathrooms, and bear safes for food storage. The campground features paved roads for easy access and numerous hiking and biking trails nearby. Campsite D08 is noted for its ample space. Cell service is limited, with T-Mobile coverage being particularly weak. The campground is clean and well-maintained with regular trash collection. Camp hosts are on-site and sell firewood to visitors.

Where is Ponderosa Campground located in relation to Payson, Arizona?

Ponderosa Campground is located near Payson, Arizona with easy access off Highway 260. The campground sits in a forested area close to the Mogollon Rim, making it a popular weekend destination. While conveniently accessible, some campsites may experience noise from logging trucks and highway traffic, particularly in the early morning and evening hours. The campground's location provides access to numerous back roads for hiking and biking, and it's a short drive from several natural attractions in the area.