Reservations are available for this 99-site Forest Service campground accessible via paved roads just outside Payson. Houston Mesa Campground operates from February through November with sites ranging from $22 to $170 per night, accommodating RVs up to 99 feet with electric and water hookups available.
The forested setting provides natural shade across most sites, with campers consistently noting the spacious layout and privacy between spots. Ashley C. found her site had "big trees and no one we could see or hear nearby." Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and paved parking pad. The campground features flush toilets, coin-operated showers ($3 for six minutes), drinking water, and a dump station.
Highway noise affects sites closer to the road, though most campers report it as manageable background sound. The proximity to town means amenities like Walmart and Home Depot sit within a short drive, and pizza delivery reaches the campground. A nature trail winds through the area, and an amphitheater accommodates group gatherings. Wildlife sightings include various birds and occasional bear warnings from camp hosts.
Access involves some rough road sections that most vehicles handle without difficulty. The campground's location provides a launching point for nearby attractions, with Water Wheel Falls approximately 10 miles away. Cell service varies by carrier, with some dead zones reported throughout the area.
Camp hosts patrol regularly and sell firewood bundles for $7. For additional options in the region, campers can explore camping near Payson. Book ahead during peak seasons, as the convenient location and full amenities draw steady crowds.
Description
Overview
Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just one mile north of Payson, Arizona and less than two hours from Phoenix. With family, equestrian and tent-only campsites, this campground can accommodate a range of visitors and offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors, including several miles of hiking and horseback riding trails nearby. As the fifth largest forest in the United States, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited "urban" forests in the United States (approximately 5.8 million visitors annually). Its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations to the east.
Recreation
Many visitors come to Houston Mesa to horseback ride, hike, camp and picnic. Houston Mesa Loop Trail is a 9-mile round trip through a pinyon and juniper woodland and can be accessed from the horse camping area. The Houston Mesa Interpretive Trail is a 0.5-mile self-guided trail.
Facilities
Houston Mesa has 102 campsites, including 46 standard sites, 27 equestrian sites for campers with horses or mules, and 29 tent-only sites for those who want a quieter experience. There are several amenities to make campers feel at home, including flush toilets.The horse camping section (Mule Deer Loop) is across the street from the main campground and features 27 individual sites with tables and grills. Corrals are also available. Campers who reserve sites 7 - 18 must have horses or mules.__You do not need to have a horse or mule present to use sites 2 - 6 and 19 - 30 in Horse Camp (First Come, First Serve).
Natural Features
The campground is located at an elevation of 5,200 ft. in a mixed forest and shrub area, with spacious campsites offering both sun and shade. Winters are pleasant and cool with cold nighttime temperatures, while summers are warm and sunny, providing a nice getaway from the hotter deserts around Phoenix. Hawks, eagles, javelina, deer, fox, skunk and coyote live in the area.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (928) 474-7900.
Nearby Attractions
Campers who make the quick trip to the town of Payson, one mile south, will find restaurants, shopping and other conveniences. Scenic driving and outdoor recreation abound in the surrounding Tonto National Forest, which embraces almost 3 million acres of rugged and spectacularly beautiful country, ranging from saguaro cactus-studded desert to pine-forested mountains beneath the Mogollon Rim.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundHouston Mesa Campground is located in Arizona
Directions
From Payson, Arizona, go north for 1 mile to the junction of Highway 87 (Beeline Highway) and Forest Road 199 (Houston Mesa Road). Turn right (east) onto Forest Road 199 for .10 miles. The campground is on the north side of Houston Mesa Road.
Address
2100 Houston Mesa Rd
Payson, AZ 85541
Coordinates
34.27 N
111.3141667 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 23 usersLast on 3/21/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 61 usersLast on 3/21/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 10 usersLast on 3/21/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 23 usersLast on 3/21/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 61 usersLast on 3/21/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 10 usersLast on 3/21/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
- Equestrian
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 30 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 27 min from Prescott Valley, AZ
- 1 hr 32 min from Phoenix, AZ
- 1 hr 37 min from Flagstaff, AZ
- 2 hrs 50 min from Tucson, AZ










































