Wild donkeys bray throughout the night at Lake Pleasant Regional Park Campground, where 66 acres of Sonoran Desert meet Arizona's second-largest lake. This established campground sits within Maricopa County's regional park system, offering both lakeside and desert-facing sites with water and electric hookups. The facility maintains clean restroom buildings with flush toilets and hot showers, positioned strategically throughout the camping areas.
Most sites provide direct lake views, though water levels fluctuate seasonally and affect shoreline access. "The campsites are each set up that you have privacy and a view," notes Robin, who encountered tarantulas, donkeys, skunks and raccoons during evening hours. Sites feature concrete picnic tables, shade ramadas, and fire rings where wood fires are permitted. The campground includes both the lakefront Roadrunner area and the hillside Desert Tortoise section, with Desert Tortoise site 173 offering elevated lake vistas despite steep parking angles.
Boat ramps provide direct water access for fishing, skiing, and paddling, while marked hiking trails include one featuring a floating bridge. The Discovery Center offers ranger-guided programs and desert wildlife exhibits. A private marina operates within the park boundaries, selling firewood, ice, and basic supplies, though full grocery runs require a 20-minute drive to town.
Weekend crowds can overwhelm the facility, with some campers reporting loud music and debris issues during peak periods. Tanya N. recommends weekday visits for quieter experiences, noting "you have a better chance of having a peaceful getaway." Reservations prove essential for holiday weekends when lakefront sites fill quickly. A dump station serves all campers on the exit route.
The campground works best for RV campers seeking lake recreation with full hookups, though tent campers appreciate the desert setting and wildlife viewing opportunities around this sizable recreational lake.
Description
Lake Pleasant Regional Park offers 148 sites for RV and tent camping within the campgrounds (does not including primitive camping sites)
Each "Developed Site" has water, electricity, dump station, a covered ramada, a picnic table, a barbecue grill and fire ring.
Each "Semi-Developed Site" and tent site has a covered ramada, a picnic table, a barbecue grill and fire ring, unless otherwise acknowledged in the description or camping map.
Restroom and/or shower facilities are available at both types of campsites. All sites in the campground may be reserved online at www.maricopacountyparks.org/. Campgrounds
Desert Tortoise Campground has 74 campsites: 25 Developed Sites, 39 Semi-Developed Sites, and 10 Tent Sites.
Roadrunner Campground offers 71 sites for RV and tent camping. All sites are Developed.
Large groups can reserve the Desert Tortoise Group Campground. The Group Campground includes a parking area for RVs, picnic tables, and ramadas. The use of this area is by reservation only and requires a minimum commitment of 10 camping units.
Shoreline Camping
Lake Pleasant Regional Park also has shoreline/primitive camping during most of the year, depending on water levels. Shoreline camping is only permitted within designated areas for such use, when available. Day-of availability will be on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be reserved during business hours at the park. For information on camping fees, click on this link to be redirected to the "Fees" page.
The first phase or re-introducing primitive/shoreline camping will be rolled out in late January 2021, with the area of the Dirt Spillway. Future areas will be included in phases at later dates.
Campers must park in designated parking areas. Tent camping will be permitted along the shoreline within the designated area. No vehicles will be permitted to park along the shoreline within the area.
Check-in time the day of arrival shall occur no earlier than 2 p.m. Campers must check out the day of departure by 12 p.m. (noon). Boat-In Camping
Boat-in camping is now available at the 10 Lane Parking Lot. Roughly 30 assigned parking spaces have been designated for such use. Each camping/parking space is approximately 45 feet long by 12 ft. wide to accommodate most boat trailers and towing vehicles. Reservations are required. Day-of availability is on a first-come, first-served basis, and can only be reserved during business hours at the park.
Boaters must camp on the waters of Lake Pleasant – no shoreline camping available at this time. Camping is not permitted within the parking lot/camp space. Boat-in camping is a great option for fisherman looking to fish in the late evening/early morning hours. Boat-in campers must arrive and check-in before the park closes at night (8 pm).
Reservation Info
CAMPING RESERVATIONS
Campers are required to enter the park between 1 pm and 8 pm the day of their arrival.
No entry access available between 8 pm and 5 am.
NOTICE: ALL campsites and restrooms in the Roadrunner Campground will be TEMPORARILY closed from July 5, 2022, to December 31, 2022. And, effective January 5, 2022, reservations for ANY date in that range will not be accepted online or in person.
Please see website for closures and alterations to the normal camping schedule.
You can make a reservation for one or more campsites at a time, and for up to 14 nights.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundLake Pleasant Regional Park Campground is located in Arizona
Directions
From central Phoenix, take I-17 north to Carefree Highway (SR 74). Exit Carefree Hwy. and travel west 15 miles to Castle Hot Spring Road. Travel north to Lake Pleasant Regional Park entrance.
Address
41835 North Castle Hot Springs Rd
Morristown, AZ 85342
Coordinates
33.84913615815311 N
112.27797646261573 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 23 usersLast on 3/12/26- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 44 usersLast on 3/12/26
AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 5 usersLast on 3/12/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 23 usersLast on 3/12/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 44 usersLast on 3/12/26
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 5 usersLast on 3/12/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Market
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- WiFi
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Contact
General Info
Reservations
Drive Time
- 20 min from Phoenix, AZ
- 1 hr 1 min from Prescott Valley, AZ
- 1 hr 44 min from Flagstaff, AZ
- 2 hrs 58 min from Lake Havasu City, AZ
