Mesa-Apache Junction KOA
Very nice
Very clean. some sites have an outdoor kitchen. close to the road but we didn’t notice noise. A decent size dog run and a small rec center that I didn’t have a chance to see.
Lost Dutchman State Park Campground and Mesa-Apache Junction KOA house upscale glamping accommodations within striking distance of Anthem, Arizona. These desert retreats feature climate-controlled canvas structures with proper beds, electricity, and outdoor seating areas. The Lost Dutchman glamping sites provide spectacular views of the Superstition Mountains, while the KOA offers more resort-style amenities including a year-round heated pool and hot tub. Both locations provide easy access to hiking trails and desert exploration while maintaining comfort levels far beyond traditional camping. Some glamping sites include outdoor kitchenettes with sinks and counter space, perfect for preparing meals while enjoying the desert landscape. One visitor noted, "The cabins at Lost Dutchman have $1 million views, and the entire staff was welcoming with bath houses and showers cleaned multiple times daily."
Hiking trails directly accessible from these glamping resorts connect guests to the stunning Sonoran Desert landscape. Lost Dutchman provides immediate access to multiple trail systems with varying difficulty levels, from easy walks to challenging climbs up Flatiron Mountain. The Mesa-Apache Junction KOA features additional amenities including a convenience store, playground, and dog run, making it suitable for family glamping experiences. Both locations are within 45 minutes of Phoenix, providing a perfect balance of wilderness immersion and urban convenience. According to a camper, "The KOA had some really awesome features and gives you most of the convenience of a hotel with the ability to bring your personal items with you without the hotel price tag." Reservations are strongly recommended for these eco-friendly glamping sites, particularly during peak seasons when the desert climate is most comfortable.
"Very well kept full service campground with super helpful staff."
"The park has beautiful hiking trails and a great nature center, which offers activities. Some hiking trails are within walking distance of the campground, others you will need to drive to. "
"There are lots of fire pits scattered throughout the camping area, but bring wood since cutting anything in the area is not allowed."
"There are several fenced in and cleared dirt areas to park and pull through trucks, a camper, tent and car, etc. any vehicle can make it to the staging area, road is easy to travel."
$150 / night
"Great place to get away from he city and enjoy a little nature. We had a great time sitting around the fire and looking at the stars. Great hikes nearby too to enjoy."
"Our site had a view of a trail where we watched equestrians ride by sporadically throughout the evening. We saw some snakes, coyotes, and other wildlife."
$35 - $99 / night
"Due to extreme heat, I recommend visiting in the fall. Winter, spring, and summer can tend to very uncomfortable. Loved the variety of hikes here, anything from easy to medium-difficult."
"We opted for a site with electrical and water ($30 vs $20) so there were mostly RVs. Large pull through with fire pit and bbq grill and metal picnic table."
"The park has beautiful hiking trails and a great nature center, which offers activities and the regional library. There are a couple of playgrounds in the park as well. "
"There was a gate attendant when we checked in around 6 pm on a Monday and we were given an information packet with information on the campground, nearby facilities in the town of Surprise, and trails,"
"Campsite 6 is the first one on the right, across from the Camp Host site, and as close to the entrance has you’re gonna get."
"Good price, friendly staff. Clean restrooms, and fire pits. The hosts are incredible Ty yu"
"Located in a valley of the Bradshaw mountains just about and hour and a half from Phoenix, this is an awesome getaway- away from it all."
"Lounge at the lake, hike in the fields, or relax in their renovated vineyard. Give them try and share your experience here!"
"Basic bathrooms available. Steep decline into the river right next to the sites. About 10-15 sites available, first come, first served. Pretty secluded and private."
"My site backed up to the river and I was able to hammoc next to it. Short drive to horseshoe lake. Very dusty"
"Very clean. some sites have an outdoor kitchen. close to the road but we didn’t notice noise. A decent size dog run and a small rec center that I didn’t have a chance to see."
"I arrived after hours, but some of the staff still on site saw me grab my check in materials at the office."
Very clean. some sites have an outdoor kitchen. close to the road but we didn’t notice noise. A decent size dog run and a small rec center that I didn’t have a chance to see.
Very well kept full service campground with super helpful staff. I recommend sites with canopies if you don't have solid air conditioning as it can get hot in the sun and there's very little natural shade. All sites have power and water. There's a dual lane dump station on the way out of the park.
Reservations are necessary, as many people grab these spots, and often for long stays (14 day maximums). Due to extreme heat, I recommend visiting in the fall. Winter, spring, and summer can tend to very uncomfortable.
Loved the variety of hikes here, anything from easy to medium-difficult. The individual sites are pretty small and hard to put a tent anywhere but the paved drives into each nook, much of the ground is covered in small plants and cacti. There's a picnic table/bench thing at each spot, plus a fire pit grill (which is the only place you can burn). Bathrooms and showers are on site and worked great during our stay. Bring plenty of water to hydrate with!
Checked in on a Sunday for a one night stay at Buckhorn CG. Campsite 6 is the first one on the right, across from the Camp Host site, and as close to the entrance has you’re gonna get. I expected to hear traffic in and out, but the site sits a nice distance back from the CG entrance road. Parking area was large enough to accommodate a couple of vehicles, and the site was roomy, with a few tent location possibilities. Site was raked and free of any trash, and a good distance from neighboring site. Loved the large concrete picnic table. Nice metal firepit and water on site. Really quiet— just the nearby chatter of birds and coyotes serenading. You won’t get a ‘dark sky’ night here, but the light noise from Phoenix makes for beautifully silhouetted saguaro cacti. Restroom and shower facilities were clean.
Pretty straight forward, it is an ORV riding area. The area is well maintained and there is a lot of camping spots available. The sites are not marked but you can easily tell where you would have room off the main dirt road to park and unload. There are lots of fire pits scattered throughout the camping area, but bring wood since cutting anything in the area is not allowed. The area to camp is marked clearly with signs and there is a metal fence surrounding the area as well. Pit toilets are here and were cleaned when we used them. This is an OVR park and there will be noise dust, but if you are an off road enthusiast it won’t bother you a bit. You can use your generator. There are also a few hiking trails and miles and miles of riding!
Camped here for two nights and enjoyed it very much. Sites are large and well maintained. We opted for a site with electrical and water ($30 vs $20) so there were mostly RVs. Large pull through with fire pit and bbq grill and metal picnic table. Many have views of the Superstition Mountains. We reserved ahead of time which is good as the campground was full when we arrived. There is overflow camping if no sites available. Bathrooms were clean and one had showers and filtered water, a nice bonus. I only saw two bathrooms (there might have been another in the newer loop but we didn’t explore that) so they were not real close to our site. Several hiking trails directly accessible from the park. A variety of ranger led programs but unfortunately none during our stay. You do have to put up with the annoying train whistle from about 10-6 from nearby Goldsfield “Ghost town” but otherwise it is probably the quietest campground I’ve ever stayed at. Only issue we had was with over-eager volunteers who yelled at us and told us we couldn’t park outside the showers. (We had moved from our site to use the showers after our hike and before leaving).
I stayed here for two nights while I was in the Phoenix area after having to reroute a trip due to unexpected winter weather at my original destination. I camped in a 22 foot rental motor home.
This was my first KOA experience, and it was such a delight. I arrived after hours, but some of the staff still on site saw me grab my check in materials at the office. He lead me to my sight in his golf cart, helped us get backed in and all settled for the night. Staff called the next morning to finish check in and verify our stay info. The staff this whole stay was so kind, it was amazing.
Our site (I believe most as well) was gravel but naturally pretty level. We had plenty of space between us and adjacent sites. The whole KOA has some nice touches as far as landscaping, sites with grills, etc. Very clean and well kept.
Location is about 45 minutes from Phoenix, which was perfect for us. We spent a little time in old town Scottsdale as well which is about the same distance. I would 100% stay here again if I’m in the area.
Maricopa County Park in Cave Creek. Very well taken care of.
The park has beautiful hiking trails and a great nature center, which offers activities.
Some hiking trails are within walking distance of the campground, others you will need to drive to.
The campground itself is very clean. It is quiet and the campsites all have electric and water hookups, picnic table and fire pit.
There is an older area, sites 1 through 42, which offers more space in between the spaces. the newer area, sites 43 through 55 are closer to each other, but still doesn't feel crowded.
Another Maricopa County parks campground which is great for hiking and relaxing.
Very well taken care of. The park has beautiful hiking trails and a great nature center, which offers activities and the regional library. There are a couple of playgrounds in the park as well.
Some hiking trails are within walking distance of the campground, others you will need to drive to. Maricopa trail runs through the park.
The campground itself is very clean, including the restrooms and showers. It is quiet and the campsites all have electric and water hookups, picnic table and fire pit. Sites are far enough from each other so it doesn't feel crowded. Not much vegetation on the campground itself, so sunshine in abundance.
Cave Creek Regional Park offers dispersed camping options within 30 miles of Anthem, Arizona. The park includes 35 sites with electric and water hookups situated in the northern Phoenix metropolitan area at an elevation of 2,000 feet. The desert landscape features saguaro cacti, desert wildflowers, and mountain views with temperatures ranging from 40°F at night to over 100°F during summer days.
Hiking trails with varying difficulty: Cave Creek Regional Park provides numerous hiking options for all skill levels. "The park has beautiful hiking trails and a great nature center, which offers activities," notes Ellen W. about Cave Creek Regional Park. Some trails connect directly to the campground while others require a short drive.
Nature Center exploration: Take time to visit the educational facilities at White Tank Mountain. "They have a large Nature Center with lots of desert creatures inside including a big fat rattlesnake, gila monster, black widow spider and some scorpions to safely check out up close," according to Chenery K. about White Tank Mountain.
Off-road adventures: Boulders OHV Area offers extensive terrain for off-road enthusiasts. "Miles of desert and washes to explore with tons of dispersed camping sites. Nearby washes lead to tons of trails near castle hot springs that can lead to various abounded mine sites (including Anderson Mill)," writes Caitlin S.
Spacious campsites: Sites at Usery Mountain Regional Park provide ample room between neighbors. "Our site #48 Buckhorn was really spacious and private. Great views all around. Table and fire pit," shares Julie F. about her stay at Usery Mountain Regional Park.
Cleanliness of facilities: Many campgrounds maintain excellent standards. "Campsite is clean and very easy to reserve ahead of time on the supported website which is very easy to use and see all the items open," notes Brad B. about Lost Dutchman State Park Campground.
Desert wildlife viewing: The area provides opportunities to observe native species. "Heard some coyotes in the night, which was exciting. Enjoyed hiking the trails and exploring the landscape," comments Rebecca G. about her experience at Lost Dutchman State Park Campground.
Gate closure times: Some parks restrict after-hours access. "Nothing on website said gate closes and can't get back in after 9 pm," warns Nicole E. about Cave Creek Regional Park. Check specific entrance policies when making reservations.
Limited shade: Most campsites in the region have minimal coverage from the sun. "No shade here at all but otherwise pretty decent. My spot had water and electric," reports Chris P. about Usery Mountain Regional Park.
Seasonal considerations: The best time for glamping in Anthem, Arizona is during cooler months. "Obviously not ideal camping in the summer but GREAT for the fall/winter/spring months," advises Caitlin S. about Boulders OHV Area.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer recreation areas for children. "The KOA features a small fenced playground with a tetherball, swing set, merry go round, and a table with an umbrella," describes Krista Z. about Mesa-Apache Junction KOA.
Educational programs: Look for ranger-led activities. "I've also joined two ranger-led hikes here (Black Rock Loop for sunrise hikes) as well as a county-sponsored astronomy night with access to multiple large telescopes and an astronomy presentation," shares Chenery K. about White Tank Mountain.
Pet-friendly options: Many sites accommodate four-legged family members. "Really happy with this koa journey. Thoughtfully organized with large pull through spots, picnic tables and loca cactus flare," notes Caitlin B., who found the Mesa-Apache Junction KOA welcoming for pets.
Pull-through availability: RV campers should note site configurations. "The spaces are large and spread out making it a great fit for tent campers or RV campers," explains Crystal C. about White Tank Mountain. Sites vary from back-in to pull-through options.
Hookup details: Check utility connections before booking. "Sites are clean and most level with mix of electric and non electric. Suggest you make reservations well ahead for busy winter months!" advises Debbie W. about Cave Creek Group Site.
Leveling requirements: Site terrain varies throughout the region. "Nice park, level sites, spotless bathhouses... Only down side is remote location," reports Chuck T. about Cave Creek Regional Park, highlighting the importance of checking accessibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Anthem, AZ is Cave Creek Regional Park with a 4.5-star rating from 19 reviews.
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