The Anthem area sits at approximately 1,863 feet elevation in Arizona's Sonoran Desert, experiencing summer temperatures regularly above 105°F from June through September and mild winters with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing. Camping options near Anthem include established RV resorts that remain open year-round, with limited dispersed camping available in surrounding Bureau of Land Management areas. Cell service strength generally decreases as you move north away from the Phoenix metro area.
What to do
Boating and water activities: At Pleasant Harbor RV Resort, campers can enjoy Lake Pleasant with various water-based recreation. "Free shuttle to haul kayak to boat ramp," notes Margaret T., making it convenient to get equipment to the water. Another visitor mentions, "Marina for boat rentals with a shuttle to take you back and forth."
Hiking and exploration: The areas surrounding Black Canyon City provide access to numerous desert trails. "Lots of shade trees, cactus and birds," reports one camper at Black Canyon Ranch RV Resort, making it a good base for desert exploration.
Pickleball and recreation: RV parks in the region often feature recreational facilities for active campers. "Pickleball, mini golf, shuffleboard, dog park, laundry and a fitness center on the grounds," mentions one visitor at Encore Mesa Spirit. Leaf Verde RV Resort similarly offers "Pickleball courts, cornhole area, dog park."
What campers like
Spacious camping areas: Some RV parks provide generous site dimensions. At Black Canyon Ranch RV Resort, Lindsay K. reports, "Very spacious sites plenty of room for our 37' with slides out and our tow car! Full hook up site, great amenities and friendly staff!"
Water views: Lake-adjacent camping offers scenic vistas. "Make sure to book a spot up on cliff overlooking the water. Great sunsets," recommends Margaret T. about Pleasant Harbor RV Resort. The resort offers multiple camping options, with one visitor noting there are "several different RV/Camping options... 1) In the resort with Full Hookups 2) Out on the 'flat' with just water and power 3) Out on the 'flat' with no hookups."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained amenities rank highly with campers. "The laundry facility was one of the nicest we've ever used!" states a visitor at Leaf Verde RV Resort, while another mentions "Clean bathrooms, great lounge with a library, pool."
What you should know
Age restrictions: Several RV parks near Anthem operate as age-restricted communities. "You have to be 55, I am 52 and wasn't allowed there," explains Danielle R. about Pioneer RV Resort 55+. Similarly, at Paradise RV Resort, Staci R. notes, "At least one person travelling and staying in any unit must be able to show proof of age 55 or older."
Site accessibility: Layout can vary significantly between parks. At Desert Shadows RV Resort, one visitor points out that "if you're a Class A or C towing, you'll probably have to drop to to access the hookups, as they are at the back end of the pull-throughs, not toward the middle as they usually are."
Noise considerations: Some locations experience periodic noise disruption. "There is a shooting range near by. People and pets with issues hearing gun/rifle shots during the day should be aware, you can hear the shots being fired," explains one visitor about Pioneer RV Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Check age policies: Several rv parks near Anthem, Arizona explicitly prohibit children. One visitor to Mesa Spirit reports, "This 55+ community is very well organized," while another noted, "55+ Resort" about Pueblo El Mirage.
Look for kid-friendly activities: Leaf Verde RV Resort provides amenities suitable for families. "Pool was a great bonus for our family after a long day of driving," writes Mikki S. Another camper mentions the "swimming pool, 'The Barn', a salon, and a horseshoe pit."
Consider swimming options: Some parks maintain pools for recreation. "Large clean spots. All spots are fenced descent pool and small store if you need anything," notes Bryan S. about Pleasant Harbor, adding "Strong WiFi. Kids were able to zoom without any issues."
Tips from RVers
Pull-through accessibility: RVers recommend checking site configurations. At Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort, visitors find "Very clean, 2 pools, wiFi, and everything in between." Another camper calls it "a self described 5 star RV long stay park" that "has almost every amenity you can think of."
Overnight options: For those just passing through, some resorts offer convenient one-night stays. At Mesa Spirit, Sara H. discovered, "Having let TT expire, we tried this out—no reservation, just show up at dusk or later, and this very nice, truly chill but soo ginormous resort let us park right in the front/middle for the night."
Site dimensions: Pay attention to spacing between sites when reserving. "Roadways are asphalt and large enough to maneuver bigger rigs through. All sites are full hook up w 30 & 50 amp electrical," notes one visitor about Leaf Verde RV Resort, though another cautions it's "a giant parkinglot for RV 'camping'" with sites that are "gravel and close together but nice."
