The Cibecue area sits at approximately 5,200 feet elevation in Arizona's White Mountains region, offering cooler temperatures than lower desert areas during summer months. RV sites near Cibecue, Arizona typically experience monsoon rains beginning in July and August, which can significantly cool daytime temperatures. The surrounding forest lands feature ponderosa pine ecosystems with occasional sightings of wild horses in some camping areas.
What to do
Forest hiking: Access trails directly from several campgrounds. At Venture In RV Resort, campers appreciate the forest setting. "This park is located in the forest area of Show Low, AZ... In fact, we rode our eBikes to get to just about everything," notes one reviewer who found the location central to outdoor activities.
Wildlife watching: Look for wild horses in the evening. The Hon-Dah RV Park area sometimes hosts unexpected wildlife visitors. "Wild horses venture through the camp in the evening!" reports a recent camper who stayed at the facility near Pinetop.
Fishing: Multiple lakes within 30-minute drives. Campers mention lakes and streams as primary attractions. One visitor at Mogollon RV Park notes, "This is on the mogollon rim so there is some great hiking and sightseeing nearby. Several lakes close also."
What campers like
Full hookup availability: Most parks offer water, electric, and sewer. At Ponderosa RV Resort, one camper notes it's "a reasonably quiet, adult oriented, RV park in the pines" with good WiFi and cell reception, making it "a good base camp to visit the area."
Wide RV spaces: Some parks feature extra room between sites. AJ's Getaway RV Park receives praise for site size: "HUGE sites and trails right outside the Campground," mentions one reviewer. Another adds, "The campsites are just the perfect size for our Toy Hauler."
Temperature advantages: Cooler than desert regions in summer. Visitors appreciate the climate difference. A Venture In guest observed, "Temps are warm in June and then cool down significantly after the Monsoon rains begin."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Many parks close during winter months. Venture In RV Resort operates from May through October, while others like Hon-Dah remain open year-round. Elk Pines RV Resort in Overgaard runs from April through October with 68 full-hookup sites.
Connectivity varies: Cell coverage depends on location. One reviewer noted that at Venture In, "Cell service is pretty bad here. We have Verizon cell phones which usually worked for phone service but sometimes cut out. We have Verizon and AT&T hotspots. AT&T worked the best but not fast enough to stream anything most of the time."
Demographic considerations: Some parks cater to specific age groups. Ponderosa RV Resort is described as "55+ was great to not worry about being hit by energetic kids or noisy teens and young adults. We were there to RELAX and enjoy the tall pines and cool weather."
Tips for camping with families
Look for family-specific amenities: Some parks offer dedicated activities. Payson Campground & RV Resort includes a pool and small playground. One visitor mentions, "Great place, laundry, pool and close to town. Each spot is level and very clean restrooms."
Check site dimensions before booking: Space varies between campgrounds. A family staying at Payson Campground noted, "We had one of the biggest sites there was, site 91, so that was a bonus but it was up a large hill and hard to get in and out of."
Consider noise levels: Traffic and other campers may impact experience. A family camper observed, "You can hear the noise from the main road that runs right next to the campground... Well we could... all night long."
Tips from RVers
Navigational challenges: Some approaches require careful driving. Getting to Waltner's RV Resort and similar campgrounds may involve residential areas, but one guest notes it feels secluded: "Great park, close to town but you'd never know it. Among the pines and cedar trees of the White Mountains."
Site surface considerations: Different parks use various ground materials. Venture In RV Resort features cinder surfaces which can be challenging for some. "Sites are covered in cinders which are a bit of a pain. They present a somewhat soft surface which is like walking in about 6 inches of soft sand."
Tree placement affects parking: Consider site layout when choosing spots. A Venture In guest explained, "Almost all the sites have a tree planted right at the front next to the road. Some of the trees are a bit wide which really makes getting into the site difficult."
