The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Cibola, AZ

199 Reviews

Dispersed tent camping dominates the landscape surrounding Cibola, Arizona, offering primitive sites along the Colorado River and throughout nearby desert terrain. Cibola National Wildlife Refuge - East provides tent campsites with picnic tables and trash disposal right along the riverbank, while Wiley Wells Dispersed camping area offers more rugged tent camping in the Mule Mountain area. The Black Mountain Road Camp provides additional primitive tent camping options within driving distance, offering solitude and scenic desert vistas.

Most tent camping areas near Cibola require self-sufficiency, with limited or no facilities available. The Cibola National Wildlife Refuge East area includes covered picnic tables, fire pits, and designated parking areas adjacent to tent sites, though no drinking water is available. Campers should carry plenty of water, especially during summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 100°F. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for accessing the Wiley Wells dispersed camping area due to soft sand conditions. A recent review mentioned "there is a lot of soft sand you cannot get around" and recommended "ONLY 4WD and knowledge of how to drive on sand."

Tent campers at Cibola experience direct access to the Colorado River, with swimming areas and boat launching available at some locations. The extreme desert environment demands careful preparation, with little natural shade available at most primitive tent setups. Sites at Black Mountain Road Camp provide "lovely sunrise and sunset 360 views" according to visitor feedback, with good cell service for those needing connectivity. Winter months (November through March) offer the most comfortable tent camping conditions, with pleasant daytime temperatures and cool nights. Summer camping requires extensive heat preparation, with extreme temperatures limiting outdoor activities to early morning and evening hours. The Colorado River provides a welcome respite from the heat for tent campers willing to brave the summer conditions.

Map showing campgrounds near Cibola, ArizonaExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Cibola, Arizona (18)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 18 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Cibola Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Cibola, AZ

2 Photos of 18 Cibola Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Cibola, AZ

199 Reviews of 18 Cibola Campgrounds

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 27, 2023

    BLM Oxbow Campground

    Great BLM camp on river.

    Nice BLM CG on Colorado River. Colo and AZ state line seems to bisect this area. CG has tables, fire rings vault toilets, dumpster, but NO water or RV dump. $15/$7.50 senior. 14d limit.

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 23, 2023

    Lake Mittry Wildlife Designated Camping Area

    Camping in the tules

    Mittry Lake free dispersed camping area.
    This area is close to the Imperial Dam LTVA complex. The area is managed by the AZ fish and game and BOR. Camping limit is 10 days, free dispersed. There are 3-4 camping pod clusters seen from the main graded washboard gravel road. Lots of spots along the main road or tucked into the reeds. The area by the boat ramp has camping only in a designated area that looks recently created improvement. This boat ramp site also has a vault toilet and a dumpster. Cell signal is intermittent depending on your location.

    I was disappointed at seeing a couple fire rings full of trash...

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2022

    Osborne Overlook

    Surprise, it's also a campground!

    Located in the Imperial Dunes, we didn’t even realize this was a “campground” as we drove the short uphill to the lookout to see the dunes. There is a 14-day limit but unless you are really into cruising around the dunes on an OHV, I’m not sure why you would stay that long. It is basically a paved parking lot and there are no markers indicating a separation between “spaces” so you park/camp wherever you find room (there were some sections with no parking signs). Although the road and lot are paved, the wind will blow sand all over and it was VERY windy when we were there! There were two vault toilets, a covered picnic table and several fire rings but no other amenities. As far as I can tell, it is free to camp here. I did notice some RVs displaying rather strident political flags which would have made us uncomfortable staying here overnight so we enjoyed the dunes for a short while and drove on. A plus is the cell coverage is great (you are higher up) and the dunes are beautiful!

  • Miles K.
    Apr. 21, 2021

    BLM Oxbow Campground

    Weekend Getaway Boondocking

    I met up with an old Marine buddy of mine and my 15 year old son for some camping, fishing and offroading with my friends Polaris Razr. There is a nice boat dock that is well used. NOTE: The walking dock to get into your boat is not setup and is not functional. Fishing spots are around the camping sites... fishing from shore into the river is doable... but the flow of the river means you probably will be like I was just practicing your casts. The trails on the Arizona side off of Levee Rd. We're great. We went out into the desert by the Hart Mining area and saw Big Horn Sheep and a Log Cabin from 1910. The weather was great... wind did get a bit gusty in the afternoons. Other than that great sunrises and sunsets. Camp fire rings were full of past ashes. We dug ours out to make it better for a fire. The Vault bathrooms are Really Bad. Luckily I brought my privacy pop-up tent and Lowes bucket with a toilet seat. That was way better than the stench of the toilet. No water so you need to bring your own, same with firewood, toilet needs... no toilet paper provided, no sinks or clothes pins required. We were the ONLY campers in the main campsites by the off duty camp host trailer on the river on Sat night and woke up to an empty campground.

  • Tina R.
    Dec. 28, 2022

    BLM Oxbow Campground

    Dry camping

    This is a dry camp, but fee based. $15.00 per vehicle, per night. Or half price with a federal park pass.

    Plan on bringing water and the nearest dump area is Blythe,  CA.

    Close to Cibola Wildlife refuge.

    Beautiful and quiet, family area.  

    Hosts are excellent and keep very clean bathrooms.

  • Kaysha R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

    Endless possibiliities

    There are endless camping possibilities in Kofa. Primitive, dispersed real wilderness camping. No water. No toilets, no hookups, generators... and you have to have a 4x4 to get there! Just my kind of spot. I've explored all over this area by jeep, and by foot and never get bored going off on some new abandoned mine trail. There are hidden caves all around and great hikes to get there!

    I'll just share my two favorite hidden gems in the area: Signal Peak is a must, and if you do, I recommend camping around Skull Rock. For a scenic offroad trail + neat cabin stay head to Kofa Mine Cabin!

    For Signal Peak and the Skull Rock stay, you can park regular cars along Palm Canyon Road where the Kofa Natl Wildlife Refuge Brochures and info are and hop into a 4x4 for the rest of the drive. You'll need it. Don't attempt get to skull rock in any regular, vehicle, or anything without high clearance.

    **NOTE: I have left a car in this lot with no issues while camping up in the canyon over night, but of course, do so at your own risk.

    From that parking lot you head up to Kofa Queen Canyon and pick your spots for camping. There are plenty of good spots for tent on ledges, or on cots down near skull rock. Here you can grill and have general campfire fun.

    The road to Skull Rock is undeveloped, needs high clearance and is a tight squeeze for wider vehicles. It will not accommodate campers or trailers. Tent camping only (aside from maybe your serious bug out vehicle!)

    Skull rock camp spot is about a one hour and 45 minute drive from Yuma. From HWY 95 turn (east) onto Palm Canyon Road (not too far past the Border Patrol Checkpoint. Drive east 3.2 miles to Kofa Queen Canyon (KQC) Road on the left (north now). Follow KQC Road northeast about 7.5 miles into the Canyon to where a subsidiary Canyon opens up to your right (south). Passenger cars won't manage this last road. You'll need high clearance and preferably 4wd. The road inside the canyon is alternately rocky and sandy, and braids in and out with the wash. Just follow the 'better-looking' route if unsure at a junction. Enough people come up here you should be able to see lots of tire tracks.

    *NOTE: There is no cell service at the campsite.

    From here we drive down the trail bit further to get to Signal Peak (roughly 4,800ft), it's Kofa's highest peak. This is a strenuous hike with steep slopes and some scrambling, and should only be done by experienced hikers in good physical conditions with proper hiking boots. The beautiful view from from the top is absolutely worth the hike.

    Dogs: Although I know of people who have brought dogs up here, it is a very rocky hike and could be very hot or treacherous for your pup. You may consider bringing a dog only if he is an avid hiker and has very strong paw pads (or hiking boots), and can physically handle the demands of this hike. Also, dogs as per Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Rules - are required to be on a leash at all times.

    For the Kofa Mine Section, head on your way out to the Kofa Mine Museum and then just past it take the turn to Big Eye Mine - 15 mile offroad trail where a real, high clearance truck/jeep 4x4 is needed. There are at least 2 hairy sections that I even got a jeep stuck in for a minute. All of this area is full of mines and great open camping spaces.

    Kofa was established in 1939 to be managed: “…as a representative area of lower Sonoran Desert habitat with a maximum diversity and abundance of native plants and animals and to protect and preserve the desert bighorn sheep and its habitat…” Since 1955, over 560 desert bighorn sheep have been trapped on Kofa and transplanted to other areas in Arizona, as well as to the states of New Mexico, California, Colorado, Texas and Nevada, to re-establish herds extirpated from habitat loss, development and over-hunting.

    Unless you are a skilled Arizona adventurer, I'd advise against hiking or even offloading (in case something goes wrong) during the hot summer months when temperatures can rise to over 115 degrees F.

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2024

    Kofa National Wildlife Refuge - Crystal Hill Free Campsites

    Crystal hill rock hounding

    Crystal Hill-Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

    Free remote dispersed camping. South of Quartzite along hwy 95.

    NEVERMIND the BLM no camping sign at the hwy turnoff, go 3.1 mi to Kofa Refuge boundary and then to the 5.7 mi point and you reach Crystal Hill. There is a loop with about several back in remote style campsites. No signs, no toilets, no water, no trash, no tables, no fire rings. However cell seems good. 14d camping limit. The road in is washboard rocky gravel. Also more camping spots between the Kofa boundary and Crystal Hill.

    Important note! The turnoff from hwy 95 is between mp 96 and mp 95. As of Nov 2024 there is a significant dip leaving the hwy that may be problematic for trailers or long RVs, causing you to drag the rear end or hitch... Recon first..

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 4, 2025

    Patton's Pad

    Good Overnight Spot

    Good flat spot to spend the night on the way to another destination. There’s some light noise from the highway but otherwise a decent spot.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 5, 2023

    Gateway Ranch RV Resort

    Good campground

    Nice campground. Sites are good size. Clean area. Quiet place except for road noise. Close to Quartzite and Parker.

Guide to Cibola

Tent camping near Cibola, Arizona offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning desert landscape while enjoying a variety of outdoor activities.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $6

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Unique features of local camping spots

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cibola, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cibola, AZ is Cibola National Wildlife Refuge - East with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Cibola, AZ?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Cibola, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring