Coconino National Forest provides diverse camping options ranging from developed campgrounds to secluded dispersed sites. Established locations like Cave Springs Campground and Manzanita Campground offer amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets, while dispersed areas such as Edge of the World and Schnebly Hill provide more primitive experiences. Many campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with sites like Rancho Sedona RV Park offering full hookups for larger recreational vehicles and Pine Flat Campground welcoming both tent campers and smaller RVs in a forest setting.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many dispersed camping areas requiring high-clearance vehicles. Forest roads like FR 240 and FR 525 provide access to numerous free camping spots but often feature rough terrain. "We had a 21 and 31' trailer with us and found a great spot about 6 minutes after hitting the dirt road," noted one camper about FR 240. Seasonal considerations impact accessibility, with most developed campgrounds operating from spring through fall. Cave Springs and Pine Flat typically open mid-March and close by early November, while higher elevation sites may have shorter seasons due to snow conditions. Fire restrictions commonly affect the region during dry summer months.
Campers consistently praise the scenic beauty and cooler temperatures found in the forest. Areas near Sedona sites offer dramatic red rock views, while higher elevation campsites near Mormon Lake provide pine forest settings and escape from summer heat. Several visitors mention the peaceful atmosphere at Dairy Springs Campground, with one noting it was "fantastic and peaceful" with "excellent hiking opportunities." The region experiences varying levels of activity, with some dispersed areas remaining quiet on weekdays but becoming crowded during holidays and summer weekends. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the forest, and many campsites provide access to hiking trails. Cell phone coverage remains limited in much of the forest, especially in more remote dispersed camping areas, allowing for a true disconnected outdoor experience.
"The road in is bumpy and rocky, but not impossible (a Ford Mustang in the site next to us clearly made it)."
"It is a bumpy road with large portion of potholes so drive cautiously but once you get to the location you get a number of different spots to camp at."
$30 / night
"Tucked into Oak Creek canyon, surrounded by trees, red dirt mountain sides, and a creek this campground is stunning."
"Location: The location of the campground is perfect for all of the Sedona activities. This campground is only a few miles from the popular Slide Rock State Park."
$42 - $84 / night
"Compared to another campground close by that is a little less but we had double the space and trees and a creek behind us. They’re very busy and we were only able to get two nights."
"Sites a little close to each other. Grounds were surrounded by nature and close by main Sedona street. Check in after hours were smooth."
"Highway noise in the distance but not a issue. Peaceful area within the large trees."
"The worst part of the road is at the entrance off the highway, then it does get a bit better."
$30 - $45 / night
"Other than being close to the highway, we love this campground. It is in a heavily wooded forest next to Oak Creek. It has multiple bathrooms and accessible drinking water."
"What I liked about this was the great hosts (who seemed on constant patrol in their golf cart), the level sites for tents, and the great access to trails."
"The road from the I-17 entrance was well maintained and can be driven on with any vehicle. I had my Chevy trax (front wheel drive) and made it fine. There are plenty of pull off trails we explored."
"Exit 226 off of I-17 and head west on Schnebly Hill Rd. There is dispersed camping all along the road for the first mile or two. It is first come first serve."
$34 / night
"Flush toilets, pay showers, water, easy access to sites. If you’re looking for comfortable camping, this is a great place for you."
"Our site was among the pines bordering a meadow. Each site had a fire pit and picnic table. Campground had wood for sale, clean bathrooms, and pay showers located near the host sites."
$30 / night
"The river access also added to the positives of the spot. My only complaint is that a handful of sites are where you park on the pavement and have to walk down into your actual site."
"This is pretty close to Sedona (10 minutes) and right along a river that’s fun to wade in (not sure if you can canoe it?), plus long hiking trails nearby."
"The best dispersed camping options in Sedona Arizona! There are many options off of the main road."
"My friend from Maryland came to visit me here in Arizona, I told him we had to go to Sedona so we decided to camp, I heard about forest road 525 and it exceeded my expectations, never saw more stars in"
$100 / night
"Everything you need is at the KOA and if it isn’t, it’s near by. There’s also access to Mount Elden/Fat Man’s Loop trails in the Coconino National Forest from the park."
"Nice campground near highway. Nice pleasant staff. Bathrooms were clean. Beautiful setting with mountain right behind the campground. Short walking trails within campground."
TravelerHead just north of this spot to the big cut where the gas line run an head west. A few great spots on the tree line. The main road is super dusty and there are logging trucks running up/down it during the week. Mostly quiet but pretty dusty, I enjoyed staying here.
GuideIf you are looking for somewhere out there, way out there this is the place for you. Take the service road to a dead end, turn right on the Old Highway 89 and look for a place off the dirt road.
LegendDirt road with multiple places to pull off and camp in mature ponderosa, pine Forest and Alpine meadow. This is a fairly busy Forest Service Road. The road is dirt with a lot of ruts which may make access in wet weather difficult, but you can't beat the views and good T-Mobile service. Extensive logging going on on the other side of the highway. Vehicles restricted to established roads.
ScoutEasy to find and some great pull in spots with gorgeous views. One downside: much closer to busy road noise than I expected. 6am on a weekday and the car noise was my alarm.
LegendWe parked here along with two sprinter vans for the night. Very well lit parking lot near the train tracks, but trains are infrequent. All three of us who parked at the visitor center overnight had breakfast in town. The receptionist at the visitor center was delightful and informative We were able to get groceries, do laundry, and get a little sightseeing done.
ScoutThe grounds are very well kept with grass and flowers. The staff is very helpful. It is very close to town and we would stay here again.
LegendYou can't park at the trailhead parking lot, but there are several pull-offs with fire rings and flat ground that can accommodate even a large RV. The closer you get to the trailhead the more rutted the road gets. I can see mud being a problem in rainy weather. There is plenty of dead fall wood. Mostly open grassland with juniper and small pinyon pines. We were at the second or third pull off from the highway and could still hear highway noise. T-Mobile coverage is okay. No services. Do not miss hiking the Red Mountain Trail If you stop here.
LegendOn Arizona State Land Trust property, requiring a $15 to $20 permit for camping. Close to i-40, with good dirt roads on state land, with easy pull off. Do not go too far north or you will be on private Hopi grazing land. This land is leased for grazing, but is still available for recreational use, but you may run into some cows. Directly across the highway from Two Gun Ghost Town, and close to Diablo Canyon. Good T-Mobile coverage. No wood available.
LegendAs soon as you pull off the highway, there's an obvious ongoing commercial operation, just past the graffiti gas station. As you go straight down the road to the south, you will enter an abandoned RV park as evidenced by the numbered power poles. If you turn west (right) before the graffiti gas station you will come to the ruins and Diablo Canyon bridge. However, my app shows that the area is all part of Historic Two Guns Property LLC, and if you travel further south of the highway you find yourself on Hopi owned land (not part of the reservation). The ruins themselves are also on Historic Two Guns properties LLC, which I read may be owned by actor Russell Crowe and was bought in 2011 for a remake of Westworld. There is some really good graffiti on the remaining structures from the RV park. There is Arizona State trust land about 1/2 mile to either side of this private property which does require a $15 to $20 permit to camp for up to 14 days. Directly across the highway is a parcel of Arizona State trust land if you are reluctant to stay here on private property.
Coconino National Forest campgrounds span over 1.8 million acres with elevations ranging from 2,600 to 12,600 feet, creating distinct climate zones across the forest. Summer temperatures can fluctuate dramatically, with many campgrounds in pine forests experiencing overnight lows in the 40s even when daytime temperatures reach the 80s. Thunderstorms typically roll through in July and August, bringing much-needed precipitation to the forest's diverse ecosystems.
Creek access for cooling off: At Manzanita Campground, visitors can enjoy the nearby creek for summer relaxation. "The Creek is gorgeous, clean water that's great for a morning plunge," notes one camper, while another mentions "we stayed at campsite 12 which seemed to be the closest to the creek."
Arizona Trail hiking: The forest provides multiple access points to the 800-mile Arizona Trail which traverses the state. "The Arizona trail passes through near the entrance of the campground, so there is trail access for hiking/biking nearby," reports a visitor to Pinegrove Campground.
Off-road adventures: Forest roads offer excellent terrain for ATV enthusiasts. "It's a popular spot for off-roaders though. We saw at least 40 ATVs, Polaris, quads, etc...and we were only there for 24 hours," mentions a camper at Schnebly Hill Road.
Higher elevation comfort: Many campers seek the pine forests at higher elevations during summer heat. "Short drive to rim lakes and weather is usually picture perfect here," notes a visitor to Pumphouse Wash, where temperatures are typically 15-20 degrees cooler than in Sedona.
Sunrise and sunset views: Dispersed camping areas offer spectacular lighting opportunities. "We woke up to an AMAZING view! After breaking down our rooftop tent, we continued down Schnebly Hill Rd," explains one visitor, while another at West Sedona Designated Dispersed Camping mentioned "Right by the mountains with incredible views and were able to pull our 21' trailer in with ease."
Night sky viewing: Dark skies are a major attraction in many forest locations. "For a bunch of astrophysics students, the night sky there took our breath away," said a visitor to Pinegrove Campground, while another camper recommended "Bring your telescope or binoculars. Set up a star gazing perch at night.....it's spectacular."
Road conditions vary dramatically: Access to many sites requires careful vehicle consideration. "The rocky trail ended with a flat tire on our truck (as we were hauling our truck camper)," warns a visitor to Edge of the World. Another advises, "The coordinates got you exactly where you need to be. Please keep driving as there are way better sites past there. Make sure to have a vehicle that can take a ton of dirt, gravel and some rocks."
Seasonal timing matters: Most developed campgrounds have limited operating seasons. "We stayed here in April of 2024. It's a nice, recently redone CG with paved roads and sites," notes a Pine Flat Campground visitor, but most higher elevation facilities close by October.
Campground selection factors: Consider your needs when choosing between dispersed and developed sites. "All sites were under tall pines. Everyone seemed to obey the 10 pm quiet time. We did see a baby bear on top of the camp hosts 5th wheel when we got there, so remember this is bear country!" warns a Pinegrove Campground camper.
Water activities: Children enjoy natural water features throughout the forest. "There was a swimming hole on the creek nearby. The hosts are very helpful and keep the place looking really nice," mentions a visitor to Cave Springs Campground, which is just a short drive to Slide Rock State Park with its natural water slide.
Facility considerations: Restrooms and amenities vary significantly. "Flush toilets, pay showers, weekend ranger talks at small amphitheater," notes a visitor to Pinegrove Campground, making it more family-friendly than dispersed sites.
Wildlife education opportunities: The forest offers chances to observe wildlife safely. "Lake Mary was a fun day for the family," mentions a Pinegrove visitor, referring to a nearby lake with fishing and wildlife viewing areas.
Site selection strategy: Finding the right spot requires planning. "Sites are super small and close together. For camping with groups it may work but for RV I do not recommend," warns a Cave Springs visitor, while another at Rancho Sedona RV Park mentioned "sites are spaced out a bit; not as tight as some other RV parks."
Utility needs: Different campgrounds offer varying hookup options. "Sites are tight, but with the layout, fences, and trees it does not feel crowded," notes a Rancho Sedona visitor, one of the few places offering full hookups near the forest.
Accessibility issues: RV size limitations apply at most forest campgrounds. "No electric or water," warns a Cave Springs visitor about conditions, while another mentions "Note that the water stations do not allow you to fill up your RV as there's no hose adapter."
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available in Coconino National Forest?
Coconino National Forest offers diverse camping options across its 1.8 million acres. Developed campgrounds include Pinegrove Campground with flush toilets and pay showers, and White Horse Lake Campground near Flagstaff. For creek-side camping, options include Pine Flat Campground West and Lo Lo Mai Springs Resort. Knoll Lake Campground provides lakeside sites with bear activity in the area. Dispersed camping enthusiasts can explore FS 609 and Pivot Rock Canyon areas, though note that some dispersed areas near Flagstaff, including Walnut Canyon, have been closed since May 2023. The forest offers everything from full-service RV spots to primitive backcountry camping, with options varying by season.
Is there a map for Cave Springs Campground in Coconino National Forest?
Yes, maps for Cave Springs are available through multiple sources. You can obtain official maps at the Coconino National Forest visitor centers, ranger stations, or download them from the official Forest Service website. The campground layout maps show the location of all 84 sites, nearby Oak Creek, and amenities. For digital navigation, The Dyrt app offers downloadable maps for offline use while exploring the area. Many visitors also pick up printed maps at the campground entrance or from the on-site host during peak season.
What amenities are available at Cave Springs Campground in Coconino National Forest?
Cave Springs Campground offers several amenities for a comfortable camping experience. The campground features potable water, vault toilets, and individual sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Sites are reservable and accommodate various camping styles including drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access. For comparison, nearby Pine Flat Campground West also provides accessible drinking water and multiple bathrooms in a heavily wooded setting along Oak Creek. Cave Springs is also big-rig friendly with some sites able to accommodate larger RVs and trailers. The campground is conveniently located near Sedona, making it a popular base for exploring the surrounding attractions.
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