Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Dateland, AZ has a lot to offer. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Dateland, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Dateland. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
The Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground are located approximately 90 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. The petroglyph site provides visitors the opportunity to view an ancient archaeological site containing hundreds of symbolic and artistic rock etchings, or "petroglyphs," produced centuries ago by prehistoric peoples. There are also inscriptions made by people who passed through during historic times. There is a $2 per vehicle fee for the site. Cash or check payment is accepted. Overnight camping is allowed at the adjacent Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground. This is a separate facility from the petroglyph site. Camping reservations must be made through the recreation.gov website. We no longer accept cash or check payments for campsites. The campground has picnic tables, grills, steel fire rings, and a vault toilet. No potable water is available at the facility. Several historic trails lie within the campground. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, The Butterfield Overland Stage Route and the Mormon Battalion Trail are three trails that played prominent roles in the history of Arizona and the American West. Visitors can learn about the site and historic trails through professional interpretive panels located on the site.
$25 / night
Scout
It was a nice place very clean and very quiet.
Guide
When we arrived at 7pm, there was no one else. Later couple of another campers arrived. Someone played guitar and it was really nice to listen with full moon lighting. Cons: No service for T-mobile and no lights in restrooms.
Traveler
Fairly easy approach with my overcab camper setup, and family of 4. beautiful saguaro and ocotillo country, yotes yipping at night, owls, wrens and a ton of wildlife. Maybe be careful of pckrats and leave your hood propped up with a light. Otherwise one of our favorite dispersed camp sites ever!! LOTS of space to explore. 
GuideIf you're seeking a secluded escape under a vast, star-studded sky, then look no further than Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground!
This hidden gem deserves a glowing 5-star review for its unique charm and abundance of off-the-beaten-path adventures.
Pros Galore:
Off-the-Grid Oasis: Nestled amidst the desert landscape, this campground offers a true escape from the hustle and bustle.
Spacious Freedom: Spread out and enjoy the vastness with massive campsites, perfect for relaxing and soaking in the serenity.
Tranquil Escape: The lack of crowds creates a peaceful and uncrowded atmosphere, ideal for those seeking solitude.
Dry Camper's Delight: Embrace the simplicity of dry camping and experience the true essence of self-reliance under the desert sun.
Stargazer's Paradise: With minimal light pollution, prepare to be dazzled by the spectacular night sky. Witness a dazzling display of stars, planets, and even the Milky Way on a clear night.
Off-Roading Playground: Dust off your UTV(side-by-side) and explore the surrounding desert terrain. The area offers plenty of exciting trails for off-road enthusiasts. Treasure
Hunters Unite: Test your skills and embark on a geocaching adventure. Search for hidden treasures scattered throughout the campground and surrounding area.
Friendly Faces: The welcoming camp hosts are a bonus, adding to the overall positive experience.
A Note: Be prepared for the lack of amenities like showers and laundry facilities. Pack accordingly and embrace the rustic charm of this remote desert escape. Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground is a hidden gem for those seeking a unique and unforgettable camping experience. If you crave adventure, tranquility, and starry nights, this is the place for you! I highly recommend it and can't wait to return for another adventure under the vast desert sky.
TravelerI was not expecting such a beautiful place in the desert. A great place to overnight. Easy paved access until the park and then gravel in the park. Unfortunately, you need to reserve online as there is no way to pay at the park. I recommend stopping at a rest stop on I8 before you drive here as the cellphone reception is very poor. Finally, I do NOT recommend site 32 as it is not a pull through, but a small pull off next to the loop road where you park very close parallel to the road.
Guide
We loved this place. We followed directions. TheQueens road portion.
We are in 23 fr rv and took main road in. There is a split off between queens and palm canyon. Palm canyon any vehicle can do. Queens you won’t take an rv in. You’ll want high clearance for sure .. that said , just coming in main road there are lots of great spots. Clean, quiet and great views of mountains Had three bars cell with ATT Busy spot so come early
GuideWe stopped here for an overnight on our way back from San Diego. We did book it online at the last minute while driving on interstate 8, but what we found is a hidden jem and we are already planning on coming back.
It is boondock camping so don’t expect to find water or electric hookups, but it is quiet , the sites are big, and there is lots of room without worrying about obstacles even if pulling in in the dark.
RangerIt state trust land. You need a permit, which is available online and I believe the image of the receipt on your phone or laptop would suffice. Should anyone check, which I have never seen. This is at least my second stay here. Nothing exciting but it is right off of I eight, which is not audible right now over the noise from apparently someone's generator. Haven't heard any yapping dogs or idiot kids running around with a parents bearing their asses off but this is my kind of place.
ScoutWhat a peacefull, friendly park! Small, only 10 spots with mountain views. Full hookups for big rigs with brick patios. Feels like home. Shelli and Mr. John are wonderful hosts. We are in a 41ft 5th wheel with back porch. No highway or trains. No Atvs or trucks driving by your site all day, so calming. Will stay again.
Legend
Camping area next to a big picnic area shelter. The original poster had pin at the ajo county dump which maybe is not far off in spirit! Note you need a permit to camp here...but guess you have to call the park folks. Cost and camping stay limit not clear on signs but office noted camping permit is free at office and camping limit is 14d but flexible.... Sign notes no alcohol.
TravelerNew rules. No walk ins allowed. Nice open place, very clean and tidy. Bad customer service in that there’s no warning signs along the 11 miles saying only reservations.
Guide
They have multiple activities every day for visitors and residents. We arrived around 8:30 PM, jumped in the pool and hot tub (thanks random resident for teaching us how to use the lights!!) and then headed back to our rig for the night. Geared towards RVs but we were just fine in our van. Full hookups for $32 a night! We paid cash in an envelope and dropped it at the office.
ScoutBeautiful and quit stop. Close to Gila Bend. There is a great paved road to this remote spot. Every spot has a table and a fire pit.
ScoutEstablished campground, we were able to make reservations. Extremely quiet, posted generator rules which everyone respected. No host. There is a trash dumpster here, that isthe only service. Many available spots.
Traveler
We stayed in a 40' motorhome for a couple of nights. Easy access even for bigger rigs. Huge spaces to find a spot. The area was pretty clean - only one trashy-looking camper. No amenities at all! Short drive into town for gas, food, and restaurant. Verizon & T-mobile worked great.
TravelerGreat dispersed campground, large campsites well spread apart, clean and quiet with dark nights and lots of stars 
GuideNice little campground. Small town atmosphere. Seems to be a nightly stop for most. Fills up in the afternoon and empties out in the morning. I stayed 2 nights just to check out the town. If you’re not a trucker then not much to do.
TravelerStayed a couple of nights 
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt. I'm SO excited to welcome this new partner. This property is a beautiful Organic Date Farm and they offer experiences to their guests. You can also rent an on-site camper. Visit this property and take some photos. Make sure to share your experience here!
Guide
Such kindhearted owners, allowed me to mail a few packages I needed on my journey! Bless them! Great place for our needed laundry and electric hook-ups (for vacuuming and fresh veg shake blending) on our journey of mostly off-grid life right now!
Plus… they also have a dump for those who do not stay overnights also!
GuideStopped here for the night on the way back to Tucson and loved it. Hope to go back and explore the town a little more next time!
Ranger
Drove down Kings road to find a place to camp for one night. Lots of open spaces and really far apart from one another. Fire pits and markings are clear so you can see which area is actually a site. I didn’t go too far back with my teardrop trailer. Beautiful sunset and very quiet. A couple of coyotes came right through my camp. Pretty cool!
GuideBeing from New Mexico, the few petroglyphs are a big yawn, especially given the amount of defacement and graffiti. But if you're looking for large, fairly separated, easy-in, easy-out RVing or tenting – cheap – this is the place. I arrived about 4:30am and waited in the entrance parking area until the hosts got up and around. They were very friendly and helpful. The fees seem to be inconsistently documented ... the sign on the entrance map says $8 to overnight, then there's another sign that adds $2 for a day fee. But the host only asked me for $4, which included a 50% discount for a senior America the Beautiful pass. Some of the sites can be reserved, but most are first come, and there's no real difference in desirability.
The sites are HUGE compared to the few other campgrounds I've stayed at. They vary in size and usable space, but they do have concrete benches/seats and a fire pit. There are two restrooms at the entrance (one M, one W), plus at the far end there's a one-hole vault.
The reviews that comment on the lack of shade have obviously been there on a day like I was there ... this is early February. The day I arrived and the morning I left there was a combined total of ZERO clouds ever in the sky. How brutal is the sun? The air temp during the afternoon was in the mid-upper 60s; a temp gauge I brought recorded 91 in my tent sitting on a table near the corner with the two-sides both getting direct sunlight all day. I put it in the middle of the floor and it dropped to 83. When the sun set it was probably low 60s, but dropped to 37 when I got up at 6:30a to check it. This is the place for an awning or anything that makes shade.
LegendBLM Painted Rocks Petroglyphs Campground. 26 miles west from Gila Bend. Very large campground about a third of sites can be reserved online at recreation.gov. Sites are very cheap only $8 / $4 senior rate. However there is NO WATER and no RV dump. Cell service on Verizon and ATT are excellent, but TMobile is poor extended. Vault toilets, tables, fire rings and dumpsters. Bring firewood from Gila Bend at Chevron Station. Camp host onsite is very friendly and the petroglyphs site is walking distance. Ebikes are very useful in this campground as it is very large and spread out from the two vault toilets! Note that there is NOT a 14d limit to camp here, will let you figure it out. And UPS and FedEx will deliver and the camp host will keep your packages at their site for you to pick up.
Only 4 stars due to no potable water available or would have given 5 stars.
TravelerPacked in. Dozens or hundreds of trailers these first 2 weeks of February. Sunny, but not overly warm weather. Road noise that is not overwhelming, just a steady din in the background. Tent campers having some trouble this time of year as the wind increases sharply in the afternoon.
Guide
Cheap and easy full hook ups under $20 hard to pass up just don't mind the train every 30 minutes or so
GuideVery nice park with solid amenities. The staff members are friendly and helpful.
Camping near Dateland, Arizona, offers a unique blend of desert beauty and outdoor adventure. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to unwind and explore.
Camping near Dateland, Arizona, provides a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, but it's essential to be prepared for the unique challenges of desert camping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Dateland, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dateland, AZ offers a wide range of camping options, with 31 campgrounds and RV parks near Dateland, AZ and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Dateland, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dateland, AZ is Painted Rock Petroglyph Site And Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 17 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dateland, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Dateland, AZ.
What parks are near Dateland, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 parks near Dateland, AZ that allow camping, notably Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Prescott National Forest.
