Best Tent Camping near Douglas, AZ

Tent campgrounds near Douglas, Arizona offer primitive camping options tucked into the rugged terrain of Coronado National Forest. Herb Martyr Campground and West Turkey Creek Dispersed are among the notable tent camping destinations in this area, both located approximately 30 miles northwest of Douglas in the scenic Chiricahua Mountains. Camp Rucker and Sycamore Campground provide additional options for tent campers seeking outdoor experiences in southeastern Arizona.

Road conditions often dictate access to tent campsites in the region, with many requiring travel on unmaintained dirt roads. According to one visitor, "The road up was a little rough and slippery in some places," making high-clearance vehicles recommended for reaching more remote walk-in tent sites. Most established campgrounds offer basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, but campers should bring their own drinking water as most sites lack water facilities. Bear boxes are available at several locations due to wildlife activity. Dispersed tent camping follows standard 14-day stay limits on National Forest land.

The Chiricahua Mountain area offers tent campers unique access to flowing creeks, hiking trails, and diverse wildlife. Sites at West Turkey Creek Dispersed provide creek-side camping with opportunities to explore small waterfalls and pools. A visitor reported, "This spot was quiet, isolated, beautiful, and serene," highlighting the seclusion available at tent sites in this region. Summer monsoons bring lush vegetation, while spring and fall offer mild temperatures ideal for tent camping. Many tent campgrounds remain uncrowded even on weekends, providing excellent stargazing opportunities with minimal light pollution. Sycamore Campground features tent sites situated along a mountain stream, creating a peaceful setting for primitive camping experiences far from urban areas.

Best Tent Sites Near Douglas, Arizona (17)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Douglas, AZ

2 Photos of 17 Douglas Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Douglas, AZ

177 Reviews of 17 Douglas Campgrounds


  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 19, 2024

    Cochise Stronghold

    Secluded

    Cochise stronghold campground is a rugged campground in a deep canyon. The canyon was the refuge for the Chiricahua Apache leader, Cochise. This is a National Forest Service campground. There are Eleven campsites and two group campsites. All are shaded by scrub oaks and surrounded by towering rock formations. The sites have picnic tables and grills. There is no water available so bring your own. No electricity or other facilities. There is a bathroom with flush toilets. There are food storage lockers due to bear activities. It is dog friendly (on leash). This campground is a little hard to get to, with several water crossings. I would not recommend attempting to drive without a high clearance vehicle. Sites are first come first served. Limit 6 people per site. $8 per night.

  • Staci W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 20, 2025

    Bonita Canyon Campground — Chiricahua National Monument

    Clean and quiet!

    Stayed on a Sunday in mid January and lucked out on a last minute site that was available. It’s a small campground, so reservations are ideal if you can plan ahead.

    There’s no fire rings but there are small grills to cook food and/or have a small “fire” in.

    Food storage boxes and bear boxes are available! Some sites have their own and others share the boxes.

    Bathrooms are modernized and super clean.

    Overall a great campground and would definitely stay here again!

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 19, 2024

    Bonita Canyon Campground — Chiricahua National Monument

    Quiet and peaceful

    Bonita Canyon Campground at the Chiricahua National Monument is a quiet little campground in a scrub pine forest. Chiricahua National Monument is a “dark sky” park, so there is very little light at night. Bring flashlights but leave lanterns at home! There are 36 sites with picnic tables and grills. There are community water faucets, but all were turned off when we were there. There are bathrooms with flush toilet, but no hookups or showers. Most sites are small and could accommodate tents, a small class C or van campers. 25’ is the max length and 14 days is max stay. The sign said the campground was full but there were empty sites. All sites are reservable through the www.US.gov web site.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 4, 2024

    Bonita Canyon Campground — Chiricahua National Monument

    An Amazing National Monument

    Bonita Canyon CG- Chiricahua NM: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: Campsites in outer loop are more nicely spaced(rate 4) and trailer adds to privacy. Inner loop sites are often a bit close (rate 3). Price 2024: $ 10 w interagency Usage during visit: Very full, especially weekends.
    Site Privacy: No Site Spacing: Outside sites are spacious Pad surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Very quiet.
    Outside Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Yes. Spigots are scattered, locations clearly marked Generators: Allowed, but other than ours, I never heard one. Bathroom: Built by CCC. Clean and rustic. I like them. Showers: No Pull Throughs: I didn’t notice any Cell Service (AT&T): No. WiFi at the visitor center Setting: Woods Recent Weather: 70s to low 80s.
    Solar: At our site with good positioning, we were able to bring in 12amps per day with 400 watt fixed panels.
    Insects: None now Host: Yes, 2 couples Rig Size: Limited to 24’.

  • Beth G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 17, 2020

    Bonita Canyon Campground — Chiricahua National Monument

    One of our favorites

    My husband, myself and our 2 small dogs live in Tucson, AZ. We recently acquired a roof top tent and we’ve been trying out various campgrounds across the Southwest.

    This is still one of our favorite National Parks to stay at. The sites were “pull though” so it’s perfect for our Roof Top Tent set up. Plenty of trees and hiking opportunities. Honestly, it’s worth the trip just to see the coatimundis. They are ADORABLE!

    Pros: Coatis! Scenery. Easy to access. Water. Bear boxes.

    Cons: As typical in National Parks, the majority of hiking trails are not dog friendly. No showers. no fire pits, just BBQ that can be used for cooking with fire.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 3, 2019

    Stewart Campground

    Great shade for the summer months

    The Cave Creek Canyon on the western edge of the Chiricahua Mountains is a spectacular area that will completely take you by surprise. This cute campground tucked into the trees will charm your socks off!

    Each site has the standard picnic table, bear locker, fire ring and lots of shade. The bathroom is a vault toilet, kept clean by the volunteer camp host, staying at Sandy Flat. This campground is rather small with just a couple small RV sites and lots of shade. Perfect for tent camping though. Great for warmer months, not so great for solar charging due to the shade, so we moved up the road to Sunny Flat campground. There are two small cabins available for rent near the forest visitor’s center, check with the Coronado National Forest, Douglas District office.

    The area is a birder’s paradise and at certain times of year can get very busy. Great opportunities for hiking, biking and wildlife viewing throughout the entire mountain range. All the campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

    There's not much in the area for food and gas, so come prepared. There is one small grill/basic grocery store down the mountain, but if you are looking for real groceries, shop before you come.

  • R
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Shootout Arena RV Park

    A Gem of a Campground

    This place is perfect for dry camping a short distance from historic Main Street Tombstone. There were no amenities, so be prepared! You cannot beat the price! For car/tent camping there are some private spaces with a little shade and evidence of past campfires. Be sure to stay to the left of the sign to go into the lower camping area. Pay your 10 bucks at the drop box.

  • H
    Oct. 13, 2020

    Herb Martyr Campground

    OK site within a fantastic National Forest

    The Cave Creek area as a whole is a 5+ star destination. This campground, however, gets only three stars. It is at the end of a dirt road. We counted only three official sites, though none were numbered. Those sites include a picnic table and a fire ring. One was huge, one medium and one small. There is a vault toilet a fair hike away. We came during COVID restrictions and the toilet was in very good shape. No other campgrounds were open because of COVID. There is no water, so bring your own.

    To get to the sites, you make a hairpin turn (there is ample room to swing wide in a car with no trailer). The first 20 yards after the turn are pretty rough and rocky and more of an issue driving up them than down them. The sites themselves are nothing too spectacular. Beware skunks at night. But the wonderland of the canyon is the real draw. There is a trailhead out of the camping area that goes on some good hikes. The night sky is unparalleled. The drive from the campground to other trailheads and other areas is fine.

  • C
    May. 22, 2021

    Sycamore Campground

    Small, quiet, creek side camp

    Nice, small campground with pit toilets, fire rings and bear boxes. Saw many deer and turkeys in the area. Plenty of shade available; unfortunately, only stagnant pools of water in the creek this time of year. $15 per night, there are dispersed sites available along the road as well. Easily accessible down a dirt road.


Guide to Douglas

Tent camping options near Douglas, Arizona include several primitive sites within Coronado National Forest, primarily concentrated in the Chiricahua Mountains. Most campgrounds require traveling unpaved forest roads that can become challenging during wet weather. Summer monsoon season transforms the landscape with flowing creeks and waterfalls, while spring and fall provide more moderate temperatures ideal for overnight stays.

What to do

Creek exploration: Sycamore Campground offers direct access to a mountain stream with hiking opportunities. As camper Cody B. notes, "The campground is situated right next to a mountain stream that is cool to explore." The stream provides natural cooling during warmer months.

Wildlife viewing: The Chiricahua Mountains host diverse wildlife including deer, wild turkeys, and various bird species. Cole M. reported at Sycamore Campground, "Saw many deer and turkeys in the area." Morning and evening hours provide optimal wildlife viewing conditions.

Waterfall hikes: West Turkey Creek Dispersed provides access to small cascades along Turkey Creek. Travis D. explains, "Turkey creek flows right next to the campground and offers fantastic hikes along its banks. There are multiple small waterfalls and pools to splash in." Waterproof footwear recommended for creek crossings.

What campers like

Solitude: The remote location of many campsites ensures quiet camping experiences even during peak seasons. Jonathan E. writes about West Turkey Creek, "This spot was quiet, isolated, beautiful, and serene. I didn't see anyone else here when I went." Most campgrounds remain uncrowded midweek year-round.

Natural water features: Several campgrounds feature creek access with small pools suitable for cooling off. At Camp Rucker, Tanner H. found "Various campsites on Rucker lake. Close waterfalls and plenty of hiking trails." Creek levels vary seasonally with highest flows during monsoon season.

Shade coverage: Many tent sites offer natural shade from mature trees. At Sycamore Campground, Cole M. noted, "Plenty of shade available," which provides relief during warmer months. Sites along creeks typically offer the most abundant tree cover.

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to most tent sites requires driving on rough forest roads. Caitlyn B. cautions about reaching Sycamore Campground, "There is a long stretch of primitive road (quite rocky) to get out the campground. We also took Apache Pass to get there and would not recommend this 'shortcut' - almost 30 minutes of primitive bumpy road." High-clearance vehicles recommended.

Water availability: Most campgrounds lack potable water. Monique R. mentions at Sycamore Campground, "Nice clean bathrooms, picnic tables, fire pit, and bear box," but campers must bring all drinking water. Seasonal creek flow cannot be relied upon for water needs.

Bear precautions: Several campgrounds provide bear boxes for food storage. At Herb Martyr Campground, Holly W. advises, "Beware skunks at night." Store all food, toiletries, and scented items properly to avoid wildlife encounters.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection: Choose established campgrounds with toilet facilities when camping with children. Cole M. notes Sycamore Campground has "pit toilets, fire rings and bear boxes," making it more suitable for families than remote dispersed sites.

Creek activities: Small children enjoy shallow creek exploration at several campsites. Tracy T. reports at West Turkey Creek, "The creek was flowing and quite a few animals at dawn and dusk," providing natural entertainment for children. Always supervise children near water.

Weather preparation: Mountain elevations experience significant temperature drops at night, even in summer. At Douglas Golf Course & RV Park, facilities include showers and toilets, providing comfort for families during extended stays. Pack warm clothing layers regardless of season.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most forest roads cannot accommodate large recreational vehicles. Priscilla at Lower Juniper Flats Road warns, "Didn't really drive all the way in since a car that was coming out stated he wouldn't recommend us driving in. One way road. Decided to turn back around." RVs over 25 feet should consider staying at more accessible locations.

Dispersed options: Smaller RVs can access some dispersed sites with proper planning. Tracy T. advises about West Turkey Creek, "The drive up is beautiful, the road isn't maintained, but in pretty good condition. I stopped right after the cattle guard." Scout ahead on foot before attempting narrow forest roads with any RV.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Douglas, AZ is Douglas Golf Course & RV Park with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

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