Best Tent Camping near Forest Lakes, AZ

Recent Tent Reviews near Forest Lakes, AZ

594 Reviews of 36 Forest Lakes Campgrounds

• 

  Daniel L.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 31, 2018

  Black Canyon Rim Campground (apache-sitgreaves National Forest, Az)

  Clean and Beautiful Campground

  We read one review on this campground and it stated the campground was dirt. We pulled up and were taken away by the beauty. So many trees and beautiful campsites. With only 16 campsites, you have your own piece of camping paradise. There is 2 vaulted toilets, very well maintain, and new. There is an easy trail that runs along the campground, maybe a mile and half, easy walk. You can use wood from the forrest or buy some from the host. We did tent camp and I wish we would of brought a rake to remove rocks from our tent site. Our tent is 11ft and fit wonderfully! Plenty of space to put up tent,bbq grill, stove, and have your vehicle along side of you. There are Rv sites there as well. In our spot you could of easily placed a pop up and move it in. There is water at the host area, no cost. Before you get to the campsite there is a general store that has many items if you forgot something. We did wonder down to go find the graces of Scott Stott and Wilson, but we were not able to. We followed the GPS and reviews and people stated it was close to the campground. We walked a good 30 minutes and found nothing. We believe it is in a canyon which we did not feel comfortable hiking down. We road out a crazy storm, and the canyons made the thunder sound like a really mad Greek God. If you enjoy some antiques and thrift stores Heber-Overgaard offer some unique and great stores. Black Canyon Lake is just a shirt trip down the road. beautiful to walk around and lots of room to fish. Lake was low when we went. This campground has made it to the list of favorites!

• 

  Kathy W.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 30, 2016

  Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground

  Fool Hollow

  Probably the most beautiful campground in Arizona. Just outside Show Low, in the eastern part of the state, you are nestled in the pine & juniper of the region. Despite being in the middle of a developed area, once in the park, you feel appropriately isolated. We were at a reserved tent site (Osprey 12). All tent sites overlook the lake & a couple of them even have creeks running through them after rain. Visited family on a full hookup site & while the pads are huge, it seemed like you were more exposed to your neighbors. The tent loops all have access to a vault toilet & the middle loop has showers as well (the other loops are still walking distance from showers). There are several day use areas & boat ramps to the lake. Saw (& heard) many different birds & animals. Can't wait to go back.

• 

  Robert T.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 21, 2020

  Houston Mesa Campground

  Solid campground

  Great spot for tent camping. Awesome for beginners and young families. Bathrooms were clean. Fellow campers were respectable. Site overall very clean. Would go again.

• C

  Claire B.

  Scout

  

  Mar. 19, 2022

  Take It Easy RV Park

  Great Spot for an Overnight

  Sleeping in my car, it was a great spot for an overnight. Not too expensive for tent camping and had both bathrooms and showers

• A

  Andrew M.

  Ranger

  

  Feb. 17, 2024

  Frazier Group Camp - Tonto National Forest

  Great spot in the Arizona “winter”

  Group campground that is reasonably priced and can accommodate big groups. Has pit toilets and potable water access, ramadas, grills and campfire location. Good for campers and tent camping

• 

  Bob & Ramona F.

  Guide

  

  May. 21, 2021

  Sharp Campground

  Fantastic

  This is a great state campground. Not a lot of sites but they're REALLY BIG and gives a sense of being in the forest but still has toilets nearby for those who need them. Great place for tent camping but most sites can support MH & Trailers.

• 

  Donna V.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 8, 2022

  Houston Mesa Campground

  Nice and quiet

  We enjoyed a couple of days car/tent camping at this multiuser campground . We parked on a private shaded pad next to a fire pit and table. Very quiet (mid week). Showers were closed but the bathrooms were spotless. Camp host on grounds firewood for sale. Close by Payson.

• 

  Shaun S.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 7, 2017

  Rim Campground

  Interesting

  Small camp ground with not much parking, looks like it was designed for tent camping but the thing fill with 30 foot trailers making it very crowded. I have a 18 foot trailer and I felt it was too big for the place! Otherwise very nice and clean! Camp host was very nice!

• 

  Eduardo L.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 19, 2022

  Sinkhole Campground

  Close to the Lake

  Overall great experience camping here. Wife and I tent camped here for 2 nights 3 days. Sucked that we couldn’t have a fire due to a fire state-ban. Close to the highway but not bad on highway noise. Our site was 7 which faces east. Lake is half a mile or so we kayaked so we drove it.

• 

  Matthew H.

  Traveler

  

  Feb. 13, 2020

  Aspen Campground

  Great place

  Went back in May of 2019 for a family tent camping trip. Friendly Staff, Clean, Well Maintained, and the Lake was great for fishing and kayaking. One of the best features is the large sights, as we had no problem fitting 3 large tents and didn’t have to listen to anyone snoring! Pet and Kid friendly. Looking forward to taking out pop up camper up there later this year.

• A

  Amy H.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 25, 2023

  Homolovi State Park Campground

  Beautiful and convenient

  We will be back to this campground when we we can stay more than one night. There’s a lot to do in the park and the campground itself is very nice. One small, but nice detail are the tiedowns around the tent sites.

• 

  Jeffrey P.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 25, 2021

  Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground

  Awesome campground

  We love this campground. Place to get out of the AZ heat with full hookups, bathrooms, showers, tent sites. In the pines just a beautiful place. Plan ahead as they are booked most of the time. About 6 months to 1 yr ahead to plan this trip.

• 

  Emily Z.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 12, 2019

  Mogollon Campground

  Eh

  Just a 1/2 mile on dirt road so that’s nice but the walk in spots for this campsite are SMALL and VERY tight/close together. Not only that but all spots are parallel. This doesn’t make it very convenient unless you are tent camping which we were not. Close to the Mogollon Rim paved path which is amazing, reference the picture for that! The hosts were great...hence why I gave the 4 stars! But I wouldn’t be going back here anytime soon.

• 

  Emma A.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 20, 2020

  Homolovi State Park Campground

  Nice option off I-40

  This state park offers tent sites, RV with electrical/water and pull-through sites. In winter water was turned off at campsites but bathroom and showers were open. Trash and sewage dump also available. Just a couple of miles off I-40 which is both convenient and not very scenic. Great sunset though looking fish at the interstate. Homolovi archeological site to visit if you have time. Great cell reception both Verizon and AT&T

• 

  George B.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 13, 2020

  Sitgreaves National Forest Canyon Point Campground

  Nice rv site

  Very nice clean rv park with well spaced campsites. Have yet to use the vault toilets or dumpsters so no opinion yet. Reserve and FFS sites there is a dumpsite and water, and some of the sites have electric. There are tent sites as well. Having been here through the afternoon/evening, I have to add that this campground is a bit noisy with hwy traffic and pets. I have to add that the staff here are very nice and helpful.

• 

  Charyle C.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 21, 2020

  Knoll Lake Campground

  Great Fall Camping

  I tent camped right near the lake with a larger group of people. While exploring the area, I discovered many camp areas that were perfect for larger groups. The area we were in is all primitive. No water, electric or toilets. This is a pack in and pack out area. Unfortunately, not all abide to this rule as evidenced by the litter shrewn throughout the areas. So, if you go..please be a good environment steward and take all you waste and trash with you..perhaps even clean up some left behind by others.. We did!

• 

  Ann M.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 6, 2018

  Homolovi State Park Campground

  Ancient Hopi Ruins

  High desert, lots of sky and land, shards of ancient Hopi pottery everywhere, 52 sites some pull through, back in and tent sites, 30/50 amp available,dump station and potable water station, free showers and restrooms. On site Camphost, Homolovi I a d Homolovi ll nearby, rangers available from 8-5 - 7 days a week. Stargazing night at the ranger station with telescpe, 1880s Mormon cemetery within view of San Francisco Peaks and little Colorado River. A gem in the desert.

• 

  Alex M.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 16, 2022

  Homolovi State Park Campground

  Great campground in a desolate place

  This is a nice, modern campground in a state park that features stone ruins. I visited the Homolovi 1 and 2 sites. They were mostly rubble, but there were some intact walls and a large storage pit.

  The campground is large, and sites are nicely distanced from one another. However, there is very little shade or privacy. When I visited in June, there were also high winds. These died down after dark, but made setting up the tent a fun challenge. Each tent site had a paved driveway. This was nice, but made tent stakes placement a little awkward. I had to tie one line to the picnic table.

  Bathrooms were clean and modern, with hot and cold water.

• 

  Virginia S.

  Scout

  

  Mar. 22, 2019

  Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground

  I love this place

  Awesome scenery. But the camp ground can get very busy. The site are ok in size but some sites are very close together. There are showers and flush toilets if you are into that. To get to the lake from the tent sites you have to climb down a pretty steep rocky hill or drive to the day use area. We fish for catfish and have caught a few here but also got skunked a few times. I've stayed here June July and October. Dont really recommend fall really windy cold and rainy. But not not many campers that time of the year.

• 

  Brad B.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 19, 2020

  Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground

  One of the best sites if you like to camp and enjoy the lake..!

  Located very close to Show Low and right on the Lake - this campground is big and amazing..! Also has a broad selection of campsites ranging from simple tent camping all the way up to large sites with full hook ups for RV's and travel trailers. The views are amazing at all the sites taking in the lake. Lots to do in the water here that's for sure..!

  Campsite is clean and very easy to reserve ahead of time on the supported website which is very easy to use and see all the items open.

  Extra bonus for this Campground, should you need to, you can cancel your reservation up to 1-2 days out.

• 

  Shannon H.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 26, 2019

  Carr Lake Campground on Forest Road 9350

  Such a great site.

  Solo camping experience, first timer. Went on a Sunday and tent camped one night. Scoped the site out first and found a lot of great options available. There were still plenty of people up there that I wasn't totally alone, but enough sites opened up that there was a good selection. I opted for one right on the rim itself. The hosts were there and there were clean supplied vault toilets within a minute drive. Went for a hike at Woods Canyon Lake. Each site was just far enough away that you couldn't really hear each other but you were sort of in sight of people if needed. But still private and very quiet. You can choose between a rim site or go across the street and opt for a forest site. There is cell service.

• 

  Tara S.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 22, 2023

  Roosevelt Lake - Cholla Campground

  Peaceful Spot in the Winter

  We spent 3 nights here in February, and while it was chilly, the place was very quiet and the stars were amazing! There are no hookups here, but there are bathrooms with flush toilets (some have showers), and there are faucets with potable water. There's also a boat launch and a few playgrounds for the kids. 

  There were mostly RVs here, but the waterfront tent sites are amazing if you don't mind walking in from the main parking area (it's not a far walk).

  Each campsite has a picnic table with a shaded awning and a fire pit, but you have to bring in your own wood or gather it from the surrounding forest. Saw lots of birds here - cactus wren, quail, finches, warblers, and road runners.

• 

  Tiffany B.

  Guide

  

  May. 12, 2022

  Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground

  5 star if you pick the right sites

  We booked the last site available so I think with some careful reviewing of site map and asking over the phone about specific needs this is a 5 star spot, but it isn’t particularly pop up friendly. There are primitive tent sites and an assortment of electric + sites. The grounds are gorgeous, lots of space around the lake, so so so very quiet and clean. We have a small pop up. Generally we chose more primitive or small electric only sites. No rigs like ours were in the tent area so not sure if that is an option. Almost ALL the spaces are side by side shared double lots in the cinnamon teal loop. At least 40% - amazing if you’re group camping, but I like my space and privacy. Quiet hours 8pm- 7am. Showers/toilets in each loop. No outlets in bathroom for hair drying etc. showers were cold after minute 2 and each unit was a full bath so also cold and wet. None of this would matter at a cheap site but a hook up is $65/night. Surrounding town is cute with amenities. Visit The House for a meal.

• J

  Jacquie D.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 19, 2020

  Christopher Creek

  Great spot for families!

  We had a blast at Christopher Creek Campground! The kids played in the creek all day and caught hundreds of crawdads. We even took a day and went to Willow Springs lake , which was only a 15 minute drive. We had site 1,2, & 8 blocked for our family members. 8 was super spacious, right near the bathroom and the creek. We loved waking up to the creek every morning. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because of the issues we had with campsite 1&2. We reserved the spots because we had travel trailers and they said they could accommodate them. 1 definitely didn’t have the space. It is right in the main circle and there is a stairway separating the spots so you can’t pull in. 2 had a 4ft wall that if you were able to park a trailer and not block the road, you could kill yourself trying to get in and out. It took some creativity and convincing the camp host to understand our reasoning for wanting to move, but luckily she was able to come up with a solution. Most of the sites parking was on the road, but 8 was doable. From what we saw, if you have a camper, 13 looked the best. Do your research before booking. Tent camping is no problem at any site.

• 

  Annie C.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 1, 2018

  Homolovi State Park Campground

  A hot desert gem

  Stopped here on my grand Route 66 adventure this summer. I really liked this park for several reasons. 1. It’s convenient to Route 66 (and Hwy 40); 2. It’s close to Petrified Forest National Park, which is pretty cool to explore on its own; 3. Free showers!!; 4. The campground is set back from the main park so you have a bit of privacy from day trippers; 5. Tent sites were level and well maintained (mine was raked!!); 6. All sites seemed to have hook-ups whether you needed them or not (maybe there were tent only sites, but it was all one price so no big deal); 7. The park has some great trails for hiking; 8. There is ancient pottery shards everywhere (don’t take it! Leave it for everyone to enjoy); 9. Free showers!!; 10. Not too far from Winslow, AZ, where you CAN stand on the corner.  

  Overall I enjoyed my stay here, though I got in at sunset and left shortly after the main park opened at 8am. This might be my only negative about the park. The main park and the best attractions don’t open until 8am (a ranger actually comes and opens the gates), which is much later than I tend to get moving (up with the sun and all). And with the heat of the day starting at 9:30, it’s hard to get to the sites and get in a good hike before it’s too hot.

• 

  Nolan S.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 9, 2019

  Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area

  Bear Canyon

  Bear Canyon campground and lake located off AZ260 north east of payson. Near Woods Canyon lake(larger and more accessible), and Knoll lake(smaller than Bear Canyon)

  Bear Canyon campground is easily accessible and free. No reservations. No water/electric hookups. No picnic tables. No trash service-pack it in, pack it out. It will fill up on weekends during the summer as the weather is so temperate. We came up on a weekday and stayed to the beginning of the weekend and it wasn’t too crowded.

  Pros: The weather was amazing. High of 75-78 in the day and high 40’s at night. There was a constant breeze which kept it cool and fresh feeling. The lake is a short hike(0.2 miles) from the trailhead. And provides good fishing from the shore. There is plenty of free firewood’s around; just bring a saw and splitting axe. Near the Rim and other lakes (Woods Canyon and Knoll). Pit toilets were a far walk depending on where you camped but they were clean.

  Cons: This entire area is very rocky! We have a pop up but I can’t imagine tent camping without an air mattress. Each campsite maybe has a fire pit and that’s it. Boats and Kayaks would be a real challenge to bring down and up as the trail is very steep, rocky, and loose.

  Overall, we were disappointed that we were unable to use our kayaks but the weather make up for it and it was a great, relaxing trip.

• 

  Penny A.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 5, 2020

  Sitgreaves National Forest Canyon Point Campground

  Would have been better if camp hosts enforced and followed their own rules.

  This is a well known campsite on the Mogollon Rim in Arizona, I remember camping there as a kid and they were one of the only sites that had showers. It is still a nice spot with very large campsites and nice drinking water.  Those are two of the best selling points though as everything else feels run down, from the toilets to the campsites themselves. Was there over the July 4th weekend in 2020 and there was yellow tape on broken items at many campsites. The bathrooms are old and even as just pit toilets, could be improved on. The water spout nearest our site dripped unless properly turned off, resulting in a flooded area and lots of bugs.  Instead of fixing it or posting about how to properly turn it off to prevent the water spoilage, it was also closed off with yellow tape. We stayed in site 71, loop B, which was very large and had tons of great shade trees/space for hammocks. Across from us though was an RV who insisted on running their very loud generator for long periods of time, 6 hours in one stretch until 10pm. While the campground allows for generator use up until 10pm, this was too loud and sounded like a lawn mower was running well into the night. The RV owner even yelled at the campground in a very threatening manner at 10pm one night when multiple people cheered that the generator was off.  The camp hosts advised that generators must be below 85 decibels but never returned to test it and most of the time, appeared to be socializing with the offender, even though multiple people complained. It's understandable that tenter's and RV campers have different priorities but there should still be a level of respect between the two groups so that peace and respect an be maintained. I for one wouldn't mind seeing large campgrounds such as this one to have RV only sections so that their additional devices do not disturb those of us who enjoy the peace and quiet of tent camping. Its location is stellar, right by Woods Canyon Lake and perfect elevation to escape the heat.  Beware favoritism though with camp hosts. They also were not enforcing the social distancing rules listed on their own website, to advise that you are not allowed to socialize with other campsites and one family per campsite.  One pair of camp hosts were walking around each evening having drinks at various campsites.  Sad to see at this stage of a public health crises.