Best Tent Camping near Green Valley, AZ

Dispersed tent camping near Green Valley, Arizona includes several options within the surrounding Coronado National Forest and Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Empire Ranch offers tent campsites with picnic tables, toilets, and fire rings in a grassland setting approximately 15 miles east of Green Valley. Harshaw Ave in Coronado National Forest provides more primitive tent camping options with no facilities but allows fires.

Most tent campgrounds in the region require campers to pack in all necessities including water, as drinking water is rarely available. Sites at Empire Ranch can accommodate both walk-in and drive-in tent camping, while areas like Madera Canyon on Proctor Road require high-clearance vehicles for access. According to one visitor, "Don't go there unless you have a high clearance vehicle. i.e. 4x4 Van, 4x4 pickup and camper." Toilet facilities are limited to established campgrounds like Empire Ranch and General Hitchcock Campground, with most dispersed camping areas having no toilets or trash service. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans common during dry periods.

Tent campers visiting the area can expect varying terrain and experiences. The higher elevation sites like Happy Valley Saddle Campground in Saguaro National Park offer cooler temperatures and forest settings, accessible only by a 4.6-mile hike. A recent review noted that "The hike up is BEAUTIFUL and not overly steep" but recommends watching for snakes. Lower elevation dispersed camping areas offer grassland views and desert landscapes but provide little shade. Empire Ranch features marked tent sites with some offering excellent views of the surrounding grasslands. For a more remote backcountry tent camping experience, Manning Camp in Saguaro National Park requires a challenging hike but rewards visitors with dramatic changes in ecosystem from desert to pine forest.

Best Tent Sites Near Green Valley, Arizona (20)

    2. Tumacacori Mountains

    1 Review
    Tumacacori, AZ
    19 miles

    3. Empire Ranch

    3 Reviews
    Sonoita, AZ
    23 miles

    "Great location for Ground Tents, Roof Top Tents, and RVs"

    "The Dyrt coordinates took me to an area in which I did not feel comfortable pulling off the road because of the tall dry grass so I went to the campground."

    4. Harshaw Ave - Coronado National Forest

    2 Reviews
    Patagonia, AZ
    29 miles

    "It was only 10 minutes away from Patagonia and it had lots of dry firewood. The downside is there is no water source and also road noise."

    5. Happy Valley Saddle Campground — Saguaro National Park

    4 Reviews
    Saguaro National Park, AZ
    37 miles
    Website

    $8 / night

    "Happy Valley campground's name can be decieving.. its actually at 6,000' of elevation, 4.6 miles up the Miller Creek trail in the Rincon mountains east of Tucson."

    "It was very secluded and had a nice big bear box and a nice fire ring. I would definitely return! It was a bit chilly in December but slept comfortably."

    6. General Hitchcock Campground

    7 Reviews
    Willow Canyon, AZ
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (520) 749-8700

    $10 / night

    "The weather here is 10-15 degrees cooler than the city. This campground is small, with tent sites tucked away between pine trees. A vaulted bathroom is at the center of the parking lot."

    "We camped at site 6, right across from the restrooms. Has some nice boulders to tuck your tent away in, and no really close neighbors."

    8. Garden of Peden

    1 Review
    Marana, AZ
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (520) 390-2029

    $13 - $20 / night

    "Check them out and share your trip on the Dyrt!"

    9. Gordon Hirabayashi Campground

    3 Reviews
    Willow Canyon, AZ
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (520) 749-8700

    "However it sits away from the Highway so is a little quieter and has easy access to several hiking/mountain biking trails, horse trails, and a rock climbing area."

    "The hike from there is well worth doing, into sycamore canyon, though there are several other hiikes close by. Best used in early spring winter and late fall."

    10. Manning Camp — Saguaro National Park

    2 Reviews
    Saguaro National Park, AZ
    38 miles
    Website

    "Despite close spaces to camp, it was a lot of fun. It was quiet and people were respectful. Land landscape is amazing and the cactus forests are beautiful."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Green Valley, AZ

595 Reviews of 20 Green Valley Campgrounds


  • Ash C.
    Oct. 13, 2021

    Spencer Canyon Campground

    Great campground clean bathrooms !

    While busy, this is a well ran and well managed campground. The hosts are diligent to touch base with everyone coming in (safety) and the campsites though somewhat close together, offer unique ways to capture some privacy. The mountain can get very cold and windy at night, so make sure you have a sleeping bag rated for freezing temps. This campground has some of the cleanest vault toilets I’ve ever seen! Seriously! I don’t know how they do it!

    The camp hosts have fire wood for sale as well, you just have to flag them down when they drive by. Each site has a fire ring and grill. I also found several fresh water pumps within walking distance from my camp. The site is very easily accessible but some of the dirt roads can get pretty rutty, so use caution with lower profile vehicles.

  • Jered K.
    Feb. 25, 2019

    Happy Valley Saddle Campground — Saguaro National Park

    Small & remote camp

    Happy Valley campground's name can be decieving.. its actually at 6,000' of elevation, 4.6 miles up the Miller Creek trail in the Rincon mountains east of Tucson. It lies within the Saguaro National Park so a permit is required ($8 fee). Up to 6 people per permit. There is 3 spots at the camp. Each spot has a fire ring, bear box, and some good size stumps to sit on around the fire. There is a vaulted toilet at the site as well. Water can be scarce in the Rincons so plan accordingly!

    Another 3.4 miles up the trail and you'll be at the summit of Rincon Peak (8,200'ish).

  • Dray S.
    Sep. 8, 2019

    Spencer Canyon Campground

    Great, easy getaway if you don't mind company

    Spencer Canyon Campground is a nice campground approx. 20 miles from Tucson up the General Hitchcock Highway(often called the Catalina Highway or Mt. Lemmon Highway). It is located approximately 3 miles past the Palisades Visitor Center and the entrance is marked well by a big brown sign as you approach. Phill and Denise, the friendly campsite managers will give you advice and suggestions about campsites that suite your needs. The photos attached to this review are from campsite#6, which is close to the Phill& Denise’s camper location and the highway- yes, we did hear road noise. Most campers chose locations deeper in the campground, but we were there on a busy weekend so most of those“deeper” campsites were occupied. All sites have a large bear box, concrete picnic table, charcoal grill and an iron fire pit. The picnic area of the site is level but the whole campsite is NOT so pick your location carefully if you want to pitch your tent on a flat, level plot. We did find some firewood left over from prior campers but recommend bringing your own, dry wood if you have room in your rig. In my observation, there is a rather nice, vessel toilet house strategically located to serve 6- 7 campsites. There is also a water faucet to be shared by 6- 7 campsites. Campsite#6 has its own faucet so others might also. There are 60+ campsites throughout Spencer Canyon and I would suggest that those“deeper” in the campground are more desirable. It should be noted that most of the campsites are close together, that is, about 50-75 feet apart, hence, my“... if you don’t mind company” comment. It should also be noted that Phill& Denise are really nice and helpful, the campsites are well maintained and clean, it is only 22 miles from Tucson and less than 6 miles from the mountaintop hamlet of Summerhaven, and is situated at approximately 7,900 fee of elevation. Thus, Spencer Canyon Campground is a great getaway from the Arizona heat and close enough to Tucson for a 1- 2 night weekend.

  • P
    Sep. 13, 2020

    Gilbert Ray Campground

    Very Nice

    My grandson and I stayed in a tent campsite for two nights. There are only a 5 tent sites and they don't have a tent pad. After two passes we were able to find a site with a smooth spot without rocks for the tent, B5, a picnic table but no shade. I felt there could have been more bathrooms and water spickets but honestly I did not do much walking in the campground. It is the quiet time of year, before snowbirds come, so we were able to have our pick of electric or not sites. It was quiet; I think three trailers and one other tenter. No generators allowed and 7 day strict limit. The coyotes were very vocal at night, which I enjoyed.This is more of an RV campground but suited us fine for two days. We interacted with the hosts and they were very nice. We explored the trails, visitor center and Sonora Desert Museum, which we loved. Thirty minute drive to Tucson. We went to the Reid Park Zoo, which we thoroughly enjoyed; LOTS of animals for a small zoo. We drove the loop in East Saguaro National Park. Some things closed in West Saguaro park so be aware of that, like Old Tucson, but we found lots to do.

  • Amelio S.
    Jun. 30, 2021

    Rose Canyon Campground

    Gorgeous mountain top site

    Got here on a Sunday evening and were incredibly lucky to get a site close to the lake! The drive up to the campground is gorgeous and the campground is great as well. Spots are drive up with picnic tables, bear boxes, and space to set up a tent or two. There’s a camp store and public pit toilets. We arrived in the evening and left early so we didn’t use the camp store. Would definitely come again, not sure if we’ll get so lucky w our site again tho

  • Candy P.
    Jun. 29, 2021

    Spencer Canyon Campground

    Large campground in Mt Lemmon

    Spencer Canyon campground in Mt Lemmon is nestled under the pine trees and boasts a 15-20 degree drop in temperature from nearby Tucson. Bear boxes are provided as are vaulted toilets. I’ve seen trailers travel down the canyon, but I wouldn’t try it. The roads are steep and narrow. Perfect for tent camping

  • Lisa S.
    Jan. 15, 2021

    Bog Springs Campground

    A Favorite

    What this campground lacks in amenities, it makes up for in its’ superb environment. Long grass, Mountain mahogany, pinion, oak,sycamore and juniper trees create a habitat for over 100 bird varieties and species. Deer roam around inside the campground perimeter and hiking trails lead directly out to miles of Mountain trails including to the top of 9427’ Mt. Wrightson.

    There are only seven back in or curb side sites, and five walk in tent sites. All have water, picnic tables and fire rings. There is a building with pít toilets.

    This is not a place for big rigs or glampers.

    There is a lodgings nearby where an array of feeders attracts dozens of birds for Public viewing and where there is also a gift shop.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2018

    Tucson - Lazydays KOA

    Best Campsites for Snowbirds In Arizona

    When spending time on the road many times you will find campsite after campsite that is welcoming but not quite like home away from home. But when you drive through Tucson, there is a mecca filled with winter bird campers and long term campers which create a home away from home.

    With only tent sites available on the facility, we were fortunate to find a site, however when we arrived we were so excited by the facilities we extended our stay by a day.

    Office staff immediately greeted us and let us know about the facilities, which happened to feature a mini golf course, an indoor events facility, 2 swimming pools and hot tubs, an indoor recreation area and multiple on camp fire chinineas. In addition there was a fishing pond and dog park area.

    Each of the 4 campsites were considered to be regular campsites instead of upgrade sites but when we arrived it was the most delux sites we had encountered along the way.

    Pad sites were large and the first to actually accommodate our large tent and the ground was u like any we had seen before at a site. The soft mulch was similar to that of a modern day playground and made for a much more comfortable sleep over the two days we were there.

    In addition to the standard picnic table of most facilities, this campground offered a kitchen facility at each campsite including a large copper sink and food storage as well as electricity and overhead lighting in the pergola designed to allow shade from the harsh Arizona sun.

    It was the closest thing to glamping we had encountered by far!

    Then as an added bonus, fresh fruit trees abounded ready for the picking. The front desk informed us of the allowance to pick what you want as everything was in season! An amazing treat on the road!

    We spent many hours at the pool facility, enjoyed amazing neighbors, used the wifi and even did a load of laundry while in Tucson. The facility really was like a home away from home on the road.

    🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

    If the scale went higher we would rank it more Bunnies. There were no real areas we could see for improvement. Staff was very accommodating, long term and short term residents of the facility were amazing and this was a desert oasis like no other!

  • Deborah C.
    May. 17, 2019

    Gilbert Ray Campground

    Gilbert Ray Campground , May, 2019

    May, 2019 we visited Saguaro National Park near Tucson AZ. We had planned to hike into the park at one of their few campgrounds but the office informed us that there was a controlled burn and recommended we not stay in the park and suggested Gilbert Ray as a good option. Gilbert Ray Campground is a great location for visiting the National Park. We arrived to find the office closed for the summer, so self serve option was available, at 10.00 per night for tent camping you can’t beat the price. The bathrooms were clean and as an added plus they have a dishwashing station. We stayed in the A loop. There are no showers and the campsite it all gravel making it next to impossible to put a tent stake in. The sites are fairly close together, for example, I could hear our neighbor unzip his tent. All sites have picnic tables. Cell service is good.


Guide to Green Valley

Dispersed tent camping areas near Green Valley, Arizona offer diverse terrain from desert landscapes to higher elevation forests. The region contains several established sites in Coronado National Forest as well as more primitive options throughout Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Most areas have fire restrictions during summer months, and campers should verify current regulations before planning trips. Winter temperatures at higher elevations can drop below freezing while summer brings monsoon thunderstorms.

What to do

Hike to backcountry sites: Manning Camp in Saguaro National Park rewards ambitious hikers with a dramatic change in ecosystem. One visitor noted, "The trek in we found numerous kinds of cacti scattered throughout the duration of the hike. Many flowering which made for a dramatic view along the way!! When the scenery changes you are met with large pine trees and such a different view, it is like night and day."

Visit historic structures: The Empire Ranch area includes an old ranch complex open to visitors. "The ranch is wonderful to visit as is Las Cienegas with their amazing diversity of landscapes. Quiet during the week," shares one camper.

Explore nearby towns: The Tumacacori Mountains area provides access to small communities. According to one camper, "Love the area and Tumacacori is a fun little touristy and artist town. I recommend it highly."

What campers like

Group camping areas: Las Cienegas provides designated sites for larger gatherings. A camper at Empire Ranch reported, "There are many places to camp on empire ranch. Many are dispersed camping but there is also a really great group site for reservation. Great location for Ground Tents, Roof Top Tents, and RVs."

Cooler temperatures: Higher elevation campgrounds like General Hitchcock Campground provide relief from desert heat. "This sky island campground in Mt Lemmon is perfect for a quick weekend getaway from Tucson. The weather here is 10-15 degrees cooler than the city," says one visitor.

Wildlife encounters: The best tent camping near Green Valley, Arizona often includes wildlife viewing opportunities. At Manning Camp, one camper shared, "My tent was surrounded by coyotes, which was wonderful."

What you should know

Vehicle clearance requirements: Many access roads require high-clearance vehicles. A visitor to Harshaw Ave - Coronado National Forest advised, "I enjoyed this camp site overall. It was only 10 minutes away from Patagonia and it had lots of dry firewood. The downside is there is no water source and also road noise."

Seasonal variations: Summer can bring extreme heat at lower elevations and thunderstorms at higher elevations. Winter nights are cold at sites like General Hitchcock, where one camper shared, "if you go prepared with winter gear you won't be cold, hiking trails are great and near campsite."

Limited facilities: Most dispersed tent camping sites near Green Valley have minimal or no facilities. At Harshaw Ave, one reviewer noted, "Nice camp sites right along on the side of the road. Loose cows. Site worked for a night."

Tips for camping with families

Consider established campgrounds: For families, sites with basic facilities may work better than completely primitive areas. Gordon Hirabayashi Campground offers a middle ground with one visitor noting, "It's a busier campground, as there is trailhead parking at the end of the campground, so expect lots of dust. However it sits away from the Highway so is a little quieter and has easy access to several hiking/mountain biking trails."

Pack additional water: No reliable water sources exist at most tent camping locations near Green Valley. Bring at least one gallon per person per day, plus extra for cooking and cleaning.

Choose sites with shade: During warmer months, look for camping areas with natural shade. The Garden of Peden offers tent camping near Saguaro National Park where vegetation provides some respite from the sun.

Tips from RVers

Site size limitations: Most dispersed tent camping areas near Green Valley have space limitations for larger vehicles. At Happy Valley Saddle Campground, a backpacking-only site, one visitor advised, "It was so hot and the trail was a little confusing at times. Not many people so if you're looking for some good exercise and solitude this is for you."

Consider weekday visits: Weekend crowds can make finding suitable spots difficult. A camper at Empire Ranch recommended, "Quiet during the week," suggesting better availability during weekdays.

Prepare for primitive conditions: RVers accustomed to hookups should adjust expectations. One camper at General Hitchcock Campground reported, "There are about 14 camp sights, some right by the little river that forms during snowfall. We camped at site 6, right across from the restrooms. Has some nice boulders to tuck your tent away in, and no really close neighbors."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Green Valley, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Green Valley, AZ is Madera Canyon on Proctor Road with a 2-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Green Valley, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.