Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Holbrook, AZ is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Holbrook, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Find the best campgrounds near Holbrook, AZ. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
"Right outside the South Gate of the Petrified Forest National Park. They offer free camping with no hookups for self contained rigs. Water is available at city hall if needed."
"Dirt lot with about 20 spots for RVs, trailers, campervans, or any other self contained camper. They don't allow tent camping because there are no bathrooms available."
"A bit of rough road,paved but holy, some graffiti on the pavilion says degenerate kids where here, gravel road is beat up,but OMG THE SUNSET ,you gotta see this sunset, trust me."
"This run down defunct old county park is rough around the edges, but worth the drive off the interstate for the beauty, peace and quiet."
"After we paid the park entrance fee ($16, I think), we picked up our FREE back country permit from the visitors center first thing."
"Dispersed Camping was wonderful here. Permits are available at the visitor center. We walked down into the wilderness area behind the painted desert Inn."
" I always appreciate when cities allow overnight parking in town."
"Overnight parking is allowed; however, the size of the lot will decrease significantly as they are building a new library in the dirt lot where campers were allowed to park in the past."
"Nice spot along the highway. You can hear vehicles but in a van, barely heard it. There’s prairie dogs and bunnies galore, which was a nice bonus. Clean porti potties and decent AT&T signal."
"Great, great free camping. ~20 sites, most official sites have concrete pads & trashcans but a few more primitive spots just have driveways & rock campfire rings. Great Verizon Service."
"Nice place, wide open views, easy access for Truck/rv. Almost no vz internet. Very clean, very little trash. Good dispersed camping. C20 miles to food/supplies."
"Would bring the family back for some boondocking in our camper. Despite being the first spot closest to the road, so few cars pass here I rarely noticed."
GuideRight outside the South Gate of the Petrified Forest National Park. They offer free camping with no hookups for self contained rigs. Water is available at city hall if needed. They even have a dumpster so getting rid of trash is easy.
LegendDirt lot with about 20 spots for RVs, trailers, campervans, or any other self contained camper. They don't allow tent camping because there are no bathrooms available. Dumpster was in the lot for trash. Reading other reviews they mentioned no electric, at this site, but there are boxes next to each campground with 30amp outlets. My camper doesn't use shore power, so I wasn't able to test the boxes. Attached a photo of what the outlet looks like if anyone wants to give it a try. There are paid sites across the road specifically for anyone who needs an electric hook up.
Overall was quiet, but we also went on a day in December and there was noone else at the campground.
LegendI always appreciate when cities allow overnight parking in town. As boondockers, it’s hard to explore a city and then go out to the outskirts to find a place for the night, so it’s always a treat to stay within walking distance of a town with things to do.
This is a large paved lot, adjacent to an even larger paved gravel lot, where overnight parking is allowed. We arrived on a Saturday late morning and left the next morning. The visitor center was never open for us to go in while we were there.
There was plenty of space for us to put out our slides. There is a dumpster in the parking lot but no other amenities. Good cell service here for both ATT and Verizon.
It’s a few blocks from the fun and kitchy part of town with all the “Standing on the Corner” things, plus some other interesting things to see and some good places to eat.
** VERY noisy trains all night long. Not just trains passing by, but some kind of dramatic CLU-CLUNKing going on pretty frequently. We'd stay here again just for the convenience, but we'll bring ear plugs next time.
LegendThis is an old dirt lot with several sites for overnight RV parking, which the gift shop allows for free for a night as long as you are self-contained. No tent camping or sleeping in your car allowed (because there are no restrooms available).
Each spot has a picnic table and a few have a shade structure as well.
The other side of the street has more sites available for $15/night and they include power hookups. No other amenities available here.
These lots are just outside the Petrified Forest NP south entrance and it’s so convenient to stay here if you’re going to be visiting the park. We stopped at the gift shop to make sure we were good to park here for the night and also to make an obligatory “thank you” purchase. They have lots of jewelry, petrified wood pieces (ranging from cheap to crazy expensive for the large polished pieces), clothing, gifts, stickers, etc. They also sell beer for $3/can but all they have is Budweiser.
Good-ish cell reception here. AT&T had 3G, Verizon had LTE, and T-Mobile was roaming as always.
LegendStayed one day on my way to Reno. Nice spot along the highway. You can hear vehicles but in a van, barely heard it. There’s prairie dogs and bunnies galore, which was a nice bonus. Clean porti potties and decent AT&T signal. I only checked out one loop but place has as least 10 spots. Some have cement pads and fire rings. No picnic tables that I saw.
GuideLocated just before south entrance. FREE ("Boondock") camping on East side. Electric (no water) for $15 on West side. We picked East as Solar gives us all the A/C we need! Gift shops to explore on both sides. SEVERAL abandoned cars in front of shops to "chum for patrons".... Great place to stage before a day of exploring. Not sure I'd stay more than 2 nites but a night before and nite after visiting the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert is perfect! Just make sure to spend some $ at the gift shop if you stay for free.
GuideThe Petrified Forest National Park does not have its own car camping campground (there are only backcountry backpacking sites, requiring permits, gear, walking, skills, etc). This rather touristy campground is right outside the National Park. It is pretty basic and incredibly it is totally free. It does have electric hookups for a small fee, The sites are large and out in the open with no shade...dismal in the hot AZ sun! There’s a teepee village you can also use, would be a big hit for kids. The gift shop has some snacks and lots of interesting geological trinkets. At night it is beautifully dark.
GuideA bit of rough road,paved but holy, some graffiti on the pavilion says degenerate kids where here, gravel road is beat up,but OMG THE SUNSET ,you gotta see this sunset, trust me.
ScoutWas going to stay the night before, but needed a real bed. So I stopped this morning. It is tight next to south entrance of Petrified national forest.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Holbrook, Arizona, where you can enjoy the great outdoors without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. This area offers a variety of unique spots that cater to different camping styles and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at dispersed camping sites around Holbrook?
Dispersed camping sites around Holbrook are generally primitive with minimal amenities. Concho Lake offers clean portable toilets and some spots have picnic tables. The site provides decent AT&T signal and is home to prairie dogs and rabbits. At Winslow Visitor Center, you'll find a large paved lot adjacent to town, making it convenient for exploring nearby attractions. This location allows overnight parking for boondockers. Most dispersed sites in the area are primitive with no hookups, water, or bathroom facilities, so come prepared with everything you need for self-sufficient camping.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Holbrook, Arizona?
Several free dispersed camping options exist near Holbrook. Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts offers free overnight parking for self-contained RVs and campers just outside the south entrance of Petrified Forest National Park. They provide a dirt lot with about 20 spots, some with picnic tables. Another option is 5 Mile Wash BLM Dispersed off Highway 77, which offers drive-in access with no fees. These sites don't have hookups, but Crystal Forest does have a dumpster for trash disposal. Remember that tent camping isn't allowed at Crystal Forest as there are no restroom facilities available.
Do I need permits for dispersed camping in the Holbrook area?
Permit requirements vary by location in the Holbrook area. At Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area, a FREE backcountry permit is required, which you can obtain at the visitor center after paying the park entrance fee (approximately $16). This permit allows for dispersed camping in designated wilderness areas. For Painted Desert Rim Drive Dispersed Pulloff, no specific permits are mentioned, but you'll likely need to pay park entrance fees if accessing through the national park. Most BLM land near Holbrook allows free dispersed camping without permits, but always check current regulations before setting up camp.
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