Best Cabin Camping near Leupp, AZ

My family and I stayed here in a 34’ travel trailer for one night in late July. To get to the campground, travel thru the county park and follow the signs to Luke AFB recreation area. The campground is part of a larger complex that includes a lodge, cabins, and yurts. All amenities are shared so we had access to a large playground, basketball and volleyball courts, the store, and the bathhouse. The county park itself has playgrounds, an amphitheater, bike trails, and an awesome disc golf course. At each site is a picnic table and a fire pit, with hookups for electric and water. Our site was huge, but others can be a bit tight. Adjacent to the campground is the fairgrounds, which is bordered by an unattractive chain fence. The pump-out station was backed up and unusable while we were there. I’d say the best aspects are the price and the convenience to Flagstaff which is only three miles away. We would stay again.

RV or tiny homes…this place is AMAZING. We were in the RV side very clean, level elite back in with a concrete patio. Picnic table AND propane fire pit provided. The clubhouse has a bar and grill with a GIANT patio, live music, a store, heated pool and spa, a large game lawn and trails behind. Backs up to a national forest. Bathrooms and laundry clean and convenient. Well organized and friendly staff. Cons: trains in the distance and some interstate noise but that’s to be expected. The camp is NOT right up on the interstate you just can see it from various sections of the camp. We only had one neighbor at our site since it was on the end which was nice. Would DEFINITELY stay again.

We had previously stayed in a back country yurt in the summer months, this time we decided to stay in a cabin in the front country for NYE. It was quiet, especially considering it was NYE (no wild parties, noisy neighbors, etc) which was nice and what we were hoping for. The cabin is stocked with firewood for the stove, has a small table and two chairs, and a queen sized mattress/pad and a bunk bed with mattress pads. Some of these cabins are renovated, but the one we stayed in was not. Still found it to be comfortable. Note that you do have to bring your own sleeping bag/bedding. The lodge had bathrooms, including showers, flushing toilets, and two sinks. There are pit toilets outside but I went inside to use the bathrooms (they are open 24/7). The lodge opens with staff in the morning and there is free coffee/hot chocolate for those staying/camping at AZ Nordic Village. You can also rent snow shoes or cross country skis here during the day in the winter. I enjoy staying here, both front and back country are great.

We stayed here over Labor Day weekend 2019. We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the most remote yurt, Morning Glory. Morning Glory has great views and several people (staff and other visitors on the trails) mentioned that Morning Glory is the best yurt to stay in since it is both remote and it has amazing views of the San Francisco Peaks. Additionally, Morning Glory is also placed in the middle of a field with a nearby bench which is also really nice and makes this particular yurt feel serene. Arizona Nordic Village, previously known as Flagstaff Nordic Center, has a lodge, front country cabins and yurts (which are all within a few hundred feet of the lodge and nearby the highway), as well as back country yurts that range 1-3 miles away from the lodge (Morning Glory is a back country yurt). For the back country, AZNV offers gear shuttles at an extra cost of $40. However we packed all of our belongings in since we were not staying for more than a few days. Yurts and cabins come with a battery operated light inside, a propane grill and stove next to the cabin, porta potty a few yards away, nearby picnic table, 2 twin sized sleeping mats, and 2-4 folding chairs (2 in small yurts; 4 in large yurts), a small trey table, and stove (and stove brush and pan to clean ash out), and a fire ring. From what I can tell they also give you some firewood and a 7-gallon jug of water to put out your fire. For an additional cost you can purchase additional wood, which I did since I was unaware they would supply some firewood, but we hardly used this since we did not require the stove in the cabin since the weather at night is in the 50’s. We did try the stove out and found that 4 pieces of wood heated the cabin up a considerable amount within the span of a few minutes. After booking you get a confirmation email with details for your trip. The day of check in I got a courtesy call and was told I could stop in the lodge at check in for a nap and more info. The staff we encountered were all super friendly. We were told there is a black bear that roams the area but we did not see it and heard the bear usually does not make its way up to Morning Glory. Additionally, while vehicle are not allowed in the Forrest, Morning Glory is near a Forrest fire road which had some vehicles on it; I’m not sure that this is common— may have been due to the long holiday weekend. Additionally, I believe AZNV has one or two trucks and ATVs they use to help transport gear. Overall, I had fun and would go back. I don’t love paying for camping (We usually do free dispersed camping and pitch a tent), however this area is fun enough I would go back. The yurt experience was on par for what we are used to when it comes to camping, but it was nice not having to pitch a tent, blow up an air mattress, etc. Lastly, they do haul out your trash for you. I do recommend bringing baby wipes since the trails are dusty, and a headlamp for at night.

Cell service: I have Verizon and had four bars at the Morning Glory yurt and service at the lodge— however, service between the two was spotty.

23 hours ago

Not a lot here. Even without dealing with Covid there is very little to do. Campground is very tight and your neighboring camper is directly facing your front. You basically share your front space and picnic table (if you're lucky enough to get one). There is also no wifi nor cable, not even anything available through an antenna. If you do camp here bring dvds. There are a few radio stations but that's it. Their pizza or restaurant is only on weekends and the salon is closed. Store runs out of coffee in the morning and is not refilled. All in all, find somewhere else.

Campground Review

The Flagstaff KOA is a great place to stay! And a great jumping-off-point to fabulous destinations.  We were visiting the Grand Canyon from Phoenix, so we were able to make it to the campground in about 2 hours (leaving after work) and then drive to and from the Grand Canyon the next day, since it is only an hour drive from there.

The sites are pretty close together, but that didn’t really matter staying in our campervan.  We had all the space we needed. I especially loved the very clean bathrooms! Flushing toilets and free showers (with attached changing stalls) made for a very comfortable trip.  

Our kid’s favorite was the Jumping Pillow.  It is this huge inflatable thing that the kids can jump all over and they wanted to do that constantly.  Super fun and easy entertainment.

There was also a large playground and little go-kart style bicycles the kids could rent.  

Our stay was really great and I highly recommend the Flagstaff KOA!

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products from time to time.  Escape Campervans allowed me and my family to take our their Maverick van for the weekend.  Let me give you all the details:

First of all, we LOVED traveling in this campervan!!  Driving in and of itself was wonderful. The back bench is very spacious, so our three kids in car seats/boosters had plenty of space.  I loved the huge passenger seat and could really spread out while we drove. The van was easy to handle and easy to maneuver. Even on little dirt roads and tight turns we had plenty of space (very unlike an RV).  

Once we got to our campsite, it was dark out and 9 o’clock at night.  All the kids had fallen asleep on the drive. Normally this would be a huge pain, having to pitch our tents and unpack the cots and sleeping bags, and pack n’ play etc.  But we just pulled into our spot (these vans can park in tent sites too!) and my husband got out and popped the rooftop sleeper (takes 30 sec. to do), we shuffled the kids up top while I unfolded the inside bed.  Took us just a few minutes to get both beds up and ready to go. The kids were nestled into their beds in no time.

My 4 year old daughter and I slept in the inside bed together, with my 1 year old son in a little pop-up baby tent at the foot of the bed.  My husband and 5 year old son slept in the rooftop sleeper. Everyone was warm despite the 35 degree nighttime temperature, and everyone slept through the night  (a FIRST for this family while camping!!).

The back doors open to reveal a complete camp kitchen, with pump sink, propane stove, all the utensils, prep surface, solar powered fridge and plates/cups.  We cooked up some homemade fajitas with steak strips and peppers on the stovetop and it worked fabulously. We literally just pulled off to the side of the road in Grand Canyon National Park and made this delicious lunch.  The kids ran and played in the trees while I cooked. It was a special moment.

I really can’t say enough good about the experience. We can’t wait to rent one again.  It made this trip so easy. Some things you don’t even think about, like how we all needed to change clothes at the Grand Canyon.  We just shut the curtains and were able to do that in a busy parking lot. In our minivan -- that would not have happened.

Tons of storage space, smooth ride, comfortable sleeping, large back bench.  Great. Trip.

Product Video

Overview video:

https://youtu.be/J1rhi6D8ckQ

Van tour:

https://youtu.be/h-IdQIlXpYk