Crystal Forest Campground
Great easy to get in
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV parks operate in the White Mountains region near McNary. Hon-Dah RV Park in Pinetop provides full hookups with 50-amp electrical service, water, and sewer connections year-round. Sites accommodate big rigs with fire rings and picnic tables available. Encore Venture In at Show Low features wide gravel sites with concrete patios and full hookups, operating seasonally from May through October. Ponderosa RV Resort in Lakeside offers sewer and electric hookups in a pine forest setting with level sites. Waltner's RV Resort in Show Low provides 30-amp electrical service with water and sewer in a wooded environment. "The RV spots are good size. Great hookups and a very quiet place. Friendly people and close to town."
Access to most parks requires navigating mountain roads with occasional steep grades. RV dump stations are available at Hon-Dah, Venture In, and Waltner's for waste disposal. Cell service varies throughout the region, with stronger reception reported in Show Low than in more remote locations. Many parks enforce fire restrictions during dry summer months until monsoon rains begin. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially during summer when temperatures are milder than lower-elevation Arizona locations. Most parks welcome pets but may have breed or size restrictions. According to one visitor, "We had a FHU site on a level, rock pad. Site size is moderate, pretty typical for a resort in full sun. Fire rings and picnic tables are not provided."
"The sites are pretty level, really wide, and fairly deep. There is a concrete patio with each site. Sites are covered in cinders which are a bit of a pain."
"This is an RV Resort, not a camp ground. The lots are average size and fairly easy to get in to. I’m glad I had a spotter. They have nice amenities including cable TV."
"Very large CG with full hookups, level sites, flush toilets and showers. Casino and its restaurants next door. Wild horses venture through the camp in the evening!"
"Excellent location near Pinetop-Lakeside and Show Low. Easy check-in. Wifi available. Clean bathrooms. Laundry available. Wonderful hosts. 24 hour security driving around."
"Ponderosa is a reasonably quiet (“home improvement” construction next door to us), adult oriented, RV park in the pines(we had apple trees) of Pinetop."
"My wife and I have always wanted to visit The White Mountains in Arizona since over the years we've gone by several times on I40. "
from $45 / night
"Great location between Show Low and Pinetop with Highway access."
"The Elk Horn is a beautiful and quiet community with great people"
"New site with no showers restrooms or laundry yet charge full price. Dave the onsight guy is a sweetheart though. Super friendly and helpful. Close to town and when it’s all finished should be good"
from $65 - $90 / night
from $34 - $670 / night
"Great park, close to town but you’d never know it. Among the pines and cedar trees of the White Mountains"
from $55 / night
from $25 / night
from $659 / night
Great easy to get in
Really only 2 sites, the 1st site is before GPS stops you. On the right before GPS, there's a short pull off trail that goes through to the main road, the fire pit is facing the main road! So you want to be facing the exit! Depending on how long you are, you can maneuver to where GPS takes you, turn around and drive up that cutoff trail! I was able to park just right to be Perfectly Level! Ok I moved it twice! The fire pit was 9' from the back door of my 24' Camper! Everything you Need A Fire Pit 🔥& Late October in the White Mountains ✌️🤟🤙
A little crowded but worth it.
A gem in Eastern Arizona. The campground is cared for, the bathrooms are clean, and the scenery is absolutely transfixing. The host patrols a few times per day, and was very friendly and attentive. Good rule enforcement as he visibly asked other campers to please turn off their generators during quiet hours, which they did. In some other campgrounds, the rules often go unheeded, so this was nice to see. Kudos to the host staying polite yet firm.
Great help from the campground ranger at the store to get a spot.
This is a rustic, quiet and amazing campground. No hookups, vault toilet, NO cell coverage. This campground is more than 50 years old and not really maintained but each site is so private with tons of tree coverage around. Robin, the camp host was so friendly. We chose site 49 which gave us such a great view of the meadow. We just relaxed and listened to the crowd and to the elk bugle. There are trash containers. No dump. There is water.
Campground had vault toilets and nothing else. No prepared sites. Parking is flat in a narrow canyon, with tall pines. The river is right next to the campground. It gets dark early, and late sunrise due to the canyon walls. It got very cold at night, 40 degrees, and humid. The entire area north to Big Lake is badly burned.
As of October 1, 2026, there is no electricity available. The bones are here for a nice, basic place to camp right outside the south gate of Petrified Forest National Park. Sites are level gravel, some with Ramadas and picnic tables. Tables are plastic with holes melted in them. The owner says he has plans to renovate the campsites so wasn't repairing the electric circuit box until then. The site was free and about a dozen RVs were there each night. My Verizon signal was always strong enough for calls, but would occasionally drop my Internet connection.
I turned off 117 onto 117A and then into the grass in a wide open area. There are several wide open areas with great views. The cows from a nearby farm roam and graze through the BLM land day and night, which was interesting! They were very curious about me. It was so quiet and peaceful but this whole area seems popular. I had to drive 4-5 miles from highway 260 to find a spot.
Caution about weather- if it storms or rains the road gets muddy and puddles form. I got stuck in the mud the morning after a storm but managed to escape thankfully. Check the weather!
RV parks near McNary, Arizona offer camping options in the White Mountains at elevations around 7,000 feet. The area experiences cooler summer temperatures compared to desert regions, with daytime highs typically in the 70s-80s°F during peak season. Most campgrounds in this ponderosa pine region impose strict fire restrictions from late spring until monsoon season begins in July.
Fishing opportunities: Several lakes within 20 miles of McNary provide trout fishing. Visitors at Springerville RV Park mention proximity to outdoor recreation. According to one camper, "Had reservations that were made on the phone and when we arrived we were able to get an upgrade to full hookups. Very nice place. Not much shade but well taken care of and would recommend checking it out!"
Casino entertainment: The Hon-Dah Casino adjacent to some RV parks offers gaming and dining options. A visitor notes, "Casino and its restaurants next door. Wild horses venture through the camp in the evening!"
Mountain biking trails: The White Mountains contain extensive trail networks for various skill levels. One reviewer at Mogollon RV Park states, "This is on the mogollon rim so there is some great hiking and sightseeing nearby. Several lakes close also."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds report wild horse sightings. As one Springerville RV Park guest shared, "The spots are big and spread out. Clean laundry, clean grounds. Good electricity and water pressure. Only one wifi spot near office. Super nice folks."
Climate relief: Temperatures 20-30 degrees cooler than Phoenix make summer camping comfortable. A reviewer at Ponderosa RV Resort explains, "My wife and I have always wanted to visit The White Mountains in Arizona since over the years we've gone by several times on I40. We decided to visit and Ponderosa RV Resort in Lakeside sounded pretty good, 55+was great to not worry about being hit by energetic kids."
Central location: RV parks serve as convenient bases for exploring the entire White Mountains region. According to one visitor, "Location is central to everything. In fact, we rode our eBikes to get to just about everything. Temps are warm in June and then cool down significantly after the Monsoon rains begin."
Seasonal variations: Most campgrounds experience significant seasonal changes. A visitor at Elk Horn RV Park notes, "Park is looking great. Great location between Show Low and Pinetop with Highway access."
Reservation requirements: Summer months require advance booking due to high demand. One camper states, "We spent 5-nights here (July 1-6, 2022). Ponderosa is a reasonably quiet RV park in the pines of Pinetop. I wouldn't call Ponderosa a RV Resort as it's more a trailer park with the vast majority of occupants being long term tenants."
Connectivity issues: Cell service varies throughout the region. A reviewer explains, "Verizon 5G is strong but slowish. Close to town. Right on the highway but it was quiet at night."
Activity planning: Local towns offer family-friendly attractions when not at camp. A visitor at Snowflake Arizona RV Park shares, "I love that I didnt have to meet with anyone. Just booked online, and checked in and out on my own."
Weather preparation: Summer thunderstorms occur frequently during monsoon season. According to campers, "It is a nice flat place to walk your dogs. There is no fenced in dog run areas."
Site selection: Corner sites typically offer more space for families. One camper notes, "The sites are pretty level, really wide, and fairly deep. There is a concrete patio with each site."
Hookup availability: Full hookup sites with 50-amp service exist at several parks. A visitor at Waltner's RV Resort states, "Great park, close to town but you'd never know it. Among the pines and cedar trees of the White Mountains."
Road conditions: Mountain roads to RV parks may include steep grades and tight turns. One RVer explains, "Good wide turns, clear signage, and in 10 years all the baby trees will super. We even had pizza delivered to our spot."
Site leveling: Most RV sites require minimal leveling. According to one reviewer, "Very level site, we didn't have to unhook."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near McNary, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near McNary, AZ is Encore Venture In with a 3.7-star rating from 6 reviews.
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