Top Free Dispersed Camping near Mount Lemmon, AZ

Planning a dispersed camping trip near Mount Lemmon? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. Search dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots and read camper reviews.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Mount Lemmon, AZ (29)

Showing results 1-10 of 29 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews In Mount Lemmon

132 Reviews of 29 Mount Lemmon Campgrounds


  • Cass G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Reddington Pass Dispersed
    Jul. 27, 2024

    Reddington Pass Dispersed

    Rough Road, Off Grid

    I’ve camped at Redington Pass a few times throughout the years. It’s a fun trail if you like a challenge of off roading. I wouldn’t recommend larger trailers or RVs to travel too far up the trail, we’ve seen them get stuck trying to turn around. The road is rough but if you don’t mind driving slow over the holes and bumps then no big deal.

    Easy to find, follow Tanque Verde Rd all the way East until it turns into Redington Road, this then leads to a dirt road with TONS of dispersed camping pull offs with established fire rings. The further east you travel on the pass the less people you have to camp next to. The camping sites closer to the entrance get packed on the weekends.

    The further you go you’ll run out of service, no bathrooms, no water hook ups, nothing, just dispersed wild camping!

  • j
    Camper-submitted photo from Ironwood Dispersed
    Jul. 12, 2024

    Ironwood Dispersed

    Animals in the forest

    I want to know if there are any dangerous animals in such mountains and forests. My group of friends and I are planning to come here to explore among us.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Gardner Canyon Rd Dispersed
    Jun. 3, 2024

    Gardner Canyon Rd Dispersed

    Pretty Area, no amenities

    Great area of you plan to have everything with you. There is a ranch up the road along the way to the end of the road towards the top. Great place to hang out and enjoy the quiet. Take a drive up the road. Onyx Cave isn’t far.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cactus Forest - Park Link Road - S. Cattle Tanks Road BLM dispersed
    May. 3, 2024

    Cactus Forest - Park Link Road - S. Cattle Tanks Road BLM dispersed

    Remote, Private, and free but accessible.

    Remote, private, and free but accessible. Not a standard RV parking lot campground but rather several campsites with ample space between them for privacy, along an unpaved sandy road, just off a quiet paved back road. About 20-30min from gas stations, water, food, etc. It has no facilities or even pit toilets. Exactly what I wanted. This campground is aptly named as it is quite literally in the middle of a Saguaro cactus forest 🌵 along with many other different cactus species and wildlife. This location is tranquil and wild. I couldn't think of a better way to immerse yourself in the middle of this national park than this campground. It's a tight drive in if you go past the 2-3 RV sites at the beginning of the east side. I have a 2015 Toyota Tacoma with a roof top tent pulling a 12x6 enclosed trailer with standard wheels. My trailer made it through without scratches and at no point did I even think about four-wheel drive. A larger camper I couldn't speak for. It is quite sandy and has some mogul sections where the water flows have washed some of the trail away but overall an easy drive.

    Disclosures and warnings:

    There are three sides to this campground. The east side, west side, and North end. The West side is the most trailer friendly and most visited as it is where the GPS leads you. However, it gets worse the deeper you go in after roughly 10-15 sites. The east side you could probably manage a trailer for the first 2-3 sites. After that there would be no where to turn around and it gets rough off-road quick, like deep dried up sandy river bed crossings (month of May) and is more exposed to the sun with slightly less cacti than the west side. The North end is the most private and remote of the other two and the quietest. However, it is nothing short of a four-wheel drive off-road trail. I would not recommend anything other than off road vehicles in the north end and the sites are small, just for tents or 1 vehicle.

    There are almost no rocks to worry about on the way in but the cacti here are more than capable of creating flat tires so take care to avoid pieces that have fallen onto the road. Especially the Jumping Cholla cacti! They are the worst things you will come across in this campground and are everywhere, easily the most dominant species of cactus in this area. They have evolved to break apart into spiny segments when they make contact with someone or something to propagate. Sometimes if the wind blows strong enough they cover the ground around their base with a mound of their spined segments. These segments often roll or blow into the roadways. The spines are hard as stone and sometimes over 2 in long. They have evolved special reversed barbs that you can't see with your eyes on every main spine. They go into anything except metal, including Kevlar reinforced tire sidewalls like a knife through hot butter and then hook in and don't come out unless you rip them out. I rode my adventure bike through the campground to explore, lost my footing in the sand and fell against one of these. I had 3-4 segments stuck to my arm. I spent 10 to 15 minutes ripping these segments out of my arm, pulling my skin away from my body about an inch before they will rip out. Don't make the same mistake as me.

    GUNS! In my opinion the biggest downside to this campground is the almost constant gunfire all day long as there is a public shooting area on the south west side of the campground. If you are in the west side and you are looking southwest, there is a tiny little mountain ridgeline about a half mile away. All around the base of that ridgeline people are allowed to pull up and shoot at targets on the hill side. The locals show up as the sun just comes over the trees around 5:00 a.m. and they don't stop until the sun sets almost everyday of the week. They do however, quit at night so you can sleep.

    If you camp here you are IN THE desert. During the day is fine. You will likely only run into swarms of flies. At night however, is a different story. ESPECIALLY If you decide to have a fire on a cold night or set up a lantern near the ground while making dinner. I stayed here for 9 days straight and I came across 6 rattlesnakes (mostly sidewinders), more camel spiders than I can count (at least 5+ per night), 3 brown recluse spiders, packs of coyotes rolling through at night and early morning (watch your pets), and 2 killer bee swarms in the trees. All within the campground boundaries, so just be ready for rugged camping.

  • Jake G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Gardner Canyon Rd Dispersed
    May. 2, 2024

    Gardner Canyon Rd Dispersed

    Convenient and scenic

    There are lots of sites along Gardner Canyon road, and it can get a little busy. We had a site by a large tree and a wash. The first time cows were our only visitors, but on another trip there was a camper 100 yards away or so. Some of the sites are quite large and are able to fit several large rigs. Depending on the time of year there are some small water crossings passed the ranch. Overall a great place to camp.

  • Ericka C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Charouleau Gap Trailhead Camp
    Apr. 2, 2024

    Charouleau Gap Trailhead Camp

    Small site not far from amenities

    Great easy little spot that is highly used so make sure you plan ahead. Not all sites have fire circle and if you don’t have a toilet there are only a few bushes tall enough. Works for a quick one nighter.

  • joel G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Proctor Rd. Dispersed by Madera Canyon
    Mar. 20, 2024

    Proctor Rd. Dispersed by Madera Canyon

    Elephant head trail head

    We Camped here for two nights with a nice view of elephant head. It is an open range so there are cows walking around. There are quite a few camping spots but had all of them filled by the time we made camp on Friday afternoon. One of the really downsides was we had two skunks walk through our site early Saturday morning and one did spray our 10 months old puppy.

  • M
    Camper-submitted photo from Cieneguita Dispersed Camping Area - Las Cienegas National Conservation Area
    Mar. 14, 2024

    Cieneguita Dispersed Camping Area - Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

    La Cienaguita

    I first came upon this area three years ago and have come back every year since. It is isolated, camp sites are well spaced and the scenery is great. There is no highway noise and the night time stars are brilliant. It is free range for cattle so you may wake up several mornings to see them in 'your backyard'. There are Coues deer (a small whitetail), pronghorns (get up early to see them), a prairie dog town, coyotes can be heard many nights, and all kinds of birds.

    Empire Ranch has a great but small museum, with trails around it for walking, nice restrooms, free water for filling your RV, and a rich history. If La Cieneguita campground is full (only eight sites) There are other areas with La Cienagas National Conservation Area for camping including a large former small airport on the other side of Empire Ranch.

  • Henry E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Ragged Top Rd Dispersed
    Feb. 11, 2024

    Ragged Top Rd Dispersed

    Peacefully Quiet, Awesome Views

    Great raised up spot that allows for a full vista of the surrounding mountains and thousands of saguaros. Not a single person drove past the site during the weekend. Overlooks the Pinal County Airport and plane graveyard (this can be seen on the drive in, or with binoculars directly from the site). Adequately lifted 4x4 needed to reach.

  • Danny T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cactus Forest Dispersed Site
    Jan. 26, 2024

    Cactus Forest Dispersed Site

    Very pretty. Little noisy

    January Rv 24 ft Cell service. Att 2 and o 3 bars. Able to stream

    This is a beautiful spot. The spots are a little close together.

    Not good for dogs really cus of cholla cactus everywhere. Watch where you walk and be sire to check shoes before entering your home for the night.

    There is an outdoor shooting range close enough to Hear semi auto’s all day and as late as 10:45 pm. They were at it again at 8 am. Not sure if it is some military training area or what. That gets a bit old. It’s a good distance away so it’s not real loud, just present Road is good to drive big rv or 5th wheel no lroblem

  • T
    Camper-submitted photo from Reddington Pass Dispersed
    Jan. 22, 2024

    Reddington Pass Dispersed

    Camping at reddington pass

    Great spot to go camping! The trail into the campground was great, you will need a 4x4 in certain spots, but mostly it’s a smooth ride. At night the view of the stars was beautiful since there was hardly any light pollution. 10/10 recommended

  • Harriet D.
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Ironwood Forest National Monument - Reservation Road Dispersed Camping
    Dec. 29, 2023

    BLM Ironwood Forest National Monument - Reservation Road Dispersed Camping

    Muddy!

    If you don't have a 4WD vehicle, you may want to look elsewhere. As of writing this, the road is extremely muddy and worn down, so you won't be able to get far in a low-clearance vehicle. I was still able to stop and set up my tent for the night, but it was not a nice spot. 

    As other people have said, it's behind a closed gate but you're fine to go through. Road condition aside, it is flat and pretty easy to find a level spot for your tent or trailer.

  • Jozi A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Mount Bigelow Dispersed
    Aug. 26, 2023

    Mount Bigelow Dispersed

    Awesome views on Mount Bigelow Rd!

    Great spots along this road for dispersed camping. Saw some wild life like deer and turkey. Only downside is that the road is narrow so if your pulling anything wide just be cautious. Other than that I highly recommend camping here when your at Mt. Lemmon.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cactus Forest Dispersed - High Clearance
    May. 4, 2023

    Cactus Forest Dispersed - High Clearance

    Small but sweet

    Narrow Road in will scratch your vehicle, but it is quiet and the sides are level. Beautiful desert convenient to the interstate. Being near Tucson, planes and cars are sometimes audible, but a great overnight stop. If you’re on the road, I need a good place to camp.

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Ironwood Dispersed
    Apr. 16, 2023

    Ironwood Dispersed

    Peaceful Desert Camping

    About 40 minutes away from Saguaro NP. Absolutely beautiful. Arrived late in the afternoon on a Saturday night. Only a couple of other campers, plenty of sites available. Dirt roads, but easily accessible in a mini van. Fires allowed.



Guide to Mount Lemmon

Camping near Mount Lemmon, Arizona, offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the numerous trails around the area. Campers have enjoyed the accessibility to hiking trails, with one reviewer noting, "Good accessibility to the NP" at Gilbert Ray Campground.
  • Wildlife Watching: The region is rich in wildlife. One camper at Cactus Forest Dispersed mentioned, "You’ll be just fine" if you keep an eye out for the local fauna.
  • Stargazing: With minimal light pollution, the night sky is perfect for stargazing. A visitor at Catalina State Park Campground said, "Great place to resupply, dine out, see the sights, clean up and relax in the Arizona sunshine while gazing at the Santa Catalina Mountains."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the beautiful landscapes. One reviewer at Spencer Canyon Campground described it as a "beautiful, clean campground" with "great views of the Tucson city lights."
  • Privacy: Many sites offer a sense of seclusion. A camper at Cactus Forest Dispersed appreciated the "ample space between them for privacy."
  • Amenities: Campgrounds like Tucson - Lazydays KOA provide great facilities. One visitor noted, "The staff was great and the customer service was great."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy due to nearby roads or shooting ranges. A camper at Cactus Forest Dispersed mentioned, "There is an outdoor shooting range close enough to hear semi-auto’s all day."
  • Limited Facilities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. For instance, Gilbert Ray Campground has no showers, which some campers found inconvenient.
  • Road Conditions: Some access roads can be rough. A visitor at Redington Pass - Dispersed Camping advised, "The GPS coordinates of this site are way off," indicating that navigation can be tricky.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with amenities like picnic tables and fire pits. One family at Tucson - Lazydays KOA enjoyed the "great amenities" and "clean condition."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. A camper at Catalina State Park Campground highlighted the "hiking trails and history" as a great way to keep kids engaged.
  • Safety First: Keep an eye on younger campers, especially around cacti. A visitor at Cactus Forest Dispersed warned, "Watch where you walk and be sure to check shoes before entering your home for the night."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Gilbert Ray Campground mentioned, "Be careful what route you choose to enter the park" for larger RVs.
  • Use Full Hookups: Look for campgrounds with full hookups for convenience. One reviewer at Tucson - Lazydays KOA appreciated the "full hookup site" that provided a "private" experience.
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Know where the nearest dump stations are located. A camper at Gilbert Ray Campground found the dump station "located at a different loop," which was helpful for planning.

Camping near Mount Lemmon, Arizona, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With a variety of campgrounds and activities, there's something for everyone to enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Mount Lemmon, AZ?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Mount Lemmon, AZ is Mount Bigelow Dispersed with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Mount Lemmon, AZ?

    TheDyrt.com has all 29 dispersed camping locations near Mount Lemmon, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.