RV parks near Oro Valley, Arizona cater primarily to long-term and seasonal visitors, with many operating as 55+ communities. Located in the Sonoran Desert at approximately 2,600 feet elevation, temperatures regularly exceed 100°F during summer months while winter evenings can drop below 40°F. Morning checkout times at most facilities begin at 11:00 AM with many parks requiring advance reservations during the November through March peak season.
What to do
Hiking accessible trails: Visitors staying at Desert Trails RV Park can access numerous walking paths directly from the campground. According to one camper, "Great place to explore the trails right from your camp! Easy pull throughs all hook ups, clean bathrooms with laundry!!"
Billiards and games: Most rv parks Oro Valley area offer recreation facilities with organized activities. One visitor at Rincon Country West RV Resort notes, "Many things to do, security is good. A couple times a week there is food carts and on Thursday is farmers market and craft things."
Swimming year-round: Nearly all area RV parks maintain heated pools open throughout winter. A camper at Voyager RV Resort mentioned, "We stayed here the month of Oct 2021 and came back for Jan 2022. Excellent 55+ resort. Too many things to do to list. All very well organized. Sports, crafts, cards, games, pools."
What campers like
Spacious parking areas: Some parks accommodate larger rigs with ample room. A visitor at South Forty RV Ranch shared, "I had a back-in site that had so much width to the side that I could set up my 'patio' with awning, chairs and a picnic table beside my RV, park my car along side that and still have room to fit another vehicle in, if necessary."
Mountain views: The surrounding landscape provides scenic backdrops at certain RV parks. One camper at Rincon Country East RV Resort noted, "The level of silence both day and especially night is a bit of heaven. The mountain views greet us constantly here. Mount Lemmon is a short drive or bike ride away with snow capped top and great food offerings."
Well-maintained facilities: Parks generally keep common areas in good condition. A visitor mentioned, "Extraordinarily well maintained, spotless, full amenity RV Park, catering primarily to long-term, seasonal customers, with a high proportion of sites occupied by park models."
What you should know
Age restrictions: Many parks operate as adult-only communities. At Desert Trails RV Park, a camper noted, "This is a nice 40+ campground right on the edge of Saguaro National Park. The sites are gravel with full hook ups."
Long-term focus: Most facilities cater to seasonal residents rather than short stays. A visitor explained, "Not really a place for short-term campers passing through, as we were, although we certainly felt welcomed."
Variable WiFi quality: Internet access differs significantly between parks. At Voyager RV Resort & Hotel, one camper complained, "We went to do some laundry and they have the system where you put money on a card, but can only use $5 bills. We only had a $20 so went to the office only to be informed that they don't give out change."
Tips for camping with families
Check age policies: Many parks restrict younger visitors. At South Forty RV Ranch, a camper observed, "This park, along with many I found in the desert southwest, is an Adult Park Only, accepting residents of 55 years and older only."
Limited kid-friendly amenities: Family facilities can be scarce. One visitor at Crazy Horse RV Park noted, "Aside from the pool, there isn't anything in the park for children to do."
Consider neighborhood safety: Some parks border residential areas with varying conditions. A camper shared, "The neighborhood across the road is very run down, there are dogs barking over there nonstop, and there's lots of litter everywhere. We also heard gunshots on more than one occasion."
Tips from RVers
Site navigation assistance: Staff often help with parking during business hours. At Crazy Horse RV Park, a visitor mentioned, "Park staff does come and help you pull in during business hours."
Rental duration strategies: Weekly versus monthly rates vary significantly. One camper advised, "I tried to rent for mnth but lady insisted that I pay weekly, it broke me, buildings way to hot especially shower houses, probably really nice during winter."
Propane services: Fuel availability differs between parks. At Crazy Horse RV Park, a visitor noted, "We like this park good value for the money. They have propane as well."
Laundry facilities: Washers and dryers typically cost $2-2.25 per load. According to one camper, "The laundry facility has 8-10 each of washers and dryers, $2-$2.25 per wash, and $2 per dry. They do sell quarters in the office."
Internal traffic concerns: Vehicle speeds within parks can be problematic. A visitor cautioned, "One major complaint we had was that people drive way too fast through the park. We were backed up to an access road with a posted speed limit of 7.5 MPH, which people regularly drove 25 down despite several speed bumps."
