Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Parks, AZ has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Arizona camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Parks, AZ. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
"Lots of forest roads to play on near by as well if you have off-road toys."
"This KOA is very clean and has ton's of amenities on site, very nice showers and bathrooms, some of the amenities are mini golf, pan for gems, trails, go karts, peddle cars, playground, laundry room, store"
$10 - $25 / night
"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."
"This a great location with easy access to I-40 & I-17. They were able to accommodate us with no reservation. Clean park with lots of activities. Easy access to flagstaff."
$22 / night
"It's remarkably close to the city, Flagstaff, but tucked away in the forest, it feels remote. We went in June 2019, and it wasn't crowded at all. The hosts were absolutely wonderful."
"Good forest service camp close to Flagstaff. Sites are spread out and there were a variety of camper types there. Can hike or rock climb nearby. Price is now $26."
$42 - $84 / night
"Compared to another campground close by that is a little less but we had double the space and trees and a creek behind us. They’re very busy and we were only able to get two nights."
"Nice RV Park close to Cottonwood and Jerome and only 30 minutes away from Sedona. Quiet area and well kept that also has Park Model cabins available."
$25 - $70 / night
"Dead Horse Ranch is a beautiful Arizona state park."
"They have a lake to fish in and equestrian center to go on horse back rides."
$34 / night
"The Little Elden Springs Horse Campground is a reservation HORSE/MULE ONLY campground. There are 15 pull-through sites, many that can accommodate 4-horse live-n trailers."
"Nice trails"
"There are lots of trees and it’s a great park to walk around. At the back you have the River you can walk around and you are surrounded with mountain views."
"Which is OK in the Arizona winter, but not when it is still hot.
We were here when it as really slow, not sure what it will like when the campground is full."
LegendDead Horse Ranch is a beautiful Arizona state park. It is also a great home base because it is down the street from Tuzigoot National Monument and close to Sedona and Monetzuma Castle National Monument. It is just outside the charming city of Cottonwood.
GuideWe stayed here for our first trip with a TT in December 2020. Water and electric hookups. They have a dump station. They have a lake to fish in and equestrian center to go on horse back rides.
GuideThe forest was closed in Northern Arizona so I decided to camp out at Dead Horse Ranch SP. I was pretty pleased overall with my trip. My campsite was comfortable and private enough, considering how close the sites are at this campground. I had some shade trees to help keep my travel trailer cool but definitely needed to run the AC all night in order to stay comfortable. The RV sites here have fresh water and power, but no sewer. There is a dump station at the park entrance that is easily accessible when both entering and exiting the park. I enjoyed fishing, hiking, and bike riding while I was here but had to limit my outdoor activities to the morning hours due to the heat.
One afternoon I went into old town Cottonwood, which is only a couple of miles from the park. It's a great place to visit if you're into antiques or wine tasting.
LegendWow, what an awesome state park! Camping here with little ones was awesome, it had so much to do. The three small lakes are a great spot to fish and lots of shade. A horse stable and playground are nearby. There are 4 camping loops, 1 tent only. The cabins are on a separate road and have so much space and shade between. There is also river access. Close to national monuments and wineries. Not too far from Sedona and Jerome. Lots of day trips close by. We will be back!
LegendWe pulled into our spot at Dead Horse Ranch as the temps crept below freezing. This was our first night ever in a campervan, and we were feeling very fortunate for scoring the last site with electricity.
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It snowed in the night (February) and we woke to discover that the bathhouse was heated with free hot showers. This, combined with dishwashing stations (again with hot water) and friendly campground hosts, made for a lovely stay at Dead Horse Ranch.
The only downside was the lack of privacy between sites - fine for van or RV camping, but not ideal for tenters.
There are a couple of nice trails in the park, one leading into Old Town Cottonwood - try Old Town Cafe for their flaky croissants! Dead Horse Ranch is about 30 minutes from Sedona and fantastic hiking, which we took advantage of all three nights we were there.
Bottom line, this was not a wilderness experience, but Dead Horse Ranch provides nice sites and great amenities, and you can't beat the convenience of the location.
We preferred the Red Tailed Hawk loop to all the others, and really liked sites 57 - 64 for the views and access to trails.
ScoutThis place is a scam! The spots are literally on top of each other. From the front door of your trailer you have 4 feet and then your stepping on someone's sewage line. Then they market all kinds of amenities but they are never even open. The golf carts are only from Thursday at 3 through Sunday. The Cafe is only open Friday through Sunday. The horses... they have a few and there is only 1 ride a day, if you can get a reservation. They have the INDOOR pool closed for the"weather"... it was sunny outside. Not that it is that great anyway. It is so small that you can barely walk around the pool much less sit down. The deck around it is also dirty disgusting. If your looking for somewhere quiet to relax and camp, DON'T go here. It's like grand central station and all you hear at night is the highway. If I was prepared to dry camp, I would have left the second I got there and camped in the woods. Don't let the website fool you like it did me. It was a waste of my vacation.
GuideThis was definitely the fanciest RV park on our trip. And the most expensive. I think it was about $88/night. Compared to another campground close by that is a little less but we had double the space and trees and a creek behind us. They’re very busy and we were only able to get two nights. Even though it was a bit pricey for the size of the site, the place is maintained like Disney… maintenance driving around fixing things, Gardner’s trimming things, and the bathroom gets cleaned everyday and was always spotless. Showers were nice and ended up being close to our site. Most of the staff are friendly and nice, with an occasional slightly grumpy one. It was also very close to downtown which was nice! Not quite close enough we wanted to walk… but a quick drive. The sites were very pretty, nice gravel, and lots of happy birds singing. Overall very happy, just a tad pricey. But it’s just because of the proximity to Sedona.
LegendWe are always pleased with our stay here. The park has so many different activities from hiking, horse trail, lakes and access to the verde river. We stayed in spot 97 this time and had some privacy with the bushes and trees from our neighbors. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. There is a fun bike track for the kids or even adults up by the tent loop. Cottonwood is just a few miles and lots to do in town.
LegendRanger Review: Humangear at Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Campground Review
We had a great time at Dead Horse Ranch! We just moved to Arizona, so we went in with zero expectations and were very pleased with just about everything.
Just 2 days beforehand, we booked our cabin on the campground website, the official Arizona State Parks site. The process was seamless, and we even got to pick our specific cabin out at no extra cost or fuss. We even got a confirmation email with our cabin unlock code on it when we booked. So convenient!
When we arrived at the park, we were warmly greeted by the Ranger and given instructions on getting to the cabin and activities in the park. Our cabin was small but just what we needed. It has an air conditioner/heater, so what more could you want!
After settling in, we drove around and saw the park has a lovely fishing and paddling area. Sadly we didn’t bring our fishing gear or boat, so we will have to do that next time. But there are lots of covered picnic areas and shading trees along the water.
While there, we did three “hikes”. They have real hikes there, but we have a 5, 3 and 1 year old so we had to keep it mellow. But the nature walks they had were great for that age group and was just enough to not burn out the kids. One of the hikes, per suggestion of the ranger, leads down to a little lagoon of water stopped between two dams. The kids were able to splash and play there -- it was just perfect! We went there twice in the 24 hours we were at the park.
All in all, a wonderful experience. There is a lot to see and do at this park. My only criticism is the bathrooms for the cabins. They are just fine, but there are only 2 of them for 8 cabins. Instead of having a bathroom with stalls and showers, it is just two stalls total that include a toilet, urinal, sink, and shower in a big lockable room. Seemed like an odd choice. I had to wait to use the bathroom several times because of this, and only have the cabins were occupied.
Product Review
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At Dead Horse Ranch, I tested a GoToob+, Flexibowl, and GoBites products from Humangear.
With the GoToob+, I decided to homemake a special hot dog sauce ahead of time and bring it to the campsite with me in the GoToob+. It worked perfectly! I especially love the new feature, called the LoopLock that slips up over the top of the cap as an extra security against leaks. When I have all my food packed for camping, the last thing I want to think about is leaking sticky sauce all over everything. Awesome feature.
Here is the recipe for the Sweet Campin’ Sauce:
Mix all these together in a saucepan until all sugars are dissolved and ingredients are melted together. Allow to cool slightly and pour carefully into your GoToob+ and snap on the LoopLock. Throw into your camping cooler and enjoy some high-class dogs as you camp!
Here is a video I made to show you how: Ranger Review: https://youtu.be/Oj7enCSig5U
I also really loved the Flexibowl and GoBites utensils. The Flexibowl has a lip that can be flipped up or down, if you want more of a secure “bowl” or more of an open “cup”. I used it for homemade cole slaw.
The GoBites utensils came in really handy, especially the sharp knife! I needed to cut up hot dog into tiny pieces for my baby, and the knife did a great job. Also love the little toothpick included in the box -- shows a level of thougtfulness.
If you want any of these products, visit http://www.humangear.com/
Horse camping in Arizona offers a unique opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With various campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Parks, AZ is Williams-Circle Pines KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 29 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Parks, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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