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Best Campgrounds near Paulden, AZ

1,572 Reviews

Camping in the Paulden area of Arizona encompasses national forest land, RV parks, and established campgrounds with varying levels of amenities. The region includes dispersed camping in Kaibab National Forest, which offers free primitive sites, as well as developed options like Yavapai Campground in Prescott National Forest, which provides picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets. Several areas permit both tent and RV camping, though amenities and site sizes differ significantly between primitive forest locations and established facilities.

Road conditions vary throughout the region, with some dispersed sites requiring careful navigation. Many forest service roads leading to camping areas have rough sections but remain accessible to most vehicles. "Several nice level spots can be found by looking for the branching gravel roads off of the larger road," noted one camper about Forest Service Road 640 & 680 Camp. Seasonal considerations impact camping experiences, with potential fire bans during dry periods and temperature extremes between summer and winter months. Elevation differences create cooler temperatures in forested areas compared to lower desert regions, making timing important for comfort. Cell service can be limited or nonexistent at more remote sites, particularly in national forest areas.

Campers frequently mention the quality of night skies in their reviews of dispersed sites near Paulden. The 573 Forest Road Dispersed Site receives praise for its quieter atmosphere and spacing between campsites. "The night sky was amazing. This is definitely a great spot for overnight or for a few days," according to a recent review. Sites closer to Prescott offer more amenities and easier access to services, while the more remote forest locations provide greater solitude and natural settings. Wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout the region, with forested areas offering shade that's valuable during warmer months. Proximity to trails is another highlight, with several campgrounds providing direct access to hiking paths, particularly in the Prescott National Forest area where Yavapai Campground offers nearby lake access and multiple trail options.

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Best Camping Sites Near Paulden, Arizona (220)

    1. Point of Rocks RV Campground

    32 Reviews
    Prescott, AZ
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 445-9018

    $51 - $66 / night

    "The short walk to the stunning lake Watson makes this park a must visit."

    "A private trail from the campground leads directly to the stunning Watson Lake Park, which offers hiking, biking, kayaking, disc golf, and more, all just steps from your site."

    2. Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground

    62 Reviews
    Cottonwood, AZ
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 634-5283

    $25 - $70 / night

    "Dead Horse Ranch is a beautiful Arizona state park."

    "The 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. "

    3. White Spar Campground

    42 Reviews
    Prescott, AZ
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 444-6777

    $18 - $36 / night

    "This was not necessarily true of the other loops that we heard in the distance."

    "Prescott, Arizona. Nice sites, 3 of which are first come first serve. We got one of those. Wooded area with drinking water pumps scattered about, trash receptacles, and toilets."

    4. West Sedona Designated Dispersed Camping

    72 Reviews
    Coconino National Forest Recreation, AZ
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 203-2900

    "The best dispersed camping options in Sedona Arizona! There are many options off of the main road."

    "My friend from Maryland came to visit me here in Arizona, I told him we had to go to Sedona so we decided to camp, I heard about forest road 525 and it exceeded my expectations, never saw more stars in"

    5. Kaibab National Forest

    25 Reviews
    Williams, AZ
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 635-8200

    "I've found that any exits on I-40 in Arizona that have a no truck symbol are dispersed camping sites. I'm on Welsh rd exit 151. Really a nice spot."

    "North side of I-40 at the Welch Rd exit. It's a large flat area with a number of established camp sites. Although it's close to the interstate, it's relatively quiet."

    6. Potato Patch Campground

    20 Reviews
    Jerome, AZ
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 567-4121

    $18 - $36 / night

    "Water and bathroom was close by. Campground was well kept and very clean throughout. The lower loop had better shade and spots were still more spread out."

    "This campground is a nice place to get away from it all. The campground is clean, has water and compost toilets. The toilets have a unique ventilation system leaving no unpleasant odors."

    7. Forest Service Road 640 & 680 Camp

    2 Reviews
    Paulden, AZ
    9 miles

    "Actually fairly quiet being next to the factory. When the trains come through they are pretty loud but in and out quickly. Road was easy to get back to the spot. We are towing a 40 foot 5th wheel."

    8. A Spark in the Dark

    15 Reviews
    Seligman, AZ
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 600-5632

    $20 / night

    "host clifford makes this dispersed site easy to navigate. sometimes finding places like this can be awkward, but his signs and care for the experience make this a fantastic place to be in the northern arizona"

    "Sites are dispersed, if fully booked out, for someone like me I could see how it could be a little too close to each other."

    9. 573 Forest Road Dispersed Site

    1 Review
    Paulden, AZ
    8 miles

    "The spots closer to the entrance are only about 100 yards apart but as you travel down the road they are further spread out. Some sites have fire pits and some don’t."

    10. Yavapai Campground

    9 Reviews
    Prescott, AZ
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 444-6777

    $18 - $36 / night

    "Driving distance or short walk to lake. No Verizon cell service."

    "Quiet with nearby hiking and biking even a little lake."

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Recent Camping Photos near Paulden, AZ

465 Photos of 220 Paulden Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Paulden, AZ

1572 Reviews of 220 Paulden Campgrounds

  • J
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Beaver Flats Road Dispersed

    Free Dispersed Camping near Sedona

    This was a great desert campground that was outside of Sedona. A lot of camping around there was part of the national Forest and was no fires so we went further and found this beautiful spot. Nothing over the top in terms of amenities but it was perfect for our needs, and with a great home base for a Sedona trip. Maybe 20 minutes to the downtown. We went in October and the weather was fabulous. 70s during the day and stayed into the 60s at night.

  • J
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Edge of the World (East Pocket)

    One of A Kind - Incredible Views

    We found this location on the Dyrt and it did not disappoint. The road was definitely unpaved, but not as bad as I expected it to be. It took about 2 hours to get to this site from both Flagstaff and Sedona. So I would not recommend it as a home base for these locations, but to be camping in a gorgeous unique location, it is unparalleled. We went on a weekday and got there around 2:00 p.m. and had no problem finding a spot. We didn't go up the road to see how many there were total, but we did find one pretty easily. Worst case there seem to be a lot of little spots along the road that didn't have the same views. And about halfway up we realized we forgot to buy a firewood, but had no problem shopping enough fallen trees up there to get us through the night! It was definitely chilly at night, and windy in the morning. But the rest of the time was gorgeous weather.

  • G
    Oct. 28, 2025

    White Spar Campground

    Convenient and clean

    Great spot, easy to get to, clean and has the facilities I needed car camping. I'm here mid week.

  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2025

    Cave Springs

    Packed and not Rv friendly

    The sites are super small and close together. For camping with groups it may work but for RV I do not recommend. Such a tight fit in (we are 32 fr and barely fit in the site)

    No electric or water

    But it is a beautiful forest and creek and super close to slide rock state park which is a plus!!

  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2025

    Forest Road 525 Camping Area

    Beautiful off grid

    We needed a place to stop for the night and happened to find this gem Such gorgeous Mountain View … quiet … a perfect and safe place to sleep .

  • Jeremy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Forest Road 525 Camping Area

    Perfect spot to stop for the night!

    Easy to get to, quiet, about 8 other campers and a few tents. Exactly what we were looking for!

  • Sam E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Forest Service Rd 253 Dispersed

    A Decent Spot!

    First time off roading, didn’t feel like driving all the way out to the Edge of the World. Saw a herd of elk.

    Your basic site, good fire ring, good spots for tents.

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Edge of the World (East Pocket)

    So Worth it!

    I rented a camper van for my desert road trip with my daughter, and read about this spot on Dyrt, the pictures look breathtaking and I really want to try and get here to see it for myself. I greatly underestimated how long it would take to get here as the road was terrible, mostly because it was severely washboard nearly all the way and there were several large “puddles” we needed to navigate around and some muddy spots that made me nervous because we didn’t have any service most of the way if we got stuck. I highly recommend taking a vehicle with good suspension and higher clearance just because it was very bumpy. We didn’t arrive until nearly 10pm, so what looked like an hour drive in my maps, took nearly 2.5hrs.

    Hoping and praying the whole time that I didn’t make a bad decision, and that it would be worth all the trouble, we found the dispersed camping sites and after winding down and enjoying the amazing stars because the light pollution was nearly nonexistent, we went to bed.

    I woke up just as the sun began to rise, and walked toward where I thought the cliff was, passed through some bushes and lo and behold.. a breathtaking view from atop a Canyon at “The Edge of the World” East Pocket, as the sun illuminated the Sedona valley below me… it was so worth “the trouble” 1000 times over! 🥹 The journey, the stars, the view, the canyon at nearly 8,000 ft.. this was my most memorable and favorite part of our road trip.

Guide to Paulden

Camping near Paulden, Arizona, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet place to unwind, there are options that cater to all types of campers.

What to do:

  • Explore hiking trails: There are numerous trails nearby, perfect for hiking enthusiasts. One reviewer mentioned, "There are beautiful tall trees for hammocking or wandering through as well as hikes right from camp" at Cave Springs.
  • Visit local attractions: The area is close to Sedona, known for its stunning red rock formations. A camper noted, "This spot has unmatched views... I wish I came sooner!" about the Edge of the World (East Pocket).
  • Enjoy water activities: Many campgrounds have rivers or lakes nearby. One family shared, "A nice river runs through the campground for swimming in the summer" at Lo Lo Mai Springs Resort.

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground said, "Bathrooms are extremely clean with nice showers."
  • Friendly staff: Many reviews highlight the helpfulness of campground hosts. One camper mentioned, "The camp host was very friendly and put me on a wait list for a first come first serve" at Cave Springs.
  • Scenic views: The natural beauty of the area is a big draw. A reviewer at Walnut Canyon Rd Dispersed Camping remarked, "Awesome grasslands with pinyon pines and juniper. Feels just like home."

What you should know:

  • Crowded during peak season: Some campgrounds can get packed. A visitor at Flagstaff KOA noted, "Don’t expect a quiet remote experience."
  • Limited amenities at dispersed sites: If you choose a dispersed camping area, be prepared for fewer facilities. One camper at Pumphouse Wash (FR 237) mentioned, "There is zero privacy, and absolutely nowhere to use the restroom responsibly."
  • Weather can change quickly: Be ready for temperature drops at night. A camper at Forest Road 525 advised, "Temperature drops at night are huge so definitely prepare for that."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. One parent said, "Great place for kids and family" at Flagstaff KOA.
  • Plan for meals: Some campgrounds have stores, but it’s good to bring your own food. A camper at Rancho Sedona RV Park mentioned, "Good late check-in setup though."
  • Bring outdoor games: Having games can keep kids entertained. A family at Cave Springs enjoyed making "a small network of roads with their little construction trucks."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Some sites can be tight for larger RVs. A reviewer at White Spar Campground noted, "Sites were spacious and not too close to each other."
  • Look for amenities: Ensure the campground has the facilities you need. A visitor at Lo Lo Mai Springs Resort mentioned, "The lack of wifi, especially when there is no cell coverage, is unbelievable."
  • Be aware of fire restrictions: Some places don’t allow campfires. A camper at Rancho Sedona RV Park said, "Lovely spot near the creek with plenty of trees but contrary to the listing here they don’t allow fires."

Camping near Paulden, Arizona, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're in an RV or tent, there's something for you to enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Paulden, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, Paulden, AZ offers a wide range of camping options, with 220 campgrounds and RV parks near Paulden, AZ and 109 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Paulden, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Paulden, AZ is Point of Rocks RV Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 32 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Paulden, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 109 free dispersed camping spots near Paulden, AZ.

What parks are near Paulden, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Paulden, AZ that allow camping, notably Prescott National Forest and Coconino National Forest Recreation.

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