Several primitive tent camping areas surround Peoria, Arizona, ranging from low desert landscapes to pine forests at higher elevations. Boulders OHV Area provides dispersed tent camping with designated dirt areas for pitching tents. The Crown King Area near Horsethief Basin lake, located approximately 26 miles of bumpy dirt roads from Bumble Bee, offers more secluded camping in forested terrain at 6,000-7,000 feet elevation.
Most tent sites lack basic amenities, requiring campers to pack in all water and supplies. Boulders OHV Area provides vault toilets, but most dispersed sites in the region offer no facilities. Road conditions vary significantly by location, with Crown King access requiring high-clearance vehicles and preferably 4WD capability. The dirt road to Boulders OHV Area is more approachable for standard vehicles. Fire restrictions are common during dry seasons, and campers should check current regulations before travel. Many sites feature informal fire rings where permitted.
Tent camping experiences differ dramatically between desert and mountain locations. The desert sites near Peoria provide expansive views and winter comfort but become extremely hot in summer months. Higher elevation sites like those near Crown King offer cooler temperatures and forest cover. Sites at Boulders OHV Area accommodate various vehicles but experience regular off-road traffic. According to one visitor, "Miles of desert and washes to explore with tons of dispersed camping sites. Can get busy on holiday or event weekends but worth it otherwise." Mountain sites near Crown King provide greater seclusion but require more challenging access. A camper reported the area is "gorgeous" with "amazing views" where "you can see the entire Phoenix valley" from the elevated camping areas.
"The area to camp is marked clearly with signs and there is a metal fence surrounding the area as well. Pit toilets are here and were cleaned when we used them."
"If you dont mind occasional off road vehicles driving through during the day, its a good spot with plenty of room."
"There’s also a much more difficult trail from lake pleasant that requires very experienced off-roading 4x4). Great food and drinks(alcohol) at the crown king saloon and Mimi’s Cafe."
"The Hazlitt Hollow campground and Horse Thief Basin Lake are ~7 miles from the main city of Crown King and definitely require a high clearance vehicle (4x4 highly recommended)."
"This campground in McDowell Regional park is for tent camping and small Vans, etc. Mix of both walk in sites and back in sites. It is set back a ways from the rest of the park. No showers here."
"One restroom, flush toilets, water spigot outside, dumpster. Friendly to camper vans. Showers down the road. Lots of hiking and biking."
"Lots of shade but area of sun to charge my batteries. Minimal cell service, but I'm from Colorado and I have Xfinity. I'm pretty sure they use Verizon towers."
"It’s not super level but decent space to maneuver to find your favorite orientation. Our problem was that we operate with Verizon and TMobile."
from $150 / night
TravelerAbsolute shithole! As soon as I pulled in my truck was swarmed with thousands of flies (no exaggeration!) if I hadn’t just traveled from Colorado and was exhausted I would have immediately left. My trailer was then infested with flies as well. It’s going to take days to get rid of the infestation. Despite that, I did give it a two-star rating for the views.
TravelerCampsite 1 was where I stayed. There is a little creek running through the middle of the site. There was a lot of rain and the storm drain from the road empties to this run off. Site is basically cut in half. Road runs around this site so not very private. The area is beautiful and the service road well maintained. Good for a night or two while passing through. 7 night limit. Cell service for Verizon was weak but worked.
GuideThis is a nice easy spot that is close to town. The camp sites have paved parking, fire ring, bbq pit and a picnic table. If you are looking to set up a ground tent, don’t plan on bringing anything too large. Sites do not offer a lot of privacy but they are decently spaced apart
LegendClose to Pheonix. Spacious sites. Good trails. Clean facilities. Some wildlife.
LegendClose to Pheonix. Spacious sites. Good trails. Clean facilities.
ScoutNice campground, serene with a large cactus next to every spot
TravelerThis place is an absolute treasure!!!
There’s plenty of wildlife, from wild horses, roadrunners and even skunks and cows. The birds sing nicely if you don’t mind an early morning wake call.
The river runs well enough to float down stream on a tub. Some people bring paddle boards and cruise that way. Some people pull up a chair and sit by the banks. There’s a few places where you can swing from a rope and jump in the water. Warning though some areas are shallow so jump with caution.
The porta-potty’s are surprisingly well maintained. There’s a few large dumps so no reason to not pick up after ourselves.
It stays consistently busy with people coming and going throughout the day and a few camping the night.
Overall, it’s a great getaway for anyone in the valley.
TravelerWhat good is it to have a pen to a location that is closed. I just signed up I feel like I'm getting ripped off Half the places I find are closed
ScoutVery nice smaller campground that was clean and well kept. It was very hot so not much outside activity. Will definitely be back this fall!
Primitive tent camping near Peoria, Arizona ranges from remote desert areas to pine forest sites at elevations between 2,000-7,000 feet. Road conditions vary substantially, with some sites requiring high-clearance 4WD vehicles while others remain accessible to standard passenger cars. The camping season typically runs September through May in lower elevations, while higher-elevation sites offer summer options when desert temperatures become prohibitively hot.
Mountain biking trails access: McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood offers excellent mountain biking opportunities directly from the campground. A camper noted, "The sites are spaced out and in general it's very quite (although the park is popular with mountain bikers). Lots of hiking to do around if you're looking for something flat."
Off-road vehicle exploration: At Boulders OHV Area, campers can access extensive trail systems. According to one visitor, "There are several fenced in and cleared dirt areas to park and pull through trucks, a camper, tent and car, etc. any vehicle can make it to the staging area, road is easy to travel."
Explore abandoned mines: The area near Boulders OHV Area contains historic mining sites. A camper mentioned "Nearby washes lead to tons of trails near castle hot springs that can lead to various abounded mine sites (including Anderson Mill)."
Desert winter camping: Tent camping near Peoria offers optimal winter conditions at desert sites. One review of Margies Cove West Campground states, "The spot is very secluded and in a big wide open valley. The mountain's block out a lot of light pollution from the City so it get's very very dark."
Stargazing opportunities: Clear desert skies provide excellent night viewing at dispersed sites. A camper at Boulders OHV Area reported, "We liked it there. Nobody else on Friday night, plenty of space... Service: 1 bar Verizon."
Temperature variation by elevation: Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake) provides relief from desert heat. A visitor commented, "Been to this area a few time the sites are amazing quiet and beautiful, the trail up is bumpy and fun. The site had a fire pit and in winter everything was covered in snow and just breath taking."
Access difficulties: Many sites require significant travel on rough roads. One camper described FDR79 Trittle Mountain Road: "For free camping there aren't very high expectations but this would be really difficult to get back too if you are in a big rig or don't have a lot of clearance. The road isn't well maintained."
Seasonal insect issues: Some areas experience seasonal fly problems. A visitor to Margies Cove West Campground reported, "When I left the Margie Cove area, I crossed over 85 on Woods Road to old US 80, actually called historic old US 80. Apparently a regiment of Mormon soldiers built a road some 2000 miles through the area in the 1840s when the US was stealing the land from Mexico and the indigenous peoples. Anyway, I found the source of the flies. There is a huge cattle stockyard about 2 miles from Woods Road."
Cellular coverage limitations: Working remotely can be challenging in most dispersed areas. A camper at FDR79 Trittle Mountain noted, "Our problem was that we operate with Verizon and TMobile. Unfortunately neither carrier had a good enough signal here for us to spend the week we planned."
Playground access: McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood provides designated family facilities. One visitor mentioned, "We stayed in site 27 which was close to the kids playground. We only stayed for 1 night. Lots of bikers at this location."
Lake fishing opportunities: Crown King Area offers fishing options for families. A camper observed, "Horse Thief Lake is truly a magical place and beyond serene. The lake fish species present include Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Muskie."
Supply planning: Tent camping near Peoria requires careful provisioning. A visitor to Crown King Area advised, "The town has supplies but is over priced so fuel up before going up there."
Leveling challenges: Finding level spots at dispersed sites requires preparation. A camper at FDR79 Trittle Mountain Road Dispersed Camping noted, "Nice forested area in Prescott Forest. Few level sites for my rig and lots of nails on the ground from pallet wood."
Campsite size considerations: Many designated camping areas can accommodate various RV sizes. A visitor to Boulders OHV Area described, "Huge area to disperse camp with an actual bathroom. If you dont mind occasional off road vehicles driving through during the day, its a good spot with plenty of room."
Wildlife protection measures: Tent camping in Peoria's surrounding areas requires food security. One camper advised, "Do be careful with your food and trash totes. Javelina got into mine on the second night, so for the rest of my stay, everything was in the van and it was a little unpleasant."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Peoria, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Peoria, AZ is Boulders OHV Area with a 4-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Peoria, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Peoria, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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