Looking for the best options for tent camping near Petrified Forest Natl Park? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
There is no RV, car, or front country camping in the park. There is no boondocking, dispersed or “primitive” camping, or just pulling off into a parking area.
There is only backpacking/hiking into the designated Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area to spend the night in the park, at least a half mile from your vehicle. Please be prepared for this adventure! Remember to LNT.
The backpacking wilderness permit is free. You may obtain it in person from either visitor centers on the day that you want to backpack. Each vehicle must have a permit. The permits are available until 4:30 pm.
There are private campgrounds throughout Navajo and Apache Counties, in and around Holbrook, Sun Valley, St. Johns, Joseph City, and other communities.
Groups
Group camping is limited to 8. Because of the fragile soils and landscape features, minimum impact camping is very important. This includes limiting the number of people within an area.
The campground is a fishing area with a picnic ground situated in a mixture of ponderosa pine, juniper and pinyon pine. Chevelon Canyon offers spectacular views and opportunities for hiking and fishing. NO trash collection available. This is a Pack-it-in / Pack-it-out area. Take your trash with you when you leave.
THE BEST BASIC CAMPGROUND IN SHOW LOW, AZ. ENJOY PEACE OF MIND WITH YOUR FAMILY, PITCH A TENT OR HAUL AN RV DOWN TO THE LOT, JUST 20 MINS FROM PINETOP-LAKESIDE, MINUTES AWAY FROM MULTIPLE LAKES, TONS OF FUN STUFF TO DO IN THE AREA. ENJOY PEACE OF MIND IN NATURE FOR ONE NIGHT.
HOUSE RULES:
LEAVE IT AS CLEAN OR CLEANER THAN YOU FIND IT.
KEEP CAMPFIRES NEAT AND ORGANIZED FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY.
DRINKING/SMOKING ALLOWED WITHIN REASON, ANY DAMAGE INCURRED TO THE LOT WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE RENTERS ACCOUNT.
MANAGEMENT NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS ON THE CAMPGROUND, ITEMS LOST ETC.
CHILDREN ALLOWED.
THERE IS NOTHING ON THE LOT BUT THE BEAUTY OF NATURE. PREPARE ACCORDINGLY.
IT IS ARIZONA, BRING WATER.
AM AVAILABLE FROM 6:00 TO 6:00PM EVERYDAY FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
DOGS, CATS, GIRAFFES, ETC. ALLOWED. TAKE PICTURES IF BRINGING A GIRAFFE.
CONTACT AT 602-618-4564 FOR ALL INQUIRIES.
$50 / night
Camp Shadow Pines Organization Site
Guide
Check in was quick and easy. Camp sites are kept well and clean. Beautiful view on the land/mountains. Visitor center is small but nice w/ friendly staff. A couple hiking trails to some very sacred/historic spots. Watch out for rattle snakes.
Scout
Gorgeous place, beautiful landscape (awesome sunsets and sunrises), very welcoming hosts and a real sense of community.
This is NOT your ordinary campground.
Some sites with electrical hookups...
less expensive... quieter...
Not far from the petrified forest.
Short dirt road travel off I-40.
GuideJust a quick stop over, but I made time to check out the ruins.
Guide
Stayed here overnight to visit the Petrified Forest National Park.
Staff was friendly and helpful. The "cowboy" breakfasts and dinners are simple friendly events, although I didn't eat there.
Lots are standard RV set-ups, all right next to each other. Lot was fairly level, but still needed from front/back leveling even in my small van. Gravel driveways, gravel lots.
Laundry had about 5-6 washers and the same number of dryers.
This location is near a highway that is busy all night. You are not right on the highway, but the steady sound of cars and trucks can be heard all night. Not super loud, but not peaceful either.
Wifi was slow and inconsistent. Even though I was right by the main building, my connection sometimes said "unable to connect, try moving closer", or just wouldn't connect, or if it did, was unusably slow. Verizon wireless was great though (about 10mb).
I'd stay again for a convenient overnight.
TravelerMy first KOA—pricey for a tent spot (car camping) with a small shared area and limited tables. Tent spots are in view of noisy I40. I did feel safe here, considering the KOA branding, and liked the shorter drive to PFNP. Facilities are nice, otherwise, with close bathhouses and a sweet little chuckwagon serving breakfast and dinner.
GuideEasy on and off interstate. Level sites. Clean campground. Looks like renovating some areas...nice. All the amenities of a KOA. Serves breakfast and dinner...nice
Traveler
We had a great site near the rear of the park with many shade trees and plenty of room. In general the sites are quite close together, but the folks were friendly and very helpful.....
TravelerNice campground Close to Walmart, Flying J, Standing on a Corner Close to town and restaurant’s Within 2 mile diameter
Traveler
The City try’s is best to keep it clean and so do the camps host as we saw both city works and the host walking around picking up trash is a nice little weekend trip for dry camping. The camp host are from Winslow so they are very knowledgeable about the area and very nice and willing to help no matter the circumstances. They do have bathrooms but no showers as they are out of order. Camp sites are right by the water for good fishing or you can park up above if you do not like bugs as they are worse down by the water than on the upper campsites.
Traveler
Park is looking great. Great location between Show Low and Pinetop with Highway access.
GuideWe stayed one night at Homolovi and it was nice. Only one bathroom facility. Very cool ruins but we didn’t get to explore too much. It gets hot in summer-be prepared.
LegendGreat proximity to the Petrified forrest NP. Campsites were wide and level. Nice amenities include the chairs, table and fire pit. It also had a fair amount of privacy. Nice experience. Staff were. friendly and helpful.
The power did go out with 102F. The staff restored power and came around to all campsites with the status, Much appreciated.
GuideWe had a pull through for one night on our trip. It was an easy hookup. The trails are a 1mile hike from camp. It was hot so we didn’t get all the way. The bathrooms are ok. We didn’t check out the showers.
TravelerWe live in the Phoenix area, and we use this KOA as a launching off point for trips to the East. The staff are always friendly and helpful. The grounds are well maintained. We were assigned spot #58 which is a big spot with a paver patio, furniture and a firepit. It also has privacy fencing on each side and full hookups. With our KOA discount it was $81.83. This was our first time with this large of a spot. Next time, we will go back to a regular spot again for a better price. The location is just off Interstate 40 which makes it convenient, but you can hear some of the freeway noise and an occasional train. They serve a delicious breakfast with a good variety that has an all you can eat pancake option for only $3.99. There is also a Cowboy Cookout every night. They are making more improvements to the grounds. Some spots will have a private enclosed patio with a gazebo and fire pit. For dog owners, there are some spots with your own enclosure, but those are hard to get. There is a dog run as well as a designated dog walking area with trees and trash cans.
ScoutA little hard to find but Janet was so helpful! There’s a shower and a communal cooking space and tons of options for camping. There’s not really designated camp spots, so pretty bare bones, but you can’t beat the price.
GuideStayed 4 nites, water and electric. it close to Winslow AZ. 5 miles Painted desert and petrified forest 55 miles, Homolovi State park has a small office and visiter center, very good info there and gift shop
LegendLarge gravel lot. Modern utilities, large sites.
Scout
Super close to petrified forest, roads are easy to get over with any awd car with decent clearance. Host was very nice and easy to contact! Just make sure to ask/clarify directions before going it's not too obvious when you get in initially.
ScoutWe actually didn’t stay as it just felt uncomfortable. Unfortunately Janet was not there and while we spoke on the phone, the person who was to greet us was not there. No signage at all which would have been helpful. The area is somewhat unkempt - the few rigs there were in rough shape and looked as though they had been there for a while. Sites were not obvious. An old wrecked car is near the site. We were just kind of creeped out so didn’t stay.
ScoutVery laid back. Nothing fancy but everything you need. Community space with kitchen and bathroom. Plenty of space to privately disperse camp among the Junipers. Spots with electric too. Janet is an amazing host.
ScoutI recently had the pleasure of staying at Nicks place, and despite a few initial concerns, my overall experience was nothing short of delightful.
Upon arrival, I encountered a slight discrepancy in pricing from what was advertised on Dyrt, expecting $20 but discovering it to be $30. However, any uncertainty quickly dissipated thanks to the exceptional hospitality of the owner, Nick. His warmth and willingness to assist instantly put me at ease, setting the tone for a memorable stay.
While the scenery might not have been as elaborate as anticipated, the tranquility of the surroundings provided the perfect backdrop for a restful night’s sleep. Though I had hoped to find petrified wood, its absence did not detract from the beauty of the natural landscape.
Navigating to the campsite posed a minor challenge despite the provided directions. Eventually with Nick assisting I found the campsite around midnight. Nevertheless, the secluded location added to the allure of the experience, offering a sense of escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Admittedly, the unpaved dirt roads leading to the campsite stretched for about 4 miles, which came as a surprise. However, this added element of adventure only served to enhance the overall rustic charm of the location. I should add that the only piece of instruction missing is the left turn on cattleman’s which is the left just before sun country’s campground. Good luck finding the camp area!
In retrospect, while there were minor inconveniences, they were far outweighed by the peace and tranquility that permeated every corner of this area. I would recommend this hidden gem to anyone seeking a serene retreat amidst nature’s embrace. My sincerest thanks to Nick and for providing such a memorable experience.
ScoutThey have a registered sex offender here that hits on you if you cross his path. Meth heads around and dirty spaces. I'd avoid the place. Way nicer parks around with nicer management. It's a gross place. The manager walks around with a gun and they have cameras everywhere due to high crime.
ScoutWonderful property.
ScoutThe Elk Horn is a beautiful and quiet community with great people
Legend
Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground is my favorite type of site. 1) vault toilets 2) National Forest location 3) semi established camping sites 4) still classified as dispersed camping.
There isn’t any potable water at this site or trash. Bring your own water. Pack it in, pack it out.
The sites are large in the camp site area. We were there on a non-holiday weekend and it stayed busy. The sites are first come, first serve and free. We camped in site #1 which had 2 fire rings, a metal picnic table, and large trees to provide shaded areas throughout the day. In mid-September, highs were mid 70 degrees Fahrenheit and lows were in the mid 50s. Our whole group commented on how nice the weather was on this trip.
We went during a new moon and the stars were fabulous.
There was definitely some rough road the last .5 mile before you reach the camp on FR 169B. Some of it had washed out and there are a few step areas. We had no issues with our group of stock 4x4 pickup trucks and Subarus. Our neighbor at the next campsite over even had a Fiat.
As for the lake, we were not prepared for how long of a hike down it was to the water. According to my watch, it was over a mile and 550 feet of elevation. It is not an easy hike back up. It’s almost all non stop elevation gain and extremely rocky. We brought our mini bike and didn’t dare take it down to the water. We ended up on carrying 1 kayak down to the water because no one wanted to have to hike it back up. It took 2 fit men, 90 mins to bring that kayak back up from the water the day we left. We even had a kayak cart. We were very jealous of the people with quads. Our group only caught 1 small trout but we met other people that were having better luck. Note: live bait is not permitted.
I would go back, but I wouldn’t even try to kayak or paddle board again. I’d just take our time walking to water and brining a picnic to the lake. Maybe just cast a few lines from the shore.
ScoutTHERE IS A a REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER DOING THE MAINTENANCE WORK ON THIS PROPERTY!! KEEP YOUR LOVED ONES AWAY FROM THIS PREDATOR IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR FAMILIES!!!
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! Nick's Place is a sprawling piece of land near the petrified forest with great views to take in while you escape the city. Check them out and share your experience on the Dyrt!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Petrified Forest Natl Park, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Petrified Forest Natl Park, AZ is Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area — Petrified Forest National Park with a 4.7-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Petrified Forest Natl Park, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Petrified Forest Natl Park, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
