Top Tent Camping near Petrified Forest Natl Park, AZ

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Best Tent Sites Near Petrified Forest Natl Park, AZ (6)


Recent Tent Reviews In Petrified Forest Natl Park

218 Reviews of 6 Petrified Forest Natl Park Campgrounds


  • Jan P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from LunaGaia Nomadic Village
    Oct. 27, 2024

    LunaGaia Nomadic Village

    Neat community vibe, off the beaten track, re-inventing community!

    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.

  • S
    Camper-submitted photo from Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA
    Oct. 14, 2024

    Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA

    Good spot for a night - convenient

    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.

  • Lindsey M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA
    Oct. 9, 2024

    Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA

    Convenient and Secure

    My 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.

  • Noel L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA
    Sep. 23, 2024

    Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA

    Nice KOA

    Easy 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

  • D
    Camper-submitted photo from Take It Easy RV Park
    Jul. 28, 2024

    Take It Easy RV Park

    Take it Easy

    Nice campground Close to Walmart, Flying J, Standing on a Corner Close to town and restaurant’s Within 2 mile diameter

  • A
    Camper-submitted photo from McHood Park Campground
    Jul. 27, 2024

    McHood Park Campground

    Enjoyable

    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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Homolovi State Park
    Jul. 14, 2024

    Homolovi State Park

    Good campground

    We 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.

  • Patrick J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA
    Jul. 11, 2024

    Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA

    Nice location if coming to Holbrook AZ

    Great 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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Homolovi State Park
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Homolovi State Park

    Wonderful campground

    We 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.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA
    Jun. 12, 2024

    Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA

    Never disappoints

    We 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.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from LunaGaia Nomadic Village
    May. 19, 2024

    LunaGaia Nomadic Village

    Super close to petrified forest!

    A 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.

  • kent F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Homolovi State Park
    Apr. 18, 2024

    Homolovi State Park

    Homolovi AZ. State Park

    Stayed 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

  • Colin M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Petrified Forest Campground
    Mar. 21, 2024

    Petrified Forest Campground

    Great Location

    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.

  • Doug C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from LunaGaia Nomadic Village
    Mar. 20, 2024

    LunaGaia Nomadic Village

    Not what we had thought …

    We 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.

  • Kelley K.
    Camper-submitted photo from LunaGaia Nomadic Village
    Feb. 21, 2024

    LunaGaia Nomadic Village

    Beautiful, simple, everything we needed

    Very 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.

  • Brian L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Petrified Forest Campground
    Feb. 19, 2024

    Petrified Forest Campground

    A Tranquil Retreat Amidst Nature’s Embrace

    I 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.

  • Des R.
    Camper-submitted photo from Elk Horn RV Park
    Feb. 5, 2024

    Elk Horn RV Park

    Gross

    They 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.

  • Beth G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground
    Sep. 18, 2023

    Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground

    Off the beaten path- but be prepared to hike to the water

    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.

  • Marie J.
    Camper-submitted photo from Elk Horn RV Park
    Sep. 15, 2023

    Elk Horn RV Park

    STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!!

    THERE 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!!!

  • Jake C.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Camper-submitted photo from Petrified Forest Campground
    Sep. 13, 2023

    Petrified Forest Campground

    A rare place to stay near the petrified forest

    Jake 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!

  • Sara S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA
    Sep. 12, 2023

    Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA

    Quick stop on way home

    Rolled in to enjoy a nice sunset. Spots are narrow but long. Kid and doggo loved the amenities. Everyone there was nice. They had $4 all you can eat pancakes but we didn’t partake. They also offer dinner. Clean bathrooms, good showers.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Homolovi State Park
    Sep. 11, 2023

    Homolovi State Park

    Nothing special

    We stayed here for a night as we were going to Petrified Forest the next day. The lady checking us in at the visitor center was far from enthusiastic, and it did not get much better after that.

    The toilets (men’s) did not work (one did not flush and one was out of order), the restrooms were quite bug-infested, the place is fairly simple, you are quite close to your neighbors and there is little shadow. During the night it can be quite loud because of the trains and main road close by



Guide to Petrified Forest Natl Park

Camping near Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, offers a unique experience filled with stunning landscapes and rich history. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there are plenty of options to make your stay enjoyable.

What to do:

  • Explore ancient ruins: Check out the trails near Homolovi State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The trails are a 1-mile hike from camp," making it easy to dive into the area's history.
  • Visit the Petrified Forest: The park is famous for its petrified wood and colorful landscapes. One camper noted, "The Petrified Forest is NOT a bunch of rocks laying around... awe-inspiring views and colors that will blow you away."
  • Stargazing: The clear desert skies provide an excellent opportunity for stargazing. A reviewer at Desert Skies Holbrook AZ said, "The star gazing is incredible, an astrologist's dream."

What campers like:

  • Friendly staff: Campers appreciate the helpfulness of the staff at places like Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA. One visitor shared, "The staff were friendly and helpful."
  • Clean facilities: Many campers enjoy clean bathrooms and showers. A review for OK RV Park mentioned, "The bathrooms were clean (but dated)."
  • Convenient locations: Campgrounds like Take It Easy RV Park are close to amenities. A camper noted, "Close to Walmart, Flying J, Standing on a Corner."

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts, have minimal facilities. A visitor mentioned, "Not much to it, just some picnic tables on slabs next to parking spots."
  • Noise from trains: If you're sensitive to noise, be aware that places like the Winslow Visitor Center are near train tracks. One camper said, "If you love the sound of trains, this is the spot for you."
  • No RV camping in the park: The Petrified Forest National Park only allows backcountry camping. A reviewer warned, "There is no RV, car, or front country camping in the park."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for places like Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA, which has amenities for kids. One family shared, "Kid and doggo loved the amenities."
  • Plan for hot weather: Summer can be scorching. A camper at Homolovi State Park Campground advised, "It gets hot in summer—be prepared."
  • Bring outdoor games: With plenty of space, families can enjoy outdoor activities. A visitor at McHood Park Campground mentioned, "The camp host are from Winslow so they are very knowledgeable about the area."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: RVers appreciate spacious sites. A review for OK RV Park noted, "They took us to our site and it was huge."
  • Be ready for gravel sites: Many campgrounds have gravel sites, so leveling may be necessary. A camper at Take It Easy RV Park mentioned, "RV camping is a parking lot with power poles."
  • Consider nearby amenities: Campgrounds like Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA offer breakfast options. One visitor said, "They serve a delicious breakfast with a good variety."

Camping near Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, has something for everyone. With a little planning, you can enjoy the beauty and history of this unique area.

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 Park Dispersed Camping 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.