Searching for a tent campsite near Phoenix? Find the best information on tent camping near Phoenix, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Search nearby tent campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Camping on public lands away from developed recreation facilities is referred to as dispersed camping. Most of the remainder of public lands are open to dispersed camping, as long as it does not conflict with other authorized uses or in areas posted "closed to camping," or in some way adversely affects wildlife species or natural resources. Dispersed camping is allowed on public land for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. The 28 day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28 day period. After the 14th day of occupation, the camper must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation. The purpose of this special rule is to prevent damage to sensitive resources caused by continual use of any particular areas. In addition, campers must not leave any personal property unattended for more than 10 days (12 months in Alaska). Campsite Selection Dispersed camp sites are located along most secondary roads and may not be marked. Popular locations can be recognized by the telltale flat disturbed area that has been used as a camp site before. Not all flat spots are sites. If possible, please use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances. To further protect your public lands, campers must not dispose of any refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or in any manner pollute the surrounding area.
Horsethief Basin Recreation Area offers a variety of recreational opportunities including: hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, and OHV riding. Castle Creek Wilderness is located nearby, and Horsethief Cabin and Turney Gulch Group Campground are available by reservation. Day use sites and trails are open year-round; overnight accomodations are not available during the winter. Scroll down (below the recreation map) to learn more about these recreational opportunities. Note: Until further notice, use of a high-clearance vehicle is recommended for those who plan to visit recreation sites in Horsethief Basin.
The beach on the Verde River is generally rocky, but attracts many people during the hot summer months. The area is noted for its unusual rock formations. Nearby is a protected riparian area, the Mesquite Bosque. This popular water recreation area attracts many people trying to escape the Arizona summer heat. The rocky beach area is surrounded by beautiful towering rock formations. Near the recreation site is a fenced unique biological area, a stand of mesquite. Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons are frequently seen in this vicinity.
Rattlesnake Cove provides direct access to Bartlett Reservoir. Rattlesnake Cove has a sloping beach suitable for use in many water recreation activities. This area boasts of beautiful vistas of the desert with mountains in the background. The beach at Rattlesnake Cove is generally gently sloping with gradual change in water depths. Enjoy this primitive area with your friends and family by bringing your own grill and gear.
Margies Cove West Campround includes day-use parking for ten vehicles, three campsites with picnic tables and steel fire rings, a vault toilet, and informational signage. The campground is adjacent to Margies Cove West Trailhead.
Boat access only.
The Point is located in the Mesa Ranger District and is mostly known for boat access only camping on Canyon Lake. There are only three designated camp units at this site, but the camp units can also be used as picnic sites for day use. Boaters enjoy The Point during summer months along with fishermen because of the courtesy dock. No garbage collection. Pack it in, Pack it out.
THIS PARK IS CLOSED INDEFINITELY AS OF 1/21/2018 As of 1-21-2018, camping is not offered at Buckeye Hills Regional Park. The park will be undergoing a 'master plan' in the future review with camping options being included as an option.
Legend
This shelter is a two-room rock shelter at the top of blood mountain. Just behind the shelter is a great spot for a nice view and milestone photo.
Scout
Really cool place something for everybody if ur active an wanna see nature an good views or if you just want a nice relaxing place to get away but donโt gotta go to far.. you will not be disappointed ๐๐ฝโ๏ธ๐๏ธ
Legend
Stayed here for the past 2 years overwinter. 6 months, $15 pass, 36 foot skoolie with zero issues. Close to everything you need as a boon docker/nomad.
Guide
We stayed at the Willow Campground for two nights while visiting family and friends in the Surprise area. Hiked the Waterfall and Black Loop Trail for a little exercise as well. Didnโt do any others as our dog had an encounter with a stray cholla ball. This would be the only concern for those traveling with pets. There are quite a few lose even along trails. Other than that the facilities are clean and well kept. Fresh water and showers are available.
Guide
We stayed a couple of nights while visiting family and friends in the area. Gave us a chance to refill water and propane, take some long hot showers and generally recharge before heading back out on the road. Great facilities - very clean and friendly staff.
ScoutCamped here with my family. The scenery was beautiful, but didnโt love the fact that people were blaring their music here until 2AM in the morning.
Traveler
Enjoyed our December visit to Lake Marina campsite 201. Will say campsites are close together. Awesome families close to us made it fun. Need to show up with the mindset that you will be around a lot of people. The lake access is hard to beat. Awesome to sit and watch the kids play on the beach. Can fish 30 ft from your campsite.
Scout
Beautiful camping surrounded by ponderosa pines and boulders. Rich in wildlife.
We were pushing the envelope with a 30 ft camper. Would strongly suggest motorhomes and longer RV's not consider this location. Our family were the only campers during our stay. Lots of activity in and around Crown King. Gas and water available in town. Due to roads, add an hour to any estimated drive time if pulling a trailer.
Guide
From what i gather, some dimbasses were taking pit shots at the free roam cattle...I guess they thought they were not owned. Regardless, we had been there about a week when we were abruptly told to pack up and get out of here. So I did. Liked the spots though.
Guide
The road in is a little rough, but ok. Two week stay limit, but that's pretty standard for BLM properties. There's no facilities so be prepared. Good level land and plenty of room. Wild burros wander through occasionally, and coyotes make their presence known as well. Fantastic views and quiet atmosphere, so far. Been here two nights and plan to stay for at least another week.
ScoutCoordinates led to a cattle guard that is fenced closed. No access to the site. You could park next to the road though.
TravelerPerfect for just getting away for the weekend. Only a 45 minute drive from the house, yet far enough that you still feel like you got away.
Lots of good hiking, Ghost Town, good views. Worth every second. Easily our favorite quick camping trip.
Traveler
This is a huge park. 1365 sites. Crammed in pretty tight, but fairly clean and very nice staff. Most of the sites are pull thru so thatโs a bonus.
RangerWe only got to stay here one night, but it is very beautiful. At the base of the Superstition mountains, which are awesome. Out of the city, so nice and quiet. All the sites are paved and fairly level. There are many sites that have pull through, electric, and water. The showers were good. Many hiking trails in the area. Would love to stay here a little longer.
GuideThis State Park campground located in the Superstition Mountains is a frequent quick camp spot for me if I don feel like trying to beat the crowds to some favorite local dispersed sites.
They offer sites with electric and water, and sites for dry camping, along with some cabins and group sites you can reserve. The sites offer as much privacy as one can expect in the desert and are not super close together, except for the site numbers 70+ which are only available in winter typically. There are plenty of hiking trails and activities in the park and nearby. The bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained, and they even have a small dog โparkโ for your best pal to run off some energy.
Favorite things about the park: The views and the wild life. We have seen so many beautiful birds, from quail and owls to roadrunners and vultures, along with several different types of squirrels, lizards, hare, and coyotes.
RangerIf traveling near Phoenix you should make this state campground a number one option.
The towering superstition mountain range is a beautiful site and while we were there we were able to watch a hiker who was rescued. This hiker was not injured, just afraid to come back down the trail. Guess going up is easier than coming down.
The site we had had power and water. The showers in the restrooms were not great but something is better than nothing.
Traveler
We liked it there. Nobody else on Friday night, plenty of space
The typical rumble strip dirt road to this point but easily doable.
Service: 1 bar Verizon
Scoutืจืงืื ืืืชืืฉืคื ืืชืืชืืืืื:ืืืืืืืืจืืืืงืืจืชืืืจืชืืชืชืืืืื,ืืืืืจืชืืืื ืื"ืืขืืจืฉืืื ืจืืืช",ืืฆืืขืืืืืืืจืืืฉืืืืืืจืืืื,ืืฉืจืืื ืืืื ืื ืืชืืืืืขืืื ืืืฉืคื ืืช.ืืชืขืฉืืืืืื,ืืฃืขืืคืืฉื ืชืคืกืชืืขืืชืืืงืจืืืืชืืืืงืืืชืื ืคืจืืืืืืืืจืืืืืืจืื,ืืขืืจืจืชืืืืืืืืืืขืืืืืืืงืืจืชืืืจืชืืช.ืืืขืืื ืืืืฉืคื ืืชืืชืืืืืืืฆืืขืืืฉืืืืืคืขืืชืืืืคืขืืืืฉืจืืืืื ืืืืืชืืืืืจืืฉืืชืืงืื.ืืืืงืจืืืืืืขืืื ืืืืืืืืคืฉืืืืืืืจืืืชืจืืฉืืช,ืืืืืืืจืืืงืืขืืืขืืืืืชืกืืคืืจืืืฉืืจืงืื ืืืชืืฉืจืืืชืืืืืจืืฆืืชืืืืฆืืื ืืืื.ืืืจืืืืืืจืชืืืืชืจืืืชืืืืคืืขืืชืชืขืฉืืืชืืืฉืคื ืืชืืชืืืืืืืืจืื.ืืื,ืืฉื ืืงืืืืชืืืืขื ืืืืืืชืขืฉืืืืืืคืฉืจืชืืืืืืขืฆืืืืืืืื ืืืืืื ืฉืืืืืืคืืขืืชืื.ืืืืื,ืงืืืืชืืืงืืจืชืืืืืืืืฉืืืืชืืฆืืืืืืคืืืชืืืขืืคืืืฉืืืขื ืืื,ืืืืืืชืืืืกืืชืืืืืืชืืืืืืืงืืืืืืฆืืืฉืืืืืฉื.ืืืืืงืืืืืฉืคืืืืืืืืืจืชืืืืกืืืื ืืฉืืืืจืืืืืืืืื ืื.ืืฉื ืืืืืืจืื ืืช,ื ืขืจืืืงืจืืืชืืืชืืืืฉืคืืขืืฉืืืืชืฉืืืืืืืชืืืืคืฉืขืืืืืืืืืฆืืจืืืืืืขืืืืืืืืืืืืื ืืขืืคืืืืืฉืืืืฉืืจืขื.ืขืืืื,ืงืืืืืืงืจืืืืืชืืืืืืืืืขืืื ืืืืืืืืฉืืืืืืืชืจืืืืืืืื.ืขืืจืงืขืื,ืขืืืืืฉืืืืขืืืชืคืงืืืฉืืืืืื ืืืืืืจืืืคืืงืืืืืงืืืขืชืืืื ืืืชืืชืืืืื.ืืืืืฉืืืืงืืชืืคืืงืืืขืืืืขืืื ืืืืฉืคื ืืชืืฉืืฉืืืจืืขืืืืืืืจืงืื ืืืชืืืงืืืืจืื,ืืืฉืืืืฉืืืคืฉืจืืืคืฉืคืขืืืืจืืืืืชืจืชืืืืืืฉืืืจืืขืืืืืืืืชืืคืจืืืืชืืืขืกืงืืืชืฉืืืขืืืืืืขืืื ืื?ืืืืืืืืกืืืืชืขืฉืืืชืืืฉืคื ืืชืืชืืืืืืืืืืฉืืชืืืชืืืืืืืจืืชืืืืืืืืืืชืืื,ืืืืืืืืชืืืชืืจืืืืขืืฉืืืืืืฉืืืืืจืืืืฉืจืืืืชืืืืคืืืืฉืืืืชืฉืืืืกืจ,ืชืจืืืชืืืืืื.ืืืืืืืืฉืืฉืงืฃืืืืชืืฆืืจืืืืชืืืืืขืืชืืคืขืืชืืืจืชืืืชื ืืกืคืืช,ืืืืืฉืืืืืืืืืจืืืืชืืืืืืชืขืืืืืืืืืืฃืืืื ืืืช.ืืกืืคืืฉืืืืจ,ืืืืืืขืืจืงืื ืืืชืืฉืคื ืืชืืชืืืืืืืฆืืขืืืืื ืืชืืืฉืืืืืืฉืขืืืืจืืืืืืืืืจืืืืืืืืงืืืชืจืืืชืจืืืืืืชืจืฉืืืืื,ืืืื ืืชืืฉืืืืื,ืชืืืืืืฉืืืจืืขืืขืงืจืื ืืชืฉืืืืคืฉืคืจืืืืืืืืืขืฆืื.
GuideSecluded dispersed camping in the woods just outside of the town Crown King. 4x4 is recommended, campsites are not accessible when snowfall has occurred. Beautiful wildlife including deer always nearby.
TravelerFairly close to our home (30 miles) but we love to do 1-2 nighters here when we have the time.ย There is plenty to see around the area.ย Park is well maintained.ย Spots are close but not too close to each other.ย Its a little elevated so the valley views are great.ย Gets a little warm during the summer - after all it is AZ.ย Theres an old Gold Mine nearby to visit.
TravelerTakes a little 4 wheeling to get there or you can access it from the water.ย Basic dispersed camping but gets a little warm during the summer months.ย Views are nice and its a nice pack it in, pack it out spot.
Guide
Nice spot, pretty clean. Pretty easy to get to. There is a dirt road leading up to it. I think most size rigs could make it.
RangerBeen staying here off and on for over a decade. Great place to hang out with the family. Water hookup and electrical hookup. No sewer. They have a truck that will come pump your tank for a small fee. You can launch your boat and then bring to the campsite and tie off for easy access. Lots of parking available. You have to pay for extra vehicles. Dolly the Steamboat is available to ride around the lake and ticket purchase is at the marina. There is also a restaurant and bar at the marina. The campground has a mix of available sites. Day use also. Large grassy area for kids to play. Drive in can seem daunting if you havenโt experienced it before. Not bad, however. Hauled a 32โ 5th wheel with no problems at all.
ScoutCould not Enter. Closed
GuideMiles of desert and washes to explore with tons of dispersed camping sites. Can get busy on holiday or event weekends but worth it otherwise. Some weekends have horse or Dirtbike events. Nearby washes lead to tons of trails near castle hot springs that can lead to various abounded mine sites (including Anderson Mill). Obviously not ideal camping in the summer but GREAT for the fall/winter/spring months.
Guide
Gorgeous easy dirt road ~27 miles from i17/Bumble bee. (Thereโs 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 Mimiโs Cafe. There are amazing camping areas just past the main town, and even all the way up near Horsetheif Basin which is about 7 miles past crown king(requires 4x4). There is also an amazing ~30 mile trail from crown king that leads all the way to Prescott called Senator Highway. This also requires experienced 4x4 and like the trail to Horsetheif basin, there are many areas that are only single vehicle width. Amazing weather all year round, but extremely limited travel available while snow is on the ground.
GuideThis RV Park has it all..Run by professionals. They even escort you to your space.Facilities are great, they have all of them, lit paved walkways.large spaces, wifi works
Tent camping near Phoenix, Arizona offers a diverse range of experiences, from serene desert landscapes to vibrant recreational areas. Whether you're seeking solitude or adventure, there's a spot for every type of camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Phoenix, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Phoenix, AZ is Boulders OHV Area with a 4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Phoenix, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Phoenix, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
