12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Dispersed tent camping opportunities near Picacho, Arizona include several Bureau of Land Management sites and established campgrounds, most with minimal amenities. Pipeline Road BLM Camping offers free tent sites accessible via drive-in or walk-in access, while Garden of Peden provides reservable tent camping with more established facilities. Charouleau Gap Trailhead Camp, another BLM dispersed option, requires a permit for overnight tent camping.
Tent sites throughout the area vary significantly in terrain and accessibility. Pipeline Road's entrance is unmarked and requires careful navigation, with a significant dip approximately half a mile in that restricts passage for larger vehicles. A reviewer noted, "Dispersed BLM camping folks the main road in has a pretty good little drop-down I wouldn't take a big rig past the first area." Most dispersed tent camping areas lack drinking water, toilets, and trash service, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out waste. Cell service is generally available at Pipeline Road BLM sites, though campers should be aware of nearby target shooting on adjacent State Land.
The tent camping experience varies across locations. Shores Recreation Area provides waterfront tent sites along the Gila River with some tree cover for shade. A camper wrote, "Quiet, very few campers. Prob fewer as it gets warmer. This will be a scorcher in the middle of summer but the sites do have tree cover for shade." Peralta Regional Park offers primitive remote tent campsites with clean facilities and ample space between sites, making it suitable for tent campers seeking more privacy. These established sites include toilets and picnic tables, though they still maintain a rustic character. Charouleau Gap Trailhead Camp features smaller sites that work well for overnight stays but may lack vegetation for privacy. Several tent camping areas around Picacho provide access to hiking trails, with some offering opportunities for stargazing due to minimal light pollution.
"Entrance to pipeline road is not marked and difficult to enter and exit safely, about .6 tens mile in from cattleguard on Avra Valley road."
"Open sky No shade so not good on summer"
"Check them out and share your trip on the Dyrt!"
from $13 - $20 / night
Check Availability"This is a nice 40+ campground right on the edge of Saguaro National Park. The sites are gravel with full hook ups. I had plenty of room to maneuver my 19’ travel trailer."
"Great place to explore the trails right from your camp! Easy pull throughs all hook ups, clean bathrooms with laundry!! We were not looking for adult only but enjoyed it!"
from $45 - $75 / night
Check Availability"No water or power. Pit toilets."
"Restrooms were great. Each campsite has plenty of space in between. Literally no complaints at all."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Some road noise."
"Toilets, Bear boxes, and easy access to the river from well spaced and maintained sites. I did not have Verizon or T-Mobile, although it claims on this site to have it."
"This will be a scorcher in the middle of summer but the sites do have tree cover for shade."
"The only drawback to this location is it is right next to the General Hitchcock highway and traffic noise during the day can be occasionally loud."
"Got her around 5, no one else to be see. Another group showed up just after sunset and another around midnight. They were able to find spots about a hundred yards away."
"The toilets were spotlessly maintained and running potable water was easiy available. there are lots of great hiking trails close by and each site had a Ramada with a fireplace for the group."
from $114 / night
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Guide$10 for tent only site $35 for site with electricity Requires reservation Reservation website was tricky on IPhone but got it to work. 7 day max stay. Clean bathrooms and water. No showers Easy access to bike trails. About a 15 minute drive to gas restaurants laundry dollar store. Full supermarket is farther.
ScoutWhile busy, this is a well ran and well managed campground. The hosts are diligent to touch base with everyone coming in (safety) and the campsites though somewhat close together, offer unique ways to capture some privacy. The mountain can get very cold and windy at night, so make sure you have a sleeping bag rated for freezing temps. This campground has some of the cleanest vault toilets I’ve ever seen! Seriously! I don’t know how they do it!
The camp hosts have fire wood for sale as well, you just have to flag them down when they drive by. Each site has a fire ring and grill. I also found several fresh water pumps within walking distance from my camp. The site is very easily accessible but some of the dirt roads can get pretty rutty, so use caution with lower profile vehicles.
RangerEasy access -- open the gate, drive in, close the gate. There's enough room to pull off the highway in a 43' RV towing a truck, and stop to get the gate open. Pretty easy to navigate and find a spot. Level. Spots are spacious and while others were around us, they were so far away that we couldn't hear generators or see them. Little bit of road noise, little bit of 4-wheeler noise, but not at all intrusive. Pretty clean area where 'leave no trace' is being practiced. Beautiful views of Superstition Mountains. We have a UTV --plenty of trails to access from this area; it takes about a half hour to navigate them and get to the 'fun' trails more in the mountains. Would def stay here again.
GuideSpencer Canyon Campground is a nice campground approx. 20 miles from Tucson up the General Hitchcock Highway(often called the Catalina Highway or Mt. Lemmon Highway). It is located approximately 3 miles past the Palisades Visitor Center and the entrance is marked well by a big brown sign as you approach. Phill and Denise, the friendly campsite managers will give you advice and suggestions about campsites that suite your needs. The photos attached to this review are from campsite#6, which is close to the Phill& Denise’s camper location and the highway- yes, we did hear road noise. Most campers chose locations deeper in the campground, but we were there on a busy weekend so most of those“deeper” campsites were occupied. All sites have a large bear box, concrete picnic table, charcoal grill and an iron fire pit. The picnic area of the site is level but the whole campsite is NOT so pick your location carefully if you want to pitch your tent on a flat, level plot. We did find some firewood left over from prior campers but recommend bringing your own, dry wood if you have room in your rig. In my observation, there is a rather nice, vessel toilet house strategically located to serve 6- 7 campsites. There is also a water faucet to be shared by 6- 7 campsites. Campsite#6 has its own faucet so others might also. There are 60+ campsites throughout Spencer Canyon and I would suggest that those“deeper” in the campground are more desirable. It should be noted that most of the campsites are close together, that is, about 50-75 feet apart, hence, my“... if you don’t mind company” comment. It should also be noted that Phill& Denise are really nice and helpful, the campsites are well maintained and clean, it is only 22 miles from Tucson and less than 6 miles from the mountaintop hamlet of Summerhaven, and is situated at approximately 7,900 fee of elevation. Thus, Spencer Canyon Campground is a great getaway from the Arizona heat and close enough to Tucson for a 1- 2 night weekend.
TravelerMy grandson and I stayed in a tent campsite for two nights. There are only a 5 tent sites and they don't have a tent pad. After two passes we were able to find a site with a smooth spot without rocks for the tent, B5, a picnic table but no shade. I felt there could have been more bathrooms and water spickets but honestly I did not do much walking in the campground. It is the quiet time of year, before snowbirds come, so we were able to have our pick of electric or not sites. It was quiet; I think three trailers and one other tenter. No generators allowed and 7 day strict limit. The coyotes were very vocal at night, which I enjoyed.This is more of an RV campground but suited us fine for two days. We interacted with the hosts and they were very nice. We explored the trails, visitor center and Sonora Desert Museum, which we loved. Thirty minute drive to Tucson. We went to the Reid Park Zoo, which we thoroughly enjoyed; LOTS of animals for a small zoo. We drove the loop in East Saguaro National Park. Some things closed in West Saguaro park so be aware of that, like Old Tucson, but we found lots to do.
ScoutWe were dry /primitive campers saving our coins here and there camping! This was an easy quick $10 but I do recommend getting there before closing hrs. As you have to call the camp host to let you in. There is no designated camp zones it is a very dry area ofcourse being in the middle of Arizona. But we were prepared with sleeping pads and tent tarps for comfort. But for 10 bucks you can’t beat that! There was an animal 4H fair of some sort going on which we enjoyed even through all our sleep! The animals did seem to “sleep with us!” There is showers and easy convience to I-10/I20? Also Walmart/standard fast food defiantly more RV friendly but with the right gear you should be fine! I love supporting places like this over the hotel industry
LegendSpencer Canyon campground in Mt Lemmon is nestled under the pine trees and boasts a 15-20 degree drop in temperature from nearby Tucson. Bear boxes are provided as are vaulted toilets. I’ve seen trailers travel down the canyon, but I wouldn’t try it. The roads are steep and narrow. Perfect for tent camping
GuideWe tent camped here one night. We’ve stayed at a lot of KOAs across the country and this is the cleanest one I’ve ever been to. Excellent facilities- laundry, bathrooms, pool area, dog run, and clear tent spots. Staff was so helpful and the camp store was well stocked. 10 minutes from Picacho Peak hiking and don’t miss the Ostrich Ranch!
LegendMay, 2019 we visited Saguaro National Park near Tucson AZ. We had planned to hike into the park at one of their few campgrounds but the office informed us that there was a controlled burn and recommended we not stay in the park and suggested Gilbert Ray as a good option. Gilbert Ray Campground is a great location for visiting the National Park. We arrived to find the office closed for the summer, so self serve option was available, at 10.00 per night for tent camping you can’t beat the price. The bathrooms were clean and as an added plus they have a dishwashing station. We stayed in the A loop. There are no showers and the campsite it all gravel making it next to impossible to put a tent stake in. The sites are fairly close together, for example, I could hear our neighbor unzip his tent. All sites have picnic tables. Cell service is good.
Tent camping near Picacho, Arizona features several dispersed sites on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and established campgrounds in the Sonoran Desert where summer temperatures frequently exceed 100°F. Most sites sit at elevations between 1,500-2,000 feet, placing campers among saguaro cacti and desert scrub vegetation. Winter months bring mild daytime temperatures with overnight lows that can drop below 40°F between November and February.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Peralta Regional Park Primitive Remote Campsites provides access to desert habitats where visitors can observe native wildlife. "Amazing stay! Came across a rattle snake when hiking. Very quiet and peaceful. Clean dark sky for star watching," reports camper Chevis L.
Water recreation: The Gila River offers swimming and riverside camping at Shores Recreation Area. "We came in and stayed at a spot towards the south/downstream where a high clearance would be wise. We also went upstream initially. Great spots on the river," notes Carolyn.
Stargazing: The minimal light pollution at several dispersed camping areas creates ideal stargazing conditions. At Peralta Regional Park, one camper mentioned "Clean dark sky for star watching," while others note the peaceful nighttime environment at several BLM sites.
Riverside camping: Shores Recreation Area offers waterfront sites along the Gila River. "Great river access," states Matt M. in his review. The riverside sites provide shade during hot months, with another camper noting "the sites do have tree cover for shade."
Group facilities: Showers Point Group Site accommodates larger camping parties with specialized amenities. According to Kevin S., "Shower Point group site is a wonderfully maintained camping area that can support up to three large groups at a time. The toilets were spotlessly maintained and running potable water was easily available."
Desert solitude: Many campers value the quiet environment at dispersed sites. One camper at Peralta noted, "Each campsite has plenty of space in between. Literally no complaints at all." The distance between sites enhances privacy for tent campers seeking isolation.
Access challenges: Many dispersed sites require careful navigation and appropriate vehicles. At Pipeline Road BLM Camping, Greg L. advises: "Entrance to pipeline road is not marked and difficult to enter and exit safely, about .6 tens mile in from cattleguard on Avra Valley road. Sites are about 1/2 mile in till a big dip wash that restricts most TTs and RVs."
Seasonal considerations: Summer heat significantly impacts the camping experience. Mark F. observed at Shores Recreation Area: "Quiet, very few campers. Prob fewer as it gets warmer. This will be a scorcher in the middle of summer."
Target shooting noise: Some BLM areas permit shooting on adjacent lands, affecting the noise level. Greg L. noted at Pipeline Road BLM Camping: "Cell is good but adjacent target shooting on State Land is a constant issue."
Water quality awareness: When camping near the Gila River, be prepared for variable water conditions. Haley B. from Shores Recreation Area cautions: "Murky water and not a pleasant smell in the air made the water not enticing at all. If I wouldn't have seen people swimming in the water I would have never thought people actually swim in it."
Wildlife precautions: Charouleau Gap Trailhead Camp and similar desert sites require vigilance for native wildlife. Campers report encounters with various desert creatures including toads that may be hazardous to pets. One camper warned: "Lots of toads at night, not for sure if they are the ones that are poisonous to dogs but good to keep in mind just in case."
Site selection for coverage: Choose sites with natural shade features when possible. At Shores Recreation Area, campers note the presence of "beautiful trees" and that "sites do have tree cover for shade," which becomes crucial during warmer months.
Size limitations: Charouleau Gap Trailhead Camp accommodates some smaller RVs despite being primarily for tent camping. Ian T. reports: "Several spots off a dirt road that parallels the main road here. Accessed relatively easily (slowly) in my 23 Ft Class C. Some road noise."
High clearance vehicles recommended: Many desert camping areas require appropriate vehicles. For sites like Pipeline Road BLM Camping, campers advise: "Dispersed BLM camping folks the main road in has a pretty good little drop-down I wouldn't take a big rig past the first area on the right."
Weather monitoring essential: Flash floods can impact desert roads and wash crossings. After rainfall events, approach dips and washes with caution. Campers note that many access roads become impassable when wet, particularly at Pipeline Road where there's "a big dip wash that restricts most TTs and RVs."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Picacho, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Picacho, AZ is Pipeline Road BLM Camping with a 3.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Picacho, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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