Join the fun near Picacho. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Picacho. Discover great camping spots near Picacho, reviewed by campers like you.
"Excellent facilities- laundry, bathrooms, pool area, dog run, and clear tent spots."
"This place had a very friendly staff and the new own is on sight and working to make it even better. Our stay was 3 days, 2 Night and we enjoyed the weekend."
$22 - $36 / night
"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."
"Sites are nicely spaced apart, bathrooms are clean, and fire pits are great."
"Very clean. some sites have an outdoor kitchen. close to the road but we didn’t notice noise. A decent size dog run and a small rec center that I didn’t have a chance to see."
"I arrived after hours, but some of the staff still on site saw me grab my check in materials at the office."
"The staff is friendly, the facilities are clean, and the long term residents are welcoming."
"This campground boasts several group sites, complete with plenty of parking, large gazebos with multiple grills for your group gatherings, and tent pads scattered throughout."
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!
TravelerVery clean. some sites have an outdoor kitchen. close to the road but we didn’t notice noise. A decent size dog run and a small rec center that I didn’t have a chance to see.
ScoutThis KOA is a good place for families and it has a lot of amenities. The sites are close together and not private unless you have a patio site for an extra cost. The sites by the playground and clubhouse area are noisy during the day with children playing as children do. There is road noise and frequent trains which didn't bother me. There is also a neighboring horse ranch which had loud music for a while. This park is well-maintained, clean, friendly, and safe, but it can be noisy. It is also very busy and the wifi is very slow and unreliable. Only 15 minutes from Picacho Peak State Park. If you're looking for a quiet place I would not recommend it. If you have children and enjoy a neighborhood/community atmosphere it's a great place to be. The staff does a good job of driving around and maintaining the grounds. They also escort you to your site.
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.
GuideI stayed here for two nights while I was in the Phoenix area after having to reroute a trip due to unexpected winter weather at my original destination. I camped in a 22 foot rental motor home.
This was my first KOA experience, and it was such a delight. I arrived after hours, but some of the staff still on site saw me grab my check in materials at the office. He lead me to my sight in his golf cart, helped us get backed in and all settled for the night. Staff called the next morning to finish check in and verify our stay info. The staff this whole stay was so kind, it was amazing.
Our site (I believe most as well) was gravel but naturally pretty level. We had plenty of space between us and adjacent sites. The whole KOA has some nice touches as far as landscaping, sites with grills, etc. Very clean and well kept.
Location is about 45 minutes from Phoenix, which was perfect for us. We spent a little time in old town Scottsdale as well which is about the same distance. I would 100% stay here again if I’m in the area.
LegendThis KOA had some really awesome features and gives you most of the convenience of a hotel with the ability to bring your RV and your personal items with you without the hotel price tag. The KOA features a year round heated pool and jacuzzi. The pool area was fenced and had some chairs, tables, and what appeared to be covered grills. The pool is right outside the office building which also has bathrooms and a small convenience store. If they don't have what you are looking for the is a major grocery store about 2 miles away. This KOA is in town. Don't come here if you're looking for a remote destination. The other side of the exterior fence has houses and businesses.
Each site has a picnic table and some had a stand up bbq pit. The spaces are really close together and separated by a row of rocks. Up front they have 4 little single room cabins that say there can sleep 6 but have no bathrooms. There are some upgraded RV spaces that have outside grill areas with sinks and counter space.
The spaces have very little shade if any! Be very aware of the weather when you visit. It'll be hot during the day and very cold at night depending on the time of year. You will be randomly assigned a space unless you pay the fee to have an assigned space.
The KOA features a small fenced playground with a tetherball, swing set, merry go round, and a table with an umbrella. On the other side of the KOA there is a small fenced dog run. I also saw a stand alone sink near one of the loops. There is an activity center if you're hosting a group event. It had a few standing bbq pits outside. At the entrance was an air pump for filling tires.
TravelerThe Picacho/Tucson NW KOA was the first place we camped at when we purchased our Bunkhouse motorcycle tent trailer. We wanted to stay close to home in case something didn't work on our camper.
The KOA is clean and the hosts were great. The sites are well spaced but could be a little bigger for more privacy. The sites are made of small gravel and very level. No roots, rocks, stumps, etc. There is a picnic table, water spigot, electrical hookup and BBQ grill at each site, in addition to a fire ring. Bathrooms are clean and there is a small camp store. There is a doggie run in the park as well as a pool and playground for the kids.
When we stayed, the new hosts had just purchased the KOA a few months earlier and they were working on improving it. We stayed there in late 2019 (before COVID).
The only reason I gave this KOA 3 stars instead of 5 is because of the loud traffic noise from the freeway. There is literally no peace or ability to sleep during the night (in a tent camper). Perhaps in a solid sided RV, it would be great, but we didn't get a wink. I even slept with earplugs in and I could still hear the noise.
I will not be returning to this KOA, but sure wish I could because it was really nice and clean.
TravelerBeautiful, clean campground. Sites are nicely spaced apart, bathrooms are clean, and fire pits are great.
GuideI’ve camped here several times. The camp hosts are friendly helpful and knowledgeable. I prefer to go all the way to the very bottom of the campground. There is a lot of open area for my boys to run around and build a fort while I read a book next to the stream. Also it doesn’t seem to fill up as fast as the top sites. Bathrooms are clean, bear boxes are provided, and If you want a break from camp food you can jet up to summerhaven it’s not that far and grab lunch. There isn’t any grocery stores or gas stations on Mt. Lemmon so fill up before venturing up the mountain. If you are a hiker there are many trails to choose from not to far from your camp (read up on hiking in high elevations though before you venture out). Mt. Lemmon is also dog friendly and so is this campground just make sure to pick up after your pooch. The drive up Mt. Lemmon highway is 35 MPH the cops hiding around the corners writing tickets would be glad to remind you or you can take my word for it. This road is also very popular for cyclists so make sure you keep your eyes on the road, they come out of nowhere. The views are spectacular even if you are just coming for the day. You go from desert to full forest in the matter of 45min it is nothing I’ve ever seen before. This is a must see if visiting Tucson, AZ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Picacho, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Picacho, AZ is Picacho-Tucson NW KOA with a 4.2-star rating from 17 reviews.
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