Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ has a lot to offer. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Pinetop-Lakeside, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Pinetop-Lakeside. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
Enjoy this gorgeous slice of Arizona's White Mountain region from your personal campsite! Listen as a gentle breeze blows through pine boughs, watch big, white, fluffy clouds careen through the sky, and feel the cool northern Arizona chill on your skin. Experience the magic of watching a herd of elk feeding lakeside, or the exhilaration of a fish on the end of your line. We'll provide the possibility of adventure, all you have to do is show up and make memories!
Non-hook-up (Tent Only) Sites 31 sites: Maximum of two vehicles and six adults per site, 10 people total. Concrete pads, fire ring and picnic table, restrooms and showers. RVs are not allowed in non-hook-up (tent only) sites.
Electric RV sites 92 sites: 30 Amp service (some 50 Amp available). Can accommodate up to 40-foot rigs. Water available at all sites. Mallard and Redhead Loops also have sewer available. Maximum of two vehicles and six adults each, 12 people total.
April 1 through Oct. 30, there is a two night minimum stay for weekend camping: you must reserve both Friday and Saturday night.
$25 - $70 / night
Head to the heart of the White Mountains, Show Low Lake Campground! Nestled in the town of Show Low, Arizona, experience all the outdoor fun of camping in the woods with shopping and entertainment just minutes away.
At 6,500 feet elevation, Show Low Lake campground surrounds a stunning 100 acre lake. The tree studded grounds are open year round offering 75 camping sites, some with electric hook-ups, as well as dump station, restrooms, shower facilities (seasonal), day use picnic ramadas, and playground. A small convenience store (seasonal) offers up bait, tackle, boat rentals, drinks and snacks.
$18 - $150 / night
Venture In RV Resort in Arizona is an age-qualified community located in the eastern part of the state. Nestled in the relaxed and peaceful city of Show Low, Venture In offers a 30-minute drive from the RV resort to some of the best trout fishing lakes and streams in Arizona. Show Low boasts activities that appeal to any outdoor enthusiast and to the vacationer that just wants to relax and take in the beautiful mountain surroundings. Venture In RV Resort is perhaps best recognized for its extremely comfortable climate. With its location in the White Mountains, this RV resort in Arizona sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet, making the environment a pleasant 25 to 30 degrees cooler than Phoenix and Tucson. Open May through October, make Venture In your summer RV Resort getaway in Arizona! Age-Qualified RV Resort in Arizona Whether you're planning a retreat for a group of friends or a getaway for two, there's no shortage of unique activities to explore at Venture In RV Resort. Plan activities upon arrival or visit this page before your departure to plan ahead. Looking for more? Our friendly staff can fill you in on all of the great ways to make your stay a memorable experience.
Upper Campground
$25 - $65 / night
Scout
Camping in the Juniper and Cedars is an amazing experience, especially under the sky full of stars. We were even able to visit @the4sbarn on-site family-friendly tap house and live music was great! We will be back for sure.
Traveler
We came up from Phoenix to get away from city life for 48 hours and this place is beautiful. We just got here and I have at least some reception because I’m doing the review from the site. Was it easy to get to, right off the highway, we drove back about a mile into the woods and there was tons of places to camp. Granted it’s early January so that could have something to do with all the open spots. There’s no facilities of any kind. We’re totally Boondocking it with our RV no hook ups just the water we brought and a generator, but I couldn’t be happier so quiet.
Oh yeah. If you are checking the weather, it’s closer to Heber than Payson. Payson low tonight expected to be 37, but Heber is expected to get to 24. Brrrrr
Traveler
The entire Mallard loop has generous paved sites. There is a picnic table and nice fire pit. Plenty of paved space to set up. Pines surround each site and provide ample shade. Each site has easy access to the lake. The bathrooms have showers and were spotless.
Scout
Great fire pit and some flat spots for a tent. The highway got quieter in the middle of the night for a little while. We stayed right next to some ruins and all three of us had wild dreams about ghosts, ghost horses, and animals. The next morning we found we were only a few steps away from a mountain lion kill site! WOW! So many kinds of animals. Elk. Coyote. Cow. Sheep. You name it! It was an exciting way to spend the evening. Enjoy!
Scout
Got here at night and found it quite easily. Not the most scenic as the lake is dried up and the highway is visible (and audible). Trash cans were overflowing with trash, and a few of the sites were trashed as well. I also think I saw human poop by the bushes. At around midnight some guy came by our tent asking if we knew where the portopotties went, and said the site we were at is where he usually stays…
Traveler
Beautiful, huge site! Sites were well spaced. Very quiet campground. The camp host didn’t bother us at all. She was around, just not intrusive. Now the bad. I have been camping in primitive sites for the last 20 years or more. In all those years I have never come across pit toilets as bad as the ones at this campground. We arrived Sunday night. They were really bad, but it was the end of a weekend so I gave grace. On Tuesday the toilets were “cleaned “ out. It didn’t help because no one put chemicals in the pit. The smell of raw sewage was always present in our site.
Legend
Rainbow campground at big lake is magical! This is the place to beat the heat and make summer memories. Tucked into the pines and aspens this campsite is a quick drive or hike down to the lake. You can’t go wrong with any of the sites, including the first come first serve loops.
Traveler
Great overnight stop after a visit through The Petrified Forest. Location awesome. We went to the area through the gate past the sheltered electric camp spots. There were cement pads as well in the fenced area. We positioned our trailer to block the light from the Crystal shop so we could photograph the milky way. Felt very safe.
The Crystal shop opens at 8am. Bought a few affordable crystals, friendly and knowledgable staff. A few photo opps with old cars weighed down with petrified rocks.
Scout
Your article made me want to pack my bags and go immediately! Thanks for sharing. Play game planet clicker with me!
Traveler
Nice couple of sites with a variety of trees not just Ponderosa Pine. Logging tucks noisy during the day. At 9200 ft elevation got cold at night in September.
ScoutWe showed late on Friday eve and were still able to get a great spot for tent camping. Pretty quiet and close to town.
Ranger
Wonderful campground with flat sites, well spaced. Pit toilets and a shower. Dump on site! A bit expensive for dry camping but there in no dispersed camping in Greer and the neighboring apache res requires a $9 permit to dispersed camp. Three reservoirs nearby to hike to or fish at.
Ranger
Very large CG with full hookups, level sites, flush toilets and showers. Casino and its restaurants next door. Wild horses venture through the camp in the evening! Spots are pretty close together, it is very full and mostly full timer/long term campers. Staff was helpful and courteous. We did not have a reservation until that morning. It is very busy so advance reservations are the norm. casino offers first timers a players pass with $6 for food and $5 casino credit.
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.....
Scout
Only a couple logging trucks on a very nice maintained road. All alone on a mountain top!! Me and my dog are living the life!
Traveler
Park is looking great. Great location between Show Low and Pinetop with Highway access.
Ranger
Right along the highway on a big climb from both sides. Maybe when the b/w photo was taken it was cool with 10% of the traffic now? The road is crazy busy these days. I would not recommend this location.
Ranger
The location is wrong! This is the coordinates - 33.76672° N, 109.35443° W This was so much more beautiful before the Wallow Fire. Please put out your fires! I grew up not far from here and always enjoy coming. There are small trout in the river and Big Lake, Crescent Lake, Mexican Hat Lake, Reservation Lake, and Lee Valley Reservoir all close. There is picnic tables, potable water in tanks if needed, vault toilets, fire rings all in the campground. The marina store at Big Lake and Crescent Lake both have stores with firewood. At the time of the posting, the camp host at Diamond Rock campground had firewood for sale not far up the road. Watch the corners going in and out as the OHV guys drive pretty fast and the road is narrow in many places. Bear Wallow Cafe is in Alpine and I recommend the pie!
Guide
Along with this site, there are many dispersed camping sites right on the side of the rim with great views that you can see miles out. Great for tent camping but also big enough for campers and RVs
GuideEasy to get to, close to town, clearly marked trails and roadways. Hiking views were spectacular.
GuideIt had been 28 years since we last camped at Rainbow. It is still a great place to escape the desert heat. It was 115 when we left the big city. Five hours later we found ourselves camped at 9100 feet, enjoying the cool temps in the mid 60's and the passing rain showers. Aspens, pines, and wildlife were all in abundance. Big Lake is a good fishing lake too.
The sites have plenty of space, shade, and privacy. Roads are paved and in good shape. The restrooms were constantly cleaned by the very friendly and capable staff from recreation resource management which operates the campground for the forest service.
Firewood and ice are available (stage 2 fire restrictions were in effect so no campfires), water was convenient as was gray water disposal. There is a centralized dump station, showers, and a small but educational visitor center. Trash dumpsters are centralized and easy to access.
If you don't fish there is still hiking to Mount Baldy, and short scenic drives to the very small towns of Greer and Alpine. We enjoyed exploring the miles of scenic forest roads, and wildlife viewing. We saw 4 Mexican gray wolves which was very special.
This is a very popular campground that accommodates all types of rigs. They do have first come first serve sites available, but it is recommended to make reservations at least 4 days in advance. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov. It's always best practice to print a copy of your reservation. There is no cell service in this area.
We look forward to camping again at Rainbow.
TravelerNot much to it, just some picnic tables on slabs next to parking spots. But if u plan to go into the park in the morning it makes sense.
Ranger
This is not a campground, but a spot to pull off the road when logging trucks are coming up.
Ranger
Always great fishing here. There is NO camping here. I repeat, NO CAMPING. But plenty of dispersed to be found up the road further all the way to Terry Flat. There are trails up the road and some OHV and a Jeep trail. There is housing when coming off the highway. Be respectful and don’t drive 45 down the road. Take your time and take it in.
TravelerThis plant is completely Uncultivated so beautiful!
RangerGreat, great free camping. ~20 sites, most official sites have concrete pads & trashcans but a few more primitive spots just have driveways & rock campfire rings. Great Verizon Service. WINDY. Pretty, too.
Guide
Pretty uneventful. They're still putting the place together but all hookups are ready to go. Great online reservation system. Even same day
Camping near Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona, offers a fantastic escape into nature with beautiful landscapes and plenty of outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.
Camping around Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, whether you're in a tent or an RV. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the beautiful scenery!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ offers a wide range of camping options, with 125 campgrounds and RV parks near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ and 18 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ is Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 43 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 free dispersed camping spots near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ.
What parks are near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ that allow camping, notably Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and Tonto National Forest.
Keep Exploring
