Best Campgrounds near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ

We pulled onto Rim Road to (FR300) and travelled app. 1 mile to find a quiet and pretty camp spot. We were in a 25’ class C motor home and the road was bumpy but passable. It was early spring and some areas were very soft so use caution with a heavy vehicle. We enjoyed our overnight stay.

Camped in the clearing by the lake. Some traffic came through but not bothersome. No amenities, must be self-contained.

Don’t try to make it to the shared coordinates soon after a snow melt. Grateful for our GoTreads. Road is rocky and rutted in places but there are camp spots 2wd can access if one takes it slow.

Great park, close to town but you’d never know it. Among the pines and cedar trees of the White Mountains

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.

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

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!

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…

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.

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.

Your article made me want to pack my bags and go immediately! Thanks for sharing. Play game  planet clicker with me!

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.

We showed late on Friday eve and were still able to get a great spot for tent camping. Pretty quiet and close to town.

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!

Park is looking great. Great location between Show Low and Pinetop with Highway access.

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!

Easy to get to, close to town, clearly marked trails and roadways. Hiking views were spectacular.