Roosevelt, Arizona camping offers diverse accommodations at elevations ranging from 2,100 feet at Roosevelt Lake to nearly 6,000 feet in the Pinal Mountains. The climate shifts dramatically with season and elevation, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F near the lake while mountain areas remain 15-20 degrees cooler. Winter nights in higher elevations can drop below freezing with occasional snow.
What to do
Explore ancient ruins: Take a short drive from Windy Hill Campground to see the Tonto National Monument cliff dwellings. "Across the road, lies the Tonto National Monument which shows off some terrific examples of early Puebloan cliff dwellings," notes one camper.
Mountain biking trails: Access numerous difficulty levels from Usery Mountain Regional Park. "Close to everything, including some awesome Mountain Biking from green to double black diamond trails," shares a visitor who rated the experience five stars.
Night sky viewing: The higher elevation campgrounds offer excellent stargazing opportunities. At Pioneer Pass Campground, campers enjoy clear night skies at 5,900 feet elevation. "Beautiful sunset, amazing view of moon rising over mountains. Heard some coyotes in the night, which was exciting," reports one visitor of their experience in the Pinal Mountains.
What campers like
Temperature escape: The elevation changes provide relief from summer heat. "Usually about 25 degrees cooler in then Phoenix. Close to lakes and creeks along with hiking trails," notes a camper at Aspen Campground.
Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds offer opportunities to see desert and mountain wildlife. "Elk wander through the campgrounds in early mornings and evenings," mentions one visitor about their glamping experience in the higher elevations.
Lake access: Roosevelt Lake provides water recreation opportunities that contrast with desert surroundings. "The end of the closed boat launch was heaven for us," shares a Windy Hill visitor. "We like to put on life jackets and just float in the refreshing cool water."
What you should know
Road conditions: Some glamping locations require challenging drives. At Lost Dutchman State Park Campground, "Roads are narrow and there are unforgiving drop offs on the sides," cautions one reviewer.
Generator noise: Be prepared for mechanical sounds at some campgrounds. "This place takes the prize for the most generator impacted site that we've ever stayed in our lifetimes," reports a visitor to Windy Hill. "I went for a 45-minute walk around the campground, and counted 13 different generators all going at different frequencies."
Weather preparedness: Conditions can change rapidly, particularly in mountain settings. "There was a storm that rolled in (not on the weather forecast!) It came in FAST! Fortunately we had easy up tents because we had to drop one down fast and put stuff on top of it," warns a camper about their glamping experience in the Roosevelt area.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection for privacy: Choose sites carefully for family comfort. At Mesa-Apache Junction KOA, "Our site (I believe most as well) was gravel but naturally pretty level. We had plenty of space between us and adjacent sites."
Playground access: Some locations offer dedicated children's areas. "The KOA features a small fenced playground with a tetherball, swing set, merry go round, and a table with an umbrella," notes a reviewer.
Wildlife education: Use animal sightings as learning opportunities. "We enjoyed a splendid paddle out on the water near sundown, after many power boats were already back up on their trailers," shares a Windy Hill visitor about their Roosevelt glamping trip with family.
Tips from RVers
Dump station information: Know where to find facilities before arrival. "There seem to be one super secret place to dump your trailer water, grey & black. While you can dump there for free; you cannot find it without a treasure map," cautions an RVer about Timber Camp Recreation Area.
Site dimensions: Research space limitations before booking. "Carefully review the site you select to be sure it will accommodate your rig," advises a Lost Dutchman visitor.
Leveling considerations: Some areas have challenging terrain. "We had site 118 which was closer to mountain so view was very good," mentions a Lost Dutchman reviewer who found a workable spot for their RV.
