Do you enjoy camping but don't want to rough it? Glamping is a great option. The Dyrt lets you enjoy a unique, rustic Saguaro National Park experience while glamping. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a site closer to all the action, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect glamping spot.
Tucson/Lazydays KOA Resort is your desert oasis, featuring beautiful fruit trees abundant throughout the park, with plenty of good times to be had. The campground offers Pull-thru RV Sites with full 30/50-amp hookups, grassy luxury sites and NEW RV Sites with a Patio and a fireplace! No RV? No problem. Stay in one of the NEW two-bedroom Deluxe Cabins with queen beds. Whether you want to relax by one of the two pools, soak in the hot tubs, play a round on our nine hole putting green, or join in the fun activities, this KOA has something for everyone to enjoy. The completed installation of the two PowerParasols® solar shade structures now allows guest to camp, gather and even barbeque under a patented structure that produces clean solar energy. The structures shade more than two acres of the campground, giving visitors room to park RVs on 30 covered RV sites. Check out our NEW resort style activity park! Providing ample shade and sport courts to bring recreation, relaxation, family and friends together. Lazydays, a full-service RV dealership with a service department, is located next door. Other campground amenities include a bar& grill, meeting rooms, fitness center, three off-leash dog parks and complimentary Wi-Fi. Camping in Arizona is a breeze at the Tucson/Lazydays KOA. Pool: Open all year. Max pull thru: 73 feet.
All campsites at Kartchner feature electric hookups and water. Your camping fee includes use of the shower/restroom, water, electrical and dump station facilities.
All campsites have a table, hose bib and power post. Each back-in site power post is 110 volt AC with a 30 amp RV connection and a 20 amp receptacle. Each pull-through site power post has a 220 volt 50 amp AC & an 110 volt 30 amp AC RV connection and a 20 AMP GFI receptacle. Sites vary in length from 35’ for the shortest back in sites to 60’ in the pull through sites; all sites are single width. Sites have ample room on the side areas for pull out units.
There are three handicapped designated sites (one is a pull through site), 12 pull-through sites and 43 other sites of varying sizes. Handicapped designated sites have paved access to the site and adjacent restroom, a paved pad, and wheelchair accessible table.
Waste bins and shower/restroom facilities are located on the upper west end of each campground. Restroom buildings have bottled water vending machines and dishwashing sinks located on the rear east side.
Important Note: At this park, the entrance gate is closed nightly at 10 p.m. The two-loop campground is located off of the main road past the Discovery Center on the southwest end of the park. Camping fees are payable with cash, Visa or Mastercard at the Contact Station the day of arrival, or at the Discovery Center the following day. Fees must be paid daily or in advance and there is a 14-day stay limit.
Access card keys for camper after-hours entering the park are administered by the four Campground Hosts.
$30 - $99 / night
This area of Mt Lemmon camping is located at the head of a shallow, forested canyon a short distance off the Catalina Highway. Spencer Canyon faces the city of Tucson and the Santa Cruz Valley, both of which are visible as a distant panorama through openings in the forest canopy. Spencer Canyon Campground has 66 sites. Each site has a concrete table, firepit, B-B-Q and bear box for food storage. A beautiful night view of Tucson can be seen from several sites. Spencer is rugged, rustic in layout and close to the hamlet of Summerhaven. Each camping area has clean, stocked vault toilets. Campground hosts live on site. Firewood may be purchased from the hosts. The Catalina Highway is paved, but it can be snow covered in winter when chains and/or 4-wheel drive may be required.
$22 - $36 / night
This small, sheltered campground is tucked away just off the Catalina Highway, along the rocky streambed that forms the floor of upper Bear Canyon. Campsites are nestled under a canopy of ponderosa pines, junipers and oaks. Some sites are located right along Bear Creek among large rocks. The Creek generally only flows during rainy periods or during the Spring snowmelt, but be vigilant of flash floods.
$10 / night
RV Resort 55+ community Cactus Country RV Resort is conveniently located north of exit 275, I-10, just east of Tucson, Arizona. Cactus Country accommodates nearly all forms of recreational lodging. Surrounded by untouched cactus fields, our park enjoys the peaceful ambiance of a desert oasis, while never leaving you far from the shopping and dining of Tucson. Whether you stay for a night or make your home here, we look forward to welcoming you to Cactus Country.
$25 - $40 / night
$20 - $40 / night
Ranger
This park is minutes away from the east section of Saguaro National Park. It may look and feel remote, but good shopping, restaurants and attractions are very close. It is quiet and level, with every amentity including pool, laundry and an activities room. The staff are helpful and knowlegeable about nearby attractions and services. For long or short stays, this is a go-to place to stay in Tucson.
Legend
This place is huge! It is a KOA, but still very nice. It is a “resort” so it’s a little pricey, but we were just there for one night to visit Saguaro National Park. The sites are a little close together, but we were on the end, so we were not crowded. And, there was a grapefruit tree, with ripe fruit, next to our site. Orange and lemon trees were scattered around the park. There is a large dog play area that was nice for traveling canine companions. There is also a very good restaurant, BBQLIFE, right in the campground, that delivers!
LegendWhen spending time on the road many times you will find campsite after campsite that is welcoming but not quite like home away from home. But when you drive through Tucson, there is a mecca filled with winter bird campers and long term campers which create a home away from home.
With only tent sites available on the facility, we were fortunate to find a site, however when we arrived we were so excited by the facilities we extended our stay by a day.
Office staff immediately greeted us and let us know about the facilities, which happened to feature a mini golf course, an indoor events facility, 2 swimming pools and hot tubs, an indoor recreation area and multiple on camp fire chinineas. In addition there was a fishing pond and dog park area.
Each of the 4 campsites were considered to be regular campsites instead of upgrade sites but when we arrived it was the most delux sites we had encountered along the way.
Pad sites were large and the first to actually accommodate our large tent and the ground was u like any we had seen before at a site. The soft mulch was similar to that of a modern day playground and made for a much more comfortable sleep over the two days we were there.
In addition to the standard picnic table of most facilities, this campground offered a kitchen facility at each campsite including a large copper sink and food storage as well as electricity and overhead lighting in the pergola designed to allow shade from the harsh Arizona sun.
It was the closest thing to glamping we had encountered by far!
Then as an added bonus, fresh fruit trees abounded ready for the picking. The front desk informed us of the allowance to pick what you want as everything was in season! An amazing treat on the road!
We spent many hours at the pool facility, enjoyed amazing neighbors, used the wifi and even did a load of laundry while in Tucson. The facility really was like a home away from home on the road.
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If the scale went higher we would rank it more Bunnies. There were no real areas we could see for improvement. Staff was very accommodating, long term and short term residents of the facility were amazing and this was a desert oasis like no other!
Traveler
The State of Arizona has done it again with the Kartchner State Park. The Campiste is beautiful in a way only the desert can be and Kartchner Caverns is breathtaking. Recommend making reservations to ensure you get a long enough spot and get a spot in a tour of the caverns.
ScoutCamp host was friendly and helpful. Bathrooms were clean and worked well. Nice that the trailheads are just a few min walk from the campgrounds. The foothills loop is easy and takes you all around the area without being too challenging. Incredible stargazing experience- no lights after 8pm I believe and Kartchner Caverns State Park is a designated dark sky park by the International Dark Sky Association. Glad to live only an hour away from this Arizona State Park.
Guide1-17-2021 site 33. Talk about clean! This is by far the cleanest campsite I have stayed at. The camp host are really nice and really do care about the camps. Nice and quiet at night. Electric and water at the sites. And some cool Arizona fire rings. We weren’t able to go into the caves because of our small child but there is a hiking trail which was nice. Great weekend getaway. Site 33 is right next to the cabins so are kinda close to there fire pits when relaxing but all the other sites look perfect.
Guide-This was a great little spot! There is no light pollution besides maybe a neighbor that forgot to turn off their lights. -Kartchner Cave is walking distance with a great observation center even if you don’t take a tour into the caves. -Couple stores within 20miles for any forgotten items. -Spots a very large and spaced well. -Restrooms/showers well maintained *Shower water pressure is less than desired. -Visited Tombstone, AZ as well. About a 30min drive. **Watch your step, we came across a Diamond Back Rattle Snake about 4 feet from our picnic bench. ***It’s Arizona, summer times will be hot, our temp in June was 108.
Traveler
I spent my late-September camping weekend at Spencer Canyon Campground in the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona. Overall it was an ok experience, but I’m kind of nitpicky. The campsites are a little too close together for my taste. There was some noise at night, but for the most part folks were well-behaved during my 2-day stay. There is a nice view of the Tucson city lights at night, although I tend to want to avoid such things while camping because it takes me out of the experience. The staff was friendly and helpful. The site that I had was pretty small, but I came too late to get choice of the bigger ones.
For those who don’t mind a somewhat tightly packed campground and a view of sparkly city lights at night, Spencer Canyon is a nice place to stay.
LegendWow, what an awesome AZ State Park! If you live in Arizona and haven’t camped here you are doing something wrong! It’s a quick weekend getaway from Tucson or even Phoenix. The camp hosts are friendly and stopped by to say hello, leave us maps, and give us the run down on a few rules. Kartchner is a designated Dark Sky park, so they do a great job of making sure everyone keeps the lights off after 8pm so you can enjoy the stars. It really is an awesome perk of the park! The campgrounds are immaculate. Like the cleanest and most well taken care of sites I have ever seen. Everything was perfectly raked and swept prior to our arrival. *We didn’t use the restrooms, showers, or dish washing stations due to covid, so we can’t report on those. We did notice family restrooms, which is always welcomed with little ones! We walked around the loops, like we always do when camping, to make note of the best ones for future trips. There were too many to count! All the sites looked spacious (for state park standards), clean, and had plenty of mesquite trees (perfect for learning how to climb trees for the first time!) The hiking trails are aplenty and dog friendly. The caverns are a quick 5 min walk from the campsites. We didn’t visit due to covid, but in the future plan to visit the caves, discovery center, and cafe. Although the campsite seemed to be most occupied by snowbirds, it really is the perfect destination for families too! We can’t wait to go back!
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.
Legend
So everything in Tombstone is pretty much a theme draw trying to get you to spend a little but I will say that when we found this campground it was a little chuckle because all the different rows are named for different aspects of the western world which is known to be Tombstone. ( Like Lariat or Marshall)
What wasn't old though was the feel of the facility which had modern amenities such as a pool and nice restroom facility. I can only imagine in this area things are highly competitive so keeping to theme but also meeting needs of campers is very important.
Sure it is a little dusty like the west, but you are in Arizona so it can be expected.
They do have rustic accommodations and cabins for those wanting to get the real old west feel and also accommodate both RV and tent campers like myself which was really nice to find out. In fact there was an entire row just dedicated to the good old tent hombres (lol, we will keep in the western theme as well).
Everyone seemed very nice around camp and many were exploring in town at night at one of the many saloons and even asked us if we wanted to come with. They do offer a shuttle service as well for those not wanting to get swept up in the attempting to find a non-pay parking stop.
We paid $25 but had full service at the campground which also included laundry and ice availability without having to get in the car to find a different location. That combined with the pool made it worth every penny!
TIPS:
GuideHad a great experience here. We all enjoyed the super nice pool & hot tub.
They also had a neat cactus garden to walk through.
Shuffle board available too.
GuideThis is a well maintained facility. Friendly people. Close to Tucson. Cable and wifi. Pet friendly. Sites are close together but when we visited, we were spaced well.
TravelerTerrific views and close to needed amenities. Shower and bathrooms very clean.
RangerWe've now stayed here 3 separate times. The first time was pretty good. The second and third times, not as much. The shore power 30 amp showed reverse polarity and a faulty ground, so we used the 50 amp with a dog bone. The last time we stayed, we were given the same site and the electric had not been repaired...after reporting it 3 weeks prior! Oops. Next time...we may go elsewhere.
RangerConvenient location just off I-10. Had some great sunsets. Park facilities are clean but a little run down. It’s more of a mobile home park and RV park combined. Some permanent stationary mobile homes and some RV spots with lots of yard stuff that makes it look somewhat junky. Pull through sites are very close together but level enough with gravel and a patio pad with table and fire pit. Dog park is all dirt but large with fresh water. Laundry is $1.75 for a large load both washing and drying. Propane fill available. Workout room was minimal but kept cool. Cactus garden was nice.
ScoutBeen here a couple of months and have enjoyed it
Ranger
This campground was actually pretty good. it was better than I expected and my boyfriend actually didn't want to come to this one. There are 11 sites and are spaced pretty close together so privacy is a no in this campground. There is no supervision of these campgrounds so sometimes there is loud music playing. The sites are 10 dollars a night and some of the sites are near a creek which was filled with water when I was there. The site was a little dirty with cans and cigarette butts on the floor
GuideI have stayed there multiple times, and every time that i have people bring their dogs to run in the woods. No leashes and no poop bags. i have had to clean up stranger's dog poop in front of my tent.
LegendThis sky island campground in Mt Lemmon is perfect for a quick weekend getaway from Tucson. The weather here is 10-15 degrees cooler than the city. This campground is small, with tent sites tucked away between pine trees. A vaulted bathroom is at the center of the parking lot.
GuideGreat place for a weekend, I went with a couple a friends if you go prepared with winter gear you won’t be cold, hiking trails are great and near campsite. Great views.
ScoutThere are about 14 camp sights, some right by the little river that forms during snowfall. We camped at site 6, right across from the restrooms. Has some nice boulders to tuck your tent away in, and no really close neighbors. Seems like the rest of the sites you have neighbors right next to you, basically sharing a camp. We like to be as far away from others as possible lol. Light traffic in and out and the sites are right near the road. Decent spot for 20 dollars a night. We chose this spot because our normal spot at camp molina basin campground we closed for the summer
Scoutstayed 1 night here in December. we were 1 of 2 groups there so very peaceful. toilet was well maintained and stocked. there must have been a shooting range nearby because there were shooting noises from midnight to 3am. $20 per night.
GuideNo service on campground very nice place to get away and relax if the campground is busy sometimes it gets loud
Legend
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. The tent pads are not close together, giving you the privacy you need to retreat to your tent but still close to the amenities of the group site. Some sites are handicap accessible. A great place to beat the heat with family or scouts group. Hit up the town of Summerhaven for cookies and pizza at the cookie cabin.
ScoutThis site is actually about an hour further up toward Mt Lemmon. Search “Whitetail campground” to find it. All the roads in this area are gated off
RangerI don’t pay for camping too often but glad I did here. Just passing through on an AZ trip and decided to pay for a couple nights just to relax.
This CG is huge with 60+ sites (can’t remember exactly how many) however they do fill up quick prior to the weekend. It’s in a wonderful area off the Highway and feels quiet and peaceful. Hosts were excellent, bathrooms were clean, and everything else was about as perfect as it gets. Majority of people here were respectful and kept noise down so it was great to enjoy the surroundings.
Overall this is one of the better paid CGs I’ve been to and wouldn’t hesitate to stop here again
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Saguaro National Park?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Saguaro National Park is Tucson - Lazydays KOA with a 4.6-star rating from 48 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Saguaro National Park?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 glamping camping locations near Saguaro National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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