Saguaro National Park campsites sit at varied elevations, creating dramatically different camping experiences throughout the year. The Rincon Mountain District (east) offers higher elevation camping with temperatures typically 10-15°F cooler than the desert floor. Most dispersed camping areas near the park boundaries require vehicles with higher clearance, though several accessible sites can be reached with standard cars when driven with caution.
What to do
Hike the Arizona Trail: Spencer Canyon Campground serves as an excellent basecamp for accessing segments of the Arizona Trail. "There are many trails to choose from not too far from your camp (read up on hiking in high elevations though before you venture out)," advises one Spencer Canyon camper.
Cave exploration: Kartchner Caverns State Park Campground offers daily cave tours from their visitor center. "The park hosts the caverns and cave tours and a museum about the area. We are headed on a cave tour today! Nice trails surround the park and clearly marked for either hiking, bike or equestrian," notes a recent visitor.
Mountain biking: Redington Pass trails provide excellent riding opportunities for intermediate to advanced cyclists. "Mountain biking just up the road," reports one visitor who found the area "good for small RV or camper van" camping.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings at Catalina State Park offer prime viewing hours for desert wildlife. "We saw (and heard) coyote, prairie dogs, and a rattlesnake eating a prairie dog along a trail right behind our campground loop!" reports one camper about their unexpected wildlife encounter.
What campers like
Elevation escapes: Rose Canyon Campground offers significant temperature drops compared to Tucson. "This is the highest National Forest campground on Mount Lemmon and your best bet for cooler temps during the summer," notes one camper. Another visitor adds it's "a great getaway from the Arizona heat and close enough to Tucson for a 1-2 night weekend."
Dark skies: Kartchner Caverns State Park provides exceptional stargazing opportunities. "It's super dark at night, so sky viewing is great!" explains one reviewer. Another camper at Colossal Cave Mountain Park reports, "There was a full moon when we went, but I would imagine the stars are just brilliant out there on darker nights."
Access to water features: Despite the desert environment, several campsites offer access to water. "Rose canyon lake is stocked with trout for some easy and fun fishing and camping. Gets crowded during times when lake is stocked," notes one visitor. Another camper describes "hiking and spending about 3 nights" at Spencer Canyon where they could "read a book next to the stream."
Easy logistics: Happy Valley Saddle Campground provides backcountry access without extreme difficulty. "A moderate 4.6 mile hike after 16 miles on a dirt road. The hike up is BEAUTIFUL and not overly steep," reports a visitor who found the experience "exceeded expectations!"
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Redington Pass requires careful driving. "The road up is twisty and bumpy. I wouldn't suggest towing anything up this road, unless you're an experienced tower perhaps with OHV tires/capabilities," warns one reviewer.
Desert wildlife precautions: Multiple campgrounds report snake encounters. One Colossal Cave visitor advises, "Watch your step, we came across a Diamond Back Rattle Snake about 4 feet from our picnic bench."
Bear awareness: Spencer Canyon provides bear boxes at each site. "All sites have a large bear box, concrete picnic table, charcoal grill and an iron fire pit," reports a camper. Another notes that visitors should "DO NOT feed the bears, please; for their safety (Seriously; they'll get euthanized)."
Campground closures: Seasonal operations affect availability. Molino Basin Campground operates "early Nov-late Jun" while Rose Canyon runs "Apr 12 - Oct 26," requiring careful planning.
Tips for camping with families
Bathroom facilities: Tucson-Lazydays KOA Campground receives consistent praise for clean facilities. "Laundry room and showers were clean. RV sites were spacious in my opinion," notes one visitor. Another camper adds, "Your kids will never complain of boredom here. There is an unlimited amount of activities to keep them occupied."
Tent site selection: For tent camping, investigate site features before setting up. At Catalina State Park, one visitor notes: "I had plenty of location options within the site for setting up my tent, but had to choose carefully, as to not sleep atop an access hole to the round-tailed ground squirrel burrows that are in abundance throughout the campground."
Fire restrictions: Check current fire regulations before arrival. One camper at Colossal Cave Mountain Park reported being told upon arrival that "there were fire restrictions in place so we wouldn't be allowed to have a fire" despite website information indicating otherwise.
Tips from RVers
Size considerations: Redington Pass dispersed camping works best for smaller vehicles. "Didn't look like it'd be very comfortable to pitch a tent on the ground, probably best for small RVs and camper vans," notes one visitor. Another adds: "I wouldn't recommend larger trailers or RVs to travel too far up the trail, we've seen them get stuck trying to turn around."
Hookup availability: Catalina SP provides partial hookups at reasonable rates. "Price of $30/night +$5 booking fee was very reasonable for RV Electric and water hookups for the stay," reports one RVer. "Electric and water hookups were available at our site (30) in the B Loop. No sewer hookups and the dump stations were crowded when we left at 11:45am on checkout day."
Weather preparation: Significant temperature fluctuations require planning. "Water pipes at the campground froze overnight on an evening where temps barely touched 32 degrees. They were defrosted and flowing by 8:30am," explains a winter camper at Catalina State Park.
