Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Surprise, AZ is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Surprise, AZ. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
Happy Endings Retreat is an amazing place to relax and enjoy nature! Off the beaten path and out of cell phone range, you can truly get “away from it all” here! The property is just 10 miles from beautiful Lake Pleasant and in the thick of prime hiking and miles of UTV roads. Do you prefer quieter activities? Contemplate nature in Hell’s Vinyard – where we have begun the process of renovating the 100-year-old vines or just sit by the pool. We are working hard to create a place for others to retreat and escape the city.
Owners Kevin & Scott have been best friends for years and when this property came up, they knew it would be a great fit for two creative movie producers who love camping, hiking, and shooting. They are dedicated to developing Happy Endings Retreats’ 100 acres as an affordable place for people to enjoy the outdoors. You are sure to enjoy yourself and you won’t believe the view!
Cave Creek Group Site is located 20 miles north of Cave Creek and Carefree, Arizona. It is a historic campground constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This site is a short drive from the blistering heat of Phoenix offering cooler temps, a clear running creek, and plentiful shade to relax and enjoy nature. With food prep areas, grills and covered picnic tables, you're all set for a weekend with your loved ones you'll never forget!
At this site you'll enjoy camping, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, exploring, bird and wildlife viewing, and there is even a game area for volleyball and horseshoes.
At this site you'll enjoy camping, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, exploring, bird and wildlife viewing, and there is even a game area for volleyball and horseshoes.
This group campsite is nestled in a narrow valley of juniper and sycamore trees providing abundant shade. Water flowing through seven springs is minimal and only several inches in depth. The area has one large open camping area and a nearby trailhead offering access to over 48 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Bring your camera during springtime to get photos of the desert wildflowers in bloom.
Across the road, Cave Creek trailhead offers over 48 miles of hiking trails - great for overnight backpacking trips. Bronco Trailhead further south, offers parking for 40 vehicles plus trailers and six horse pens. Just seven miles south is Sears-Kay ruin. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this site features the remains of an ancient Native American tribe's hilltop village. For spectacular scenic views take Forest Road 562 to Humboldt Mountain. Or, you can simply stay on site and observe nature and hunt for crawdads in the nearby creek.
$150 / night
Mesquite Horseshoe Reservoir and Verde River are nearby. Opportunities abound for water activities such as fishing. This site is located along Verde River and is wooded with large mesquite shade trees. Bald eagles and great blue herons are frequently seen in this vicinity.
We liked it there. Nobody else on Friday night, plenty of space
The typical rumble strip dirt road to this point but easily doable.
Service: 1 bar Verizon
Miles of desert and washes to explore with tons of dispersed camping sites. Can get busy on holiday or event weekends but worth it otherwise. Some weekends have horse or Dirtbike events. Nearby washes lead to tons of trails near castle hot springs that can lead to various abounded mine sites (including Anderson Mill). Obviously not ideal camping in the summer but GREAT for the fall/winter/spring months.
I have tried to contact the ranch and got no response. I assume they aren't in business anymore.
If you are wanting to explore go here its nice and you can make all time of memories. Nice place to explore
Spent two nights in January. Facilities were clean round the clock, shower water was hot, staff friendly , and hiking trails directly from the campground.
Very well kept full service campground with super helpful staff. I recommend sites with canopies if you don't have solid air conditioning as it can get hot in the sun and there's very little natural shade. All sites have power and water. There's a dual lane dump station on the way out of the park.
We stored our RV here for several years and they were easy to deal with. No hassles. The RV Park itself is nice and has a swimming pool and a little social area where they have game nights and parties.
Scott and Kevin have a great piece of property they love To share! Located in a valley of the Bradshaw mountains just about and hour and a half from Phoenix, this is an awesome getaway- away from it all. I boondocked for a couple days and enjoyed the quiet solitude of the canyon, enjoyed hiking, and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It’s a rocky dirt road to get here, but my class C rv easily made it- and I’ve taken it in worse roads. Well worth the effort, give this place a try! thanks Kevin and Scott!
Ashley here with The Dyrt. I had the pleasure of helping Kevin & Scott get their property listed with us. These two are dedicated to making this experience the best possible one for their guests. Lounge at the lake, hike in the fields, or relax in their renovated vineyard. Give them try and share your experience here!
This is a very well-kept campground. It is has restrooms and showers. The sites are nice and mostly flat and nicely groomed. The staff here is very friendly and helpful! I really enjoyed it and I will be back. I have a virtual job and I was able to work from this campground with no real issues with network connectivity for a full week.
Love camping love fission love having a fire when I’m able to in the winter doesn’t matter that rains or if it snows love camping give me some good spots and I’ll be there
General: Located less than an hour from Phoenix, this campground is an easy getaway. There are two campgrounds: The Family Campground (40 sites) with water and 30/50 amp electric hookups and the more“rustic” Willow Canyon Campground (19 sites) with no hookups. This campground is good for tents, campervans, or small (16 feet or less) trailers. There was a gate attendant when we checked in around 6 pm on a Monday and we were given an information packet with information on the campground, nearby facilities in the town of Surprise, and trails, which was very helpful considering we were not familiar with the area.
Site Quality: We stayed in the Family Campground so we could take advantage of the electric hookups. The sites are gravel, a good size, well-maintained, and spaced a decent amount of distance apart. Some are pull-through and some back-in. In addition to the aforementioned water and electric hookups, each site also has a picnic table, bbq grill, and fire pit. Some have covered picnic shelters but not all. Most of these also have space for tents.
Bathhouse: Is located in the center of the loop and was clean. Sites on the inside have paths leading to the bathhouse but if you are on the outside of the loop, access is via a path between sites 34 and 36 or sites 11 and 13. Three stalls, one sink, and one shower. One sink is not really adequate for 40 sites, but I did not encounter more than one other person at a time. Soap dispenser, rack, and air dryer. The way the water faucets are is wasteful: once you turn them on, they run for quite some time before turning off. Hot water was appreciated. Did not use the shower so cannot comment on that.
Activities: Several hiking trails. The most popular one is the waterfall trail, but you need to drive to the trailhead for this. It is paved for the first half mile (shortly after the petroglypghs) and then it is a rocky, gravel path. The waterfall only runs after heavy rain (I would think this would make access very challenging). There was water in the “pool” and it is scenic so it was worthwhile to go despite no running falls. There are restrooms, a picnic area and a playground near this trailhead. Some of the other trails are used by mountain bikers or horseback riders. The information you receive at check-in details the usage for each trail.
This campground was mainly an overnight as we continued to head west but I am glad we took the time to hike the waterfall trail before leaving. If you need groceries or other supplies, the town of Surprise, about 8 miles to the east, would have everything you need. Note there is a nearby air force base and you will hear jets flying by, although this was during daylight hours.
I did not stay here because this is a 55 and older community. Seems strange to have it on an app like this. I am writing this review so others can see that this is a community for retirees. Looks nice from the website
Super regional campground in the west Phoenix area. Clean hot showers and bathrooms. Solid mtb and hiking trails in the park.
Beautiful Sonoran desert camping- spacious and clean. Easy access to trails. Fire pits and cement picnic tables at every site. Gravel drives.
This park is quite large and has many camping options: day passes, tent camping, semi-developed sites, and fully-developed sites with awnings for big rigs.
There are many hiking trails too, for every level of difficulty.
The nature is splendid, with hummingbirds, chipmunks, and plenty of chollas and prickly pear cactai.
The ambience is quite festive, much more than what I am used to (although the noise may be due to the fact I went on NASCAR weekend).
Clean, well spaced camping just outside of Phoenix!
I love these sites, they seem to really embody the AZ southwest camping experience for me. Our site had a view of a trail where we watched equestrians ride by sporadically throughout the evening. We saw some snakes, coyotes, and other wildlife. This is a very nice site, and a quick drive from Phoenix.
My husband and I have camped here occasionally for several years and we have always loved it, for the most part. Until fairly recently when it began to get more popular and crowded. People will tend to set up camp almost on top of your site and persist to blast music throughout the night or be extremely loud and even more so, extremely dirty. We have always looked forward to our quiet nights away from usual civilization and would stay awake to hear the coyotes howl, along with the rest of the wildlife. But it is getting extremely difficult to enjoy ourselves lately. I understand that some people like to go party there but why they assume the whole camping area and wildlife want to hear their blasting music all night... Is beyond disrespectful. Besides that, they messes, garbage, and filth they leave behind is horrendous. It makes my heart sad and I can only imagine how it is affecting nature and the campsite itself. If you go on weekdays, you have a better chance of having a peaceful getaway. Overall, it is beautiful and serene. We catch plenty of fish and enjoy some time on the lake with our boat. The marina is accessible to guests and is decently stocked with basic needs and supplies, as well as basic groceries. It's a shame that we are limited on places we can camp like true campers, because others can't appreciate the idea of truly "roughing it" or basic camping. We have built many good memories there and try to enjoy ourselves as much as we can. It is most beautiful in spring months.
This was better than expected. The sites are far enough apart that you have enough room to spread out. You don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbors. Site hosts are really nice as well, we arrived after the front closed so he made sure we got settled and found everything we needed the next day.
Reservations were handled smoothly over the phone by very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Great scenic area! Sites are spacious and set for easy parking and setup. Plenty of room for 33’ Class C with toad Jeep. Will definitely return!
Great place! Hosts were friendly and very helpful!
While I prefer to be further out, sometimes it’s nice to be somewhere with all the services. I have a pretty basic self-converted camper van. Showers, dump station, electric and water hookups here. Gated at night, feels safe. Surrounded by homes but for its proximity to town its sunset views are fab. Close to a Frys and Home Depot. My onlllly reason for 4/5 stars is the surrounding homes have very noisy dogs. But overall this is pretty perfect for being so close to real life!
They closed in 2019
Great campsites off the forest road. Amazing views of the mountains. Cement picnic table and fire ring provided. Basic bathrooms available. Steep decline into the river right next to the sites. About 10-15 sites available, first come, first served. Pretty secluded and private. Travel to the dam and reservoir for great water views!
Well maintained facility just outside of the quaint little town of Cave Creek. Lots of room between sites, which each have a picnic table in a beautiful desert landscape. Campground host and museum staff were all super friendly.
Cave Creek Regional Park was our first experience in Maricopa County parks and it's an amazing park. The park is very well-kept and brimming with ways to enjoy the landscape.
Our site was level and spacious with easy access for our 50' of truck and toy hauler. The bathrooms and showers were always clean and we never encountered a line or wait to use them, even in peak season which was a surprise.
I'm thoroughly impressed by the park system. It's very well run and drive-throughs by the county deputies multiple times give an added sense of safety and security. Multiple camp hosts keep things running smoothly.
The price point for partial hookups would normally be a negative in other places. But given how wonderful these parks are, the free showers, dump station, and the popularity of the park system, it's reasonable.
The reservation system can be cumbersome if you're trying to piece together your stay since you reserve specific spaces and you sometimes have to move within the park to get the nights needed for your visit. But it is doable but definitely reserve well in advance since they are in such high demand at certain times of the year.
Camping near Surprise, Arizona, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a place to park your RV, there are plenty of options to explore.
Hiking and Biking: There are numerous trails for hiking and biking. For example, at Usery Mountain Regional Park, one camper mentioned, "There are mountain bike trails connected to this campground that were very fun!" Another reviewer added, "This is our third time here. There are tons of trails and the views are awesome."
Exploring History: Check out the nearby Lost Dutchman State Park. One visitor shared, "Immerse yourself in the legendary lore of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine," highlighting the park's rich history.
Water Activities: At Lake Pleasant Regional Park Campground, you can enjoy fishing and boating. A reviewer noted, "The views from my spot were pretty epic. Relaxed and fished off the shoreline."
Camping around Surprise, Arizona, offers a variety of experiences, from scenic views to family-friendly activities. Whether you're in an RV or tent, there's something for everyone!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Surprise, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Surprise, AZ is White Tank Mountain with a 4.6-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Surprise, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 glamping camping locations near Surprise, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
