Tonto National Forest is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Arizona camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Tonto National Forest, AZ. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
$20 / night
"Rode the scenic Apache Trail Arizona route 88 looking for some BLM land. Couldn’t find a flat place to pull over. Grateful to find a campground near the end of 88."
"The road is close by, but you don’t hear much of anything after dark. "
$20 - $40 / night
"There still was plenty of room I was at campsite 64 still had a nice view of the lake and a short walk to it."
"Fishing within walking distance. Bathrooms are clean and a water spiket/faucet available."
"Enjoyed our December visit to Lake Marina campsite 201. Will say campsites are close together. Awesome families close to us made it fun."
"So if you had sleepless because of noise and did not call for assistants shame.on you not canyon lake. The gentleman i checked in with would corrected the situation."
$10 - $80 / night
"Don't park near the gate, the sound from the road can get really loud. 6 am every morning a helicopter comes overhead it's extremely loud, just so you know."
"This is a nice, clean spot close to town and lots of outdoor activities! We saw some of the most beautiful sunsets and cacti here. The road is a little sketchy but was passable in our 19’ trailer."
"Almost an urban park just due to it's proximity to the city of Mesa, Usery park offers great tent camping, group campsites, as well as RV Sites with Electric and Water hookups."
"Outstanding layout, great hosts, spectacular location. "
$25 - $50 / night
"Cholla Recreation Site is located on Theodore Roosevelt Lake, central Arizona’s largest lake."
"Spent 3 nights with my 2 dogs and it was great!"
"It has a small dog park but it gets the job done. The people in the park are very nice and the staff are extremely kind and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here."
"Standard KOA amenities of pool, hot tub, playground, and dog park. We’d stay again."
"But all that aside, it was a beautiful, peaceful drive! Just don't do it in the dark."
"It's the kind of resort where you plan to spend all day on the lake and come back to a shower and a real bed. You can choose to camp in your tent/RV or start in the motel."
"It's on BLM land, so you are out of the reach of the Arizona Land Permits.
The road is a bit tricky."
"It’s got great views of the mountains, TONS of awesome trails to walk/ride love the access to the little ghost town nearby."
"Check this out: https://youtu.be/75aOgtrnB44
If you are self-contained, or follow LNT principles, continue up the Apache Trail to the summit between the west side and the east."
"Great to go on hike or to lake after.
Went a second time and took a 4x4 trail to get a more isolated spot"
GuideIn Tonto National Forest Close to Phoenix located near Bartlett Reservoir Fire Rings and Picnic Tables at some sites next to Verde River below Bartlett Dam
GuideLocation in Tonto National Forest You need Tonto Pass at bottom off Bartlett Reservoir Dam some sites have Picnic Tables & Fire Rings located next to Verde River
LegendThis camping area is on Saguaro Lake and only offers boat-in camping. You'll need a Tonto National forest permit with watercraft sticker. It's beautiful here. The lake itself can be crowded but I think it's worth a chance, especially considering most are coming for day use. Nearby you can do Salt Water River Tubing or visit the (now second) tallest fountain in the world at Fountain Hills. Once you get off the highway, the drive down is beautiful. The water always looks so blue and seeing wild horses is almost a guarantee!
RangerBox Bar shoreline is located right on the verde fiver. The parking/camping is about two minutes walking distance from the river.
We didn’t camp, just came down for the day. This is a fun spot to swim and picnic. This is free and not on Tonto National Forest, so you don’t need a Tonto Pass.
Fire restrictions are in place. There are no facilities other than three port-a-potty’s. Only 45 minutes from Mesa. We usually go to the salt river but I noticed that this area and water is much cleaner!
RangerAlmost an urban park just due to it's proximity to the city of Mesa, Usery park offers great tent camping, group campsites, as well as RV Sites with Electric and Water hookups. Dump station on site.
Usery is a great jumping off point for hiking in the National Forest. There is an extensive trail network both in the park and connected to the Tonto National Forest. One of the most popular is Wind Cave Trail.
There is also a world class Archery Range here. There is a usage fee of about $2 (at time of this writing) on top of your park entry fee, but kids are free.
ScoutThis is a nice day use spot. Has clean restrooms, ample parking and ramadas for group activities. Handicap ramp with swimming beach access that motorized boats are not allowed to enter. Beautiful desert mountain view. No hook ups or drinkable water. Bring your own. Also a Tonto National Forest use permit placard is needed. Placards are for sale at many Az merchants like Circle K's in Cave Creek which you pass through on the way there for $8 or for $12 at local ranger station and marina. Good boat ramp for launching nearby.
LegendDrive through the town of Gold Canyon AZ, and you quickly leave behind the sprawl of suburban Phoenix, but embrace the sprawling landscape of the Sonoran Desert which is brimming with life in the spring. The unpaved road leads to multiple pull-offs and side roads where you can find the perfect spot to tuck away and camp for as long as you like. Embrace the sun and bring your solar panels and plenty of cold drinks -- you'll be rewarded with amazing sunrises and sunsets and all the peace and quiet you can stand. You may get lucky and find some partial shade under a Palo Verde, too.
Though adjacent to Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountains Wilderness Area, the camping along Peralta Rd. is on Arizona State Lands. Use of this land, for any reason or purpose, requires a special individual permit. These annual permits are available online, https://asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/ and cost $20 (plus $1 online processing fee). The permit is good for 1 year (deal of the century!) and allows access to any other Arizona State Lands where a permit is required.
While there are no services available at any of the camping spots, water, gas, or groceries are a short drive back into town. The hiking, and biking opportunities are amazing right around camp via the numerous and unlabeled OHV trails, or a short drive to the Peralta Canyon trailhead. This Forest Service parking area requires either a Tonto Pass, or Interagency Pass, or$10 day pass (available through a self-pay kiosk) serves as the start of many trails that will lead you into the gorgeous Superstition Mountains. Both the road, parking areas and trails are super busy on the weekends, so plan accordingly. During the popular hiking months, Forest Service Volunteers will regulate the parking area, so don't think that you'll get away without buying a pass. The ticket is more expensive.
LegendWe were not impressed with this USDA Forest Service operated campground. There are better places to stay in the Tonto National Forest area. I’d only stay here again if everything else was full.
It was toilets. That was about it. No cell service either (T-Mobile). No water or trash. Pack it in, pack it out. There are also some protests going on in the area right now. The land is sacred to Western Apache tribes and it might be opened up to copper mining.
The picnic tables and fire pits are nice. I highly recommend driving along the Gila-Pinal Scenic Route. Breath taking vistas.
GuideOak Flat is a Forest Service campground in the Tonto National Forest and is about 90 minutes from Phoenix. It's a short distance off a windy mountain highway which means it's easy to get to but traffic can be heard from camp. (Luckily it's not a busy interstate and traffic is pretty infrequent at night.) It's not spectacular location but there are decent views of the oak scrub desert surrounding the camp.
There are a handful of campsites with picnic tables and firepits, plus several flat and open areas for RVs or tent cities. Some sites are open and others have a few shady tree for hammocks, slacklines, and more. There is a bathroom which was clean and well-stocked with toilet paper, despite the campground being quite full when I stayed here for a few nights in April. There is no water, however, so be prepared with as much as you'll need. The elevation is just shy of 4,000' which means nights are typically a few degrees cooler than in the Phoenix area.
There are no hiking trails from the campground but there is a network of dirt roads which take you back into the desert scrub oak forest and through hundreds of bouldering problems of all levels. Just a few miles away, however, the Arizona Trail crosses the highway and heads north into the Superstition Wilderness.
This campsite is pretty basic but is a good place to kill some time, especially given that it's free! It's also a great place to set up your base camp if you want to do some bouldering.
Discovering pet-friendly camping options near Tonto National Forest in Arizona allows you to enjoy the great outdoors alongside your furry friends. With a variety of well-reviewed campgrounds, you can find the perfect spot for a memorable adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Tonto National Forest is Tortilla Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.
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