Escape into nature and disconnect from daily life with glamping near Tonto National Forest. Glamping near Tonto National Forest is especially popular among campers who enjoy beds and electricity. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right Arizona glamping spot for you.
The campground has 138 sites: 68 sites with electric (50/30/20 amp service) and water and the remainder non-hookup sites on paved roads for tents or RVs. Every site has a picnic table and a fire pit with an adjustable grill gate. There are no size restrictions on RVs. Well-mannered pets on leashes are welcome, but please pick after your pets. The office at Lost Dutchman is open until 7 p.m. for campsite check-in, but after hours (with campsite reservations) you can grab a map by the ranger station and head straight to your campsite! If you are staying multiple nights, check-in with the camp host, or a ranger to get a vehicle tag.
$25 - $89 / night
Located on central Arizona's largest lake, Windy Hill offers great water recreation opportunities to the public. Because of its close proximity to the Lake, Windy Hill allows fishing, non-motorized and motorized boating, along with hiking trails. There are plenty of developed campsites available at Windy Hill, which allows for an easy, quick escape during any time of the year for families and individuals.
Fishing is popular activity where anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish species, such as Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass; Crappie; Sunfish; Channel and Flathead Catfish. This campground is also situated right on the shore of Roosevelt Lake which is open to boating, kayaking, and other water-related activites. A fully accessible boat ramp and fishing dock are available for easy lake access, and maps and other important site details can be found at the kiosks at the entrance to the campground.
Two National Scenic Byways (AZ Hwy 88 Apache Trail and AZ Hwy 288 Spines to Pines Highway). Roosevelt Dam, Tonto National Monument, the Arizona Trail, endless miles of jeep trails, Towns of Payson and Globe, Superstition, Sierra Ancha, and Four Peaks Wilderness'. Don't forget to stop by the Tonto Basin Environmental Center learn about the history of the area.
$25 - $50 / night
Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just one mile north of Payson, Arizona and less than two hours from Phoenix. With family, equestrian and tent-only campsites, this campground can accommodate a range of visitors and offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors, including several miles of hiking and horseback riding trails nearby. As the fifth largest forest in the United States, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited "urban" forests in the United States (approximately 5.8 million visitors annually). Its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations to the east.
Many visitors come to Houston Mesa to horseback ride, hike, camp and picnic. Houston Mesa Loop Trail is a 9-mile round trip through a pinyon and juniper woodland and can be accessed from the horse camping area. The Houston Mesa Interpretive Trail is a 0.5-mile self-guided trail.
The campground is located at an elevation of 5,200 ft. in a mixed forest and shrub area, with spacious campsites offering both sun and shade. Winters are pleasant and cool with cold nighttime temperatures, while summers are warm and sunny, providing a nice getaway from the hotter deserts around Phoenix. Hawks, eagles, javelina, deer, fox, skunk and coyote live in the area.
Campers who make the quick trip to the town of Payson, one mile south, will find restaurants, shopping and other conveniences. Scenic driving and outdoor recreation abound in the surrounding Tonto National Forest, which embraces almost 3 million acres of rugged and spectacularly beautiful country, ranging from saguaro cactus-studded desert to pine-forested mountains beneath the Mogollon Rim.
For facility specific information, please call (928) 474-7900.
$20 - $170 / night
Pioneer Pass Pioneer is a large site composed of dispersed campgrounds located in the Globe Ranger District of Tonto National Forest. Set in the cool Pinal Mountains South of Pioneer Pass is the Squaw Springs Trail that leads to Pinal Peak along with the East Mountain Trail. These trails are fun for nature viewing, day hikes, and family outings. ACTIVITIES Camping: 23 camp units with tables and fire pit grills Picnicking: tables and fire pit grills available
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.
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.
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
Scout
Lost Dutchman is one of the best campsites to wake up in. One of my favorite trails in Arizona.
ScoutThis is one of many outstanding Arizona State Parks. Sites are clean and most level with mix of electric and non electric. Suggest you make reservations well ahead for busy winter months!
Traveler
This site is well kept and spacious. And the closest site to Water Wheel which is about ten miles away and Arizona’s best kept secret. I usually set up camp the afternoon before and get up early to make the drive to Water Wheel and get in a day hike. This place has extraordinary water falls and swimming holes. I have probably camped at Mesa Houston more than any other place in Arizona just so I can hike Water Wheel and have never had a negative experience. Payson is beautiful and this camp site is near amenities and great hiking spots.
RangerArizona State Park campgrounds are generally developed to maximize profit at the cost of minimizing camper experience. Lost Dutchman offers one bath house to service five or six loops of campsites piled one on top of the other. Because there are so many sites, the campground is managed like a military operation with untold Numbers of rules and regulations to understand and follow. If you fail to follow, a Ranger will be by to repremand and straighten you out. Coyoties are bold here and will enter your camp even if barking dogs attempt to deter. I reserved four nights but left after two. Tortilla Flat SP up in the Superstition Mountains NEAR Canyon Lake or BLM/National Forest dispersed camping is tmore to my liking.
Scout
For every good thing there was a bad. We stayed at Coyote Loop. You can’t fish from the shore because all the dead trees that go out about 10 feet along the entire shore (awesome if you have a boat; I guess). I expected lots of generators and the sound that it makes, myself included. I didn’t expect three campsites to be taken up by the same group of people and here F-bombs all night till 10 o’clock. Then people turn high power lamps on you and everyone for long periods of time because they can afford expensive toys but not a simple flashlight. It was peaceful at 10:00pm and we could hear the lake wildlife. Maybe not a good place to take children. 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, a devining rod, and a map of the stars. Don’t bother asking the site Camp Host because his directions were equally as cryptic; if you can find them at all. I and to wait to get home and map it so here it is:
PQJV+2J Tonto Basin, Arizona
GuideWe've camped at Houston Mesa Campground several times and consistently have a fantastic experience. Here's why we give it 5 stars:
Amazing Staff: The camp hosts are incredibly friendly and helpful, adding to the welcoming atmosphere.
Spacious Sites: We love the ample space at each campsite, allowing us to park comfortably and spread out for a relaxing stay. Our kids adore playing in the dirt and exploring the trees.
Nature's Playground: The campground's proximity to swimming holes, hiking trails, and the charming town of Payson provides endless opportunities for exploration and adventure. Serene Setting: The abundance of trees creates a peaceful and shady environment, perfect for escaping the Arizona sun.
Clean Facilities: The bathrooms are well-maintained and clean, ensuring a comfortable stay.
Dry Camping Friendly: We appreciate the ability to dry camp at Houston Mesa, making it a budget-friendly option.
Heads Up: While Verizon service isn't optimal, it's manageable. Additionally, campsites near the freeway can experience some road noise. However, the convenience of having Home Depot and Walmart nearby outweighs these minor drawbacks. Overall, Houston Mesa Campground is a fantastic choice for families and outdoor enthusiasts seeking a comfortable and scenic camping experience. We highly recommend it and will definitely be back soon!
RangerBeautiful retreat in the Arizona forest. Saw many different birds while there, especially hawks. Could smell skunks but none seen at the campground. Was warned by rangers that bears had been spotted in the area, so keep that in mind with food and trash.
Each site I saw had a good amount of space and wasn't right next to other campsites. We were lucky and got shade in our campsite. Plenty of hiking opportunities nearby, and a caves not too far away.
The restroom facilities were clean and included flush toilets. Showers were available for $3 (coin operated).
Gear Review: This contains a review of the LuminAID Packlight 16 and the LuminAID Packlight Spectra, which were provided to me free of charge***
LuminAID's lanterns are a gamechanger. Seriously. They are incredibly lightweight, bright, float when inflated, and most amazingly are solar powered.
The Packlight 16 resembles a pillow and has several settings depending on how bright you want it. I was able to read a book with the Packlight 16 hanging from the ceiling of my tent. Everyday I set it outside to charge for a couple hours and have yet to see it run out of energy, even when left on the dimmest setting for several hours.
The Packlight Spectra is a fun little box shaped lantern that has seven colors (including white) and a color-changing mode (see the video I included in this review). The first color is red, which is nice when you don't want to scrub your nightvision.
I'll definitely be ordering these for my friends. They are great for hiking and the perfect addition to an emergency kit (when folded the Packlight 16 is about the size and weight of an emergency poncho).
ScoutIf you love the Sonoran desert landscape, this will be one of the most beautiful parks you will ever have been to.
ScoutDon’t miss this beautiful place
ScoutI love the campground. Right at the Superstition mountain!
RangerWe got what I think was literally the best spot in the camp. It was busy when we went but not super full every night. Great system of hiking and biking trails for all levels. Some spots have Water and Power. We boondocked it. About 15 minutes away from a grocery if you needed it.
ScoutLove this place. It's our go to when we want to get away but don't have a lot of time to drive far.
GuideNestled right at the base of the Superstition Mountains - this is a great location that is close to excellent hiking and riding. Also close to a unique drive out to Canyon Lake! For the very fit cyclist you can ride from this location out this lake. It's an amazing and very challenging ride indeed..!
This park is large with serveral loop type campgrounds
Campsite is clean and very easy to reserve ahead of time on the supported website which is very easy to use and see all the items open.
Extra bonus for this Campground, should you need to, you can cancel your reservation up to 1-2 days out.
GuideThis is an amazing place yo camp and hike. The views of thd mountains at sunset is surreal. Immaculately maintained. Water and electrical hookups as well as tent camping dry spots. Very hot in the summer but heavenly in the winter.
Legend4/23-26, 2019 Had a great time. See pictures and at-a-glance details in RV Camping Journal pictured here.
GuideThis is by far one of the prettiest AZ state parks I have camped at and I've been to most of them. This place is only about 30 minutes from my house, how lucky am I!
I was there in late January and the weather was comfy in the day and cool- cold at night. It is a very windy place, so make sure to tie everything down and have some sort of wind shelter in the afternoon if your not hiking and just hanging out at camp. The hiking is plentiful, the people around are nice, the views are awesome and there are plenty of wild life to see. Going back in November... Can't wait
RangerOne of the most striking campsites I’ve ever been to. We were at site 135 which isn’t on a loop but rather off the main road but that wasn’t a drawback. It was a short walk on a path to the flush toilets and showers from our spot too which was a plus. Water there too. We were tent camping with two young kids (2 and 4) and this was a great spot for that. The pull in wasn’t very long FYI. Rangers were nice, sold ice and other items at the camp store. Only drawback was the signs to find your loop/site were a bit confusing but it could be because we’d never been there before. 😜
GuideThis is one of the better campgrounds. An amazing location, spacious spots, water and electric, all for a reasonable price.
What a view!
TravelerBeautiful sunset, amazing view of moon rising over mountains. Heard some coyotes in the night, which was exciting. Enjoyed hiking the trails and exploring the landscape.
RangerBeautiful views here, they have both water/electric sites plus dry campsites, all have views with picnic tables and fire ring grill grate. It had been 110 days since rain when we first arrived, so no fires first couple days, but they got rain yesterday 12/10/20 so we can have fires again. This is desert camping, the birds and everything in desert is happy about the rain. Goldfield old mining town is across the street, worth a visit as well for old western town lovers 1883 I believe. Route 88 will carry you through beautiful curvy mountain road over to canyon lake and Tortilla flats, well worth the drive. Lots of hiking from Lost Dutchman State Park. We have seen rabbits, roadrunners, doves, quail and a number other birds, early morning and evening hikes you will see plenty of creatures feeding off the desert. The Saguro cactus are incredible.
RangerOne of our favorite AZ state parks...well maintained, great shower house, can't beat the views, and fantastic access to hiking, biking and OHV areas.
ScoutGreat place to camp. Nice clean sites and beautiful views.
TravelerI camped for the first time and had incredible views of the majestic and iconic Superstition mountains. I brought my cat Mango and we had an amazing time! The staff is friendly and not intrusive. I had an amazing time, and will definitely go back.
ScoutGreat camp spots and beautiful views
RangerLost Dutchman State Park - what an amazing place.
Campgrounds are really well maintained, easy to navigate, level and all of the services worked flawlessly.
Hiking was amazing and there were trails to last weeks for people at all levels. The Superstitions make a beautiful backyard from which to relax and appreciate the beauty. The camp hosts were friendly and attentive. All amenities were kept up beautifully.
Will definately be back.
ScoutWe stayed for 1 night. Sites we well kept and clean bathrooms. Great views and tons of trails to explore. Only negative is sites or Kona close together and you can hear your neighbors.
Guidemy family and I did a 2 day camping trip to the lost Dutchman. We all had a blast! The staff was super friendly, everybody we came into contact with was super friendly. We had a great view of the superstition mountains 👍🏿. The bathrooms, and showers was kept clean. I would definitely camp here again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Tonto National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Tonto National Forest is Lost Dutchman State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 83 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 16 glamping camping locations near Tonto National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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