Best Tent Camping near Topawa, AZ

Recent Tent Reviews near Topawa, Arizona

128 Reviews of 4 Topawa Campgrounds

• P

  Pamela

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 13, 2020

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Very Nice

  My grandson and I stayed in a tent campsite for two nights. There are only a 5 tent sites and they don't have a tent pad. After two passes we were able to find a site with a smooth spot without rocks for the tent, B5, a picnic table but no shade. I felt there could have been more bathrooms and water spickets but honestly I did not do much walking in the campground. It is the quiet time of year, before snowbirds come, so we were able to have our pick of electric or not sites. It was quiet; I think three trailers and one other tenter. No generators allowed and 7 day strict limit. The coyotes were very vocal at night, which I enjoyed.This is more of an RV campground but suited us fine for two days. We interacted with the hosts and they were very nice. We explored the trails, visitor center and Sonora Desert Museum, which we loved. Thirty minute drive to Tucson. We went to the Reid Park Zoo, which we thoroughly enjoyed; LOTS of animals for a small zoo. We drove the loop in East Saguaro National Park. Some things closed in West Saguaro park so be aware of that, like Old Tucson, but we found lots to do.

• L

  Loren O.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 20, 2024

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Organized and clean tent camping

  Loved this spot for a night. Practically in the NP, hard to tell the park bounds of Saguaro. Camp hosts were orderly and extremely friendly and available. Grounds were tidy! Bathrooms were clean. Felt really safe as a solo camper. Tent only sites are secluded to themselves. I was in B2 and I’d book that one or B3 if I ever go back. This tent site cluster has a little shade whereas the other two tent sites down the road are pretty exposed.

• 

  Wanderer

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 19, 2020

  Bueno Aires National Wildlife Refuge

  Lots of choices for dispersed

  Great place, if you don't mind occasional helicopters and A10 Warthogs in the distance. Lots of places to choose from for RV and tent camping. The road is a little rough but definitely done in a passenger car. Nights are beautiful.

• 

  Ashton J.

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 21, 2021

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Love this place!!!

  This was the second time my husband and I have stayed here. We first tent camped here in September 2020, it wasn’t busy and there were maybe 3 other people in the whole camp. When we were traveling this past time though Arizona we stopped again because we loved it so much last time. This trip we were in our RV and it was during busy season, but we still loved it just as much! You can’t beat the views and it was only $20/night for full hook ups! We will be back!

• A

  Allison B.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 7, 2021

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Surrounded by Saguaros 🌵

  This campground was great. We were only there one night passing through, but found everything we needed. We were on the west side and had a great view of the gorgeous sunset. There were a few tent sites but overall it seems oriented to RVs/vans, etc. Great facilities, too. While we weren’t working those days, there was a good AT&T signal. I would definitely stay longer if in the area!

• 

  Deborah C.

  Ranger

  

  May. 17, 2019

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Gilbert Ray Campground , May, 2019

  May, 2019 we visited Saguaro National Park near Tucson AZ. We had planned to hike into the park at one of their few campgrounds but the office informed us that there was a controlled burn and recommended we not stay in the park and suggested Gilbert Ray as a good option. Gilbert Ray Campground is a great location for visiting the National Park. We arrived to find the office closed for the summer, so self serve option was available, at 10.00 per night for tent camping you can’t beat the price. The bathrooms were clean and as an added plus they have a dishwashing station. We stayed in the A loop. There are no showers and the campsite it all gravel making it next to impossible to put a tent stake in. The sites are fairly close together, for example, I could hear our neighbor unzip his tent. All sites have picnic tables. Cell service is good.

• 

  Melissa H.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 10, 2019

  Bueno Aires National Wildlife Refuge

  Beautiful secluded area

  Sites available for groups, RVs, tents, etc. No restrooms, but well maintained roads. Lots of border patrol. Hiking, hunting, off roading allowed.

• 

  Robert S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 26, 2020

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Excelent place to stay!

  Fantastic place to stay in the Arizona countryside. Cacti everywhere! So cool!

• 

  Melissa W.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 11, 2021

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Excellent for RVer's, ok for tents

  I thought the sites were all decent sized. Almost the entire campground is set up for RV's but most of the sites don't have anyone behind them and are spacious, so tents would be fine in those spots if you don't mind an RV a site over. The couple tent spots they have are okay. All 5 of them are right off of the road so they have more noise traffic. I think our spot in B2 was the most private and away from the road. The restrooms are clean. There's also a nice dishwashing sink. The location is ideal for exploring the west side (Tucson Mountain District) of Saguaro National Park. The stars here were great and I love the sound of the coyotes in the night.

• J

  Jeannette S.

  Scout

  

  Jan. 8, 2023

  Snyder Hill BLM Camping Area

  Not bad

  Pretty full lots of RVs, tents, people sleeping in their cars for the night, heard shoot range in the morning, fairly quiet at night the road right beside us wasn’t too loud… heard animal noises in the hills maybe dinosaurs rawer’s (just kidding) but sounded like it.

• 

  Jess W.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 17, 2021

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Great Southwest Feel

  The scenery here is perfect for Arizona. Great views of Tucson Mountain and surrounded by all kinds of hiking trails in the Tucson Mountain Park. The sites are gravel and mostly flat. Loop A seems to have the best views.

• 

  SwitchbackKids

  Legend

  

  Jul. 6, 2017

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Scenic, spacious tent sites just outside Saguaro National Park

  Tucson Mountain Park offers an amazing opportunity to camp among the saguaros, just outside of the west side of Saguaro National Park. The actual park doesn’t offer developed camping, so this is the best option for exploring the area.

  Benefits of Tucson Mountain Park include its cost ($10/night for a tent), proximity to the park (less than 10 minutes), and scenery (saguaros everywhere!). The only downside is that during peak season, the park fills up. Luckily, when we visited in February, there were still a few sites left available for our tent.

  Our biggest reason for visiting the area was to see Saguaro National Park, and camping here offered easy access to the park. We loved the west-side scenic loop drive at sunset, hiking in the east district, and attending as many ranger programs as we could to get a better understanding of these desert giants. We also spent one night backpacking in the eastern district, which was an incredible way to dive in deeper to see the desert ecosystem up close.

  You can read much more about our four days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Saguaro)

• 

  Cody B.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 18, 2018

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Peaceful & Beautiful Desert Camping

  Give yourself time to explore and enjoy the surroundings.

  To get to the campground you must first go through the Saguaro National Park and the drive is just as fun as it is beautiful.

  I suggest viewing the aerial map of campsites before hand. I had selected about 9 different sites before arriving and that was good because I ended up at my #6 choice. Which was still a great site.

  Very quite and peaceful. However, it's the desert so you should bring an air mattress or cot. Most sites have tables and are close to water and restrooms. The restrooms were very clean and upkeep. Heads up there are no showers at this campground.

  I felt very safe there and actually left my campsite unattended for about 10-12 hours and not a thing was out of place.

  Tents are $10 a night and RVs are $20. Tents can camp in any RV space but you can't the use power at the campsites (30 amp). You can charge small devices using the power outlets in the restrooms. Also Verizon cell/data service was great out here.

  I can't wait to go back next year.

• 

  Adam R.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 31, 2019

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  An amazing and beautiful place to camp.

  This is a large campground that is great for Tents, Vans, and RVs. The roads getting in are amazing and the scenery is beautiful. I come from a area that is green nearly year round, lots of trees and thick forest. Water is plentiful as well as swamps. This place is in stark contrast to where I call home but is still amazingly beautiful. I had never seen the massive Saguaro Cactus and was sure to be a highlight of this trip. The area did not disappoint at all. 

  We arrived in weather that was sunny and clear with a temperature of 102 degrees. While that sounds incredibly hot, it should not scare you off. The humid 90 degree weather back We arrived in weather that was sunny and clear with a temperature of 102 degrees. While that sounds incredibly hot, it should not scare you off. The humid 90 degree weather back home is much harsher than the very dry 102 we arrived in. The camp ground was wonderful and"closed" for the summer. This means that while you are able to camp there, the office is not maned. Simply deposit your payment into an envelop and drop it into the box at the office and you are good to go. 

  The campsites are great. They have a sandy peat gravel which is surprisingly comfortable under a tent and sleeping bag. If you are using a mattress in your tent, then you really have nothing to worry about. The temperature at the time we hit the sack was still high, so we started on top of our sleeping bags. Temperatures however did drop to 64 degrees and I woke up in my bag. The campground also have Bathrooms, but they do not have showers. That bathrooms can be hot and humid but still serve their purpose. I believe all the sites have tables was great for us.

  The morning was amazing and after a quick breakfast, a bike ride was in order. There are a number of trails in the area and many of them are great. Some have steps for Hikers and are not friendly for Mountain Bikers. The trails do not have good markings but are fairly easy to follow with a GPS map. I say have fun.

• 

  Greg L.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 20, 2021

  Snyder Hill BLM Camping Area

  Rough access free blm

  The Snyder Hill BLM area is a bit of a trashy rough road access site. No water, no toilets, 14d limit. Good cell and close to Tucson Estates. Tons of broken glass litters the ground, some campers are sketch on tents. Hwy noise could be a factor. BLM rangers visit weekly and that is good. Only use this area if you cannot get into Gilbert Ray CG instead. There is no CG in Saguaro NP West. Another free BLM is Ironwood Forest NationZl Monument but the BLM proposed to start charging a daily $15 camping fee there in 2025?

• 

  Katie M.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 20, 2020

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Enough Room for All

  I arrived late on a Wednesday evening recently and there were plenty of sites available. I’m going to assume there are always sites available because there are several signs posted that if you see someone in your reserved space to simply just find another space for yourself.

  There is a little “tent only” section, but even though I’m a tent camper, I opted for one of the spaces that was a bit bigger. I believe I was at site 74. There was a water spigot just across the road from my site. 🤘🏻

  The surrounding flora is beautiful, but there is apparently a firing range just a few miles away. ALL morning long it sounds like a war in the distance. It was fine with me, but if you are particularly bothered by unrelenting noise or if you have PTSD, this may not be the place for you unless you plan to be up and out very early each morning. I cannot stress this enough that the gunfire is clearly audible from the campground and surrounding area (even as you go up the Brown Mountain Trail).

  There are flush toilets and sinks with running water on premise, but no showers. The Pilot Travel Center just a short ways down I-10 has a great truck stop showering facility (seriously, it’s like brand new!) if you really need to wash up.

  Saguaro National Park is maybe 10 minutes away. The drive in and out of the campground is absolutely beautiful with saguaro cactus everywhere, but it will take you at least 20-30 minutes to get anywhere else in Tucson.

• 

  Michele H.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 29, 2021

  Snyder Hill BLM Camping Area

  Beautiful Sunsets and excellent cell coverage!!

  This is a huge dispersed camping area. You definitely want to go early in day to scout out a spot because it is quite large. The campground has "all walks of life" staying here. You will see areas with upper scale 5th wheels/travel trailers all the way down to people living full time in cars/tents although the max allowable stay is supposedly 2 weeks per stay. The main road is paved, but then you have to pull off into gravel/dirt roads that are hard bottomed. Many areas have ruts so if u have a low axle, you will need to scout area first. If you have a small camper/tent and a 4 wheel drive you can drive up to the top of some areas to get spectacular sunsets over the city lights of Tucson. The solar system of stars is breath taking at night. I highly recommend this campground. There is a convenience store less than a mile down the main highway for any amenities you may need. There is no water/electric/dump station, but there are two different truck stops who have dump station and potable water. Generators are allowed in less populated areas but we asked our neighbors anyway and they had no problem with it. It is also a popular area for recreational vehicles and dust can be high at times with them running around as well as on days of high wind. There are bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, snakes and spiders. We did not encounter any but they all have been reported so I guess it will be the area u choose as well as the season when u arrive.

  We will definitely be returning when in the area. I hope this helps with any questions u may have had.

• 

  Greg L.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 28, 2024

  Snyder Hill BLM Camping Area

  Trash camping close to tucson

  SNYDER HILL BLM DISPERSED.

  Recently posted basic camping info about this place close to Tucson west side at Ajo Hwy 86. . Some commenters got upset that I had mentioned this spot on a FB dispersed camping page, as if it was a secret or a pristine location! Hah!

  REALITY update: This place is a 100% CRAP HOLE and should be shutdown by the BLM. Full of marginal rundown vehicles and homeless tent campers. Trash and glass everywhere. Hwy 86 noise 24/7, recreational shooters constant adj somewhere.

  Note that the State of AZ closed and fenced off their adj section two years ago, and another BLM parcel to east past the fire station was closed to camping last year. Time for this crap hole place to be shutdown, imo.

  Some pics of the trash noticed.

• 

  ron R.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 31, 2024

  Snyder Hill BLM Camping Area

  Very easy access many spots to camp

  Very easy access relatively close to shopping. Out of the way. However there is a light to moderate amount of garbage. It is near a highway and you do hear traffic. Extremely easy to access and there are many spots and the land is pretty full of campers some look like their full-timers or permanent the sign does say 14 day limit. I saw two tent campers as well. There are two or three entrances all on the same road and the camping area is cordoned off with a metal cable so the land cannot be used as a drive-thru or pass through area. The weather is moderate in the 70s during the day down to the lower 50s at night I got here the day before Halloween.

• 

  Danny K.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 28, 2020

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  All Gravel

  This is a very nice and well maintained campground with many sites to choose from, but it is definitely geared toward staying in an RV given the utility hook-ups. Luckily I packed two sleeping pads along with my tent for the night or it would've been extremely uncomfortable; every site is filled with heavy gravel closer to a stone consistency. I didn't have any problems with coyotes venturing around, but the grasshoppers that would continually crash onto the stones was a little annoying while sleeping. There are no fires allowed at any site here because there are no fire pits or rings, though the large concrete picnic tables are a nice touch. The bathrooms are clean and orderly. If you want to stay here for a nice and easy hike up Brown Mountain nearby, this campground is a no-brainer.

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 17, 2019

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Great spot with lots to do around the area

  Just northwest of Tucson is this beautiful county campground, located a few miles from Saguaro National Park and the awesome Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum (a must see). Hiking and mountain biking trails are all over the area, with the Brown Mountain hike being our favorite as it’s accessible from the campground and has great views all around.  

  Each site is equipped with electric hookups and there are water spigots throughout the campground, in addition to running water in the clean bathrooms (no showers though) and a nice dishwashing sink.  The picnic tables ranged from normal-sized to very small and awkward, depending on the site. There is decent privacy in between most sites, as it is beautifully landscaped with native desert cacti, shrubs, and trees.  

  It’s important to note that this campground doesn’t take reservations, but if you show up by 8am and get in line, you will more than likely get a spot.  You can continue to add nights to your stay before 10am each morning, for up to 7 days total. They also don’t take credit cards, so come prepared with cash or a check.

• 

  Ashley M.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 5, 2020

  Snyder Hill BLM Camping Area

  Gets busy

  There are multiple entrances along Old Ajo and S San Joaquin. The best we found has 2 large dips. Some have quite a few more or really deep ones. If coming in with a lower ground clearance vehicle, or a longer one that may bottom out you might want to scout them out first. Once inside the camping area there are lots of spots to choose from. The smaller and more nimble the vehicle gives more choices. There is a mix of local transients, that sleep in tents and small RVs as well as travelers. These sites offer a good amount of privacy from the hwy and roads but depending on the site within there may not be much privacy. Further east on Old Ajo just east of S Camino Verde is another site that travelers with larger rigs seen to prefer. However, there isn't much privacy at all from neighbors, hwy 86 or Old Ajo. Access is flatter though. No water, electricity, or dump. For $15 you can dump and fill at right on San Joaquin at Justin's RV park or there are free options in town (20 minute drive). Signs day 14 day stay. It doesn't appear to be currently enforced but a BLM official does drive through occasionally. We didn't see him stop to speak to any campers.

• 

  Larry B.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 22, 2021

  Gilbert Ray Campground

  Really great campground

  This campground is really nice and very well maintained. Upon entry into the campground, signs were up saying the place was full. Was so glad I made reservations online through their website. Check-in was very easy and all campground staff seem very friendly. There are several camp hosts, it looks like one per loop.

  The sites are all gravel and most seem fairly level. Most seem to be back in and some can be a bit tricky for the less experienced. There are some pull through sites, but not very many.

  The scenery is really nice, but there are also many scenic pull over sites along the ride in, but best to go after you unhook your rig as they don't to be large enough to accommodate trailers or large rigs.

  There are very nice clean bathrooms with running water and a sink behind them for washing dishes. I only saw grills in some tent only sites, so bring your own if you want to grill some food.

  The sites seem to be separated by a lot of vegetation, but voices do carry, Lots of family and dogs walking. Everybody seemed very friendly. Although Covid is still a real threat, he only people I saw wearing masks were the employees, so social distance is very important.

  All sites have 30 amp hookups, but water and dump stations are available. There are also water spigots throughout the camp. They also request you separate your trash for recycle and recycle bins are available. 

  I do prefer BLM camping for the privacy, but there are none I could find in this area. This place was a really nice place to stay, and they do have a 7 say strictly enforced limit. Peak season is January 1st through March 31st.

• k

  karen

  Scout

  

  Apr. 2, 2022

  Bueno Aires National Wildlife Refuge

  Isolated dispersed camping nice sites

  We camped in April before it was too hot. Lots of well marked campsites with fire pits and room for pull through. Lots of large spaces for large campers. No shade. Good areas for birding. Roads well maintained. Surprisingly little campers here on a Saturday. Beautiful Mountain Views. There is a visitor center but it was closed on the day that we were there.

• 

  keith H.

  Scout

  

  May. 15, 2024

  Caballo Loco Ranch and RV Park

  Dirty wolf's in sheep's clothing

   Beware, it's foul in every way. People 55 plus still drugging and drinking. Dog poop all over, dogs not following rules and many pit bulls (my dog bite by pit bull) owner refused to help causing my move by police escort. It's a complete nightmare you'll become trapped in.. many better places close by. Picture is of my dog after going to vet in Colorado for dog bite. Owner uses the attackers owner to baby sit his dogs, so he defended her! Imagine that. Owner harassing caused police escort to move, he harassed cop too. A very sick and sad pathetic place... Truth stings sometimes.. sorry to be negative, but if it saves kind folks time and money I'm okay with it.

• 

  Joe H.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 22, 2024

  Caballo Loco Ranch and RV Park

  Wolf's in sheep's clothing, Beware

  Place is a nightmare. Have police report from requiring police to escort due to harassment from disturbed owners. Dog was bitten by pit bull, owner did nothing but blame me and call me mentally ill. Very sick thing. Horrible road, brown water and a homeless camp setting. Go for a drive through first. And rules aren't followed. Owners Michelle and Jim even harassed the police officer, which caused me to make multiple trips to Colorado to leave. I walked away from a home, ATV and 5th wheel just to get away from these people. It's like hell on earth with demonic people.... Good luck should you go, you'll need it. Owner also posted a response comment with lies calling me names etc. These are sick evil people who will harm you, caution. Check police report from April 17th with sheriff dept.

• 

  Cory

  Scout

  

  Sep. 6, 2024

  Caballo Loco Ranch and RV Park

  Very disorganized and people and volunteers there aren't very nice

   Upon entering it was dirty and restrooms not clean. I never received info they claimed was sent, so went on a hunch. It was dirty, dogs off leash and poop everywhere. Trash disposal area was unclean attracting insects and bugs and wildlife. People living there were not nice or clean. Staff was not friendly either. We decided to leave early. Found place 20 miles away that is wonderful by comparison. Advise trying elsewhere.