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Dispersed tent camping options dominate the Winslow, Arizona region, offering primitive sites within the Coconino and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Long Lake Dispersed Camping and Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground provide established tent sites with minimal amenities, while Forest Road 195 and FR95 areas allow for more remote backcountry camping experiences typically 30-60 minutes from town.
Tent campers should bring all necessary supplies as most sites lack potable water, trash collection, and other basic services. The final stretches of road to Long Lake Dispersed Camping and Chevelon Canyon Lake require high-clearance vehicles, with recent visitors noting the last 7 miles to Long Lake being "truly a challenge for anything other than a slightly lifted vehicle." Vault toilets exist at some locations like Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground, but many dispersed areas have no facilities whatsoever. Summer monsoon seasons can create difficult access conditions on forest roads, particularly July through August.
Forest Road 195 and FR95 areas offer secluded tent camping with significant distance between sites. A camper described FR95 as having "a lot of shade and places to hang up our hammock," though they noted dealing with wasps during their visit. Sites near Chevelon Canyon Lake require substantial hiking to reach the water, with one review mentioning "a 45-minute hike down through the canyon" that is "a trek" to return from. Tent sites typically feature simple fire rings and relatively level ground suitable for tents, though minimal site preparation has been done. During peak summer weekends, the more accessible sites fill quickly, but midweek visitors often find complete solitude even at established campgrounds, particularly at higher elevations where cooler temperatures attract campers seeking relief from summer heat.
"This campground has 6 sites which each have a fire pit (with grill piece), picnic table, and room for 1-2 vehicles. There are two pit toilets on site, no water, trash service, or electrical."
"This is a small very primitive, four space campground off the beaten track. The three nights I stayed here in September, I was the only overnight camper."
"Pristine and usually unoccupied lake off the beaten path. 17 miles of dirt road from Highway to the lake and the last 7 are truly a challenge for anything other than a slightly lifted vehicle."
"Decided to drive a bit further and this was sure worth it. About a mile drive up the Forest Service road. Little bumpy but my car did fine. Then plenty of nice spots to the right."
"I stumbled upon this area after catching some fish are ashurst lake. What a gem. The area I stayed is about a mile from the lake."
"Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground is my favorite type of site. 1) vault toilets 2) National Forest location 3) semi established camping sites 4) still classified as dispersed camping."
"We had no issue finding a private site that was surrounded by beautiful pines. There were burn restrictions but each site had a large fire pit. Without a doubt we'll be going back."
"Off the beaten path. Spacious and quite with little wildlife"
"Our small group (8 people/4 vehicles) had a great time at one of the secluded dispersed sites located off the forest road."
GuideThis place is so peaceful. You can see the mesas in the distance. It's not far from Winslow or Flagstaff. But it's nice and quiet there. It has a wonderful feeling. There are many artifacts so remember to leave no trace and not move or remove anything.
RangerThe campground is going thru some renovations, like adding a new bathroom/shower facility. While here in early Sept, all they have are porta-johns and temporary showers (that do not have hot water). Each site has a covered picnic table, fire pit, and grill. Sites have water and the option for electric. Sites are paved and some have tent pads. The evening sunsets are amazing!! Not much tree cover or shade. There are wild burros roaming the park. Only about 2 miles from Winslow, which has anything you might need.
TravelerAbsolutely love it here! Clean area, clean bathrooms, concrete spots, Quiet hours 10pm-6am. Grill, picnic table, fire ring. Beautiful beach to swim at and Larry the camp host is very helpful 😊
LegendStopped here on my grand Route 66 adventure this summer. I really liked this park for several reasons. 1. It’s convenient to Route 66 (and Hwy 40); 2. It’s close to Petrified Forest National Park, which is pretty cool to explore on its own; 3. Free showers!!; 4. The campground is set back from the main park so you have a bit of privacy from day trippers; 5. Tent sites were level and well maintained (mine was raked!!); 6. All sites seemed to have hook-ups whether you needed them or not (maybe there were tent only sites, but it was all one price so no big deal); 7. The park has some great trails for hiking; 8. There is ancient pottery shards everywhere (don’t take it! Leave it for everyone to enjoy); 9. Free showers!!; 10. Not too far from Winslow, AZ, where you CAN stand on the corner.
Overall I enjoyed my stay here, though I got in at sunset and left shortly after the main park opened at 8am. This might be my only negative about the park. The main park and the best attractions don’t open until 8am (a ranger actually comes and opens the gates), which is much later than I tend to get moving (up with the sun and all). And with the heat of the day starting at 9:30, it’s hard to get to the sites and get in a good hike before it’s too hot.
TravelerThe City try’s is best to keep it clean and so do the camps host as we saw both city works and the host walking around picking up trash is a nice little weekend trip for dry camping. The camp host are from Winslow so they are very knowledgeable about the area and very nice and willing to help no matter the circumstances. They do have bathrooms but no showers as they are out of order. Camp sites are right by the water for good fishing or you can park up above if you do not like bugs as they are worse down by the water than on the upper campsites.
LegendIn the off season, this sweet little national forest campground is a quiet oasis in one of the beautiful “islands of the sky” which are scattered throughout Arizona. Up at 5000 feet, this place becomes a busy retreat for Tucsonians seeking to escape some of the summertime heat, according to the park ranger we spoke too. It's also a haven for birds!
The campground has designated section for RV’s and tents, though they are same price at just $10 per night. Many pull-through sites are available for larger RV’s, as well as some back in spots. Each site has a HUGE cement picnic table and fire ring and are a nice size with plenty of space between sites. There are trash cans (though no recycling) throughout the campground, and a water spigot near the very clean pit toilets, thanks to the dedicated and very friendly camp hosts. The tent sites overlook the Parker Canyon Lake and are quite spacious. There are few tent sites for groups too.
There is a nice boat dock, as well as small store near the water that sells snacks/drinks, bait, and a few camping necessities. You can rent kayaks, paddle boats, SUPs, sailboats and small motorized fishing boats…or bring your own. There is also a nice and easy trail that follows the lake shore for about 6 miles, accessible to both hikers and mountain bikers. From the lake trail, you can also access the Arizona Scenic Trail (the southern terminus is about 15 miles south of the lake). We also saw quite a few fisherman out enjoying the lake during mid-week.
The closest grocery stores and gas stations are in Sonoita, about 30 miles away. Cell coverage is limited here as you are very close to the Mexican border – none in RV campground, just a bit of coverage in the tent campground.
LegendStayed here for a night in July 2020 on my way to the Grand Canyon from El Paso, TX. It was very quiet and well kept. The road was freshly paved and even though there’s no trees around, each campsite seemed pretty private.
We stayed in site 40. We had 2 tents but the pad was only big enough for one so we put the bigger one on the paved road over a tarp and it was still comfortable. A hammer was provided to stake down tents.
There was only only building for all the bathrooms and showers but they were nice and clean. Bathrooms had stalls but the 4 showers each had their own rooms for maximum privacy.
Some sites had power and some didn’t. Our site (40) didn’t. I enjoyed walking a few hundred yards down the nature trail by the campsite and watching the sunset. It was beautiful! Cell service was fine (Verizon). I’ll definitely stay here again when I’m passing through.
LegendIf you go during the winter months (that is, if roads are open), you may likely be the only one there! The lake is not very easily accessible for camping but it's an easy hike down for fishing, photography, and simply enjoying nature. Keep your eyes peeled, you may spot a bald eagle. The actual campground is usually crowded with no privacy. Perhaps suitable for a large group. Restrooms, never mind, just bring a shovel and use the woods; it's cleaner. Just don't be disgusting and leave it all out. Leave No Trace, PLEASE. Also, you'll need to carry out all your trash. On a holiday weekend (Labor Day especially) there are so many visitors but otherwise only a few venture out that way. Your best bet for solitude is to drive 2-4 miles passed the campground which will be on your right and find a good dispersed spot. Just bring ribbon or rope to mark a tree from the road in case you need to travel down to Woods Canyon Lake store or out to a Rim viewpoint for cell service.
TravelerMany of the photos listed here aren’t correct. There aren’t any paved parking spots that others have posted. Anyhow, I love this place because odds are you will be the only one camping out there. It’s a good 45 minute drive after the pavement ends. Most of the sites have picnic tables and fire rings but are near where you park. We carried our stuff down the canyon about 100 feet to set up. It was kind of dry but there was still water running through. Very secluded place with no one else there. So peaceful. Plenty of firewood. Beautiful meadows as well. We went hiking down the stream a bit and found some smaller bear foot prints so be aware. Some friendly raccoons tried to join us for dinner by the fire as well. There are some vaulted toilets there which was surprising. If you like solitude, this is your spot.
Tent camping near Winslow, Arizona concentrates primarily at higher elevations within Apache-Sitgreaves and Coconino National Forests. The region's pine forests typically sit between 6,000-7,500 feet, providing respite from Arizona's summer heat with temperatures often 15-20 degrees cooler than Phoenix. Cell service becomes increasingly limited as campers venture deeper into forest areas, with most dispersed sites having no connectivity beyond major forest roads.
Fishing at elevated lakes: The lakes around Winslow offer productive fishing opportunities. Blue Ridge Reservoir provides excellent swimming spots in summer, though campers should be aware of "crawfish like creatures in the water that liked toes," according to one FR95 Dispersed Camping visitor.
Stargazing in dark sky territory: Away from city lights, campsites offer exceptional night sky viewing. "We went during a new moon and the stars were fabulous," notes a visitor at Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground.
Wildlife observation: Dispersed camping areas provide opportunities to experience native wildlife. One camper at Dempost mentioned "nature and birds" as highlights, while another at Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground reported "the silence here was stunning—only interrupted by the bugling of elk."
Pine forest seclusion: The region's dispersed sites offer significant privacy between campsites. A visitor to Dispersed Camping Coconino described finding "a lot beautiful sites. The trees are huge and spread out in a beautiful way that gives way to open spaces."
Fire-friendly camping: Most dispersed areas allow campfires in established rings when fire restrictions aren't in place. A camper at Dispersed Camping Coconino found "a great site with a cleared area containing a rock campfire ring. Lots of level spots for tents. Plenty of shade from the tall pine trees."
Off-grid exploration: The network of forest roads invites additional adventure. One group at FR95 appreciated "the seclusion of this site" and mentioned "lots of forest roads to explore with 4x4 vehicles or mini bikes."
Vehicle requirements vary dramatically: Access to some sites requires high-clearance vehicles. At Forest Road 195 Campground, one camper noted "the roads off the main are VERY rough. In our Santa Cruz we had to go very slow and careful. Better suited for larger trucks with ample clearance."
Cell coverage limitations: Communication becomes increasingly limited deeper into forest areas. A visitor to Forest Service Rd 81 observed "Cell signal is sporadic, depending on the occupancy of the RV park down the road about 6 miles. More RV park campers means more cell congestion and slower speeds."
Water access challenges: Lakes may require substantial hiking effort. At Chevelon Canyon Lake, a camper warned it was "a 45 minute hike down through the canyon" and "extremely rocky" on return with "almost all non stop elevation gain."
Consider elevation impact: Higher elevation camping means cooler temperatures, even in summer. A visitor to Long Lake Dispersed Camping mentioned camping "above 6,000 feet" where evenings can be notably cooler than daytime temperatures.
Prepare for wildlife encounters: Insects and small animals are common visitors. One FR95 camper reported "We did have to fend off lots of wasps while we were there," suggesting families should pack appropriate deterrents.
Evaluate lake access difficulty: Families should realistically assess hiking capabilities for lake access. A camper at Chevelon Canyon observed "We weren't prepared for how long of a hike down it was to the water. According to my watch, it was over a mile and 550 feet of elevation."
Size-appropriate site selection: Larger rigs should target specific dispersed areas. A visitor to Forest Service Rd 81 found "plentiful large sites, and big rig friendly" but cautioned about "a lot of OHV use on weekends."
Avoid narrow forest roads: Some access roads become increasingly challenging for wider vehicles. One reviewer noted Chevelon Canyon had "some rough road the last .5 mile before you reach the camp on FR 169B. Some of it had washed out and there are a few step areas."
Pack extra water reserves: With no potable water available at dispersed sites, RVers should plan accordingly. A camper at Chevelon Canyon emphasized "There isn't any potable water at this site or trash. Bring your own water. Pack it in, pack it out."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Winslow, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Winslow, AZ is Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground with a 3.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Winslow, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Winslow, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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