Best Campgrounds near Yarnell, AZ

The Yarnell area in central Arizona provides both established and dispersed camping options across varied terrain. Ghost Town Road BLM camping area offers free dispersed sites about 10 miles south of Yarnell in Congress, while White Spar Campground in the Prescott National Forest provides developed sites with amenities. North Ranch in Congress serves primarily as an RV park with hookups, while Constellation Park near Wickenburg offers primitive camping with basic facilities. Most sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, though terrain and access roads often determine suitability for larger vehicles.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many dispersed sites requiring navigation on unpaved roads. Most BLM areas have no services, making self-sufficiency essential. "This area is hard sand, many winding roads with secluded spots to camp and lots of green in between so quite private," noted one visitor about Ghost Town Road camping. Summers bring intense heat, particularly at lower elevations, while higher areas near Prescott remain more moderate. Cell service is spotty but available at many sites, with visitors reporting 2-3 bars of Verizon coverage at Ghost Town Road. Campfires are generally permitted in established fire rings, though seasonal restrictions apply during high fire danger periods.

Campers consistently highlight the desert landscape and spectacular sunsets as standout features. Ghost Town Road camping area receives particularly positive reviews for its accessibility and scenic views. "Beautiful sunset. Easy access for midsized trailers. Larger trailers need to stick by graded road. Views are spectacular," reported one camper. Several visitors mention the proximity to town amenities while still feeling remote. Noise levels remain minimal at most sites, though some areas experience occasional aircraft or ATV traffic. Wildlife sightings, including coyotes, are common. Primitive sites typically have no amenities, requiring visitors to pack out all trash and bring water. Established campgrounds like White Spar provide toilets, trash service, and often drinking water, making them suitable for longer stays.

Best Camping Sites Near Yarnell, Arizona (129)

    1. Ghost Town Road BLM Camping

    10 Reviews
    Congress, AZ
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (623) 580-5500

    "Off road trails that can also be used for running/hiking. Numerous sites the further back you go. Some need higher clearance to get to. Water for .25 a gallon at the Uhaul in town."

    "The road is a little bumpy, but it’s a very short drive to the first pull off. There is a cemetery on the same road, but you can easily camp a decent amount away from it."

    2. White Spar Campground

    41 Reviews
    Prescott, AZ
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 444-6777

    $18 - $36 / night

    "This was not necessarily true of the other loops that we heard in the distance."

    "Prescott, Arizona. Nice sites, 3 of which are first come first serve. We got one of those. Wooded area with drinking water pumps scattered about, trash receptacles, and toilets."

    3. North Ranch

    6 Reviews
    Congress, AZ
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 427-3657

    "We had a spot quite close to the entrance, so it was a bit loud in the morning with the garbage truck and train, but nothing extreme."

    4. Ghost Town Road Camp

    2 Reviews
    Congress, AZ
    6 miles

    "Can't speak to other sites but mine had some broken glass and shell casings scattered around. Was pretty quiet though. Road in was good but looks like it could be slippery when wet."

    5. Kmj Rentals

    1 Review
    Congress, AZ
    7 miles
    +1 (928) 460-0620

    $15 / night

    "Sites are level and graveled. 15 minutes away from the Granite Mountain IHC Memorial! Give them a try and leave some reviews!"

    6. Constellation Park

    7 Reviews
    Wickenburg, AZ
    18 miles
    Website

    $10 / night

    "Close to town and close to fun attractions such as the rodeo or box canyon wash!"

    "Around 30 sites. Not “8” like the website read. Definitely not a place you stay more than one night though."

    7. Lake Pleasant Regional Park Campground

    65 Reviews
    Peoria, AZ
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (602) 506-2930

    $15 - $300 / night

    "We stayed in late September and had no neighbors next to us so we felt like we were in the desert. There was no direction that had a bad view."

    "It was an great way to be exposed to trails I may not have chosen on my own."

    8. Point of Rocks RV Campground

    32 Reviews
    Prescott, AZ
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 445-9018

    $51 - $66 / night

    "The short walk to the stunning lake Watson makes this park a must visit."

    "A private trail from the campground leads directly to the stunning Watson Lake Park, which offers hiking, biking, kayaking, disc golf, and more, all just steps from your site."

    9. Senator Hwy Dispersed Camp Site

    10 Reviews
    Prescott National Forest, AZ
    24 miles
    Website

    "The spots here are really nice but if you go camping in the winter season you definitely need four wheel drive."

    "I lucked out and got the last spot, unfortunately it was relatively close to the road and there was some traffic during the day. There are several roads to drive down and find a spot."

    10. Lower Wolf Creek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Prescott, AZ
    23 miles
    Website

    "Stayed a night at #9 and it was a great time, quite with the sound of the creek running behind camp. Clean area and one of the two bathrooms was smell free."

    "We stay at site 3 because it was right next to the creek. You could hear it flowing all night and it was amazing!"

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Recent Reviews near Yarnell, AZ

643 Reviews of 129 Yarnell Campgrounds


  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Bloody Basin Rd / Agua Fria NM Dispersed Camping

    Easy off/on I-17 dispersed camping

    Easy on and off. Road is well packed and in good condition with a few smaller ruts, but not bad. Nice views. There is some road noise from the interstate on the closer areas. Nice night sky.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    169 BLM Camp

    Nice spot easy off 17!

    BLM site is only a mile off I-17. Great night sky! Typical dispersed type site. Road was actually pretty decent to drive on for my small SUV. A tiny bit of road noise, but not much (and I didn’t go far in).

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Burro Creek Overflow Dispersed Area

    Middle of Nowhere

    It’s a level spot and has a view of the surrounding mountains but there is no shade in sight! It has some road noise but not enough to keep you from sleep. We did ride into the mountains and found some wild Burros which was pretty cool to see. Lots of people come here to rock hound so we are going down to the river to check it out. There is a campground right down the road that has a dump and water for a small fee that anyone can use. It’s pretty here but not much shade.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    FDR 373 Thumb Butte Loop

    Dispersed Campsite 4

    We drove our Chevy 2500 and a 28’ camping trailer. On the way in we came from the north from Iron Springs Rd. That was very tight but if you come from town on Thumb Butte Rd it’s a much easier drive in. The forest road was a little bumpy but not a concern. We saw a number of cars and vans without all or 4wd.

    Great place. We drove up on Friday during the day, the first three campsites are nestled together and were taken.

    Site 4 was large and backed up to a nice hiking trail and vista. We did get a few hikers here and there, as well as some cars passing by but it was secluded and we were able to disconnect and enjoy.

    Passed site 4 there were numerous other sites include some on the peak with excellent views. However if you have an rv or camping trailer site 4 was ideal.

    I would highly recommend this site to anyone looking for dispersed camping near Prescott.

  • Amilyn W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Willow Lake RV Park

    Not too far from Whiskey Row

    We chose this RV park because of it's proximity to Whiskey Row and the road to Jerome. We brought our motorcycle specifically for that ride. Showed up after office hours (closed at 6pm). The road off the hwy is narrow and pot holed. Checked in with the camp host who had us follow his golf cart to our spot, which was a pull through. Spot was on the edge of the campground, next to a fence separating it from a mobile home park. Lots of full timers in the campground, one of whom kept coming over trying to talk to us any time we were outside, which was annoying. Trees and bushes all around, but not a lot of shade. Advertised picnic tables and fire rings. Some spots had movable tables, but not all. Ours had a table on the back of our trailer, but it was not movable, and a bush was growing over it. No fire rings. Wood fires a no go, but propane fires are allowed. Someone was yelling all night long our second night and again in the early morning, waking us up. Supposedly there's a trail to hike to the lake, but we didn't go. Staff very friendly when we checked in. Office has small convenience store. Didn't use bathrooms or laundry. Check out must have been 11am (they didn't say at check in) because the power shut off at 11:15am. We basically just needed a place to sleep 2 nights and we were gone all day on our motorcycle, so this campground filled our needs. Can see staying here again for the same purpose.

  • Jared M.
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Mayer dispersed camping

    Little to no service but peaceful

    No service for boobdocking but nice veiw and quit

  • Corinne J.
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites

    Enchanted forest trail campsites

    I would not bring a travel trailer or larger rv in but tent or van camping spots. Nice trees and trails. Verizon is doable even with the tall pines. Quiet considering the closeness of the campsites

  • Michael Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Point of Rocks RV Campground

    Great lil quiet place

    Great place, with laundry and clean restrooms. Would definitely stay again..


Guide to Yarnell

Camping sites near Yarnell, Arizona range from free dispersed areas to established campgrounds across elevations spanning 2,000 to 5,000 feet. The region sits at the transition between Sonoran Desert and higher mountain terrain, creating diverse camping microclimates. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing at higher elevations while summers see daytime highs regularly exceeding 100°F at lower elevations.

What to do

Historic exploration: 10 miles from camp. Ghost Town Road BLM Camping offers access to old mining history. "There are some old mines in the area but be cautious, there are arsenic warning signs in some and it appears some mining is still going on," notes Dan N. You can explore two cemeteries nearby, including one with gravestones dating to 1902.

Water recreation: 30-minute drive. Lake Pleasant Regional Park Campground provides multiple water-based activities. "The lake is beautiful and I recommend taking the Roadrunner hike -- even easy for kids!" writes Ashley C. Sites include ramadas and shoreline access, with boat rentals available.

Hiking trails: Direct access. Several campgrounds connect to established trail systems. At White Spar Campground, "One of the best trails in the area, 396, connects right through the campground. We love biking and hiking right from camp," says Marnie G.

What campers like

Quiet atmosphere: Minimal disruption. Lower Wolf Creek Campground provides a peaceful setting. "Stayed a night at #9 and it was a great time, quite with the sound of the creek running behind camp," reports Allen B. Many sites feature natural sound barriers.

Cell coverage: Varies by location. Most sites have usable service for basic communication. "Our site had 4G LTE, but just a few steps down the road was no connection so if you're looking for a spot with service just drive around and you'll find one," advises Sarah I. at Ghost Town Road.

Wildlife viewing: Common encounters. Multiple campers report seeing desert wildlife. "We walked a dried river bed and found lots of cool rocks and smooth river glass," notes Toree M. At Lake Pleasant, one camper mentions: "Woke up to a donkey eating out watermelon, making donkey noises and rolling on the ground so cute!!"

What you should know

Fire restrictions: Seasonal bans. Several campgrounds implement complete fire bans during dry periods. At Point of Rocks Campground, fires are never allowed regardless of season. Always check current restrictions before planning campfires.

Road conditions: Variable access. Many dispersed sites require appropriate vehicles. "This spot can be reached in a 4x4 and good ground clearance. There were nice fire rings already made and plenty of space for multiple tents," reports Joffrey H. about Senator Highway areas.

Seasonal closures: Check before traveling. Some campgrounds close during winter months. "Not listed on the campground website, but this site was closed in April 2022," reported one camper about Lower Wolf Creek Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming holes: Hidden gems. Families enjoy natural water features near some campgrounds. "There's an unmarked trail that leads down a rough dirt road for about 1 to 1.5 miles to a nice swimming hole with mini waterfall," notes a review about Lower Wolf Creek, mentioning it's "a worthwhile trek on hot days."

Wildlife education: Bring field guides. Children can learn about desert ecology. At Constellation Park, families report seeing diverse wildlife. "We've camped many times with my family. Many people have RVs in our group and some have tents and truck tents! All are welcome and easy to navigate," notes Sarah K.

Creek exploration: Natural water play. Some sites offer shallow water features. "We went and followed the creek up as far as we could and got to see a bunch of fun stuff from frogs, lizards, ground squirrels and a bunch more critters in and out of the water," writes Levi M. about Lower Wolf Creek.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Avoid unmarked hazards. RVers should scout sites before committing. "Nice spots, small campground. Most sites are not level. There are a few that can accommodate a class A," advises Holly about Constellation Park.

Water access: Limited availability. Most dispersed camping areas require bringing all water. "Went to Wickenburg to Fast Mart dump and get water, Safeway for groceries, and West Plaza Green Laundry right across the street from the Safeway," shares Ann Marie A., detailing the resources available near Ghost Town Road BLM camping.

Campsite spacing: Varies widely. Some established campgrounds have tightly packed sites. "Lower Wolf Creek campground was clean but the spaces were really close together," notes one camper, while dispersed areas often provide more separation between campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Yarnell, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, Yarnell, AZ offers a wide range of camping options, with 129 campgrounds and RV parks near Yarnell, AZ and 56 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Yarnell, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Yarnell, AZ is Ghost Town Road BLM Camping with a 4.1-star rating from 10 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Yarnell, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 56 free dispersed camping spots near Yarnell, AZ.