Marisa M.
Scout
ScoutWhite Tank Mountain Regional Park
I enjoy the view from up here and the weather this time of year is great. Camped here many times and will continue to return.
Camping near Glendale, AZ
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Camping opportunities near Glendale, Arizona span from urban RV parks to more remote desert camping experiences. Located in the Sonoran Desert, the area includes White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Lake Pleasant Regional Park, and several dispersed camping areas northwest of the city. Visitors can choose from developed campgrounds with full hookups, primitive tent sites, cabin rentals at Pleasant Harbor RV Resort, or free dispersed camping on public lands. Most established campgrounds are situated within regional parks where saguaro cacti and mountain views create a distinctive desert camping landscape.
Seasonal considerations greatly impact camping experiences in the Glendale area, with extreme summer heat making fall through spring the most comfortable camping seasons. "This is a nice place to visit in the cooler months of the year due to no shade and low elevation," noted one visitor about White Tank Mountain Regional Park. Many campgrounds remain open year-round but require advance planning during winter months when snowbirds flock to the area. Water conservation measures affect availability at some sites, with several campgrounds offering drinking water and showers while dispersed areas require self-sufficiency. Permits are required for State Trust Land camping, while BLM and regional park campgrounds have different reservation systems and fee structures.
Campers consistently highlight the contrast between urban proximity and desert wilderness experiences available in the area. The developed campgrounds in White Tank Mountain Regional Park receive positive reviews for their cleanliness and spacing, with one visitor describing "well separated level sites in a desert setting" with "good views of the mountains and the Valley of the Sun." Many campgrounds provide electric and water hookups suitable for RVs, while offering hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. Night sky visibility varies, with sites farther from the city providing better stargazing conditions. RV resorts closer to Glendale tend to cater to long-term visitors and retirees, with some having age restrictions that limit family camping options. Several campers note the proximity to urban amenities while still providing access to desert landscapes and hiking trails.
Best Campgrounds near Glendale (228)
1. Lake Pleasant Regional Park Campground
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $300 / night
2. White Tank Mountain
"Fantastic park for seeing the stars and getting away from Phoenix city lights."
"Located at about 203rd Avenue, on the westside of Phoenix, in Waddell Arizona is a tiny little Campground with phenomenal views."
3. White Tank Mountain Regional Park
"We stayed two nights at the Willow walk-in sites (W10). Despite our campsite being close to the bathroom it exceeded our expectations. Campground is well organized with friendly staff."
"* Trails throughout the camp into the greater park but the campgrounds separated from the more public trailheads."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $45 / night
4. Pleasant Harbor RV Resort
"RV camping on big water in Arizona! We have stayed here a couple of times. Make sure to book a spot up on cliff overlooking the water. Great sunsets. Free shuttle to haul kayak to boat ramp."
"We keep a boat at Lake Pleasant and are part of the Arizona Yacht Club so we are up here all the time."
Check Availabilityfrom $23 - $105 / night
5. Saguaro Skies - Luke AFB Famcamp
"Right next to the commissary and AAFES. Bathhouse is excellent. Laundry is free."
"Concrete slab to park on and rocks around instead of grass."
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
6. Pueblo El Mirage 55+ RV Resort
"It is located on the flight path for an airbase and can get noisy but the amenities far outweigh the short bursts of noise."
7. Roadrunner Campground - Lake Pleasant
"A two lane dump station near the Desert Tortoise camping area. Security and cleaning crews passing through keeping an eye on the rigs. Very close to Lake Pleasant."
"It was super hot in the afternoons and you really have no privacy from the campers around you. It was nice having shower facilities but they weren’t the cleanest. The lake was nice to cool off in."
8. Destiny Phoenix RV Resorts
"An oasis surrounded by fields. Clean restrooms, pools, grounds, roads, sites. Nice folks working there. Refundable $20 deposit to get bathroom key. Did not use laundry. Stayed 3 nights."
"The roads coming into the site are narrow and people sometimes have their vehicles parked in part of the roadway which makes it hard to drive your RV around to park it or leave."
Check Availabilityfrom $60 / night
9. Encore Paradise RV
10. Dispersed Camping off hwy 74
"This was a major travel destination for RV’rs and campers passing through, or staying for a while in close proximity to Phoenix. Major disappointment."
"The further you get away from the main road the less people. Will stay here again."
Drive Time
- 18 min from Phoenix, AZ
- 1 hr 16 min from Prescott Valley, AZ
- 1 hr 59 min from Tucson, AZ
- 1 hr 59 min from Flagstaff, AZ
Recent Camping Photos near Glendale, AZ
138 Photos of 228 Glendale Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
White Tank Mountain Regional Park
State land trust/Inspiration PointG
Lake Pleasant Regional Park Campground
Skyline Regional Park
Maricopa County Park Lake Pleasant
Cave Creek Regional Park
Old Airstrip Camping & Staging Area
Buckeye Hills Regional Park - PERMANENTLY CLOSED IN 2018
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Constellation Park
Desert Cypress Mobile Home & RV ParkE
Ironwood Campground - McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Recent Reviews near Glendale, AZ
894 Reviews of 228 Glendale Campgrounds
- jjames F.Scout
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
FYI- This is not a free dispersed campground as noted on the maps link. It’s a county run campground with a fee. It IS a pretty nice though with tons of hiking/biking and I think equestrian trails.
Tom J.
GuideBadger Wash
BLM property in a desert setting. ATV trails and Badger Spring trail for hiking. Go past the parking lot and pit toilet for boondock sites. Decent cell svc. Access road is dirt and may be worn based on weather. I-17 within view with very little road noise.
Sehvanna S.GuideBLM - North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
I just pulled in here and didn't go very far up the road, it's dark and I'm in my 25ft Class C Motorhome. Not gonna lie, it feels a little bit wrong to be sitting here and camping out 😂 I have never been in this area, and I am hoping it will work out ok. I couldn't see if there were established places to park, so I just found a level spot behind a bush.
Don R.
LegendMesa-Apache Junction KOA
Good location. Well maintained. Great friendly staff. Rusty Buckel Saloon is nearby and Tortilla Flat and Canyon Lake is a beautiful 30 drive. Lost Dutchman and Goldfield Ghost Town is 5 miles.
Mike & Sarge
TravelerSaddle Mountain BLM (Tonopah, AZ)
Absolute shithole! As soon as I pulled in my truck was swarmed with thousands of flies (no exaggeration!) if I hadn’t just traveled from Colorado and was exhausted I would have immediately left. My trailer was then infested with flies as well. It’s going to take days to get rid of the infestation. Despite that, I did give it a two-star rating for the views.
- Don R.Legend
Lost Dutchman State Park Campground
Great hiking. Decent size campsites.
Holly F.TravelerLost Dutchman State Park Campground
Nice size camp sites. Beautiful scenery. Showers.
- AAbbigail S.Traveler
Badger Wash
Badger springs
We came here to tent camp as there was an active hurricane hitting the area, gravel roads and easy to drive on. It's right off the highway so it was perfect for us if we needed to pack up and leave quickly because of the storm
Guide to Glendale
The Phoenix metro area surrounding Glendale, Arizona features several established campgrounds and dispersed camping areas within a short drive from the city. Lake Pleasant Regional Park Campground to the north and White Tank Mountain Regional Park to the west offer developed sites with amenities for both tent and RV camping. Dispersed camping options can be found on state trust land near Maddock Road and off Highway 74, requiring permits for some locations. Several RV resorts cater to long-term stays and retirees, with Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort and Desert's Edge RV Park providing full hookups and resort-style amenities.
Camping conditions vary dramatically by season, with extreme heat limiting comfortable tent camping during summer months. "This is a nice place to visit in the cooler months of the year due to no shade and low elevation. We visited in January which was perfect," noted one visitor at White Tank Mountain. The region experiences monsoon storms in late summer that can affect road conditions and campsite accessibility. Most established campgrounds provide water hookups, but dispersed sites require campers to bring all supplies. State trust land camping requires permits purchased in advance, while some areas like Dispersed Camping off Highway 74 offer free camping with few amenities.
White Tank Mountain Regional Park receives consistently high ratings for its spacious sites and clean facilities. According to a camper, "The campsites are spaced out nicely, and it has never felt crowded to me even during the busy season." Family-friendly amenities include hiking trails with petroglyphs, modern bathrooms, and shower facilities. Lake Pleasant offers water recreation opportunities with boat-in camping options. Military personnel and veterans can access Luke AFB Famcamp, which reviewers praise for its cleanliness and proximity to base amenities. Most RV resorts in the region cater to older adults, with several designated as 55+ communities. Campers seeking privacy and natural settings generally prefer the regional parks over the more densely packed RV resorts closer to the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Glendale, AZ?
What camping is available near Glendale, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Glendale, AZ offers a wide range of camping options, with 228 campgrounds and RV parks near Glendale, AZ and 60 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Glendale, AZ?
Which is the most popular campground near Glendale, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Glendale, AZ is Lake Pleasant Regional Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 67 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Glendale, AZ?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Glendale, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 60 free dispersed camping spots near Glendale, AZ.
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