Roosevelt Lake - Cholla Campground, near Roosevelt, Arizona, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a touch of comfort. This campground offers spacious sites with picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for gathering around the fire and soaking in the stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Visitors rave about the clean facilities, including flush toilets and showers, which are maintained daily. Many campers appreciate the large sites that provide a sense of privacy, especially during the quieter times of the year. As one happy camper noted, “Nice view of the lake and 4 peaks from my site. I'd stay here again.”

For families, there are playgrounds to keep the kids entertained, and the paved trails make for easy exploration. While swimming isn’t an option due to the steep access to the lake, fishing is popular, and the boat launch adds to the recreational opportunities available. 

If you're into stargazing, you're in for a treat—this campground offers some of the best night skies around. With its combination of natural beauty and well-kept amenities, Roosevelt Lake - Cholla Campground is a solid choice for a memorable camping experience.

## Overview

 Cholla Campground at Roosevelt Lake, is one of several campgrounds on the shores of the largest lake/reservoir located entirely in the State of Arizona. It is situated within a lush sonoran desert landscape at an elevation of 2168'. Cholla Campground is also the largest solar powered campground in the United States. Each of its 206 campsites have shade ramadas, firepits, grills, and picnic tables. Playgrounds, showers and toilet facilites are scattered throughout the campground. The area around Cholla Campground is often alive with abundant wildlife such as mule deer, coyotes, geese, fox, javalina, and the occasional bald eagle. 
## Recreation

 Recreation opportunities abound at Cholla Campground. Launch your bass boat, ski boat, or pontoon boat from the developed boat ramps within the recreation site and play on the water all day long. If motorsports aren't your thing, there's an abundance of places to explore from your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. While you're visiting, you can also hike a portion of the Arizona Trail, visit the Tonto National Monument cliff dwellings, explore endless miles of jeep trails or drive a portion of the Apache Trail or Spines to Pines Highway. If if you're looking for a day in town, consider the easy 45 minute drive Globe or Payson where you can shop for antiques, buy ice cream and learn about Arizona's rich mining and timber history. Roosevelt Lake is a landscape photograhers dream so don't forget your camera (and sunscreen). 
## Natural Features

 Roosevelt Lake was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1911 and boasts 112 miles of shoreline and peaceful coves. When full, the lake provides 21,500 acres of surface water for your recreating pleasure. Cholla Campground is situated within a Sonoran Desert Landscape along the lakes shorelines. Views of the blue water and sunsets against the Sierra Ancha, Salome, and Superstition Wilderness' are a sight that keep many visitors coming back year after year. 
## Nearby Attractions

 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.

Roosevelt Lake - Cholla Campground

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Roosevelt

The Best Camping Near Roosevelt, Arizona

Campsites and restroom are clean.  Each loop has its own camp host.  Boat launch within so many campers had boats in addition to RV/tent.  Limited privacy as campsites are fairly close together.  

Clean

The idea of this solar powered campground enticed us. We went during the off season during covid. I wish their website had stated that all of the showers and restrooms were closed. We wouldn’t have paid to stay at a campground that didn’t have the things we needed. It could have been a great stay- they need to update their website for closures.
Sites were nice and private with trees and bushes between.

Bad timing

This was our first time camping here and we will most definitely be back. You can reserve all odd numbered campsites online. Even numbers are first come first serve. There is a boat ramp located at the front of the campground. Not ideal lake access for fishing or swimming because of steep hills down to lake. Potable water available. Dump station is currently open 24/7. Bathrooms have running water and flush toilets and also showers. Multiple playgrounds. Each spot has covered table and fire ring. Loose gravel pads. Most are fairly level. Some spots aren’t big rig accessible. 

Great canpgroup

Great place to see the stars !!! Spent 3 nights with my 2 dogs and it was great!

Stargazing 

Cholla Recreation Site is located on Theodore Roosevelt Lake, central Arizona’s largest lake. It offers expansive views of the Four Peaks Wilderness, Salome Canyon, and the Sierra Ancha mountain range.  The campground contains an extensive selection of both RV and tent-only sites, and is one of the largest solar-powered campgrounds in the United States.  Potable water, toilet buildings, showers, playgrounds, and a paved boat launch with a courtesy dock are available for campers. Cholla RV dump station, located across from Christmas Loop, is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm.

$25/site/night for individual camp unit; $50/site/night for double camp unit; America the Beautiful Interagency Senior or Access Pass holders receive 50% discount (persons over 62 or have a permanent disability) for single camp units only. 

Campground fees must be paid for at the fee machine located at the campground. When we arrived the machine wasn’t working so we checked in with the camp host and flagged down a ranger to let them know. 

Private spots close to waterfront 

We came here multiple times now and have loved it each time. Service is spotty in Loop Cane. There is multiple playgrounds for kids. Running water in the bathroom. Water Spigots throughout each loop to fill drinking water. You can only reserve the odd numbers online. 

Quiet and beautiful  views 

Try to get a campsite facing the lake.

Tenters beware-- This is heavy duty RV land

In Cholla loop we had great hosts &amp; very clean pit toilets.

Our site was outstanding and had plenty of space. This is not necessarily the case for inside sites--- but seems to hold for the perimeter sites.

Showers were in an adjacent loop and very good.

A fine experience if you overlook the water--- otherwise....

Toilets and showers are clean. Campsites are well laid out with a covered picnic table ramada at every site. Beautiful views in every direction. The only concern is that some sites are close together, and people are running generators often.

Would stay here again

We spent 3 nights here in February, and while it was chilly, the place was very quiet and the stars were amazing! There are no hookups here, but there are bathrooms with flush toilets (some have showers), and there are faucets with potable water. There's also a boat launch and a few playgrounds for the kids. 

  

There were mostly RVs here, but the waterfront tent sites are amazing if you don't mind walking in from the main parking area (it's not a far walk).

  

Each campsite has a picnic table with a shaded awning and a fire pit, but you have to bring in your own wood or gather it from the surrounding forest. Saw lots of birds here - cactus wren, quail, finches, warblers, and road runners.

Peaceful Spot in the Winter

We stayed March 28-April 1st. Beautiful time of year to visit! The camp sites are large and have beautiful natural vegetation between them. We were pretty secluded at our spot until the weekend. Things I liked 1.) hot shower 2.) playground for the kids 3.) paved trails. The one thing that would have tipped this site to a solid 10/10 rating would have been the ability to swim. It was obvious most folks were there to fish but we weren’t. We would have loved the opportunity to swim in huge Roosevelt lake! 

Beautiful place

Originally planned to stay at a dispersed site on the opposite side of the highway, but opted for Cholla because I wanted water access. The shower areas are cleaned daily and decent. Pretty empty right now, but each site still seems like it'd be pretty private. Nice view of the lake and 4 peaks from my site. I'd stay here again. 

Photos of Roosevelt Lake - Cholla Campground

Real photos from real campers