If the thought of waking up in the woods, in the stunning desert, or next to a lake or stream to the sound of birds chirping is what you call camping, then you can see everything you’re desiring in Arizona. Camping here varies from warm evenings out in the desert to sitting by a campfire underneath ponderosa pines, or even lounging by a lake, maybe with a fishing rod. Best car camping spots in Arizona? Read on for more!
In winter, camping sites at upper heights, like Payson, Prescott, Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon, are usually wrapped in snow, yet you can head to the desert camping sites around Tucson, Phoenix, and places farther south for an enjoyable climate. Campsites in Arizona are generally well-kept and very well positioned for travelers desiring to visit the best of the state’s natural splendors. Below are some of the best locations to camp and the best campsites for you to set up a tent, trailer, or RV. So, make sure you go through them!
From Alderwood Campground to Desert View Campground. There are numerous stunning car camping spots in Arizona.
Table of Contents
- 1 #1 Alderwood Campground
- 2 #2 Apache Lake
- 3 #3 Bagley Flat Campground
- 4 #4 Blue Crossing Campground
- 5 #5 Box Wash Campground
- 6 #6 Camp Avalon
- 7 #7 Canyon Point Campground
- 8 #8 Canyon Vista Campground
- 9 #9 Catalina State Park
- 10 #10 Christopher Creek Campground
- 11 #11 Coconino National Forest
- 12 #12 Desert View Campground
#1 Alderwood Campground
Alderwood Campground, you can spot it on Haigler Creek and is a moderately used space known for its seclusion and serenity. Visitors will love spending time on the well-shaded campsite that has a collection of recreational possibilities for the whole family to appreciate. While there you can fish for trout in the creek, go hiking and view wildlife such as deer, black bears, and peak lions, or have a breeze in any stretch that you feel relaxed. The stay limitation at Alderwood Campground is two weeks, and there are no expenses or passes needed for camping there. The only structure available is lockbox toilets so please carry drinking water, etc.
#2 Apache Lake
Available by the Apache Trail National Forest Scenic Byway or Highway 188, the Apache Lake Campground showcases panoramic sceneries of mountains towering against Apache Lake. There are 82 camp units on-site, each equipped with picnic tables, restrooms, water hydrants, and courtesy docks. There is likewise a communal toilet construction out there from all the grounds. That’s a fact! RV camping is available all year long, though it is on a first-come, first-served basis as no reservations exist. Fishing on Apache Lake is a wildly widespread pastime and campers might come across trout, catfish, bass, and much more. There is a paved boat takeoff to Apache Lake for campers to employ if necessary. This truly goes without saying!
#3 Bagley Flat Campground
Bagley Flat Campground is the only campground on the shores of Saguaro Lake and is a free, boat-in campground. The campsites all include quiet and peaceful settings, picnic tables, grills, and passes to restrooms. There are 10 set campsites to pick from, and they are approximately $6 per vehicle. People can experience outdoor activities such as hiking, nature photography, or fishing for trout, catfish, and bass on the lake.
You will likewise come across a mix of flora and fauna during your stay there. A stay at Bagley Flat Campground has a limitation of two weeks, and no trailers are allowed.
#4 Blue Crossing Campground
Available at absolutely no cost to campers. Blue Crossing Campground is a beautiful place to set up your tent or park your trailer and just enjoy nature at its finest. Campers will get stunning vistas of the beautiful Blue River Valley and be able to enjoy a quiet rural camping venture. Amenities such as vault toilets and picnic tables are available. Absolutely everyone will treasure the unforgettable adventure Blue Crossing Campground provides. Also, you can spend time examining your surroundings, river and creek fishing, and day hiking on the Tutt Creek Trailhead. Or even backpacking all over the Blue Range Primitive Area.
#5 Box Wash Campground
Box Wash Campground is a prevalent spot for campers in Arizona. The lands are situated in a spectacular place that is readily available, neat, and free from extreme noise decay. The campsite is free to utilize and there is a nice trail to hike through and investigate the ecosystem while there.
You’ll likewise get some good-looking photos of the surrounding desert. There are lots of significant locations to select from or even have a picnic with your pals and family. Tent and RV camping are permitted on Box Wash Campground, though campers can solely stay for an utmost of fourteen days.
#6 Camp Avalon
A spiritual nature pullback and campsite in Sedona, Camp Avalon is a family-friendly site that allows you to get up near and private with all the qualities that Arizona presents. Avalon is Sedona’s only remote creekside campsite. It has been asking visitors to study and enjoy the enchanting settings for over 25 years. There is so much to catch and do at Camp Avalon. That includes holy retreats, meditation, sabbaticals, and yoga. Are you searching for something less spiritual and more venturesome? If so, there are numerous hiking trails, historic places, and natural sights in the area. Reservations to dwell at Camp Avalon needs to happen in advance.
#7 Canyon Point Campground
Canyon Point Campground is a stunning place that sits amidst the panoramic Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. The campgrounds are by heavily wooded pine and aspen, and they are pointed near Willow Springs Lake. While camping, tourists will be able to relish a bunch of movements. Be it photography, boating, hiking, as well as fishing. Other breathtaking natural areas that you shouldn’t overlook contain sculpted canyons and the Mogollon Rim. There are 113 grounds, out of which 32 retain electricity. Other structures retain campfire rings, freshwater, a dump placement, teeming toilets, firewood, picnic plateaux, and much more.
#8 Canyon Vista Campground
Canyon Vista Campground is a place that sits amidst Lower Lake Mary and Walnut Canyon. Campers will be capable to set up their tents among ponderosa pines, and oak trees that live there for a long time. Visitors will be able to participate in wildlife watching. Also, in rocking climbing, horse riding, and hiking at Canyon Vista Campgrounds. Be certain not to miss the iconic Sandys Canyon Trail while there. There are 14 one-unit locations, each with fire circles, cooking grills, water, picnic tables, and vault restrooms. Camping at Canyon Vista is about $20 a night for up to 8 individuals and one vehicle.
#9 Catalina State Park
Catalina State Park proposes a beautiful camping spot with 120 defined spaces to pick from. Each of the areas has electricity, water, picnic flats, and grills. The parking quarters and routes to each area are paved, and the campsite is full of hot showers and replete restrooms. There is no limitation to the scope of RVs that camp there if you choose to do so. Likewise, there are RV dump posts available in the park. Things to do while there have hiking, bird observing, and taking stunning photos of Arizona nature at its best. The campsite is available all year round, though stays are restricted to fourteen straight days.
#10 Christopher Creek Campground
Set high overhead with a peak of over 5,640 feet, the Christopher Creek Campground has some of the most dazzling sights and flaky, fresh air to relish while camping in Arizona. Campsites are encircled by ponderosa pines, oaks, and the stakes of Christopher Creek. There are 43 locations strewed on each side of the creek as well as a company site that can house up to 25 individuals. Luxuries within the building contain a water tap, pit toilets, and firewood. The campsite is pet friendly. During your camping journey, you can participate in horseback riding, peak biking, fishing, or taking a plunge in one of the park’s three swimming spots.
#11 Coconino National Forest
With terrains that vary from ponderosa pine woods and southwestern desert to the well-known red rocks of Sedona, Coconino National Forest is surely one of the most myriad camping sites in Arizona. During a camping voyage there, travelers will be able to analyze brooks, creeks, miniature lakes, mountains, canyons, and so much more. Other close locations of interest that campers might want to stop by enclosing Bell Rock, Devils Bridge, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Bear in mind that though photo shooting is permitted on the campsite and encompassing zones, drones are not. This goes without saying.
#12 Desert View Campground
With a capacity of 50 grounds, Desert View Campground is a famous Arizona camping structure that helps tourists on a first-come, first-served basis. The site is open from May to October and can house tents, RVs, or trailers at an utmost of 30 feet. There are no hookups open on the grounds, and each site is restricted to six people, two tents, two cars, or one RV camper or trailer per location. There is a one-week camping limit and though pets are permitted on the grounds, you must keep them on a leash. Each area has facilities such as a picnic table and campfire grill. They are near water spigots and available restrooms.
