Skip to main content
Best Campgrounds

Home / Best Campgrounds by State / Arizona

Best Campgrounds in Arizona

best campgrounds in Arizona

Compare ten Arizona campgrounds across deserts, sky islands, and lakeside pine forests to find the right fit for your next trip.

Arizona's campground scene spans from desert-floor boat-access sites to sky-island cabins above 8,000 feet, and the tradeoffs are real: elevation buys you cool summer nights but adds drive time, while lowland options trade shade for water access and convenience. This short list mixes cabin stays, lakefront camping, group sites, and equestrian-focused options across the state so you can compare by trip style rather than scrolling blindly. None of these have camper ratings yet, so the ranking leans on site mix, amenities, accessibility, and reservability rather than review scores.

8 min readUpdated: Jul 8, 202610 campgrounds
View from the Mogollon Rim near Spillway Campground
Spillway Campground sits on the shores of Woods Canyon Lake in Arizona's pine country.

Quick Picks

  1. 01

    Best for families

    SPILLWAY (AZ)

    27 sites, 22 accessible sites, fishing, boat ramp, and group site option at Woods Canyon Lake

  2. 02

    Best for RV and tent mix

    Rock Crossing Campground (AZ)

    35 sites accepting both RVs and tents with a 35-foot max vehicle length in a ponderosa pine setting

  3. 03

    Best cabin stay

    PALISADES RANGER RESIDENCE CABIN

    Five-room cabin with full kitchen, electricity, and water, reservable with a known season window

How These Campgrounds Compare

Use site count and type to narrow quickly: if you want a traditional campground with many sites, Rock Crossing (35 sites, RV and tent) and Spillway (27 sites, group/RV/tent) are your strongest options. If you want a cabin, choose between Palisades (higher elevation, known season) and Portal Bunkhouse (historic CCC construction, no known season). For groups, compare Whitetail (five group areas, 40–90 people each) against Elks Group Campground (one site, up to 100 people). For water-based trips, Spillway has a boat ramp and lakeshore sites, while Lake Havasu offers 73 boat-access-only shoreline sites. Reservability matters too—six of ten are reservable through Recreation.gov, while Lake Havasu, Alamo Canyon, and Callville Bay are not reservable through that system.

Group option

1. Choosing by elevation and season

view from the Mogollon Rim
SPILLWAY (AZ)
Arizona's campground options span from 472 feet at Lake Havasu to 8,127 feet at Whitetail Campground, and that range drives when you should go. High-elevation sites like Spillway, Rock Crossing, and Whitetail are summer escapes from desert heat, while low-desert options like Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites and Alamo Canyon are better suited to cooler months. Only Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin has a known season (1–12, with the campground guidance noting late March to early November), so for every other campground, confirm operating dates before committing to a trip.
Coconino County, AZBest months: Check current operating dates before travelReservable
View campground details

RV and tent

2. Reservability and booking logistics

Rock Crossing Campground site showing tent pad, table, fire pit, and standing grill
Rock Crossing Campground (AZ)Rock Crossing offers 35 sites among ponderosa pine and oak.
Six of the ten campgrounds here are reservable through Recreation.gov: Spillway, Rock Crossing, Whitetail, Palisades Cabin, Portal Bunkhouse, and Groom Creek Horse Camp. Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites and Alamo Canyon are not reservable through that system, and Callville Bay RV Park uses direct booking only. Since none of these campgrounds have camper review counts, demand is harder to gauge—check availability early, especially for single-site cabins and high-elevation summer sites.
Happy Jack, AZBest months: Check current operating dates before travelReservable
View campground details

RV and tent

3. Matching site type to your trip

Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites campground photo
Lake Havasu Shoreline SitesLake Havasu's 73 boat-access campsites span 20 miles of Arizona shoreline.
If you want a traditional campground loop, Rock Crossing (35 sites) and Spillway (27 sites) are your strongest bets. Cabin seekers should compare Palisades and Portal Bunkhouse, both single-site cabins with electric and water. Group trips split between Whitetail's five group areas and Elks Group Campground's single large site for up to 100 people. Groom Creek is equestrian-only with horse corrals at each site, and Lake Havasu requires boat access to reach its 73 shoreline sites.
Lake Havasu City, AZBest months: Check current operating dates before travelBooking status unknown
View campground details

Cabin stay

4. Accessibility and facility tradeoffs

PALISADES RANGER RESIDENCE CABIN campground photo
PALISADES RANGER RESIDENCE CABIN
For accessibility, I would start with Spillway because it has 22 accessible sites; Whitetail, Alamo Canyon, and Elks Group Campground each have one. Groom Creek is not a good fit if accessible infrastructure matters. Facility levels vary widely: Palisades and Portal Bunkhouse offer full kitchens and indoor plumbing, while Alamo Canyon stays primitive with a vault toilet and picnic tables. Rock Crossing adds bear food storage lockers and drinking water but no hookups or showers.
Tucson, ArizonaBest months: January through DecemberReservable
View campground details

What to Pack

  • For high-elevation campgrounds like Spillway (7,562 ft) and Whitetail (8,127 ft), pack rain gear and warm layers—afternoon thunderstorms are common from late June through August.
  • If booking Palisades or Portal Bunkhouse, bring your own linens, towels, food, dish soap, toilet paper, and garbage bags—these are not provided despite the cabins having kitchens.
  • For Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites, plan for boat-access logistics including enough fuel for a round trip and water for the duration of your stay.
  • At Rock Crossing, bear food storage lockers are provided—use them and store all scented items properly.
  • For Alamo Canyon, bring everything you need for primitive camping, including extra water; facilities are limited to picnic tables, grills, and a vault toilet.

Featured basecamps

Top Campgrounds

view from the Mogollon RimGroup option#1

SPILLWAY (AZ)

Coconino County, AZ
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Group, Rv and Tent campers comparing Arizona options near Coconino County.

  • 27 sites
  • Group, Rv and Tent option
  • Reservable

SPILLWAY (AZ) has 27 sites with group, rv and tent options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details
Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites campground photoRV and tent#3

Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites

Lake Havasu City, AZ
Price unknown

Best for: Tent and Rv campers comparing Arizona options near Lake Havasu City.

  • 73 sites
  • Tent and Rv option
  • Fire pits and picnic tables

Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites has 73 sites with tent and rv options; confirm current access and rules before travel.

View campground details
A wash runs with water below cacti and a large mountainRV and tent#6

Alamo Canyon Campground

Pima County, AZ
$16.00 / night

Best for: Tent and Rv campers comparing Arizona options near Pima County.

  • 4 sites
  • Tent and Rv option
  • Vehicle length up to 45 ft

Alamo Canyon Campground has 4 sites with tent and rv options; confirm current access and rules before travel.

View campground details
Portal BunkhouseCabin stay#7

PORTAL BUNKHOUSE

Douglas, AZ
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Cabin campers comparing Arizona options near Douglas.

  • 1 site
  • Cabin option
  • Reservable

PORTAL BUNKHOUSE has 1 site with cabin options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details
GROOM CREEK HORSE CAMP group shelter with 5 large table and 2 barbecues is the rear on the left sideCampground#8

GROOM CREEK HORSE CAMP

Prescott, AZ
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Equestrian campers comparing Arizona options near Prescott.

  • 30 sites
  • Equestrian option
  • Reservable

GROOM CREEK HORSE CAMP has 30 sites with equestrian options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details

When to go

Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin is the only Arizona pick here with a clear year-round-style season note, though weather may still narrow the practical window to late March through early November. For the other campgrounds, confirm current availability on the official reservation or park page before booking. Arizona's elevation range matters: high-elevation sites near 8,000 feet can be cool in summer and snowy in shoulder seasons, while low-desert sites like Lake Havasu are better suited to fall through spring.

Family fit

Spillway stands out for families with 27 sites, 22 accessible sites, fishing, a boat ramp, and reservable individual plus group sites. Rock Crossing offers 35 sites with tent pads, fire pits, and bear food storage lockers, making it a solid family basecamp for hiking trips. Whitetail provides five group areas accommodating 40–90 people each, which could work for large family gatherings. Alamo Canyon has just four sites and is primitive, so it suits families comfortable with minimal facilities. Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites requires boat access, which adds a logistics layer most families should weigh carefully.

Adult fit

For adults seeking a quieter or more specialized stay, Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin and Portal Bunkhouse offer single-site cabin experiences with electric and water hookups—both are reservable and suited to small groups of up to four. Groom Creek Horse Camp is equestrian-only, so it naturally filters for a specific adult user base. Alamo Canyon's four-site primitive setup near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument appeals to adults who want seclusion without crowds. Callville Bay RV Park is RV-only with 52 sites and direct booking, which may suit adults looking for lake-access convenience rather than a backcountry feel.

More campground guides

Keep planning with other published state and topic guides.

Browse all guides
Gadu, Washoe Summer House
StateCalifornia

Best Campgrounds in California

Compare ten California campgrounds across Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, and coastal foothills by site type, amenities, and logistics to find the right fit for your trip.

10 campgrounds

Camper van at the Gros Ventre Campground
Activity

Best Campgrounds for Fishing

Campgrounds with fishing amenities, boat ramps, and named waters, from Lake Tahoe to the Rio Grande. Compare site types, hookups, and access before booking.

10 campgrounds

Meeks Bay Resort Entrance Sign
Activity

Best Campgrounds for Hiking

Compare US campgrounds with hiking access, from wilderness trailheads to lakeside loops, and see what to verify before booking.

10 campgrounds

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to camp in Arizona?▼

It depends heavily on elevation. High-elevation sites like Spillway (7,562 ft) and Whitetail (8,127 ft) are best in summer when they offer cool relief from desert heat. Low-desert sites like Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites (472 ft) and Alamo Canyon are more comfortable in fall, winter, or spring. Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin appears to operate year-round but notes availability from late March to early November depending on weather—confirm before booking.

How early should I reserve an Arizona campground?▼

Six of the ten campgrounds on this list are reservable through Recreation.gov, including Spillway, Rock Crossing, Whitetail, Palisades Cabin, Portal Bunkhouse, and Groom Creek Horse Camp. Since none have camper review counts yet, demand is harder to predict—check Recreation.gov availability for your dates as early as possible, especially for summer high-elevation sites and the single-site cabins.

How do I choose between RV, tent, and mixed-site campgrounds in Arizona?▼

Rock Crossing and Spillway both accept RVs and tents, but I would verify rig fit before reserving, especially at Spillway. Callville Bay RV Park is RV-only with 52 sites. Alamo Canyon is for tents and small car camping only, with no RVs, trailers, or generators. Groom Creek is equestrian-only; campers without horses will be turned away.