The best camping near Tonto National Forest

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Tonto National Forest adventure.

90% (39 reviews)
90% (39 reviews)

Hike, bike, and camp in Arizona’s largest and most diverse national forest.  

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Tonto National Forest

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Tonto National Forest

Top-rated campgrounds near Tonto National Forest

92%
(107)

Geo Dome Campsite, I-17 Access

8 sites · RVs2 acres · Phoenix, AZ
Currently looking for long term summertime RV and Vanlife guests to round out our tight little community! No tents. Come visit and see what makes every one who has stayed here fall in love with this amazing little slice of heaven in the desert. My description: This is a convenient spot in the city of Phoenix, but it feels like you are camping in the country. Closest neighbors are 150 feet away. I've got 2.3 acres, 5 minutes to Walmart, movie theater, 100's of dining choices in Norterra shopping complex. You'll be behind tall fence/block wall on a full acre to spread out on. (Bring an extension cord for prime spots if applicable) There is some light highway and minimal residential noise if that matters to you. You will hear birds nesting in our cacti, see tons or dove, finches, numerous species of hummingbirds or even hear some coyotes yipping at nighttime. We are about a 4 minute drive from a nice hiking area. 3 30 amp and 2 50 amp power added September 2022. Full time campsite manager on site now. Laundry has free large capacity machines. Water pressure and quality is great. The campfire has tree shade with table and chairs. Extension cord power (when available). Water hose for water. Septic system with tap at campsite. Quiet generators are fine for summer A/C. If you need 30 or 50 amp power you'll have to park closer to the domes or have an extension. Electric hookups...contact for availability. There is an acre to choose your perfect spot, but power and water might not be exactly where you want it. Please be respectful of the property and all of our neighbors as we are surrounded by residential housing. Please drive slow inside the property and keep the gate closed when not in use as there are coyotes in the area. Please do let us know ahead of time if you are afraid of dogs or have allergies. My manager has a small pup and there are others here depending who is staying. I have perfect drinkable amazing deep-well zero particulate well water. Inside my extra geo dome I have a shower, sink, and toilet. While 40 years old and ugly, they are functional. You are welcome to camp or relax inside the 40 foot dome, BUT THERE ARE NO BEDS OR BEDDING. This Hipcamp listing is for camp and RV sites only, not a bed in a geo dome. Please message with arrival time so we can meet you at the gate.
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$30
 / night
92%
(13)

El Camino Treehouse

1 site · Lodging1 acre · Phoenix, AZ
Our family home is just outside historic central phoenix, where we used to live on dirt roads and among lots of horse properties. Since then the city has expanded far and wide, putting us close to the center yet next to acres and acres of mountain preserves like Dreamy Draw Park, with a trailhead at the end of our street, an acre of property to ourselves which is rare, and in a quiet neighborhood. (still with horses nearby!) I built this treehouse as a work space and studio during covid, as I work remotely doing admin for a luxury treehouse construction company. Our family still lives in the house and we welcome guests to use the treehouse. The large windows allow for great views and are mostly hidden behind all of the tree branches. Enjoy the treehouse experience and wonderful views of our quiet neighborhood next to the mountains! Learn more about this land:Walk up the ramp and disappear into the branches of our giant pine tree. You'll find a large deck suspended in the trees and a cozy little treehouse with giant windows. No one would ever expect a treehouse in a quiet neighborhood of Phoenix, but our 1 acre lot with 50 year old pine trees is a little hidden gem. Views from our front yard are beautiful and no one will even notice you're there. 
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$75
 / night
96%
(67)

Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame

1 site · Lodging1 acre · Phoenix, AZ
Darling camping A-Frame located in NE Phoenix, just 15 minutes from the airport, perfect for a short stay in Phoenix, or if you're heading up to the Grand Canyon or Sedona. The A-Frame is super cozy and has large clear panels above the bed for night time stargazing. If clouds obscure the stars then simply enjoy the unique star lighting strategically placed in the Citi StarGazer. Super comfortable queen sized bed, and wonderful bedding make for the perfect night's sleep. Linens are provided. Campers may use the onsite swimming pool. Small secondary building with portable toilet and outdoor shower with hot water included. Perfect economical stay for adventurers in the Phoenix area, the fifth largest city in the US with tons of things to do! Located close to great hiking such as Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. The A-Frame is located in the large backyard of our Phoenix home in a nice neighborhood. We live onsite and look forward to hosting you! Happy (and economical) travels, y'all!
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$60
 / night
95%
(140)

Mountain View Retreat

8 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · New River, AZ
Experience the ambiance of a boutique resort as you escape to our beautifully landscaped and immaculately maintained private 10 acre property in the North Valley. You will be welcomed into a peaceful, desert oasis with luxurious amenities and find yourself immersed in a tranquil, serene setting surrounded by breathtaking views. Not only will you experience warm hospitality from your hosts, but our friendly farm animals will give you a warm welcome too! Guests are welcome to interact with all of our animals during our "evening chores" 30 minutes before dusk every afternoon. In addition to your personal, spacious full-hook up RV site you are sure to enjoy all the amenities we offer, including shared access to our entire property with many seating areas, covered patios, water fountains, outdoor kitchen, horseshoe pit and hot tub. NON-SMOKING adult guests ONLY! Please review entire listing and house rules prior to booking. ………..Discounts offered for long term stays……….
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$59
 / night
99%
(37)

Marguerita Ranch

4 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Cave Creek, AZ
Want to feel like you're in the middle of nowhere but be only 1 mile from town? Pitch your tent or park your camper among numerous towering Saguaro Cactus and stunning mountain views. Bring your camera or your horses! Perfect spot for relaxing, stargazing, and a fantastic view of the famous AZ sunsets! My 2.2-acre private horse ranch has mountain views in all directions, a large private campsite, and 8 rescue horses, 2 donkeys, and 5 pigs to meet and greet on the property. Please note we are located in a neighborhood so please respect the neighbors. There are hiking/horseback riding trails right off of my property that take you to the Spur Cross Conservation Area, or you can head 10 minutes north to the trailhead. The Black Mountain Hiking Trail is also awesome, you can see the whole valley from the top! Or, you can even ride your horses to the cowboy bars in town! Note: I have 2 spots available: 1 Campsite; 1 Glamping Trailer. I will try to block off campsites that are not in use after your booking in order to keep the site as private as possible. Wanting some adventure? Lake Pleasant, Bartlett Lake, Tonto National Forest, Seven Springs, and more are all just a easy drive from the ranch. Need to stock up on supplies? Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Supply and more are just a 10-minute drive. Want to explore a unique cowboy town? Cave Creek is an Old West-style town where it’s just as common to see horseback riders trotting along Main Street as it is to see a motorcycle cruising by. There is a variety of shops, restaurants, and great drinks. It's easy to find something you'll love! Please note that landscape varies depending on time of year and rain. There will be no green grass in the summertime. Tag us on instagram! @margueritaranch Horse corral (50 ft roundpen) available to rent at extra cost. Message me!!
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$42.75
 / night
98%
(46)

“Field of Dreams” Mesa AZ

1 site · RV1 acre · Mesa, AZ
We are Kevin and Tammii. We moved to Mesa in 2019 to build our own “Field of Dreams”. In developing our property we added a Hip-Camp site to our vision. We’ve enjoyed hosting people from all around the country. We’re can accommodate guests for up to three weeks and unable to offer monthly rates. We welcome families with up to two children. Pets are welcome, two or less, and we have a designated pet area for their use. There are two nice sitting areas, a laundry shed with washer, dryer, and drying rack. Internet access is also available. More about the “Field of Dreams”: Our site has a paved level concrete pad with 50 amp service, water, and septic. RVs are required to come with empty holding tanks because of the septic system. We can accommodate up to 43 feet in length RVs. There is a nice landscaped patio area with table, chairs, umbrella, and a privacy screen. There is also a propane fire pit available. Our site is close to Costco, Starbucks, local restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, and a mall. There is nearby mountain biking, hiking, and site seeing. We are 30 minutes from downtown Phoenix in a quiet residential area.
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$60
 / night
100%
(1)

Red Rock Roping, LLC

4 sites · Lodging, RVs2 acres · Cave Creek, AZ
Welcome to Red Rock Roping! Where you will be a close 3 mile drive to old town Cave Creek restaurants, bars, and shopping strip. But far enough to enjoy a quiet and peaceful scenery of mountains, sunsets and sunrises. Don’t forget to kick your feet up, and end your night to enjoy a wide open view of the stars! Also, keep your eyes open for desert critters such as rattlesnakes, tarantulas, scorpions, deer, road runners, bob cats, and coyotes. We ask please do not pet, catch, feed or leave any food out that will attract them. Enjoy them from a picture away :) Our 2 accessible acres will give you 360 view of mountains, our Red Rock Roping arena, and a Saloon to gather under to enjoy cool refreshments, and a meal with your friends/family. Right outside our entrance going North on 80th Street you can hike over to the Grapevine Wash which is a short walk away from the Cave Creek Town Trail System for hiking and horseback riding, and if you’re adventurous you can hike up 2 miles of a 800’ climb on a gravel road/trails to “Mexican Hat” for an even more incredible view! We are a 30 amp full hook up (sewer, water & electrical) for 33’ RV’s and living quarters horse trailers. You will also have access to our community laundry area, with a large garbage can to dump a bag if needed. Some suggestions for town; Grab some quick delicous breakfast and coffee at Janey’s. Or American cuisine lunch at The Horny Toad, a Mexican cuisine dinner while watching the turtles in the pond at El Encanto! Ofrenda, right at the end of the road, also has great authentic Mexican cuisine. Many restaurants to choose from all within a short drive. Bashas, Safeway, Target, and Walmart and Sprouts are all within a 3-6 mile drive too! We have two turnout pens for horses. That are located right behind where you will park your trailer. They both have a cover that provides some shade, as well as running water. We do not provide any feed, so please make sure you bring some! (Horse turnouts are an extra $25 each/per night)
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$25
 / night
98%
(152)

Cave Creek Quiet Homestead

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Cave Creek, AZ
Quiet slice of heaven under the stars on our homestead. Due to some unexpected commitments, it was necessary to reduce our camping experience for our winter 2024 season. We are very sorry, but will reopen as soon as possible. Please check back for open dates and sites Our space offers a tranquil setting with several camping options. Site # 1: Closed for 2024 season. Sorry Site #2: Closed for 2024 season. Sorry Site # 3: RV Glamping. Queen size bed with a dinette that can be used as an extra bed for the little ones. Site # 4 RV, Pop Ups or Living Quarters with horses/mules Site # 5 Boarding for Horses or Mules We offer Communal Spaces with restroom, grill, table, other seating with larger fire-pit. Feel free to visit our horses, chickens or hike our beautiful trails right from the property. Enjoy the horses, the stars at night and our neighboring coyotes sing if you are lucky. Our home is close by, the little white farmhouse on the hill. Thank you for looking!
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$25
 / night

The best camping near Tonto National Forest guide

Overview

About

Arizona’s Tonto National Forest encompasses a huge range of scenery from the saguaro cactus-studded Sonoran Desert to the rugged cliffs of the Mogollon Rim, just northeast of Phoenix. Tonto’s varied landscapes offer outstanding camping, hiking, and boating in every season. Six man-made reservoirs on the Salt and Verde rivers provide an abundance of water sports recreation, while over 900 miles of trails feature terrain for hikers and mountain bikers. Dozens of designated campgrounds are scattered throughout the national forest and include waterside tent sites and RV-friendly spots. Solitude seekers will also find plenty of dispersed camping areas.  

Notable campgrounds

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Many of the campgrounds in Tonto National Forest can be reserved up to six months in advance online. Many also offer a selection of first-come, first-served sites.
  2. Not all campgrounds in Tonto National Forest can accommodate large RVs or trailers. Be sure to check each site’s maximum trailer length prior to booking.
  3. Group sites can often be reserved up to 12 months in advance.

When to go

Due to Tonto’s varied landscapes and altitudes, different parts of the national forest are best to visit at different times of year. Spring and fall are best times for camping and hiking in the lower elevation desert areas, and summer is ideal for boating, fishing, and swimming in the reservoirs. Winter can bring occasional snow and cold temperatures to the upper elevation areas of the park, but much of the forest remains open. Winter is also a great time for hiking, camping, and climbing in the lower elevations.

Know before you go

  1. Tonto National Forest visitors are required to purchase either a daily or annual forest pass, available for purchase at kiosks throughout the area.. If you have an America the Beautiful annual national parks pass, it may cover entry to some areas.
  2. Amenities vary between Tonto campgrounds but most sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and drinking water access. Some campgrounds are more primitive, while others offer showers and boat launch facilities.
  3. Pick up maps and information about activities, current road conditions, and camping at the Roosevelt Lake Visitor Center, open year-round near Roosevelt Lake.
  4. Tonto National Forest is very dog-friendly, with leashed dogs allowed in almost all areas.

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