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Find the Best Tent Camping Sites in Arizona

If you like to camp and stay in hotels, you are probably already planning on buying a pop-up camping tent for next year. This is our favorite way to go camping, but there are a lot of different ways you can choose to camp, so today, we are going to talk about tent camping in Arizona.

It’s no secret that Arizona has some of the most amazing state parks around. From the Williams Sonoma State Park in Flagstaff, Camelback Mountain State Park, and Grand Canyon, Arizona has so many state parks that it’s hard to find a place without an amazing place to stay. But, if you’re not camping, there are plenty of other great things to do in Arizona’s state parks. For the past 40 years or so, Arizona has been a favorite destination for tent campers, with the only limitation being the ability to find pitches in the high desert country. While many people come to Arizona to try their luck in the desert, there are other reasons to visit the Grand Canyon State, including its proximity to the rest of the country. The Grand Canyon can be accessed from four different points, and there are plenty of campgrounds within a quick drive from the South Rim if you plan to spend more than a night or two at the site. In addition, temperatures in the desert can be very hot, particularly in the summer, so many people pack a special tent for summer trips.

In the desert of Arizona is a place as peaceful as it is majestic, a place where time seems to fly, a place where the quiet is as loud as the traffic outside your tent. This is a place where you can quiet your mind and relax, a place where you find yourself as the only person there, time after time; you return to the place that you call home.

Things to Know About Tent Camping in Arizona

For many people, the idea of camping in the desert sounds like the stuff of nightmares. There are no kitchens, fridges or showers to speak of, and you need to be prepared for scorching heat, thunderstorms and the possibility of dangerous animals. But it doesn’t have to be like that. There are many ways to experience the desert without leaving the comfort of your tent.

Living in Arizona means the weather is hot, so it’s no surprise many people love to camp outside. With so many beautiful places to camp, it is no wonder so many people choose to camp in Arizona. Camping can be an amazing experience, whether for one night or for an entire summer. If you are planning your first tent camping trip, you should know a few things about tent camping in Arizona.

There are places you can camp where you are completely on your own, and there are places where you are completely on your own. Arizona is not one of the places where you are completely on your own. There are places you can camp where you are completely on your own, and there are places where you are completely on your own. Arizona is not one of the places where you are completely on your own.

Arizona is beautiful, warm, and dry during the summer months but can also be quite hot, especially during summertime. With that, it is essential to check the weather of the area where you will be camping before setting up your tent. Some areas of Arizona are more suitable for camping than others. For example, the Sonoran Desert is great for camping but not so great for hiking. Likewise, the Sonoran Desert is very dry, which means you should check the forecast to see if any rain is expected. Another thing to keep in mind is that tent camping can be dangerous. While it is fun to camp, there are areas where things can go wrong, like snakes, scorpions, or other creatures.

The Top Places to Camp in Arizona

  1. 1

    Campground

    Riverside Campground

    What People Are Saying

    We stayed over the weekend on site 58 the beaver point primitive site.

    Overall Rating: 
    4.5/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    65

    Location

    Phoenix, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    33.80986, -111.646463
  2. 2

    Campground

    Aspen Campground

    What People Are Saying

    "The space for tent camping was great!"

    Overall Rating: 
    4.7/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    266

    Location

    Payson, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    34.3269401, -110.9455632
  3. 3

    Campground

    Ironwood Picnic Area and Campground

    What People Are Saying

    "Hands down the best spot for tent camping and MTB adventures"

    Overall Rating: 
    4.5/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    15

    Location

    Fort McDowell, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    33.7117942, -111.7021436
  4. 4

    Campground

    Christopher Creek Campground

    What People Are Saying

    "It's a beautiful area and there was plenty of room for all of our tents (6)."

    Overall Rating: 
    4.8/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    289

    Location

    Payson, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    34.308304, -111.0371339
  5. 5

    Campground

    Burnt Corral Campground

    What People Are Saying

    "Tent camping and trailers seem to be the norm."

    Overall Rating: 
    4.6/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    215

    Location

    Roosevelt, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    33.626162, -111.2043114
  6. 6

    Campground

    Sinkhole Campground

    What People Are Saying

    "Convenient to lake and best of all, OPEN!"

    Overall Rating: 
    4.4/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    84

    Location

    Payson, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    34.305317, -110.8867935
  7. 7

    Campground

    Houston Mesa Campground

    What People Are Saying

    "Beautiful but tent area is too noisy, close to highway."

    Overall Rating: 
    4.4/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    438

    Location

    Payson, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    34.2699044, -111.3193057
  8. 8

    Campground

    Falls Campground

    What People Are Saying

    No reviews yet.

    Overall Rating: 
    4.9/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    8

    Location

    Young, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    33.8231031, -110.9390065
  9. 9

    Campground

    Bagley Flat Recreation Area (Boat Access Only)

    What People Are Saying

    "We tent camped from our canoe."

    Overall Rating: 
    4.3/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    39

    Location

    Mesa, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    33.571445, -111.48418
  10. 10

    Campground

    Cascade Campground

    What People Are Saying

    "The road right before the fall had a good incline, a lot of loose gravel, ..."

    Overall Rating: 
    4.4/5 stars

    Reviews on Google

    5

    Location

    Young, AZ

    Latitude / Longitude

    33.8301111, -110.9470743
  11. Important Camping Gear for Arizona

    Camping in Arizona can be very enjoyable, but finding the best gear can be hard. If you are planning on camping in Arizona, you should consider the following gear.

    Planning a camping trip to Arizona should be a no-brainer. Don’t you already have a tent, a camping stove, a lantern, a sleeping bag, a ground mat, a tin foil, a backpack, a first-aid kit, a portable toilet, a headlamp, a handcart, a air mattress, a mosquito net, a big fly, a pocket knife, a rain jacket, a camping stove, a sleeping bag, a sleeping bag liner, a thermometer, a mosquito repellant, a water bladder, a fire starter, a mosquito head net, a headlamp, a lantern, a portable toilet, a camp cot, a trekking pole, a pocket knife, a tent stake and a pot?

    Backpacking through the desert of Arizona is an exhilarating adventure. While backpacking in the desert, you will have to do some research on basic camping gear to ensure that you are equipped with the necessary survival tools. There are many reasons why people decide to camp in the desert. Some want to get away from their day-to-day life; others want to catch up with nature, while some like to be closer to wildlife. Whatever your reason, campers should prepare well in advance in order to enjoy their stay in the desert. They should, for example, choose campsites that are well away from the wind, to avoid blowing their tents down at night. They should also pick sites that are well away from the scorching heat to avoid their tents getting too hot in the day.

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Planning Your Camping Trip

Best Time of Year to Tent Camp in Arizona

As enticing as camping may seem, there are numerous reasons it may not be your cup of tea. Many people worry about the potential for rain, wind, and bugs, as well as the arduous nature of setting up and breaking down camp. But if you pick the right time to tent camp, the odds of bad weather and difficulty setting up and breaking down camp go down significantly. The best time of year to tent camp in Arizona is from late May into early September, during the monsoon season.

The summer months may be the best time to tent camp in Arizona since those months provide the most consistent weather and weather patterns that allow for camping enjoyment. Unless you’re camping in the more extreme conditions of an extreme desert, you’re likely to find a nice campsite with a flat, level surface and some shade. April is a great month to tent camp in Arizona. The weather is just starting to warm up, there’s still a few days of snow, and the desert is filled with wildflowers. With temperatures as high as 50 degrees at night, the desert is a very popular spot for tent campers, especially those looking to avoid spring and summer crowds.

Average Temperatures By Month in Arizona

Month Avg Low °F Avg High °F
January 32.7°F 58.2°F
February 31.8°F 56.4°F
March 39.5°F 68.3°F
April 45.2°F 76.3°F
May 53.6°F 85.6°F
June 61.7°F 94.6°F
July 68.4°F 96.6°F
August 67.4°F 94.2°F
September 60.8°F 89.6°F
October 49.8°F 79°F
November 39°F 66.8°F
December 32.3°F 57.6°F

Learn More Camping Tips for Beginners

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