The Best Camping near Phoenix, Arizona

Arizona’s capital city is one of the hottest destinations when the weather turns cold. Catering to travelers and outdoor enthusiasts, the top campgrounds near Phoenix gives you access to the best of what the desert has to offer.

Backpackers and tent campers have carte blanche here, but those in RVs and travel trailers will want to note that parks in the area (and Arizona as a whole) may have age limits for guests or restrictions on the type of rigs you can bring. You’ll still have a wide variety of options, but make sure you double-check the requirements before making reservations.

Phoenix’s Top Tent and RV Campgrounds

With more than 1.7 million residents, Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the US, and by far the biggest in Arizona. With dry heat, year-round warmth, outdoor access, and magnificent scenery, it’s no wonder people are coming here. And to accommodate snowbirds and other recreationists, the capital city metropolitan area boasts a wide array of top campgrounds.

While you’re in town, make sure to check out the hot springs by Phoenix too. They make any camping trip that much better (and relaxing). Let’s look at the favorite places to park your RV, travel trailer, or pitch your tent.

Here are the best and closest campgrounds to Phoenix, AZ, in order of proximity:

Covered Wagon RV Park (8 miles)

This park has been a family-run operation since the 1980s and is the oldest family-owned RV park in Phoenix. The location puts right in the middle of everything with good proximity to downtown. It’s easy to hit the biggest attractions in the heart of the city while still having the mountains in view.

When you’re ready to settle down for the night, this park offers all the basic amenities to keep you comfortable. Note that RVs older than 15 years old are only allowed to stay on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to management before reserving a spot.

• Closest Town: Glendale, AZ (4 mi)
• Specs: 52 RV sites, full hookups, open year-round, 45-foot maximum RV length
• Amenities: Pool, restrooms, showers, Wi-Fi, on-site office, laundry, swimming pool
• Reservations: Yes, visit campspot.com/book/coveredwagonaz
• Address: 6540 N Black Canyon Hwy # 53, Phoenix, AZ 85017 (Map)

Desert’s Edge RV Park (18 miles)

Of all the spots on this list, Desert’s Edge has easily one of the most compelling cases for camping there. Rated as one of the top 10 parks in the country by USA Today, this spot blends the retro feel of old-school Arizona with updated, modern amenities.

With plenty of on-site activities, you’ll never be more than a few steps away from the fun. When you want to venture out, some of the area’s biggest attractions are just a short drive away. Do note that RVs over 10 years old need approval prior to booking.

• Closest Town: Glendale, AZ (16 mi)
• Specs: 222 RV sites, full hookups, open year-round
• Amenities: Heated swimming pool, hot tub, communal bathrooms, communal showers, recreation hall, fitness center, two dog parks, dog run, dog grooming station, laundry, ramada, barbecue area
• Reservations: Yes, visit desertsedgerv.com/… or call (623) 587-0940 or e-mail purplepark@desertsedgerv.com
• Address: 2398 W Williams Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85027 (Map)

Destiny RV Resort (23 miles)

Destiny RV Resort exudes Old West charm. Themed around the early days of Arizona, this is one of the more unique spots to stay. In conjunction with a fun theme, there are numerous activities and amenities here that lean towards families. If you’re traveling with children, this is one of the more appealing resorts around.

• Closest Town: Goodyear, AZ (6 mi)
• Specs: 284 RV sites, full hookups, open year-round
• Amenities: Courtesy patrol, propane for sale, complimentary Wi-Fi, heated swimming pool, spa, laundry facilities, outdoor games, convenience store on-site, meeting rooms, recreation room, fenced and shaded turf pet area, fitness center, showers, restrooms
• Reservations: Yes, visit bookyoursite.com/… or call (623) 853-0537
• Address: 416 N Citrus Rd, Goodyear, AZ 85338 (Map)

WestWorld Campground (27 miles)

WestWorld Campground is a function over fashion setup. If you need a simple place to stay, this is hard to beat. While the main draw here is being right next to the WestWorld event facility itself, anyone looking for an un-fussy RV stay will appreciate this spot. If you’re doing an extended vacation in the Phoenix area, note that Westworld has a maximum stay of 14 days per 30-day period.

• Closest Town: Scottsdale, AZ (13 mi)
• Specs: 398 RV sites, water and electric hookups, dump station
• Amenities: Restrooms, showers
• Reservations: Yes, call (480) 312-6802
• Address: 9544-9642 E Polo Field Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (Map)

Skyline Regional Park (31 miles)

You’ll have a nearly 9,000-acre backyard when you stay at Skyline Regional Park. Even if you don’t stay here, the park is a beautiful day-use site with plenty of hiking trails to enjoy.

The kicker here is that there are only seven campsites at the park, so you’ll want to make a reservation. While there are no walk-up reservations, you can do first-come, first-served with available sites. If you aren’t willing to risk walking up to a site, you need to reserve 72 hours in advance at a minimum.

• Closest Town: Buckeye, AZ (9 mi)
• Specs: 6 standard RV and tent campsites, one accessible standard RV and tent campsite, no hookups, open year-round
• Amenities: Restrooms, ramadas, two graded tent pads per site, no potable water
• Reservations: Yes, visit web2.myvscloud.com/… or call (623) 349-6350
• Address: 2600 N Watson Rd, Buckeye, AZ 85396 (Map)

Usery Mountain Regional Park (32 miles)

Maricopa County offers several regional parks, with Usery Mountain being the closest to Phoenix itself. Early birds can enjoy the park as early as 5:00 am during the season, with off-season hours pushing that back to 6:00 am.

The park itself covers 3,648 acres and offers plenty of sites for tents and travel trailers. You’ll find fewer semi-developed and primitive sites here, but campers seeking a bit of comfort will have more choices when visiting Usery Mountain.

• Closest Town: Apache Junction, AZ (10 mi)
• Specs: 71 standard tent and RV sites, four semi-developed group sites, open year-round, water and electric hookups, dump station
• Amenities: Campfire rings, BBQ grills, picnic tables, restrooms, campground hosts on-site
• Reservations: Yes, visit maricopacountyparks.org/… or call (833) 505-0779
• Address: 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 (Map)

Cave Creek Regional Park (34 miles)

While roughly the same distance from Phoenix as the aforementioned Usery Mountain Regional Park, Cave Creek is due north of the city instead of east. Travelers who want to spend their time in the nearby Coconino National Forest should consider a stay here.

Cave Creek is one of the smallest regional parks but still offers standard sites and amenities. Like Usery Mountain, campers looking for a more rugged camping experience will be better served at other regional parks. Those who want just a bit of extra comfort, however, will be right at home.

• Closest Town: New River, AZ (14 mi)
• Specs: 55 standard tent and RV sites, electric and water hookups, open year-round
• Amenities: BBQ grill, picnic table, fire pit, campground hosts on-site, restrooms
• Reservations: Yes, visit maricopacountyparks.org/… or call (833) 505-0779
• Address: 37019 N Lava Ln, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (Map)

Mesa/Apache Junction KOA Journey (35 miles)

The biggest draw of this campground, besides the simplicity of a nationwide camping chain, is its proximity to the Superstition Mountains. For travelers that want to experience some of the best hiking in the area, this KOA Journey puts you closer to the trailheads.

You can stay in comfort with all the Journey-level amenities you would expect. Spend a relaxing evening in the pool after a long day of hiking, or just take in the sunset from the comfort of your RV.

• Closest Town: Apache Junction, AZ (1 mi)
• Specs: 112 RV sites, four camping cabins, four deluxe tent sites, eight water and electric only sites, seven primitive tent sites, dump station, open year-round, max RV length of 70 feet, max length of 65 feet for pull-through spots
• Amenities: Propane for sale, swimming pool, pavilion, Wi-Fi, pet-friendly, dog park, meeting rooms, hot tub, on-site store
• Reservations: Yes, visit koa.com/… or call (800) 562-3404
• Address: 1540 S Tomahawk Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85119 (Map)

Pleasant Harbor RV Resort (36 miles)

This resort showcases a unique amenity not found at many RV resorts: unlimited dry camping space. If you’re not a planner or have to make a last-minute change, you can always head to Pleasant Harbor and dry camp. While it’s not the most luxurious choice, you’ll never be completely out of options here.

For those that do reserve a full or partial hookup RV site, you’ll have the resort-level benefits that you would expect. Beyond just luxuries and conveniences, be right on the water here.

• Closest Town: New River, AZ (15 mi)
• Specs: 253 full hookup RV sites, 60 partial hookup RV sites, unlimited dry camping space, open year-round
• Amenities: Boat rentals, on-site bar and grill, heated swimming pool, spa, clubhouse, laundry, convenience store on-site, 24/7 security, outdoor games, picnic tables, propane delivery, complimentary Wi-Fi, restrooms, showers
• Reservations: Yes, visit camplife.com/…
• Address: 8708 W Harbor Blvd, Peoria, AZ 85383 (Map)

McDowell Mountain Regional Park (36 miles)

McDowell Mountain is on the larger end of the Maricopa County Regional Parks and offers more standard tent and trailer sites than any of the others. While it has more developed campgrounds, look closely at the information before you book your site.

Some sites here are on a slant that may cause RVs and travel trailers to have issues leveling. While this isn’t a concern for most sites or visitors, it’s something to keep in mind.

• Closest Town: Fountain Hills (12 mi)
• Specs: 80 standard tent and RV sites, 16 primitive sites for tents, vans, and trailers under 16 feet, two semi-developed group campsites, dump station, water and electric hookups, open year-round
• Amenities: Restrooms, showers, campground hosts on-site, nature center on-site, BBQ grill, fire pit, picnic table
• Reservations: Yes, visit maricopacountyparks.org/… or call (833) 505-0779
• Address: 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264 (Map)

White Tank Mountain Regional Park (36 miles)

For those needing to be on the west side of Phoenix, White Tank Mountain Regional Park is one of the best options. You’ll be outside of the city, while still having access to some western suburbs. To get into the city itself, you won’t be too far either.

This campground is divided into two sections. The first section is a family campground loop with standard sites that feature a range of basic campground amenities for comfort. The other section is dedicated to walk-in semi-developed sites for those who want a more minimalist approach.

• Closest Town: Surprise, AZ (15 mi)
• Specs: 36 standard tent and RV sites, 20 semi-developed sites for tents, vans, and trailers under 16 feet, open year-round, dump station, water and electric hookups
• Amenities: Restrooms, showers, campground hosts on-site, BBQ grill, fire pit, picnic table
• Reservations: Yes, visit maricopacountyparks.org/… or call (833) 505-0779
• Address: 13073-20685 W Valley Vista Dr, Waddell, AZ 85355 (Map)

Lost Dutchman State Park (40 miles)

Lost Dutchman State Park is one of the top choices for those who want to head right from their campsite to the hiking trails. With triple-digit campsites, you’ll have plenty to choose from when it’s time to call it a night. During the day, you’ll have a wealth of trails that take you to some of the best views in the park.

• Closest Town: Apache Junction, AZ (5 mi)
• Specs: 67 non-hookup sites, 68 sites with electric and water hookups, five cabins, open year-round, dump station
• Amenities: Electricity, heat/AC in the cabins, restrooms, camp sinks, amphitheater, ramadas, ranger station on-site, showers
• Reservations: Yes, visit azstateparks.com/…
• Address: 6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119 (Map)

Lake Pleasant Regional Park (41 miles)

Last but not least in the Maricopa County Regional Park system is a larger lakefront campground. Special to this spot is the availability of boat-in sites. For those who want a simplistic camping experience, the park has several primitive sites that are only accessible if you boat in, in addition to developed, semi-developed, and primitive sites that stay closer to the park.

• Closest Town: New River, AZ (20 mi)
• Specs: 27 primitive boat-in sites, 51 semi-developed sites, 25 developed sites, water and electric hookups, open year-round
• Amenities: BBQ grill, fire pit, picnic table, campground hosts on-site, restrooms, showers
• Reservations: Yes, visit maricopacountyparks.org/… or call (833) 505-0779
• Address: 41835 N Castle Hot Springs Rd, Morristown, AZ 85342 (Map)

Much of the Grand Canyon State is a land of extremes, and Phoenix is no exception. With triple-digit summers and reasonably chilly winters, the top campgrounds are most enjoyable in the fall and spring when the weather is milder.

To beat the summer heat of Phoenix, head a little over two hours north to the mountains. There, consider the best campgrounds near Flagstaff for your campout.