Tucson is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Waterfalls, mountains, saguaro cactus, pine trees, and the desert all come together for the perfect adventure spot.
Since there is a lot Tucson has to offer, it’s difficult to discover the very best location to settle in for the night. Fortunately, we have actually treked around and told stories around the campfire in this area more than when.
There’s no need to look any additional for the very best camping near Tucson due to the fact that we have actually got the very best spots right here!
Related Read: 9 of the Best Places to Camp Near Sedona, Arizona
Saguaro National Park
Why You Need to Camp Here: Find yourself lost in a forest of juniper trees and desert brush
, while you take a look at saguaros below. Appointments Accepted: Yes Best Seasons: Fall, Winter Season, Early Spring Campground Type: Tent Outdoor Camping Only If peace and quiet is your thing, you’ll love it here at Saguaro National Park. Backcountry camping here isn’t for the weak-hearted, but you’ll discover solace as you scale up the mountainsides in the Saguaro Wilderness. There are 21 dispersed camping sites inside 6 camping sites throughout the park. You’ll need to walk numerous miles (4-10 miles depending on the path
) to get to them, so make sure you’re prepared with enough food and water to make the trek. To beat the heat, visit Manning Camping area. 7.5 miles from the Turkey Creek Trailhead, you’ll discover the summertime family camp of Tucson’s former mayor, Levi Manning. This particular camping area has 6 dispersed sites and a Ranger’s station that is manned from April to September. This area generally never ever gets hotter than 85 degrees due to its elevation above 8,000 feet. Potable water is usually offered here, too!
For the most separated camping site, take a look at Spud Rock. Simply above 7,000 feet, you’ll discover 3 dispersed camping areas and approximately 5.3 miles from the closest trailhead. For the ideal set up, pitch your tent under aspens and pines facing eastward for the very best view.
Backcountry outdoor camping in the Saguaro Wilderness needs a backcountry authorization. You can book these 2 months ahead of time or pick them up on your method up the trail. Authorizations can not be picked up or purchased after 12 PM and are $8 per camping area per night.
Download a printable authorization here and mail it off to get your camping authorization in the mail or have it waiting for you at the Visitor Center!
Tucson Mountain Park
Why You Ought toCamp Here: If camping close to Saguaro National
Fall, Winter, Early Spring Camping Site Type: Tents, automobiles, and RVs welcome Recreational Vehicle Connections: Yes Gilbert Ray Camping Area inside Tucson Mountain Park is the location to stay if you’re wishing to stay near Saguaro National forest and bring your furry pals. With 5 tent-only campsites and 130 RV & camping tent websites, you can sleep amongst the Saguaros any way you want to! Every recreational vehicle site has a 30-amp hookup and has access to a dump station, too.
Like a lot of campgrounds, this recreational location uses restrooms, picnic tables, and water access. Family pets are welcome inside the campground and on a lot of Tucson Mountain Park’s routes as long as they’re on a leash. All camping sites are first-come, first-serve so be sure to arrive early to snag a campsite throughout the hectic seasons.
For views of the Arizona desert like you have actually always seen in motion pictures, settle in for a night at Tucson Mountain Park to take in the sunset with a few high-ends.
Mount Lemmon
Why You Ought to Camp Here: For the best of both worlds, find yourself in betweendesert and mountain top on Mount Lemmon. Reservations Accepted: Yes Finest Seasons: Fall, Winter Season, Early Spring Camping Site Type: Camping tents, cars and trucks, and Recreational vehicles welcome RV
Connections: Yes Mount Lemmon discussed by a Tucson-native: “Mount Lemmon constantly worked as an escape from the heat & a way to experience all four seasons. A location to watch the landscapes cacti & ocotillo change into Bigtooth Maples & towering Douglas Firs. Camping near the top offers you an exceptionally humbling experience where you can look out on the vast city listed below & watch the severe sun fade into a surge of color, to quickly move into a screen of twinkling lights listed below & the most god-damn fantastic star-speckled sky above.”
— Allison B., @itsallisonbrooks
Among our all-time preferred camp spots is Mount Lemmon. Vibrate your method up the mountain roadway to among the 5 paid camping areas or squeeze into a totally free designated campsite. When you check out Mount Lemmon, you have limitless alternatives for outdoor camping and hiking.
Our preferred campground is Rose Canyon as it offers more for the exact same campsite rate. At $22 a night, you get a big camping area, bear food box, a fire pit, and restrooms. The best feature of this campground, even though it’s the biggest one on the mountain, is that you never ever feel too close to other campers. You’ll neighbor to most of Mount Lemmon’s coolest tracks including Sunset Trail.
When you’re done treking and witnessing the drastic change in the landscape as you rise up the side of the mountain, you must direct to the Cookie Cabin at the very great of the mountain. Here you can find pizza and cookies fresh out of the oven. They likewise make a mean cup of hot cocoa.
If you need products, you can constantly hit up the Mount Lemmon General Shop to get a couple of additional basics or food products before finding yourself near the campfire.
Catalina State Park
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- 960″ height=” 640 “/ > Why You Must Camp Here: Catalina State Park is home to all the desert wildlife you might ever dream about. Bookings
- Accepted: Yes
Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, Early Spring Campground Type: Camping tents, cars and trucks, and Recreational vehicles welcome Recreational Vehicle Hookups: Yes Catalina State Park is widely known for its abundance of wildlife. If you’re lucky sufficient to find yourself lost here at night, you might even identify a ring-tailed cat, Arizona’s state animal.”This is just minutes from our home, however we still love to camp here. There are a myriad of desert trails readily available to check out and there are frequently events on the weekend such as a desert animal petting zoo, live music, geocaching classes, etc,”– Vantastic by means of Campenidum
When you show up, you’ll find people with binoculars around their neck searching for birds in the sky and other wildlife in the cactus and brush. Inside the Catalina State Park camping site, you’ll discover 120 electric and water connection websites for Recreational vehicles, with no length limitation on your rig. Camping tent campers are welcome to remain within these websites as well.
Similar to numerous state parks, Catalina enables family pets, however there are some locations where animals are not permitted to roam. Near the Wilderness area and Desert Bighorn Sheep Management area inside Sutherland Trail and Romero Canyon path, pets are not permitted.
These tracks are two of the longest trails in the park and make for excellent adventuring, however remember to ask a park worker before heading off with your mountain bicycle or animals! Have a look at the link to find the best tracks for your adventuring here.
The very best thing about outdoor camping in Catalina State Park is the capability to see wildlife you might have never ever seen before. With an Audubon Important Birding Area and Wilderness Location, this park thinks in the value of conserving its inhabitants. You might get a look of the evasive ring-tailed cat or find a nosey coatimundi simply going through. The best time to be out and about searching for wildlife here is at night, so keep your eyes peeled in the dark.
Picacho Peak State Park
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- full-moon in the Winter. Reservations Accepted: Yes
- Finest Seasons: Fall, Winter Season, Early Spring
- Campsite Type: Camping tents, vehicles, and Recreational vehicles welcome
- Recreational vehicle Hookups: Yes
Welcome to Picacho Peak State Park! This is a terrific location to stop if you have actually been driving South through Arizona for a while as it’s practically halfway in between Phoenix and Tucson.
“This is well worth the stop if you are traveling I-10. This is a beautiful state park with lovely tracks, wildflowers, wildlife, and lovely vistas.”– Costs K., on TripAdvisor
With 85 camping areas made for RVers and camping tent campers alike, you may discover that the camping area is full in the Spring. This state park is known for its wildflowers and cactus blooms. When the blooms come to life, people flock to the meadows to see it, so make sure to book your camping site early during the busy season.
At your campground, WiFi is offered for an additional cost for those who work and travel on the road. There are no sewage system or water connections, so it’s best to bring in your own water in case of scarcities as there aren’t numerous features around the location.
While you visit Picacho Peak, you’ll absolutely want to hike up to the Peak itself to get the best views around the area. Picacho Peak State Park is known for its wildlife viewing, too, so if you remain long enough you may be fortunate enough to see a badger, desert mule deer, or several desert-dwelling birds. At the contact station, you can request for a list of birds if you’re a passionate bird watcher.
Outdoorists Who Camp Near Tuscon Say …
You can’t fail if you’re outdoors. No matter where you choose to stay near Tucson, you will not be dissatisfied with the views or wildlife. You’ll have access to a few of the most gorgeous desert landscapes while making pals with a saguaro cactus or 2 along the way.
From the mountains to desert landscapes, you’ll find a place for everyone in Tucson without a doubt.
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Discover the best camping areas and camping areas near Tucson, Arizona for beautiful weaterfalls, mountains, saguaro cactus and more.