Top Camping & RV Parks Near San Carlos, AZ: Best Tent Sites & Outdoor Adventures
San Carlos, AZ, nestled in the stunning landscape of the Sonoran Desert, offers diverse camping options that cater to all outdoor enthusiasts. For RV campers, the San Carlos Lake Recreation Area provides excellent amenities, including picnic areas and scenic views of the lake, making it a prime spot for family outings. Tent camping enthusiasts can head to the nearby Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, where sprawling pine groves and hiking trails invite exploration under the star-filled sky. For those seeking a more secluded experience, dispersed camping opportunities abound in the surrounding wilderness, allowing campers to immerse themselves in the raw beauty and tranquility of the desert landscape. The area's unique geography, characterized by mountainous terrain and striking rock formations, creates a breathtaking backdrop for every camping experience. Whether you prefer the comfort of RV camping, the simplicity of tent setups, or the adventure of dispersed locations, San Carlos serves as the perfect gateway to Arizona's natural wonders.
Timber Camp Rec Area is located in the Globe Ranger District, Tonto National Forest (1 hr 35 min east of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 5,686 feet. There are a total of 15 campsites. The campground is open all year. 13 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $16.00 to $75.00. Activities include horseback riding, hiking trails, floating sports.
Grapevine Group Campground is located in the Tonto Basin Ranger District, Tonto National Forest (1 hr 27 min northeast of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 2,299 feet. There are a total of 9 campsites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $75.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, playground, boat ramp, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Frazier Horse Campground is located in the Tonto Basin Ranger District, Tonto National Forest (1 hr 30 min northeast of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 2,192 feet. There are a total of 8 campsites. The campground is open all year. Max equipment length is 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $16.00 per night. Activities include horseback riding.
Frazier Group is located in the Tonto Basin Ranger District, Tonto National Forest (1 hr 31 min northeast of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 2,185 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $75.00 per night. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails, floating sports.
Reynolds Creek Group is located in the Pleasant Valley Ranger District, Tonto National Forest (2 hrs 3 min northeast of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 5,209 feet. The site is normally open from the beginning of April to the end of November. Prices start at $75.00 per night.
Peppersauce Campground is located in the Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (46 min northeast of Oro Valley, AZ) with an elevation of 4,602 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $50.00 per night. Activities include hiking trails.
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site is located in the Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (2 hrs 54 min east of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 9,026 feet. The site is normally open from mid April to mid November. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails.
Treasure Park - North Campground is located in the Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (2 hrs 54 min east of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 9,017 feet. The site is normally open from mid April to mid November. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails.
Treasure Park Group Campground - East is located in the Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (2 hrs 54 min east of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 9,017 feet. The site is normally open from mid April to mid November. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails.
Lost Dutchman Campground is part of Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona (just 17 min northeast of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 2,074 feet. There are a total of 132 campsites including 5 cabins. The campground is open all year. 126 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 125 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 12 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 68 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $89.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, dump station, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Roper Lake Campground is part of Roper Lake State Park in Arizona (2 hrs 8 min east of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 3,118 feet. There are a total of 45 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 15 and 70 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 12 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 40 sites have electric and water hookups. 1 site has water hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $30.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, restroom, gift shop. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Upper Arcadia Campground is located in the Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (2 hrs 23 min east of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 6,609 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Upper Twilight Group Site is located in the Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (2 hrs 35 min east of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 7,535 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Lower Twilight Group Site is located in the Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (2 hrs 35 min east of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 7,535 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Stockton Pass Campground is located in the Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (2 hrs 5 min east of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 5,690 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Activities include biking, horseback riding, hiking trails.
Lewis Canyon Group Campground is located in the Lakeside Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (2 hrs 53 min northeast of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 6,484 feet. The site is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of September. Prices start at $40.00 per night. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Gentry Group is located in the Black Mesa Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (3 hrs 4 min northeast of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 6,718 feet. The site is normally open from the end of April to mid October. Prices start at $90.00 per night.
Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin is located in the Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (57 min northeast of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 7,925 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $125.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails, rock climbing.
Showers Point Group Site Campground is located in the Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (59 min northeast of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 7,793 feet. There are a total of 3 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the end of October. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $95.00 per night. Activities include fishing.
Whitetail Campground is located in the Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (1 hr northeast of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 8,105 feet. There are a total of 5 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 26 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. All sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $125.00 to $165.00. Activities include hiking trails.
Buckhorn Campground, Usery Mtn Regional Park in Maricopa County is located just 18 min northeast of Mesa, AZ with an elevation of 2,016 feet. There are a total of 71 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 44 and 114 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. All sites have electric and water hookups. Prices start at $32.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, sewer hookup, restroom, trash dumpster, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Rose Canyon Campground is located in the Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (52 min northeast of Catalina Foothills, AZ) with an elevation of 7,273 feet. There are a total of 32 campsites including 24 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the end of October. 6 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 22 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $24.00 to $95.00. Some amenities include general store, amphitheater. Activities include fishing.
Fool Hollow Lake Campground is part of Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area in Arizona (2 hrs 48 min northeast of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 6,285 feet. There are a total of 100 campsites including 29 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 71 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 35 and 129 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 12 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 45 sites have full hookups (electric, water and sewer). 26 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $25.00 to $35.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, water skiing, floating sports.
Black Canyon Rim Campground is located in the Black Mesa Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (2 hrs 26 min northeast of Scottsdale, AZ) with an elevation of 7,625 feet. There are a total of 20 campsites including 1 boat site. The campground is normally open from the end of April to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 21 and 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $20.00 per night.
Caldwell Cabin is located in the Alpine Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (4 hrs 20 min east of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 7,579 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to mid October. Prices start at $110.00 per night. Activities include biking, ohv trails nearby, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails.
Catalina Campground is part of Catalina State Park in Arizona (just 9 min east of Oro Valley, AZ) with an elevation of 2,668 feet. There are a total of 147 campsites including 8 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 139 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 155 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 12 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 117 sites have electric and water hookups. 8 sites have water hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $30.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, restroom, ramada, telescope, gift shop, horse stable, flush toilets. Activities include biking, horseback riding, hiking trails.
Canyon Point Campground is located in the Black Mesa Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (2 hrs 18 min northeast of Scottsdale, AZ) with an elevation of 7,687 feet. There are a total of 102 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 45 and 99 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 32 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $34.00 to $245.00. Some amenities include shower, sewer hookup, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Cutthroat Campground is located in the Springerville Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (3 hrs 54 min east of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 9,068 feet. There are a total of 18 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of October. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $20.00 per night. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Sinkhole Campground is located in the Black Mesa Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (2 hrs 12 min northeast of Scottsdale, AZ) with an elevation of 7,556 feet. There are a total of 13 campsites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 35 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $24.00 per night.
Apache Trout Campground is located in the Springerville Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (3 hrs 56 min east of Apache Junction, AZ) with an elevation of 9,060 feet. There are a total of 64 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 40 and 80 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 31 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $30.00 to $375.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, flush toilets.
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