Camping

Arizona’s dramatic desert landscapes, wind-swept plateaus and lush mountain forests invite visitors to enjoy the great outdoors, day and night. Pitch a tent or park an RV at campsites statewide and feel the decompression begin.

Some Arizona campsites have international cred and require booking months in advance. Be one of the fortunate few who get to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and set up camp near Havasu Falls. Join a Navajo guide to reach remote campsites in Monument Valley or claim a scenic RV site at the base of the Superstition Mountains.

At state park campgrounds, hiking and cycling trails encourage exploration while on-site outfitters rent all the gear needed to get on the water and off-road trails. Along the western border of Arizona, the Colorado River attracts RV’ers year-round. In winter, the population of Quartzite swells with RV campers, and in the summer miles of shoreline along the Parker Strip attract RVs like a magnet.

Those new to camping can rent state park cabins with many of the comforts of home built in. Or consider renting a yurt at Arizona Nordic Village, staying at an eco-retreat near the Grand Canyon that offers stargazer tents, booking a mini house at the Tiny Camps in Sedona and Cottonwood or choosing from other surprising campsites in Arizona.