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The best glamping sites in Tonto National Forest, AZ
88% (42)
Hike, bike, and camp in Arizona’s largest and most diverse national forest.
88% (42)
Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Tonto National Forest adventure.
Top-rated campsites near Tonto National Forest
Cave Creek Quiet Homestead
1. Cave Creek Quiet Homestead
98%
(174)
40mi from Tonto National Forest · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Quiet slice of heaven under the stars on our homestead.
We continue to have reduced our camping experience for our winter 2025 season to keep our site secluded and private. Please check back for open dates and sites
Our space offers a tranquil setting with several camping options.
Site # 1: Glamping Tent is Closed for 2025 season. We are offering tent campers at this site on a limited availability.
Site #2: Saguaro Camp site. Bring your tent or rent one of ours.
Site # 3: RV Glamping. Queen size bed with a dinette that can be used as an extra bed for the little ones.
Site # 4 RV, Pop Ups or Living Quarters with horses/mules
Site # 5 Boarding for Horses or Mules
We offer Communal Spaces with restroom, grill, table, other seating with larger fire-pit. Feel free to visit our horses, chickens or hike our beautiful trails right from the property.
Enjoy the horses, the stars at night and our neighboring coyotes sing if you are lucky.
Our home is close by, the little white farmhouse on the hill.
Thank you for looking!
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Campfires
Ash Creek Canyon Preserve
2. Ash Creek Canyon Preserve
99%
(63)
42mi from Tonto National Forest · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Ash Creek Canyon is more than a place to camp — it’s a hidden world reopened after nearly a century of quiet. Tucked within the Tonto National Forest, this privately owned canyon and historic mining town have remained untouched by the public since 1945. Today, the gates are open once again, inviting adventurers to experience one of Arizona’s most pristine and biologically rich landscapes.
Here, towering canyon walls cradle lush greenery, native wildlife, and the gentle flow of Ash Creek as it winds through the valley. Scenic campsites sit along the water’s edge, offering peaceful views and direct access to hiking trails that lead through diverse ecosystems recognized by Arizona Fish & Game for their exceptional biodiversity.
At the heart of the canyon lies Chrysotile, a long‑forgotten mining town frozen in time. Its remnants add a sense of mystery and history to your stay — a rare chance to explore a piece of Arizona’s past in a setting few have ever seen.
Whether you’re a seasoned camper or experiencing the outdoors for the first time, Ash Creek Canyon offers a blend of tranquility, adventure, and discovery. Set up your tent beneath star‑filled skies, wander through untouched wilderness, or simply relax beside the creek as the canyon walls glow at sunset.
This is nature at its most authentic — a place where adventure meets peace, and where every visit becomes a story worth telling.
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Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
3. Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
97%
(117)
44mi from Tonto National Forest · 1 site
Runner up for best HipCamp in Arizona! Darling camping A-Frame located in NE Phoenix, just 15 minutes from the airport, perfect for a short stay in Phoenix, or if you're heading up to the Grand Canyon or Sedona. The A-Frame is super cozy and has large clear panels above the bed for nighttime stargazing. If clouds obscure the stars then simply enjoy the unique star lighting strategically placed in the Citi StarGazer. Super comfortable queen-sized bed, and wonderful bedding make for the perfect night's sleep. Linens are provided. Campers may use the onsite swimming pool. Small secondary building with portable toilet and newly built outdoor shower (not a tent anymore) with hot water. Perfect economical stay for adventurers in the Phoenix area, the fifth largest city in the US with tons of things to do! Located close to great hiking such as Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. The A-Frame is located in the large backyard of our Phoenix home in a nice neighborhood. We live onsite and look forward to hosting you! Happy (and economical) travels, y'all!
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Phoenix Mountains Treehouse
4. Phoenix Mountains Treehouse
97%
(58)
50mi from Tonto National Forest · 1 site
A treehouse in the city of Phoenix?! Yes. Our 1 acre property just outside of the heart of Central Phoenix has two legacy pine trees, one of which holds a treehouse that was originally built as an extra space for our family and is now open for guests.
Not too long ago, our neighborhood roads were dirt, and there are still several horse ranches in the neighborhood. Hiking trails start at the end of our street leading to the Phoenix Mountains and a 3 minute drive will get you to Dreamy Draw Park and Piestewa Peak, with endless miles of hiking and grand views of the city.
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Wifi
Glamperous Camper • Couples Desert
5. Glamperous Camper • Couples Desert
17mi from Tonto National Forest · 1 site
Welcome to Glamperous Camper, a couples-only desert escape designed for quiet nights, wide skies, and unforgettable ambiance. This thoughtfully styled camper blends comfort with intention—perfect for stargazing, reconnecting, and slowing down without sacrificing the essentials.
Every stay includes our Signature Night Ambiance, a curated outdoor setup featuring solar lighting and star accents that transform the space after sunset. Evenings here are calm, private, and atmospheric—ideal for a glass of wine, late conversations, or simply watching the sky come alive.
Inside, you’ll find a clean, comfortable retreat with everything needed for a relaxed multi-night stay. Outside, the desert offers open views, peaceful surroundings, and a sense of space that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Hosted by a retired Army veteran, this stay reflects attention to detail, reliability, and care. Guests consistently appreciate the cleanliness, clear communication, and the intentional experience that makes this place feel special.
If you’re looking for a romantic getaway, a unique desert stay, or a quiet place to unplug and enjoy the night—Glamperous Camper was created for you.
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Potable water
G&H Ranch RV
6. G&H Ranch RV
28mi from Tonto National Forest · 1 site
Escape to your own private RV parked on a quiet property just 1 mile from national forest access—perfect for groups chasing hiking trails, OHV rides, or star-filled desert nights without sacrificing comfort.
This stationary RV comfortably sleeps up to 6 guests: a queen bed, a twin bunk, and a pull-out couch provide flexible sleeping arrangements for families or friend groups. Full hookups mean you’ll have water, electric, and sewer throughout your stay—no generators, no compromises.
Unlike most RV rentals in the area, you’ll also have access to an on-site washer and dryer, making multi-day trips (or dusty trail clothes) hassle-free.
What you’ll love:
• Full hookups (water/electric/sewer)
• Sleeps up to 6 guests (queen bed, twin bunk, pull-out couch)
• Washer and dryer access
• 1 mile to national forest trailheads
• Quiet, private setting near the Scottsdale/Rio Verde Foothills
• Close to hiking, OHV trails, and incredible stargazing opportunities
Whether you’re base camping for a weekend of trail adventures or simply need a comfortable stop while exploring the Sonoran Desert, this RV offers the space and amenities to make your stay easy and enjoyable.
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Bar Lazy D
7. Bar Lazy D
100%
(2)
30mi from Tonto National Forest · 1 site
We are a Horse Training Boarding and Breeding facility specializing in horse experiences but exceptional access to hike golf, Atv , 40 minutes to Bartlett lake, 20 minutes to West World. Overnight stalls available.Rv spaces, bunk house and camping are all available. Come enjoy the gorgeous sunsets but close to Scottsdale
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The Cozy Peach at Schnepf Farms
8. The Cozy Peach at Schnepf Farms
48mi from Tonto National Forest · 8 sites
Glamping is the new “experience” when traveling! It’s become so popular that even hotels are setting up glamping areas on their properties. Glamping gives you a camping experience with all the comforts of a luxury hotel. And what makes the Cozy Peach unique, are the vintage trailers. Schnepf Farms has one of the largest displays of vintage Airstreams, Spartans, Silver Streaks, and more! All are refurbished for an incredible overnight stay.
What is Included?
- Comfortable trailer with your own grass yard and patio.
- Private fire ring (propane or real)
- Plush bedding
- Flat Screen TV with Netflix
- Kitchen stocked with plates & dinnerware
- Personal gas grill
- Keurig Coffee Machines & pods
- Outdoor relaxing areas
- Ping pong & For Hole available
- Beautiful Farm to enjoy with a bakery, Country Store, Schnepf family museum, UPICK gardens and peach orchards, Train rides, and more
Cozy Peach guests can enhance their farm stay experience with private dinners, breakfast delivery, private animal feeding, and other seasonal activities. Reach out to our Cozy Peach concierge for current offerings!
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Mesa Gardens RV Park
9. Mesa Gardens RV Park
46mi from Tonto National Forest
Mesa Gardens RV Park stands out as a unique destination, seamlessly blending a serene atmosphere with the convenience of urban living. Recently reopened after extensive renovations, this beloved park now features 90 newly activated sites and a host of enhancements that elevate its already remarkable charm.
Guests at Mesa Gardens enjoy exclusive access to the adjacent 3-acre Beverly Park, which includes a playground and ample green space for pets to roam freely. The park boasts a beautifully restored midcentury clubhouse, inviting outdoor gathering areas equipped with lighting and shaded turf for recreational activities, as well as convenient onsite laundry and shower facilities.
Its prime location directly across from the Valley Metro Rail station makes it an ideal choice for traveling professionals, including nurses and construction workers, who value both community and accessibility. Whether you choose to rent a fully furnished cottage or settle into a modern RV site, you will discover a clean, safe, and welcoming environment.
Join us for our grand reopening and immerse yourself in the charm and convenience of Mesa Gardens RV Park—a true urban oasis that offers a perfect blend of relaxation and accessibility to nearby attractions, outdoor activities, restaurants, and shops.
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Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
M
Ming
May 2026
3 nights at Phoenix Mountains Treehouse
Niko's place was exactly what I was looking for, plus Niko was accommodating and opened the dates up for me during his off-season. Look at the pictures carefully - what you see is what you get! The instructions are excellent too. If you like the outdoors, this is perfect. I came for a conference, so I didn't explore the neighborhood, but the mountains are right there.
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B
Brayden
May 2026
A
Ariana
March 2026
1 night at Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
Great communication, safe and thoughtful environment and host.
See moreR
Rachel
March 2026
1 night at Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
Super cute! Cozy and romantic, we really enjoyed our stay!
See moreG
Georgina
March 2026
2 nights at Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
We absolutely loved our stay at the A-Frame! It felt magical to be able to look at the stars at night. Our host was friendly and kind. She gave us suggestions on where to eat and made our stay comfortable. Would return in a heartbeat.
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Silke
March 2026
With kids
The treehouse was just as described; we had a comfortable and quiet stay. Thank you!
See moreS
Steven
March 2026
2 nights at Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
Unforgettable experience. The place was incredibly clean and quiet. The host was kind and responsive. I couldn’t recommend staying here more.
See moreW
William
March 2026
2 nights at Phoenix Mountains Treehouse
Very easy to check in. Comfortable bed, electricity available, awesome view through the branches. Bathroom outdoors and easy to access. Had a great stay!
See more
K
Kristin
February 2026
With kids
Paul was so kind and helpful.
The bathroom was so clean and newly done! I loved the country his + hers theme to the bathroom.
I loved the deck to view all the stars in the sky.
The room was perfect for the 6 of us it was cozy and not crowded. The fridge was sufficient for a substaintal amount of food considering the small size of it. The wood work and the country memorabilia from a life well lived surrounded by the horse ranch was top tier for our family to experience. We loved it and will be back.
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E
Elle
February 2026
1 night at Phoenix Mountains Treehouse
We had an absolutely lovely time staying at the treehouse! It’s clean, cozy and you can tell they put a lot of thought into it to make sure you felt at home. Their property is a bonus! Gorgeous big yard where you can just sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Another bonus- you’ll definitely see a bunny or two hopping around their yard! Outside bathroom is well kept! Very nice owners! Looking forward to coming back and staying longer than a night!
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Amalia
February 2026
2 nights at Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
My husband and I really enjoyed staying here. After car camping for two nights this felt luxurious. We desperately needed a hot shower after hiking for 2 days in Tucson and swimming. The place we stayed before only had cold water, while this shower got really hot very quickly, and it was so nice. It also might seem like a simple thing, but the industrial size shampoo, conditioner, and body wash was really nice for them to provide. Camping for 7 days out of a small backpack you only have room for free sample size toiletries, so I was able to wash my hair everyday here and after a long day of hiking it was exactly what we needed to feel refreshed. It was really cloudy the nights we stayed so the star lights were a nice touch. My husband was initially worried when I said it was in someone's backyard. But it was incredibly private. We rarely saw our host, and were able to enjoy the backyard, pool, and even enjoy a peaceful meal at the table next to the pool. He mentioned as we were leaving how different but nice this was compared to our other stays.
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Scott
January 2026
Weekend Trip to Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
Good location. Well kept. Attention to detail. Cool vibe.
See moreS
Sarah
January 2026
With pets
It was my second time staying here. I love this cozy little space and my dog does too.
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Elizabeth
January 2026
Weekend Trip to Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
Accommodation is lovely. But it was a little hard to regulate the temp inside the a-frame. The portable heater worked really well.
See moreA
Anna
January 2026
Weekend Trip to Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
It' has amazing view! I stayed there during wolf moon 🌝 and it was like best moon bathing I ever had ✨🌟⭐💫. The place is like a little cozy retreat style. They will have more of this prototype in North Arizona 🌵🏕️ Totally worth it 🙌
See moreN
Navzad
January 2026
1 night at Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
Beautiful, cozy, easy and affordable. Refreshing stop on a road trip
See moreL
Le
January 2026
1 night at Phoenix Citi StarGazer A-Frame
Beautiful little oasis in the middle of the city! Host is really sweet. Super cozy!
See moreK
Kelly
December 2025
Weekend Trip to Phoenix Mountains Treehouse
Cool set up! Clean , Patio set up is pretty nice. Having your own entrance and parking area was nice too!
See moreA
Armida
December 2025
1 night at Phoenix Mountains Treehouse
Stayed for only one night, but the treehouse is very beautiful. I would definitely come back again. Cute and comfy and the views from the treehouse are great!
See moreB
Brendon
December 2025
With kids
We slept so well in the cozy little treehouse. My daughter enjoyed the swings and the beautiful grassy yard. It was just what we needed!
See moreReviews for Tonto National Forest Campgrounds
88%
42 ratings · 19 reviews
November 2023
Nice little campground with a pit toilet, picnic tables and shade. Next to the lake so you have easy access for kayaking.
November 2020
Warning...Locals break into campers and steal everything They also vandalize cars and rv's. It's a canyon with very few camping spots and the one that exist are right next to the road which atv fly by and make dust all day and night.. loud .. Drunks stay up all night getting rowdy... need a code for lock to get in...
Good morning fellow. Campers! I just wanted to post an advisory about bulldog canyon. Now I don't get allot of space to write all the details in this review but, on 5/6/18, I went to the access gate on usery pass road, I posted my bulldog canyon pass in my window and had time to watch two movies, after 45 minutes I looked up to see a sheriff and a Tonto ranger, eyeballing me, I was told to produce ID, and while the ranger called in my plate info and license info and ran every check known to man on me the sheriff stared at me with the look of death. After he cleared me, the crime I was told I committed was I had not parked 1/4 mile in past the gate. I was treated like a criminal when I had the proper pass. A simple " you need to move"!
Recommends
· February 2018
Nice spot by the lake to cool down after biking on the Arizona Trail
Recommends
· January 2018
Be sure to get there early, spots fill up fast.
September 2017
I camped here September 24, 2017. Conditions were cold (the good kind of cold), and the campground was completely empty, granted it was a Sunday night. The biggest surprise to me was finding Rose Creek flowing, under 1 cfs. Beautiful setting for camping.
July 2017
I stayed here for one night in July 2017 with a group of friends from my Yoga Teacher Training Program. Just down the road from Box Canyon Trail (which is an awesome 2 mile hike roundtrip and straight down the mountain), and about 15 minutes from downtown Payson, the campground is clean, quiet, and the hosts are as friendly as can be. We had plenty of room to practice at each site for our upcoming Practicums as a group, and they are spacious enough for 2 very large tents per. The sunset and sunrise views between the ponderosa pines are breathtaking, and the air is crisp, clean and fresh. Tons of hiking options, and definitely plenty of amazing outdoor vibes!
June 2017
This place is amazing. My all-time favorite spot. I've taken a Honda Accord in, you don't need 4x4 unless it's been muddy.
Hike the creek!
Recommends
· June 2017
There is a smaller campground a bit further that is less crowded.
April 2017
The specs for this campground (above) indicate pets aren't allowed, but I didn't see any signs to that effect at the site, and my dog seemed to be welcomed by other campers. Also, if memory serves, there was potable water available there. Most of the campers were there for the fishing, which I understand is quite good. Watch the weather -- the bridge over the creek is low and can be flooded if there has been a lot of rain. Good space between sites, good hiking along the creek and through the woods.
Recommends
· March 2017
You'll need 4x4
December 2016
Flowing Springs provides free, dispersed camping. The surrounding area is beautiful, especially in the autumn! However, some of the sites had trash in the fire rings. We also came across two campfires left burning, so make sure to douse your coals until they are cool to the touch to prevent forest fires.
May 2016
This is a super sweet little campground tucked in next to the highway. It has two large loops of campsites with lots of water readily available and decent vaulted restrooms. We staked out the site on the turn of the loop so we could pitch our tents far off the road and hang up our hammocks amidst the trees. A short few minutes of exploring a path leading away from the grounds brought us easily to Christopher Creek so we spent a few hours "creek walking". We found some fun areas to climb around and a couple swimming holes. This is a great campground for both small single-tent families and big groups like ours! We will be going back again soon.
April 2016
This campground is pretty big...I think there are 5 loops, possibly more. There are tent only sites as well as sites for trailers. Each site has a fire pit and a shade ramada above the table which was a great feature. We had a tent only site and ours was HUGE but set up pretty close to the road. Most sites are small but can accommodate a decent size tent and many are set away from the road if you want more privacy. Bathrooms were clean and we had pump water and trash nearby.
If you like exploring, there are a good amount of trails to walk, although there is not direct path down to the water that we could find. Playgrounds for the kids. Boat launch off to the right when you pull in with ample parking.
Happy camping!
February 2016
Great spot, make sure you get a pass first its not close. Views are great with lake access and many good camp sites.
February 2016
It's a great site. It can be busy on the weekends. I would suggest getting there early to pick out a great spot. There are bathrooms, running water areas, Punic table on each site. The beach access allows for easy access with kayaks and canoes. There is a boat ramp close by in the campground with parking. There are trees for shade but you might want to consider bringing your own. The scenery is very beautiful.you must have a Tonoto Forest pass which you can buy online or at a gas station on your way out.
December 2015
The tent sites here are amaaaaazing! Right on the lake with a small path down. We came at the end of December and had the whole tenting circle to ourselves. Really chill spot to kick back. Plus- there are Arizona trail trailheads close by so plenty of hiking. The vineyard section gives gorgeous views of the lake, four peaks and superstitions.
September 2015
We've tent camped there on several occasions. It currently costs $3.00 for a 6 minute shower. Sites are OK, but not a lot of shade.
August 2015
Came here on a saturday evening (early August) just at sundown for a hopeful night away from the city. Despite the very hot temps this place was jam packed, and trash littered the entire bank of the river. Turned right around with an armful of trash. Shame.
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