7 Must-See Ghost Towns in Arizona

All across Arizona, you’ll find relics of the state’s storied past, from ancient ruins to abandoned mines.

This southwestern state is home to nearly 300 boomtowns-turned-ghost towns, many with structures still standing and legends of spirit. We’ve narrowed down the list to seven of the best Arizona ghost towns to visit, plus nearby campsites for your spooky overnight stay.

1. Jerome

A thriving ghost town with an operating post office

While not totally extinct like some other towns, Jerome in Verde Valley was once considered the “Wickedest Town in the West” during its days as a prosperous copper mining town. Once the mining camps closed in the 1950s, the founding of the Jerome Historical Society likely saved the town from complete ruin. Today, the state park, vintage stores, wineries, art exhibitions, and a bordello-turned-burger-joint keep the streets busy as an easy day trip from Flagstaff. Visit the Jerome Grand Hotel, originally established as a hospital in 1927 and the infamous spot where a miner died in the elevator shaft. Or book a ghost tour of the local haunts.

Our favorite Jerome campsites

• House on the Edge of Time (3 minutes away)
• Hawks Hideaway Camping (15 minutes away)
• Verde River Vortex (25 minutes away)

2. Bisbee

A copper queen with a cosmopolitan present

About 95 miles southeast of Tucson, the sleepy town of Bisbee is known as one of the most haunted abandoned towns in the U.S. Maybe the most infamous point in the town’s history, the Bisbee Deportation of 1917 led to illegal kidnappings and deportations of striking mine workers and prospectors. The buildings, streets, museum, and graveyard are ripe with history, while a well-preserved and quirky downtown attracts visitors of all kinds, from ghost chasers to creative spirits to outdoor enthusiasts.

Our favorite campsites near Bisbee

• Barrio de Barro (10 minutes away)
• Camp Etowa (15 minutes away)
• Stargazer Ranch (10 minutes away)

3. Tombstone

An Old West backdrop for craft breweries

Fires in the late 1800s almost caused the death of Tombstone twice, but alas, it was dubbed the “Town Too Tough to Die” because of its resiliency. Ghosts of cowboys and townspeople haunt the tourist attractions, while Wild West reenactors and tours bring history to life. A replica gallows is staged outside the Courthouse Museum, and a roulette wheel spins at The Crystal Palace saloon. Today, the little town is home to Tombstone Brewery, one of the best craft beer destinations in Arizona.

Our favorite Tombstone campsites

• Silver Belt RV Park (in town)
• Silver Spur Homestead (in town)
• 18+ Artists’ Nature Retreat (15 minutes away)

4. Kentucky Camp

A spooky hiking and mountain biking destination

Following the mysterious death of the founder of the Santa Rita Water & Mining Company, Kentucky Camp was abandoned as a gold mining venture in 1910. The land was then a cattle ranch for 50 years before the U.S. Forest Service took ownership in 1989. Now, as a preservation project and stop along the Arizona Trail, it has become a popular attraction for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. The site’s 10-room, 500-year-old adobe headquarters is one of the oldest surviving buildings of its era, according to the Friends of Kentucky Camp organization.

Our favorite campsites near Kentucky Camp

• Kentucky Camp Dispersed Camping Area (find dispersed camping outside the Kentucky Camp gates)
• Rancho del Nido RV Horse Camp (20 minutes away)
• Canelo Hills (30 minutes away)
• TerraSol (35 minutes away)

5. Swansea

Middle-of-nowhere mining ruins

Along with saloons and a general store, Swansea was bustling in its heyday of the early 1900s because of the car dealership, barber, theater, insurance agent, lumber company, and electric light company. But when the local gold and copper mining company went bankrupt in 1912, that was the beginning of the town’s demise. Its remote location and lack of water didn’t help. Near the Arizona-California border on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, ruins from the smelter spot the dirt roads and deserted landscape, which is mostly considered to be in the middle of nowhere today—an off-roader’s paradise.

Our favorite campsites near Swansea

• Steve&Dawn’s Desert Retreat (1 hour away)
• Cherry Oasis Desert Retreat (1 hour away)
• Havasu Getaways (75 minutes away)

6. Agua Caliente

A resort past and green space present

Built around a natural hot spring two hours southwest of Phoenix, Agua Caliente was originally a sanctuary for Indigenous people to heal in the river’s waters. But settlers in the 1870s built a sprawling resort and swimming pool around a stagecoach line and ranchers used more and more water for irrigation, eventually drying up the hot spring. The site has since been turned into a park listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and visitors can explore the historic buildings and ponds to enjoy the wildlife and scenery. Preservationists have discovered ancient artifacts from 5,500 years ago, further detailed in the museum.

Our favorite campsites near Agua Caliente

• Aztec Hills Retreat (35 minutes away)
• Bakers Wash Retreat (1 hour away)
• Gambel Field (1.5 hours away)

7. Hackberry

A Route 66 must-visit

On historic Route 66, Hackberry was a silver mining operation and railroad town in the late 1800s that was known for brawls and gunfights because of its transient location. After a long, dusty time, the reopening of the Hackberry General Store in 1992 ultimately put Hackberry back on the map. It’s now somewhat of a tourist destination for Mother Road history buffs, and the trading post and information center features vintage cars, signs and other relics from the time.

Our favorite campsites near Hackberry

• Slow Me Down Ranch (20 minutes away)
• Cella Winery (25 minutes away)
• Hackberry Roots Ranch (30 minutes away)

More fall camping vibes this way

Autumn brings all things crunchy leaves, ghouls, and campsgiving. Get more inspo for your next fall camping trip below.

• Nature Alert: The Ultimate Guide to Fall Camping for Peak Foliage
• 8 Texas Ghost Towns You Need to See to Believe
• 5 Cozy Fall Foliage Road Trips Across the US
• 10 Ways to Get Outside on Thanksgiving
• 5 Desert Oases Perfect for Fall Camping in California