Camping in Arizona ranges from a reserved site with a picnic table at the Grand Canyon's South Rim to a free pull-off on national forest land, a backpacking permit in a saguaro wilderness or a camping cabin in a state park. Winter and spring are the main season in the southern deserts; summer is the season in the pines around Flagstaff and on the rims. This guide covers the main federal and state campgrounds, how to book them, the rules for dispersed camping, and the closures in place in November 2026.
How booking works
- Recreation.gov takes reservations for federal campgrounds including Desert View at the Grand Canyon, Twin Peaks and Alamo Canyon at Organ Pipe Cactus, Bonita Canyon at Chiricahua, the Forest Service's Ten-X campground near Tusayan and Saguaro's wilderness sites. The phone line is 877-444-6777.
- Arizona State Parks takes its own reservations through azstateparks.com. Camping is available at 15 state parks, and eight also rent camping cabins.
- Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation issues camping and backcountry permits on Navajo land.
- The Havasupai Tribe sells all permits for Havasu Canyon through its own reservation site.
Senior and Access pass holders get half price on camping at Organ Pipe Cactus, and Saguaro says the same passes may bring camping discounts. Arizona State Parks doesn't accept federal passes at all, and its own annual pass doesn't cover camping.
Grand Canyon
| Campground | Status (Nov 6, 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mather, Grand Canyon Village | Open all year; dry camping only | Reservations recommended March 1 to November 30, up to six months ahead; 15 first-come sites sold at the campground office from 8 a.m. daily |
| Trailer Village RV park | Closed | Closed under Stage 4 water restrictions until further notice |
| Desert View, South Rim east | Closed for the season | 2027 season opens April 10; bookable six months ahead |
| North Rim | Closed for the season | Closed October 15; tentative reopening May 15, 2027 |
| Ten-X (Kaibab National Forest), near Tusayan | Closed for the season | Open May 14 to September 30; $10 a night per vehicle |
Mather in November 2026. Because of the Stage 4 water restrictions that followed the August 29 flood, Mather is dry camping only, all outdoor wood fires are banned, and the coin laundry and showers at Camper Services are closed. Bring all the water you will need. Even in normal times, the park is under year-round Stage 1 fire restrictions: campfires only in a designated ring in a maintained campground.
Desert View's 2027 dates. The park's pages disagree on the closing date (October 10 or October 15, 2027), so check Recreation.gov when you book.
Inside the canyon. Camping below the rim needs a backcountry permit. Phantom Ranch's Bright Angel Campground and Cottonwood Campground on the North Kaibab Trail are closed after the 2026 floods, with no reopening date.
Dispersed camping near the South Rim. The Kaibab National Forest outside the park allows camping "at large", but it must be at least a quarter mile (0.4 km) from Highway 64. Other restrictions may apply; contact the Tusayan Ranger District on 928-638-2443.
Other national park campgrounds
| Park | Camping | Price (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Organ Pipe Cactus | Twin Peaks: 34 tent and 174 RV sites, no hookups, restrooms with running water; Alamo Canyon: 4 primitive tent sites, no water | $20 a night (Twin Peaks), $16 (Alamo Canyon), plus the $25 vehicle entrance fee |
| Chiricahua | Bonita Canyon: small historic campground, reservation only, vehicles under 29 feet | Check Recreation.gov |
| Saguaro | No vehicle or RV camping; six hike-in wilderness campgrounds in the Rincon Mountains | $8 per site per night, permit required |
| Petrified Forest | No car, RV or roadside camping; wilderness backpacking only | Free permit from a visitor center, same day, until 4:30 p.m. |
Organ Pipe's campgrounds fill quickly from December to April, and sites can be booked from the same day up to six months ahead. At Bonita Canyon, the park says advance reservations are essential for large vehicles, holidays and spring break in March and April. Petrified Forest's backpackers must camp in the designated wilderness at least half a mile from their vehicle.
Arizona state parks
State park campgrounds have more hookups than most federal ones. From the 2026 fee schedule:
| Park | Camping | Cabins |
|---|---|---|
| Lost Dutchman, Superstition Mountains | Hike-in $25, non-electric $35, electric $50 | $99 |
| Dead Horse Ranch, Cottonwood | Non-electric or tent $25, electric $50 | $70 |
| Kartchner Caverns, Benson | With hookups $50 | $129 |
| Catalina, north of Tucson | With hookups $50; Ringtail overflow $25, January 1 to March 31 only | â |
| Lake Havasu | With hookups $50, overflow $25 | $139 ($149 holidays) |
| Homolovi, Winslow | Non-electric $25 to $30, electric $35 to $40, by season | â |
| Patagonia Lake | Non-electric $25, electric and water $50, boat-in $25 | $129 |
Entrance is charged on top at most parks, typically $20 a vehicle for two to four people. Pets are welcome on a leash at most parks, but not in buildings, and not at Red Rock State Park.
Dispersed camping on BLM land
The Bureau of Land Management allows dispersed camping on most of its land unless an area is posted "Closed to Camping". Its general rules:
- Stay no more than 14 days in any 28-day period, then move at least 25 to 30 miles; limits vary by field office.
- Camp in places that are already disturbed, within 150 feet of a designated route, and at least 200 feet from water.
- Don't camp within a mile of developed campgrounds, trailheads or picnic areas.
- Keep vehicles on designated roads, check fire restrictions before you go, and pack out all trash.
National forests set their own dispersed-camping rules. The Forest Service's pages could not be checked for this guide, so ask the local ranger district before camping on forest land.
Navajo tribal parks. All areas of the Navajo Nation are closed to non-Navajos without a valid pass or permit. Camping in Navajo tribal parks costs $15 per person per night, and hiking needs a separate Backcountry Use Permit. Pets are not allowed, and fires only in grills or similar devices. Monument Valley issues backcountry permits at its visitor center.
Havasupai. Every visitor to Havasu Canyon needs a permit from the tribe, and every booking is four days and three nights. For 2026 the campground cost $455 per person and the lodge $2,277 per room for up to four people. Cancellations 90 days or more ahead get a 50% refund; after that, nothing. Resale is prohibited, and the tribe can close the reservation at any time. The 2026 permits went on sale on February 1, 2026; we found no 2027 on-sale date on the tribe's pages in November.
Glamping and cabins
This guide doesn't cover private glamping sites. On public and tribal land, the bookable alternatives to a tent are the state park camping cabins above, which you reserve like a campsite, and the Havasupai lodge in Supai. Inside Grand Canyon National Park, all concession lodging, including Phantom Ranch's cabins, has been closed since August 31, 2026.
Before you go
- Book Mather, Organ Pipe and Bonita Canyon early for spring.
- At Mather this winter, bring all your drinking and washing water.
- Check fire restrictions on the park or forest page the week you camp.
- Carry at least a gallon of water per person per day in the desert parks.
- Respect tribal rules: permits for every visitor, no pets in Navajo parks.
Details checked November 6, 2026.
