Camping in Payson, Arizona – Explore the Beauty of The Rim Country
Arizona’s Rim Country
Campers enjoy crisp mountain air, stargazing, abundant wildlife, and easy access to hiking trails, creeks, and nearby lakes.
Whether you’re looking for a family getaway or a quiet retreat in nature, camping in Payson is the perfect way to unwind and explore. With activities like fishing, kayaking, hiking, and photography just steps from your campsite, it’s an ideal destination for outdoor lovers seeking both adventure and tranquility.
Campgrounds
Camping within Payson
Features: Pets on Leash Welcome, Close to Stores, Gas, and More
Website: Payson Campground
Payson Campground & RV Resort, located in the heart of Arizona’s Rim Country, offers a peaceful mountain retreat surrounded by towering ponderosa pines. At 5,000 feet elevation, the resort features 95 full-hookup RV sites with both 30 and 50 Amp service, including pull-through and back-in options. It also offers shaded spots, seasonal sites, and tent camping. Guests enjoy amenities such as clean restrooms and showers, a laundry room, free Wi-Fi, a game room, and a heated pool. The park is gated, pet-friendly (with some restrictions), and includes an onsite dump station and RV servicing.
Family-owned and operated, the campground is known for its friendly staff, well-kept grounds, and tranquil setting. Conveniently located just a short walk from downtown Payson, it provides easy access to restaurants, shopping, and outdoor activities. Payson Campground & RV Resort is a comfortable and scenic destination for both weekend getaways and extended stays.
Features: General Camping, Equestrian Sites and Group Site
Website: USFS
The campground is located at an elevation of 5,200 ft. in a mixed forest and shrub area, with spacious campsites offering both sun and shade. Winters are pleasant and cool with cold nighttime temperatures, while summers are warm and sunny, providing a nice getaway from the hotter deserts around Phoenix.
Houston Mesa has 102 campsites, including 28 equestrian sites for campers with horses or mules, and 29 tent-only sites for those who want a quieter experience. The horse camping section (Mule Deer Loop) is across the street from the main campground and features 28 individual sites with tables & grills, and most having corrals available. Campers who reserve Mule Deer Loop Sites 7 – 18 MUST have horses or mules.
There is one group site that can host up to 75 people and can be reserved through Recreation.gov.
Within 30 Minutes of Payson
Features: Crisp, fresh air, Vibrant views
Website: Christopher Creek Campground
Christopher Creek Campground is one of the most popular sites in the Payson Ranger District.
With an elevation over a mile-high (5640 ft), Christopher Creek Campground’s crisp, fresh air and vibrant views are a joy to behold. The facility is tucked along the banks of the spring-fed Christopher Creek, which passes just below the Mogollon Rim.
Recreation: After a day of horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking or fishing, take a dip to cool off from the summer sun. Each spring, the creek is stocked with rainbow trout, allowing anglers the opportunity to cast their hearts out for rainbows as well as brook and brown trout.
Facilities: The family-friendly campground has 43 sites on both sides of the creek, plus a group site that accommodates a maximum of 25 people.
Features: Large open-space parking lot, Paved walkway, Fishing
Website: Lower Tonto Creek Campground
The Lower Tonto Creek Campground has a large open-space parking lot and paved walkway makes it accessible with only a light hike to the creek. Families may enjoy fishing at both Tonto and Horton Creeks or pass time hiking nearby Horton Creek Trail or Derrick Trail. Both of these trails access the Highline National Recreation Trail.
Scan and Pay only accepted (No cash or checks accepted) Download the Recreation.gov app for more information.
Features: Ramada, Picnic tables, Full hook-ups
Website: Oxbow RV Park
OxBox Estates RV Campground is located on West Oxbow Trail, approximately one mile west of Highway 87 and three miles south of Payson, Arizona, between mileposts 248 and 249. The campground is in a quiet area bordered by the Tonto National Forest and is not affected by highway noise. Each RV site includes full hook-ups, a picnic table, and a barbecue. Amenities on site include restrooms, laundry facilities, and a ramada for group activities. Propane is available on site, and the campground uses an osmosis water system. The location provides access to outdoor recreation such as hiking and ATV riding, and it is a short drive to restaurants, shopping, and local attractions in the Payson area.
Features: Ponderosa forest, Cool shade, Gorgeous vistas
Website: Ponderosa Campground
Most visitors enjoy taking advantage of the area’s hiking trails and lakes or simply relaxing at the campsite. Scenic driving and outdoor recreation abound in the surrounding Tonto National Forest. A series of lakes called the Rim Country Lakes are about a 15 minute drive east. Woods Canyon Lake is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the state and offers options for boating.
The facility provides 47 single campsites and two group sites that can accommodate up to 25 people each.
Features: Crisp, fresh air, Vibrant views
Website: Sharp Creek Campground
This campground is in a central location for hiking, fishing, boating and picnicking. Anglers can try for trout in nearby Christopher Creek. Hikers can access the historic Highline National Recreational Trail, which runs for 60 miles along the base of the Mogollon Rim, from the 260 Trailhead three miles east of the campground. Two lakes nearby offer additional fishing and boating options.
Sharp Creek Group sites are popular with large groups. Weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries and more. Each group site has a designated vault bathroom with paved parking lot for friends and families to visit for the day. A large open field is shared in the middle of the group sites to hold mini games for families.
There are more secluded campsites offering privacy and tranquility for smaller families on the other side of Sharp Creek Campground. These campsites are spread out with several back-in and pull-through sites for smaller RVs.
Within 60 Minutes of Payson
Features: Ponderosa pines, Wildlife, Fishing
Website: Airplane Flat Campground
Airplane Flat campground is in an open stand of mature Ponderosa pine. Canyon Creek is known for its trout fishing. Wildlife includes: Abert squirrel, black bear, mountain lion, elk, turkey and deer.
Features: Hideaway for anglers, boaters, families and photographers
Website: Aspen Campground
Aspen Campground is a scenic hideaway for anglers, boaters, families and photographers, located in north central Arizona near Heber and Payson. It sits in a beautiful pine forest studded with oak and aspen near the shore of Woods Canyon Lake at an elevation of 7,000 ft. With spacious campsites, calm and scenic lake waters, a marina, boat ramp and many amenities, Aspen is one of the most popular camping spots in Arizona.
Features: Large Motorhomes accommodated, Forest, Trails
Website: Canyon Point Campground
Canyon Point Campground offers 103 campsites, including 32 with electrical hookups. It accommodates tents, trailers, and motorhomes up to 75 feet. There are three accessible family sites, five double sites for up to 16 people, and group sites for 25 and 55 people. Nature programs are regularly scheduled for the public. The campground is set in a ponderosa pine forest at 7,500 feet, about 5 miles from Willow Springs Lake, which offers boating and fishing. Hiking trails, including Sinkhole and Back Alley, lead to scenic vistas along the Mogollon Rim. Expect afternoon rain in July and August and cool to cold nights.
Features: Mixed forest, Cool in summer, Trout fishing
Website: Colcord Ridge Campground
Situated within a mixed forest of Ponderosa pine, white and Douglas fir, Colcord Ridge is a great place to go during the hot summer months. Trout fishing is available — 5 miles to the east of Canyon Creek Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery — 5 miles east on FR 33. Wildlife includes black bear, elk, mountain lion, javelina and deer. This site is a great camp site for youth first learning how to camp.
Features: Forest, near Woods Canyon Lake, Trail with views
Website: Crook Campground
This group campground is situated in a tall ponderosa pine forest, approximately 3/4 of a mile from Woods Canyon Lake, which offers boating (electric motors only) and fishing opportunities. The Rim Lakes Vista Trail which provides spectacular views of the Mogollon Rim can be accessed by the Meadow Trail and is approximately 1/4 mile away.
Features: Forested, Unpaved road, OHV use
Website: Haigler Canyon Campground
Haigler Canyon is deep within the forest. The unpaved road is windy, narrow, and steep which makes this recreation site a favorite for OHV use. Families enjoy driving down meandering roads on their OHVs while anglers enjoy fishing for trout at Haigler Creek. Haigler Canyon Trailhead also offers beautiful vistas, peace, and tranquility. Several shaded campsites include designated picnic tables with grills that offer more leisure time for relaxation.
This campground was constructed in 2007 and offers 2 independent campground areas with 14 overnight sites. The recreation area also includes 2 picnic sites available for day-use visitors. This campground boasts a diversity of trees. Fishing for rainbow trout is a popular pastime here. The stream is periodically stocked with trout from April through late August.
Features: Dramatic peak views, Quiet, Hiking, Biking
Website: Kehl Springs Campground
Kehl Springs Camp sits in a ponderosa pine forest near the edge of the Mogollon Rim, offering dramatic views where the Colorado Plateau drops 2,000 feet to the Sonoran Desert. From this high vantage point, visitors can see Four Peaks, the Sierra Anchas, the Mazatzals, and the lights of Payson at night. The campground is peaceful and scenic, ideal for relaxing or exploring nearby. Popular activities include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and boating. The historic General Crook Trail No. 130 passes right by the campground, providing direct access to Rim country’s natural beauty and panoramic views.
Features: Near recreation area and rim, Views, Fishing
Website: Mogollon Campground
Mogollon Campground is located just two miles from Woods Canyon Lake and offers close access to the Mogollon Rim’s scenic views. Surrounded by ponderosa pines off Rim Road (Forest Road 300), the campground features 26 sites, each with a picnic table, fire ring, and grill. The gravel loops accommodate tents, pop-up campers, and small trailers. Vault toilets, drinking water, and trash service are available, along with a camp host. Fishing and boating are nearby at Woods Canyon Lake, accessible via Forest Road 105. Sites 14–26 are available for advance reservation, making it a convenient base for outdoor recreation.
Features: Amazing views, Wildlife, Fishing & Boating
Website: Rim Campground
Rim Campground is located near the edge of the Mogollon Rim, offering stunning 100-mile views. Surrounded by ponderosa pines, the area is flat and often visited by deer and elk, with occasional black bear sightings. The campground has 26 sites, with sites 14–26 available for reservation. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and about 40 feet of parallel parking, suitable for tents, pop-up campers, and small trailers. Facilities include vault toilets, drinking water, trash service, and a camp host. Woods Canyon Lake, about 3 miles away, offers opportunities for fishing and boating.
Features: Trails, Fishing & Boating, Camp host
Website: Sinkhole Campground
Sinkhole Campground is nestled in the pines, about a mile from Willow Springs Lake, offering fishing and boating. Nearby trails provide hiking and mountain biking, and the General Crook National Recreation Trail is less than a mile away. The campground has 26 back-in sites—13 are first-come, first-served and 14–26 can be reserved. Two sites are accessible, and two are doubles. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and access to vault toilets, drinking water, and trash service. Expect rain in July and August, and cool or cold nights. A camp host is on-site.
Features: Forest, Boating, Trails,
Website: Spillway Campground
Spillway Campground is set among the ponderosa pine, oak and Douglas fir. Woods Canyon Lake offers boating (electric trolling motors only) and fishing opportunities. Woods Canyon Lake loop trail passes adjacent to the campground. Tents, trailers and small motorhomes up to 16 feet are allowed.
Features: Ponderosa & fir forest, Wildlife, Hatchery nearby
Website: Upper Canyon Creek Campground
The campground of dispersed units is set in a mature stand of Ponderosa pine with a mix of white and Douglas fir. Canyon Creek is popular among anglers fishing for rainbow trout. The Arizona Game and Fish Department Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery is nearby. Wildlife includes: Abert squirrel, black bear. Upper Canyon Creek has 10 designated dispersed campsites that are on a first come first serve basis.
Features: Lake, Forest, Boating, Trails
Website: Woods Canyon Group Campground
Woods Canyon Group Campground is located a short walking distance from Woods Canyon Lake. Woods Canyon Lake is a scenic 52 acre lake surrounded by Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and oak. Woods Canyon Lake offers boating (electric trolling motors only) and fishing opportunities. Interpretative nature trail at the north end of the lake. The campground is situated in ponderosa pine, oak, aspen, and Douglas fir. Woods Canyon Group Campground is open annually from May 1 through Mid-October
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