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Camping in Arizona: campsites, permits and passes

Camping in Arizona starts in one of a few places: Arizona State Parks for state park campsites, Recreation.gov for federal campgrounds, or free dispersed camping on National Forest and BLM land. Here's where to book each, plus permits, passes and licences.

Most people go to:

State park campsites

Arizona state park campgrounds are booked through Arizona State Parks ↗. Book as early as you can for summer and holiday weekends, and check each park's page for cabins, yurts, group sites and pet rules.

National parks in Arizona

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Petrified Forest National Park
• Saguaro National Park

Campgrounds in national parks are booked on Recreation.gov. See every park, monument and historic site in Arizona on the National Park Service Arizona page ↗.

National forests and free camping

Arizona's national forests include Coconino, Kaibab, Prescott, Tonto, Coronado. Developed campgrounds are booked on Recreation.gov (some are first-come, first-served), and most national forest land allows free dispersed camping away from developed sites, usually for up to 14 days. Check the forest's rules and any fire restrictions first.

Arizona also has large areas of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, where dispersed camping is generally free and allowed for up to 14 days in one spot unless posted otherwise. See BLM recreation ↗.

Permits and lotteries

• The Wave (Coyote Buttes North) is a famous lottery permit on Recreation.gov.
• Grand Canyon backcountry camping requires a permit from the park.

Fishing and hunting licences

Licences for Arizona are sold by the Arizona Game and Fish Department ↗, online or at local retailers. Rules and seasons differ by species and water, so check before you go.

Passes

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at national parks and many federal lands in Arizona. State parks usually sell their own day or annual passes; see Arizona State Parks.

Best time to camp in Arizona

Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are the sweet spots. Summer heat in low deserts is dangerous; head to higher elevations instead.

Questions

Packing checklists

Nearby states (Southwest)