Home › Arizona › Ponderosa (Az)
Ponderosa (Az)
FSU.S. Forest Service — PAYSON · Arizona · Tonto National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Tonto National Forest |
| Location | PAYSON · Arizona · Tonto National Forest · 34.29889, -111.11417 · Map |
| Sites | 51 public sites counted from the federal listing — 49 standard nonelectric; 2 group standard area nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 51 sites Water hookups at 0 of 51 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 51 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 51 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 130 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 49 sites · 30 ft: 41 sites · 35 ft: 38 sites · 40 ft: 12 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 2:00 PM · Out 11:00 AM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 52 sites, as reported |
| Accessible sites | 1 marked accessible in the listing |
| Accessibility | N |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-05-22.
From the official listing
Overview Named for the towering pines under which it sits, Ponderosa Campground is tucked in the rolling forests of northern Arizona. As one of the largest forest in the country, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited urban forests in the United States, boasting about 5.8 million visitors annually. Its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations to the east.
While this campground did undergo a timber sale a few years ago it still has many ponderosa trees that will be stronger and healthier for future generations to enjoy.
Recreation Take advantage of the area's hiking/biking 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.
Facilities The facility provides 48 single campsites and two group sites that can accommodate up to 25 people guests each. The campsites are clean, flat and spacious with a good amount of shade from pine trees.
In addition, first-come, first-serve sites are available with payment completed using the on-site fee machine. No cash is accepted.
Check-In is 2:00 pm
Check-Out is 11:00 am
Natural Features The ponderosa pine trees make this a memorable campground. Larger ponderosas release a vanilla scent into the air and have a relatively open understory, making the area perfect for camping. Mixed into the understory are junipers, oaks and manzanita shrubs.
The campground sits on the border of the Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as "muggy-own," a 200-mile-long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. The unique landscape was created by extreme erosion and faulting that has sculpted spectacular canyons and buttes. The rim serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (928) 474-7900. Nearby Attractions The nearby town of Payson, Arizona, offers restaurants, shopping and other conveniences.
Directions, from the listing
From Payson, Arizona, go east on State Route 260. The campground is located on the south side of 260. A campground sign is visible before the campground entrance.
Nearest federal campgrounds
3 mi straight-line · ArizonaFSU.S. Forest ServiceUpper Tonto Creek
3 mi straight-line · Payson ArizonaFSU.S. Forest ServiceChristopher Creek
5 mi straight-line · PAYSON ArizonaFSU.S. Forest ServiceSharp Creek
7 mi straight-line · PAYSON ArizonaFSU.S. Forest ServiceFr 9350 Campground
8 mi straight-line · Arizona
Trip Card — Ponderosa (Az)
PAYSON · Arizona · Tonto National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | PAYSON · Arizona · Tonto National Forest |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 130 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 51 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234563 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.