Picacho Peak State Park Campground
Arizona State Park
Write a Review 15520 Picacho Peak Rd. Picacho, AZ 85141 520-466-3183 Reservations: 877-697-2757 Official WebsiteGPS: 32.6462, -111.402
Overview of Picacho Peak State Park Campground
Gates closed from 10 PM - 5 AM. Potable water isn't available at the park to fill up RV water tanks. No generators allowed.
Entrance fee included in campsite fees.
Last Price Paid: $30
Reported by ElaineS on 6/29/2024
Longest RV Reported: 50 feet (Fifth Wheel)
Reported by Just R’ Thing on 2/14/2023
Number of Sites 85
Pad Type asphalt
Reservations yes
Elevation 1,870 ft / 569 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about Picacho Peak State Park Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 520-466-3183
camper-789395 asked on 2/22/2023
Are there any spots close to the park where one can fill water?
![robsuey](https://campcdn.com/avatars/user/186758/thumb_20200126_162441.jpg)
robsuey asked on 1/8/2022
Are there any "first come first serve" campsites at
Picacho Peak State Park? Thanks!
![American Streamers](https://campcdn.com/avatars/user/307476/thumb_20211116-JMT07549-Edit_copy.jpg)
American Streamers asked on 11/10/2021
If water is not available are they still charging full price? Thanks!
Reviews of Picacho Peak State Park Campground 86 people have reviewed this location.
“Beautiful Sonoran Desert scenery”
Reviewed 4/11/2017
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Picacho Peak State Park is set just a short distance off I-10 but except for some faint background noise from the freeway and train tracks you'd think you were miles away. This is one of the cleanest and most well run state parks that we've ever stayed at. The restrooms are kept well maintained and clean and there are free showers with... more
Picacho Peak State Park is set just a short distance off I-10 but except for some faint background noise from the freeway and train tracks you'd think you were miles away. This is one of the cleanest and most well run state parks that we've ever stayed at. The restrooms are kept well maintained and clean and there are free showers with plenty of hot water. Campsites are extremely large and can accommodate any size rig. Sites have electric hook-ups but no water or sewer. There is a dump station with potable water though.
The best thing about Picacho is the beautiful Sonoran Desert Scenery. This is a large park with plenty of opportunities for hiking or bicycling whether that be leisurely or strenuous. There is also a nice little visitors center at the entrance to the park.
The only negative that I can think of for this park is that there aren't any connecting paths through the campground loops to the restrooms. So if you are assigned a spot on the far side of a loop from where the restrooms are you have to trek all the way around the loop to get to them. Not a deal breaker for us.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Desert Location for Hiking Picacho Peak”
Reviewed 4/3/2017
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | C23 |
RV Length: | 30' |
We loved our couple of nights at Picacho Peak State Park. The campground consists of 3 loops (A, B & C). All campsites have 50amp electric and there is a dump station at the entrance to the campground with potable water. There are also 2 shower facilities which we very nice and clean. I think it might have been one of the best showers ... more
We loved our couple of nights at Picacho Peak State Park. The campground consists of 3 loops (A, B & C). All campsites have 50amp electric and there is a dump station at the entrance to the campground with potable water. There are also 2 shower facilities which we very nice and clean. I think it might have been one of the best showers we've had since moving out of our sticks and bricks.
The campsites have beautiful views of Picacho Peak and the surrounding desert. We came at the tail end of wildflower season so got to see a few cacti in bloom as well. You do also get a view of I10 and the trains beyond but for us, the noise was easy to ignore (after living in cities for so long).
We would stay here again to hike the trails (since there isn't much else here). If you plan on hiking Hunters Trail to the peak know that it is awesome but also difficult. We were glad to hop in the car and drive the short distance to the Airstream for lunch after that one.
A Streamin Life would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful spot, easy to get to from the I-10!”
Reviewed 3/21/2017
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | C10 |
RV Length: | 32' |
***Campground Review*** Wow, does this campground have some amazing views - with even more stunning sunsets! We came on a whim and got 2 nights (Sunday-Tuesday) without any problems with our 32ft fifth wheel. We did try to call ahead, but they would not take same day reservations. Our site (C10) had electric, no water, no shade... more
***Campground Review***
Wow, does this campground have some amazing views - with even more stunning sunsets! We came on a whim and got 2 nights (Sunday-Tuesday) without any problems with our 32ft fifth wheel. We did try to call ahead, but they would not take same day reservations.
Our site (C10) had electric, no water, no shade, a picnic table and one of the nicest fire pits we’ve ever had at a campground! The fire pit is huge, and has a dual insulated frame with a cooking rack and you can even adjust your fire tray (see picture). The site came nicely groomed (seriously, someone had racked some cool looking circles in it), and there was a spot off to the side that was leveled and would have nicely fit a tent. For us though, the highlight of the site was the fact that there is a LOT of space between each site - you feel very isolated! The park also has WiFi (for a fee - see attached picture for details). The restrooms were also in really nice condition - clean and some of the nicer ones we’ve seen!
There are three loops (make your first right into the campground, all three loops connect to this one - don’t make the mistake we did expecting there to be a different entrance for A, B & C), and two main bathrooms at the top of the three loops. The bathrooms were in nice condition - better than many of the other state parks. There is also one dumpster (that we could find) and it was quite a hike away - not super convenient. The fill/dump station was COVERED in bees, plan on wearing pants and long sleeves when using it.
The state park includes a playground and small children's hike to a cave which was cute. There are a LOT of rentable day use picnic and hang out areas (many with covers) that had gorgeous views. There was also a spot for horseshoes an easy walk from any of the camping loops. I would also highly recommend bringing bikes to this park - it’s pretty big and would be fun to ride around in. The I-10 was easily viewable in the distance, and we could hear the trains passing by, however it didn’t bother us - it was pretty faint. It was also kind of fun to watch the traffic go by at night.
Overall, we recommend this campground and will be back!
Check out our video review here: https://youtu.be/nGJFBtF8dTk
#RVWhittUs would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Very nice park with some wonderful hikes”
Reviewed 2/14/2017
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 7 |
Site Number: | A-18 |
RV Length: | 42' |
We really enjoyed our week here. Good cell coverage on Verizon but ATT not so much. The highway and train noise is not as noticeable from "A" loop due to a large outcropping directly between. We heard it but it really never bothered us that much. The hiking is wonderful and we climbed to the top of the peak and back down in less than 3... more
We really enjoyed our week here. Good cell coverage on Verizon but ATT not so much. The highway and train noise is not as noticeable from "A" loop due to a large outcropping directly between. We heard it but it really never bothered us that much. The hiking is wonderful and we climbed to the top of the peak and back down in less than 3 hours. It is a bit difficult but well worth the effort. Views are great and the facilities & dump station are very clean and much more accessible on "A" loop. We would definitely stay here again.
Jim would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Outstanding sunsets and plenty of space”
Reviewed 12/29/2016
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | C19 |
Great views and great sunsets. Plenty of space between us and the neighbors. Bathrooms were excellent and seemed to have lots of hot water for showers. Site includes electricity. No water spigots in campground, have to go to the dump area at the entrance of the campground. No trash dumpsters or cans either. Those are located at... more
Great views and great sunsets. Plenty of space between us and the neighbors.
Bathrooms were excellent and seemed to have lots of hot water for showers.
Site includes electricity. No water spigots in campground, have to go to the dump area at the entrance of the campground. No trash dumpsters or cans either. Those are located at the dump station as well.
Trains kept me awake the second night. There is also highway noise as well. B loop might be better.
KenneysSeeAmerica would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful Desert Scenery”
Reviewed 5/26/2016
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 24 |
We stopped here for one night on our way to California. The scenery was really nice. There are giant saguaro cactus throughout the park. Our site was level and had 50amp service. No sewer or water hookups, but there iis a dump station and potable water at entrance to the RV section of the park. The bathrooms were very clean. The p... more
We stopped here for one night on our way to California. The scenery was really nice. There are giant saguaro cactus throughout the park. Our site was level and had 50amp service. No sewer or water hookups, but there iis a dump station and potable water at entrance to the RV section of the park. The bathrooms were very clean. The park was virtually empty and there was some noise from the freeway, but not bad as the light wind drowned out most of the noise. We were really impressed with this park and would absolutely stay here again. Only reasons its not a 5 star is the lack of full hookups.
OurWanderfulLife would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great scenery and perfect stop on the way to/from Tucson”
Reviewed 3/30/2016
Days stayed: | 5 |
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RV Length: | 25' |
Anyone who has driven from Phoenix to Tucson will recognize the namesake peak of this park. Despite its proximity to the I-10 freeway (visible off in the distance), we found it to be quite peaceful and never found the road noise to be problematic (from the C loop on the end closer to the highway). Reservable sites range from large to h... more
Anyone who has driven from Phoenix to Tucson will recognize the namesake peak of this park. Despite its proximity to the I-10 freeway (visible off in the distance), we found it to be quite peaceful and never found the road noise to be problematic (from the C loop on the end closer to the highway). Reservable sites range from large to huge, and they all have electrical hookups and thus there is no need for generators (which are prohibited). The desert flora and trees, combined with the large sites, make this park feel very pleasant and we really enjoyed our time here.
We were here in March and despite our inability to plan more than two days in advance, were able to reserve a single site for Sunday night through Friday morning (weekend sites were booked in advance due to the annual Civil War reenactment, hard to imagine a Civil War skirmish among the saguaro and cholla!). They have six overflow sites that you can use for one day at a time (no electrical hookups and no generators) so on the rare cases that they are full you may be able to find a spot there if you arrive early (the ranger mentioned that the overflow sites can fill around 9:00 am on busy weekends). While all of the loops were nice and we probably would have fit in nearly all of the sites in the campground, we found outer sites on the A and C loops to be most appealing.
Campground bathrooms were spotless, the showers were hot and wonderful, and the park staff were friendly and helpful. There are several easy to strenuous hikes right from the campground, weaving amongst the cactus and other Sonoran Desert flora with great views of Picacho peak and nearby mountains.
The nearest grocery store is in Eloy which is about 15 minutes west (though it is pretty small and there aren’t a lot of choices) and nearest town of decent size is Casa Grande about 30 minutes west. There is a Dairy Queen and gas station at the same exit as the park.
Two minor inconveniences are that the dumpsters and only potable water are both located at the dump station, which is a bit of a hoof from the C and B loops depending on where your site is.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Incredibly large sites with wonderful desert views! But....”
Reviewed 2/25/2016
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 6 |
Site Number: | C11 |
This is a very nice state park with unusually large sites (both in terms of room for your rig as well as for setting up seating areas shade tents and the like.) Since the sites are huge you are pretty much guaranteed to have a good view from your RV. The "great" views will be had by those lucky enough to be on the outside of each loo... more
This is a very nice state park with unusually large sites (both in terms of room for your rig as well as for setting up seating areas shade tents and the like.) Since the sites are huge you are pretty much guaranteed to have a good view from your RV. The "great" views will be had by those lucky enough to be on the outside of each loop. Sites are all pretty level and easy to get into, some sites (such as ours) are pull through. All sites have electric (only) so you are never assaulted by your neighbors generator. The amenity section only shows 20 and 30 amp service but our site had a 50 amp outlet. Potable water is only available at the dump station and the spigot is too low to fill a typical 5 gallon jerrycan so bring your hose. The dump station has spots for two to dump simultaneously.
The two shower/restroom buildings are not well located within the campground and thus can be pretty far from most campsites but they are immaculate!
There are several hiking trails nearby within the park that cover the easy to strenuous spectrum.
This state park is a bit far from Tucson to serve as a base for visiting the city but is wonderful for exploring the immediate area.
Picacho Pass was the site of the westernmost battle (skirmish?) of the Civil War and there is a small interpretive site near the state park office that was interesting to see. A Civil War reenactment takes place annually in March.
The unfortunate "dings" to this park are the highway (I-10) and the railroad that are located about 1 1/2 miles to the east. During the day when the wind is generally blowing from the west there is no noise, but when it's calm (such as at night) the highway and train noise are quite apparent. It is not possible to sleep at night with the windows open due to the road and train noise. Without the road/train noise, I would have given this campground five stars without any reservation.
Verizon service was pretty good (a positive to being "close" to I-10) and we were able to stream Netflix in HD.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Pretty good, but there are nicer campgrounds near Tucson or Phoenix!”
Reviewed 2/22/2016
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | B2 |
RV Length: | 23' (Travel Trailer) |
Overly noisy from highway and train noise. Titly pads, but nice clean restrooms and showers. We stayed here on February 9, 2016.
Chris&David would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“We Enjoyed Our Stay”
Reviewed 1/29/2016
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
Site Number: | C-24 / C-18 |
RV Length: | 32' |
This state park is not necessarily a destination, but rather a place to camp on the way somewhere. It is located between Casa Grande and Tucson along Interstate 10. But not too close to the Interstate. Noise is not a factor. Although the train track is on the other side of the Interstate, it also is not a noise factor because the campg... more
This state park is not necessarily a destination, but rather a place to camp on the way somewhere. It is located between Casa Grande and Tucson along Interstate 10. But not too close to the Interstate. Noise is not a factor. Although the train track is on the other side of the Interstate, it also is not a noise factor because the campground is up the slope of Picacho Peak
The park is beautiful, with looks of greenery and mighty Saguaros. Campsites are spacious and adjacent sites are far enough apart to provide a stress-free environment.
The nightly cost for an RV is $30, including tow vehicle. Sites include some pull-thrus, but all sites can handle any size rig. Sites are electric only. Water and Dump are at a station within the campground. WiFi is available at a cost. $4 per day, $10 for 3 days, $15 per week. Showers/Bathrooms are immaculate and free, included in the cost to camp. Sites are level and paved with individual "yard" areas and fire rings and picnic tables. Very, very nice.
Hiking trails are throughout the park, including challenging, well-maintained trails to the top of the dramatic and imposing Picacho Peak.
Although we drove in without reservations, this is a very popular park. Particularly on weekends. Reservations are recommended.
Bottomline...stay here if you can.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Picacho Peak State Park Campground Review - Know Your Campground
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Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- Partial Hookups
Connectivity
- wifi: pay
Recreation
- picnic area
- recreation trail
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
- pull thru
Facilities
- dump station
- general store
- group sites
- ADA Accessible
- restrooms: flush
- security
- showers
- trash
Pets
- pets
Nearby
Desert Peak Dispersed Camping
Beautiful, But It Is located Near Local Shooting Range.
- camper-870226
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