Can you reserve a site at Houston Mesa?

Yes, Houston Mesa is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Houston Mesa have?

126 sites in total, of which 86 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Houston Mesa?

99 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Houston Mesa?

Yes, pets are allowed at Houston Mesa.

Are campfires allowed at Houston Mesa?

Campfires are allowed at Houston Mesa. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Houston Mesa

Campground · Arizona · 86 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Tonto National Forest (NF) · Open Access

86
Bookable sites: 99 ft
Max rig length: up to 75
People per site: 4
Accessible sites: 5,060 ft
Elevation

Houston Mesa wooded view of trees and vegetation — Photo: Conservation Legacy · Recreation.gov

Overview

Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just north of Payson, Arizona and less than two hours from Phoenix. With family, equestrian and tent-only campsites, this campground can accommodate a range of visitors and offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors, including miles of non-motorized trails nearby. Easy access to the Town of Payson amenities makes this campground ideal! As one of the largest forest in the United States, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited "urban" forests in the United States (approximately 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.

Recreation

Many visitors come to Payson to ride, hike, camp and picnic. Houston Mesa Campground is centrally located for access to Rim Country's best trails. Check out the National Recreation Highline Trail from its many access points along the control road (beginning or ending at Pine TH or 260 TH) or travel a short distance to the Pine trailhead to access over 20 miles of non motorized trails in the Pine Strawberry area.

Facilities

Houston Mesa has 102 campsites, including 46 standard sites, 27 equestrian sites for campers with horses or mules, and 29 tent-only sites for those who want a quieter experience. There are several amenities to make campers feel at home, including flush toilets.

The horse camping section (Mule Deer Loop) is across the street from the main campground and features 27 individual sites with tables and grills. Corrals are also available. Campers who reserve sites 7 - 18 must have horses or mules.

Natural Features

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. Elk, javelina, skunk and coyote live in the area and can be seen in the campground.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (928) 474-7900.

Nearby Attractions

Campers who make the quick trip to the town of Payson, one mile south, will find restaurants, shopping and other conveniences. Scenic driving and outdoor recreation abound in the surrounding Tonto National Forest, which embraces almost 3 million acres of rugged and spectacularly beautiful country, ranging from saguaro cactus-studded desert to pine-forested mountains beneath the Mogollon Rim.

If you are an avid mountain biker or hiker please check out the National Recreation Highline Trail-which spans 63 miles below the Mogollon Rim.

The facts

Season: April – December — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
86 bookable sites
126 sites in total, including non-bookable
4 accessible sites
Vehicles up to 99 ft
Up to 75 people per site
Loops: BEAR, ELK, Fox, MANAGEMENT SITES 1, MANAGEMENT SITES 2, MANAGEMENT SITES 3, MOUN, MULE

Site types

40 Management
30 Standard Nonelectric
29 Equestrian Nonelectric
26 Tent Only Nonelectric
1 Group Standard Electric

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Picnic tables
Shade
Pets allowed
Water hookups — not available

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

126 campsites at Houston Mesa

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
032	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
033	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
034	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
035	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
036	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
037	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
038	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
039	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
040	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
041	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
042	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
043	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
044	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
045	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
046	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	♿ 🐾
047	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
048	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
049	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	10	🐾
050	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
051	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
052	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	8	🐾
053	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
055	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
056	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
057	BEAR	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
002	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	10	🐾
003	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	35 ft	10	🐾
005	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	35 ft	10	🐾
006	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Paved	99 ft	10	🐾
007	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	40 ft	10	🐾
009	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Paved	99 ft	10	🐾
013	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	20 ft	10	🐾
014	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Paved	99 ft	8	🐾
018	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	45 ft	10	♿ 🐾
020	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	45 ft	10	🐾
021	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	30 ft	10	🐾
022	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Paved	99 ft	10	🐾
023	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	60 ft	10	🐾
024	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	35 ft	10	🐾
027	ELK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	—	10	♿ 🐾
Group Site 1	Fox	Management	—	—	70 ft	75	🐾
Group Site 2	Fox	Group Standard Electric	—	—	70 ft	75	🐾
004	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
008	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
010	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
011	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
012	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
015	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
016	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
017	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
019	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
026	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	Gravel	—	10	♿ 🐾
XXX1	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX2	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX3	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX4	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX5	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX6	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX7	MANAGEMENT SITES 1	Management	—	—	—	—
005	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
007	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
012	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
013	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
014	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
015	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
016	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
017	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
018	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
019	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
025	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
027	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX	MANAGEMENT SITES 2	Management	Back In	Gravel	99 ft	10	🐾
008	MANAGEMENT SITES 3	Management	—	—	—	—
009	MANAGEMENT SITES 3	Management	—	—	—	—
010	MANAGEMENT SITES 3	Management	—	—	—	—
011	MANAGEMENT SITES 3	Management	—	—	—	—
027	MANAGEMENT SITES 3	Management	—	—	—	—
028	MANAGEMENT SITES 3	Management	—	—	—	—
029	MANAGEMENT SITES 3	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX	MANAGEMENT SITES 3	Management	Back In	Gravel	99 ft	10	🐾
058	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	40 ft	10	🐾
059	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	54 ft	10	🐾
060	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Paved	75 ft	10	🐾
061	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Paved	75 ft	10	🐾
063	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	45 ft	10	🐾
064	MOUN	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	—	10	🐾
065	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	50 ft	10	🐾
066	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Paved	99 ft	10	🐾
067	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	20 ft	10	🐾
068	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	10	🐾
069	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	45 ft	10	🐾
070	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	60 ft	10	🐾
071	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	35 ft	10	🐾
072	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	35 ft	10	🐾
077	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	30 ft	10	🐾
078	MOUN	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	30 ft	10	🐾
002	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	40 ft	10	🐾
003	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	40 ft	10	🐾
004	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	10	🐾
005	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	99 ft	10	🐾
006	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	10	🐾
007	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	40 ft	10	🐾
008	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	10	🐾
009	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	45 ft	10	🐾
010	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	45 ft	10	🐾
011	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	45 ft	10	🐾
012	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	99 ft	10	🐾
013	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾
014	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	10	🐾
015	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾
016	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	10	🐾
017	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	30 ft	10	🐾
018	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾
019	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	10	🐾
020	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	10	🐾
021	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	10	🐾
022	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾
023	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	10	🐾
024	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾
025	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	45 ft	10	🐾
026	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾
027	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾
028	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾
029	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾
030	MULE	Equestrian Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	60 ft	10	🐾

Getting there

From Payson, Arizona, go north for 1 mile to the junction of Highway 87 (Beeline Highway) and Forest Road 199 (Houston Mesa Road). Turn right (east) onto Forest Road 199 for .10 miles. The campground is on the north side of Houston Mesa Road.

34.27000, -111.31417 · 34°16'12.0"N 111°18'51.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 93°F in Jul, down to 55°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	56	59	65	72	80	90	93	91	86	76	64	55
Low °F	26	28	32	36	43	51	60	59	52	41	31	26
Precip in	2.3	2.3	1.9	0.8	0.5	0.2	2.8	2.6	1.5	1.3	1.5	2.1

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

More photos

Houston Mesa entrance — Photo: Conservation Legacy · Recreation.gov

HOUSTON MESA — Photo: Conservation Legacy · Recreation.gov

Member photos

Add a photo

Common questions about Houston Mesa

Can you reserve a site at Houston Mesa?: Yes, Houston Mesa is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Houston Mesa have?: 126 sites in total, of which 86 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Houston Mesa?: 99 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Houston Mesa?: Yes, pets are allowed at Houston Mesa.
Does Houston Mesa have hookups?: No hookups are recorded here.
Are campfires allowed at Houston Mesa?: Campfires are allowed at Houston Mesa. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Houston Mesa also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Houston Mesa's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

$29 per night for standard sites
$22 per night for equestrian sites (Closed for the season)
$130 per night for Group Site 1 (No Electricity)
$170 per night for Group Site 2 (With Electricity)
*America the Beautiful Interagency Senior or Access Pass holders receive 50% discount (persons over 62 or have a permanent disability) for single camp units only.

Restrictions:

14-day stay limit.
No OHV recreational riding within the campground.
No firewood sales, no dump station and no shower building.
Dogs are allowed and must be kept on a leash.
Please use trash receptacles or pack it in, pack it out.
All campgrounds have posted Rules & Regulations at entrance kiosks. Please read and observe all rules.
Quiet hours 10:00 pm to 6:00 am (running generators are not permitted during quiet hours).

Accessibility:

3 campsites available with accessible features such as a hardened surface & clear, open ground.

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Houston Mesa

Ponderosa (Az) 11.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lower Tonto Creek 13.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Upper Tonto Creek 13.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Christopher Creek 16.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Long Valley Group Campground 17.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Sharp Creek 18.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Kehl Springs Campground 11.4 mi · Campground
Horton 13.3 mi · Facility
Knoll Lake Campground 16.6 mi · Campground
Knoll Lake 17.1 mi · Facility
Mogollon Rim Ranger District 19.4 mi · Facility
Fr 9350 Campground 19.5 mi · Campground

Comments

Contact

Phone 928-468-7135
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-22.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.