Ponderosa (Az)
Campground · Arizona · 51 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Tonto National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 51
- Bookable sites
- 40 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 25
- People per site
- 1
- Accessible site
- 5,671 ft
- Elevation
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.The facts
- Season: April 1st – November 2nd — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 51 bookable sites
- 52 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 1 accessible site
- Vehicles up to 40 ft
- Up to 25 people per site
- Loops: ALOO, BLOO, CLOO, DLOO, ELOO, FLOO, Scan & Pay
Site types
- 49 Standard Nonelectric
- 2 Group Standard Area Nonelectric
- 1 Management
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, shade.
52 campsites at Ponderosa (Az)
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 11:00 AM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-03 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 40 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-04 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-05 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-06 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 31 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-07 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-08 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | ♿ 🐾 |
| A-09 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-10 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-11 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-14 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-16 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-18 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-19 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-20 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-21 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-22 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A-23 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A12 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A13 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A15 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| A17 | ALOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| B-01 | BLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| B-02 | BLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| B-03 | BLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| B-04 | BLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| B-05 | BLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| B-06 | BLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| B-07 | BLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-01 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-02 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-03 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-04 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-05 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-06 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-07 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-08 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-09 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-10 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| C-11 | CLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-01 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-02 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-03 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-04 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-05 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-06 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 28 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-07 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-08 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-10 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| D-11 | DLOO | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| GR-E | ELOO | Group Standard Area Nonelectric | — | Paved | — | 25 | 🐾 |
| GR-F | FLOO | Group Standard Area Nonelectric | — | Paved | — | 25 | 🐾 |
| Scan & Pay | Scan & Pay | Management | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
Getting there
34.29889, -111.11417 · 34°17'56.0"N 111°6'51.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 4.3 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 3.4 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Ponderosa (Az)
- Can you reserve a site at Ponderosa (Az)?
- Yes, Ponderosa (Az) is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Ponderosa (Az) have?
- 52 sites in total, of which 51 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Ponderosa (Az)?
- 40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Ponderosa (Az)?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Ponderosa (Az).
- Are campfires allowed at Ponderosa (Az)?
- Campfires are allowed at Ponderosa (Az). Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Ponderosa (Az) also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Ponderosa (Az)'s operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Automatic fee machine is available on site at campground entrance, please follow the instructions.
- $22 per night for standard sites; and $100 per night for group sites.
Restrictions:
- 14-day stay limit.
- No OHV recreational riding within the campground.
- 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).
Camping near Ponderosa (Az)
- Lower Tonto Creek 2.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Upper Tonto Creek 3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Christopher Creek 4.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Sharp Creek 6.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Mogollon Campground 9.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Aspen (Az) 9.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Horton 3 mi · Facility
- Fr 9350 Campground 8 mi · Campground
- Carr Lake Trailhead 8.6 mi · Facility
- Knoll Lake Campground 8.9 mi · Campground
- Knoll Lake 9.3 mi · Facility
- Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area 9.7 mi · Campground
Contact
- 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.
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