USDA Forest Service · Arizona
Ponderosa (Az)
USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States
- Sites
- 52
- Hookups
- 51 no hookups
- Season
- April 1 to November 1
- Max RV length
- 40 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,728 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- FDR 334A (NFSR 334A) · native material · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Tonto National Forest
- Nearest town
- PAYSON
- Address
- 1009 East Highway 260, PAYSON, AZ, 85541
- Activities
- Camping, Fish Hatchery, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding
48 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48° | 31° | 9° | 63° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 51° | 31° | 8° | 69° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 57° | 35° | 6° | 82° | 8 of 11 |
| April | 66° | 42° | 28° | 80° | 3 of 11 |
| May | 75° | 50° | 38° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 88° | 62° | 48° | 101° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 91° | 66° | 59° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 63° | 54° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 60° | 46° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 71° | 46° | 35° | 85° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 64° | 40° | 21° | 75° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 54° | 32° | 3° | 69° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Ponderosa Group Site · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Lower Tonto Creek · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 13 sites
- Upper Tonto Creek · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 13 sites
- Christopher Creek · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 44 sites
- Sharp Creek · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 20 sites
All public campgrounds in Arizona · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-22. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.