We were lucky to get in for a week in mid-January and really enjoyed all of our neighbors, almost all seasonals with some full-timers; every one of which loves this park. Our free BLM campsite in Tucson, Arizona is a mere ten miles from the Saguaro National Park. We decided to hang out in the Tucson area for the day instead of heading back toward Phoenix and doing a couple of smaller points of interest there. Also, within striking distance is Saguaro National Park. It's fun! On the eastern end of the affair, near Chiricahua National Monument, Sunny Flat Campground and Pinery Canyon Road offer varying degrees of remote wilderness camping, surrounded by about a dozen other boondocking, forested spots where one can enjoy the pristine nature of Southeastern Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains without concerns of noisy cell phone interference, or … There's no place where it's more obvious that life can thrive and be beautiful, even in the harshest of conditions. An entire army of these majestic sentinel-like cacti are protected by Saguaro National Park and are the park’s centerpiece. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star Saguaro National Park. Camping is allowed at 6 designated campgrounds within the Saguaro Wilderness Area, a … Though this is a resort geared towards 55+, families with children are welcome to stay for up to two weeks. Also, within striking distance is Saguaro National Park. We're excited to share them! Informed RVers have rated 4 campgrounds near Jarbidge, Nevada. sites with individual 30 amp electrical hookups. Camping is on a first come first serve basis and it has 130 R.V. Remember to be flexible when boondocking. Each site has full hookups with 30 and 50 amps, free WiFi and basic cable. Please resist the urge to through yourself in their welcoming, outstretched arms. While not the boondocking experience we had planned, the views here were amazing, too! The front seem to be a kind of barrel cactus and the back look like saguaro cactus( it takes as much as 50 to 80 years for a saguaro to grow arms). So, what? We stayed on the south side of the interstate. Long, gravel, 30-50A campsites with pit toilets and a dump, but NO water, for FREE! Remember to be flexible when boondocking. Specific facilities, such as the pool, have age and usage restrictions. You can opt out at any time. Find more campgrounds in Arizona by browsing The Dyrt’s campsite reviews. Amazingly, these two vast national park systems hug the east and west flanks of the bustling city of Tucson, which is home to about a million people. Yes, it's touristy. We actually had a third boondocking spot lined up when originally planning this trip. Find a Free Campsite. It also has plenty of hiking and mountain biking opportunities amongst scenic mountain surroundings. Rincon (East) District. This campground can fill up fast so booking well in advance is key. Near Old Tucson studio and Desert museum, approx 8 miles to shopping. Even though I have already visited Saguaro National Park in early 2011 I tend to visit a National Park when camped nearby one, no matter if I already have . The right trail for us is about 5 miles long and has a decent amount of elevation gain without being too extreme. However, it is rather washboarded. We camped at Catalina State Park in Tuscon, AZ, and snagged a great spot. We planned to boondock outside of Saguaro National Park on BLM land (W Tucson-Ajo Hwy & S San Joaquin Rd), but this spot was full. We met Malimish & Aluminarium who introduced us to boondocking and the boys chatted about solar power for 2 days straight. So, be sure to arrive early and pack plenty of water. Also, be absolutely sure to explore the Chiricahua National Monument. We LOVE hiking, but we are anything but seasoned hikers. Amenities: Rincon Country East is one of the well-loved RV parks near Saguaro National Park. This was a combined Colorado state park/wildlife management area until 2017, but the state park was “closed” and the water turned off. There is a developed campground, however, it's tight and at the end of a washboard road, so we chose to explore the dispersed camping area. Paved road to driveway, easy access. Plus, this boondocking spot is conveniently close to Maricopa, which is great for groceries and dining out. When he isn't explaining the difference between Australia and the United States, you can find Mark in the mountains, at a show or on his skateboard. 2740 S Kinney Rd Suite 7. Sitting on our list for a while was Southern Arizona. The site is located in the northwest region on the greater Tucson area, just to the west of the I-17. Be careful not to run over any of the desert plant life when looking for a spot though. Icon of the American Southwest and North America’s largest cactus, the saguaro is a well-recognized and imposing plant whose uplifted arms give it a regal presence. Surrounded by Saguaro Nalt monument, neighbors Ironwood Nalt park, in rural area. Split in two and separated by the city of Tucson, Saguaro National Park embraces the Rincon Mountain District in the east and the Tucson Mountain District in the west. We managed to squeeze in a trip to Saguaro National Park for the 5 kids to earn their Junior Ranger Badges and to check out the largest cacti we’ve ever seen. So many great options for using your parks pass! Lemmon and about a 30-minute drive from Saguaro National Park, Molino Basin Campground is nothing short of a convenient spot. Make a mini road trip loop out of your time in Cochise County in order to avoid feeling rushed. Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. Located just outside the Saguaro National Park, Gilbert Ray Campground is a perfect base camp for exploring the area. Tucson Mountain Park's (Gilbert Ray Campground) is the closest public camping to Saguaro National Park - Western District. ... Joshua Tree National Park; Boondocking at Borrego Springs, Ca; On to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park; New Solar Panels ... Pismo Beach to Paso Robles to Sequoia National Park. This road will become a dirt road, and it goes all the way to the developed campground. 218 reviews. Take in the soaring saguaro cacti at this massive national park in Tucson. Exit off of I-8 on Vekol Valley Road, which becomes a dirt road, and choose a spot. The Dyrt’s Ranger duo the Switchback Kids, who spent a year visiting all 59 National Parks, have put together this incredible video to document their firsthand experience in Saguaro with the hopes of improving the visit of others. But, the sites are nestled under a thick canopy and some are located right along Bear Creek among large rocks, which more than makes up for it. By entering your email, you are opting in to receive future information from Winnebago Industries. So, we made plans for me to fly out of Phoenix but first, we wanted to go explore Saguaro National Park which is on the way. It's on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains. Excellent water. The park’s unspoiled beauty gives you an opportunity to explore and see Arizona how it used to be. We saw plenty of passenger cars on the road, but you'd definitely want to check weather conditions and avoid driving anything that's not 4x4 if it has rained within 48 hours. Hotels near Saguaro National Park, Tucson on Tripadvisor: Find 13,212 traveller reviews, 29,743 candid photos, and prices for 30 hotels near Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ. Located just outside Tucson Arizona, Saguaro National Park is a massive 92,000 acre National Park spread out at two separate locations. A Few Tips. After six miles, turn right onto W Ironwood Road. Our first stop was Sunny Flat Campground in the Cave Creek Area of Coronado National Forest, near Portal. We've boondocked in the Coconino National Forest in Northern Arizona for two years in a row now and it was time to finally give the south a try. The scale, located on the lower left corner of the image, on the Tucson area map is 1 inch equal to 5 miles. Cochise County is strikingly beautiful and has a little bit of everything. Boondocking at the Gunsight Wash BLM area just north of the park. Camping near Saguaro National Park&research=1. There are also lots of exciting new features we want to add to our website. We're playing catch-up right now to work through our backlog of videos, blog post and exciting website changes. Hike, bike, walk, or drive through the forest of saguaros. 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