State Parks in Arizona

The Agua Fria National Monument is located near Black Canyon City, Arizona, which is in the central portion of the state. The park is situated in a very rural portion of this arid state. The nearest larger town is Anthem, at is around 25 miles to the south. The nearest large city is Phoenix, which is around 50 miles to the south, while the larger town of Flagstaff is about 90 miles to the north.Agua Fria National Monument is located just off of I-17, so it is very easy to find. This portion of Arizona consists of a flatter, grassland area, surrounded by rugged, arid mountains. There are a number of outdoor recreational activities that can be enjoyed …

Centered at Alamo Lake, and about 38 miles north of Wenden, sits one of the Arizona state park system’s best kept secrets, Alamo Lake State Park. It is one of the more remote of state parks and is accessed through a two-lane road that is paved. US Route 93 is to the east and US Route 60 to the south. Sitting on the shores of Alamo Lake which is a recreational and flood control reservoir, search for an RV in La Paz County and experience what makes Alamo Lake State Park a stargazer’s paradise while camping in the immense outdoors.Located 38 paved miles off the main highway between Phoenix and Parker, Alamo Lake Park is a wildlife paradise …

Situated in southern Arizona is Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park. This state park is believed to be one of the oldest botanical gardens in the United States. It was originally founded in 1924 as a desert horticultural research facility before being converted into a public garden.Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is known for its numerous plants and contains one of the largest Eucalyptus trees in the country. Thanks to its location within the Sonoran Desert, the park is often visited by a vast amount of wildlife, which ranges from hummingbirds to Gila monsters.

Buckskin Mountain State Park is situated in Parker, Arizona and resides next to the Colorado River. The park borders California and has stunning views of the nearby Buckskin Mountains. Due to its climate, it can get to be very hot and humid, especially during the summer where temperatures can reach as high as 115-degrees Fahrenheit.This state park often hosts events, like ice cream socials, that visitors can participate in to get to know one another as well as the park rangers. This park also has a small visitor center where you are able to stop by and learn more about the local flora and fauna. Keep in mind there is a park entrance fee that guests will need to …

Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established in 1931 in what would become one of the unique partnerships in the United States and Arizona. As a National Monument, the park would be maintained by the National Park System even though it was still owned by the Navajo Nation (typically the Federal government purchases the land). This arrangement continues to this day. Canyon de Chelly National Monument harbors not only Navajo Native American settlements but also Ancient Pueblo People. “Chelly” is an Anglicization of a Navajo word for “canyon.” One of the rock monuments in the park has been featured in several television commercials, shows, and movies.The closest large town is Chinle, AZ. In addition to a variety of …

The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is located near Coolidge, Arizona, which is in the south-central portion of the state. The nearest large city is Phoenix, which is also the capital of the state and is over 50 miles to the northwest. In addition, the city of Tuscon is around 70 miles to the southeast.The ruins are situated in the flat, desert ecosystem that is common to this portion of the state. They are in a rural area that offers many recreational opportunities, including hiking and stargazing. With two large cities within an easy days-drive, there are also restaurants and museums, and other historical sites easily available.

Arizona seems to be the place to go to get away from the humid summer heat that encompasses much of the United States. State park RV campgrounds are the perfect place to enjoy the dry heat of the desert while exploring nature at its finest. Catalina State Park in Catalina, Arizona is located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Pull your own rig to the park or book an RV in Pima County and stay for a while. Tucson sits about 40 minutes south of Catalina State Park and offers endless activities for tourists to enjoy.Come spend time exploring the more than 5,500 acres of desert within Catalina State Park. You'll find hiking, biking, and equestrian trails …

Northwestern Arizona is all desert, mountains, and the Colorado River. But on the border of Arizona and California, three hours north of Phoenix, half an hour south of Lake Havasu City, and only an hour from Yucca is an outdoor oasis worth visiting if you’re looking to camp in an RV in this region. Cattail Cove State Park is a 2,000-acre expanse based around Lake Havasu.The park was opened to the public in 1970. Its main draw is Lake Havasu, which is a man-made lake built about 40 years prior. When the river was dammed, the surrounding area filled with 211 billion gallons of water to create this 45-mile-long lake that Arizona visitors frequent all year long. …

About 27 million years ago, an ancient volcano erupted, spewing massive globs of lava that covered the land, today that is known as Arizona. The lava eventually hardened into volcanic rock, and over eons, wind and rain eroded the rock into hoodoo and balancing-rock formations. These rock formations are unique, found in very few other places around the world. President Calvin Coolidge signed an act in 1924 to protect this region from development, and this park was named Chiricahua National Monument. Also found inside the park is Faraway Ranch, a historic site. Established in 1887, it became a key spot in an ongoing conflict between the settlers and local Apache Native Americans.The closest large town is Willcox, which …

The 100-year-old massive Coconino National Forest sprawls out over more than 1.8 million acres in northern Arizona just south of Flagstaff. The terrain here varies, offering dessert at lower altitudes, but as you climb up, a rich forest is budding with life. Since it is so large, the Coconino National Forest is split into three distinct ranger districts (Flagstaff, Mogollon Rim, and Red Rock). Each area is home to some pretty rad natural wonders that you may not think that exist in this type of environment.Consider booking an RV rental to Coconino National Forest to see the decades of growth and development this land has endured. In 1908, President Roosevelt officially consolidated what was the San Francisco Mountains …

Coronado National Forest in Arizona was officially established in 1902 by President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. He felt that protecting the natural beauty of the West was critical and successfully lobbied for several regions to become national forests and national parks. Coronado National Forest is a unique park in that it consists of a handful of “sky islands,” which are mountainous regions that rise abruptly from a flat desert or plain terrain. Though Coronado National Forest is mostly in Arizona, a small portion sprawls across the Arizona-New Mexico border. Coronado National Forest is a classic example of southwestern landscape with rugged buttes rising from the desert, red desert sprawling for miles around, and cacti aplenty.Tucson, AZ, is 50 miles …

A cool climate, sunny disposition, and picturesque waterways make Dead Horse Ranch State Park one of the top outdoor recreation destinations in Arizona. Spend your days picnicking by the river, hiking through cottonwood forests, and exploring scenic paddling routes. Venture outside the park and you can discover local attractions like the Tuzigoot National Monument and Clemenceau Heritage Museum.Planning your next adventure? RV rentals in Yavapai County make it easy to discover the Grand Canyon State. Spend a few days camping at Dead Horse Ranch State Park, then move on to other gems like the Prescott National Forest or Grand Canyon National Park. At less than a two-hour drive from the state capital, Dead Horse Ranch State Park is popular …

Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area is in east-central Arizona, close to the towns of Snowflake, Whiteriver, and Show Low. Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area lies on, as the name suggests, Fool Hollow Lake. This man-made freshwater lake was created in 1957 with the damming and impounding of both Show Low Creek and Fool Hollow Wash. The park also lies in one of the largest contiguous belts of ponderosa pine forests in the world. Sitting on the lakeshore of Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area and enveloped by the lush pine forests of southwestern America, it is easy to see why so many choose to spend their vacations here.From its appealing location, its fantastic fishing and boating, Fool …

Although Glen Canyon in Arizona was a popular recreational spot for decades prior, it wasn’t officially established as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area until 1972. The designation protects the history, scientific value, and scenery for generations to come. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is overshadowed by Lake Powell, a scenic reservoir upon which many people enjoy boating and swimming. It nestles in between high orange-red canyon walls, which contrasts brilliantly with the turquoise water of the manmade lake.The closest town to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is Page, which sits just southeast of the Lake Powell Dam. Most businesses in the town are centered on the recreational industry and there are several outdoor-related rental companies, guiding groups, and …

The Grand Canyon is likely included on just about every American’s bucket list. This iconic national landmark is recognized all around the world, and Grand Canyon National Park attracts millions of visitors each year.Found in northwestern Arizona, approximately an hour and a half north of Flagstaff, the park’s number-one attraction will have you spellbound with its sheer size and magnificence. But there’s a whole lot more to this national park than just the views of the canyon itself, so it’s well worth your while to rent a camper near Grand Canyon National Park and spend a few days exploring.If you want to visit this beautiful park in a rental RV, book an RV in Coconino County or …

Located on the western side of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument is one of the more recently established national monuments. It was officially created in 2000 by President Clinton to grant the rugged region some protection from commercial mining operations. Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument is managed by both the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Park Services (NPS).Parashant is an Anglicization of a Paiute Native American word that roughly translates to “tanned elk hide.’ The Paiute is one of a dozen Native American tribes that lived and hunted in the region for centuries. There is evidence of settlements that are a few thousand years old.The closest town is St. George, UT …