State Parks near Safford, AZ

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.

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 …

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 …

As the name suggests, City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico is filled with unusual rock formations, created out of lava. The park is small, encompassing only one square mile, in the Chihuahuan Desert region. The rock formations were created around 35 million years ago when a huge volcano erupted, and thanks to erosion, the strange formations were created.

The park is located around midway between Deming and Silver City, so is easily accessible for those that are looking for adventure when booking an RV in Grant County. There is a huge range of things to do in the park, whether you are making use of the state park campground or staying somewhere further afield. There are …

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 …

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 …

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is in southwest New Mexico, near the small town of Silver City. This is a very rural part of New Mexico. The nearest larger town is Las Cruces, which is around 150 miles to the southeast, while the nearest large city is El Paso, Texas, at almost 200 miles to the southwest.

This part of the country is dry and rugged, and most of the local towns are small and few and far between. Though there may be a lack of people, this is a great place to engage in outdoor recreational activities. Hiking, camping, picnic sites, and scenic drives are all available throughout this scenic area.

Honey Bee Canyon Park is situated toward the southern edge of Arizona. This park spans 77 acres long and is filled with unique areas that visitors can explore, including a secluded spot filled with ancient petroglyphs. In addition to this, Honey Bee Canyon Park is a popular area for wildlife, and visitors can often see colorful hummingbirds flying around.

Honey Bee Canyon Park tends to be very hot year-round with temperatures sometimes reaching into the 100s in the middle of the summer. This park is a short drive away from Tucson.

Kartchner Caverns State Park unlocks access to a subterranean wonderland carved into the foothills of the Whetstone Mountains. The natural wonder was inaugurated as an Arizona State Park in 1988 and is filled with whimsical limestone formations. Above ground, spend your time enjoying the sunny days and starry nights Arizona is famous for.

Planning a getaway to the Grand Canyon State? Book an RV in Cochise County and you can discover Kartchner Caverns State Park, as well as other Arizona gems like the Coronado National Forest and Whetstone Mountains. You can also visit historic Old West sites, tee off at championship golf courses, and sip award-winning wines at desert vineyards. At just two and a half hours from the state …

Just the name alone of Lost Dutchman State Park conjures up romantic visions of buried treasure and the mysteries of the desert. This small 320-acre park 40 miles east of Phoenix packs in loads of history and activities, and supposedly a wealth of gold underneath the red dirt. In addition to great hiking and mountain biking, it's also an excellent spot for wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers, and stargazers. It's a must-see park if you're going to book an RV in Pinal County.

Native Americans inhabited the Superstition Mountains for thousands of years, up to the 19th century. Signs of their cliff dwellings are still visible in the area. Gold prospectors searched for their fortunes in more recent times, and …

Lyman Lake State Park, in east-central Arizona, is a wonderful place to visit when you book an RV in Apache County. Lyman Lake was originally created to be an irrigation reservoir by damming up the Little Colorado River and has grown into a popular recreation destination. The lake covers 1,500 acres at regular levels and typically rests at an elevation approximately 6,000 feet. Motorhome camping near the lake will put you between St. Johns and Springerville, both good towns to visit for supplies and activities when visiting Lyman Lake State Park.

Lyman Lake is fed by the Little Colorado River, which in turn is part of a 790-square mile watershed that extends throughout Arizona and even into New …

Surrounded by rolling hills and sun-drenched grasslands, Patagonia Lake State Park showcases the natural beauty of southeast Arizona. It's been welcoming outdoor enthusiasts since 1975 and is anchored by a cobalt blue lake that's perfect for swimming, fishing, and boating. Wildlife watchers will be in their element, with the chance to tick off unique species like the coatimundi and Coues whitetail deer. Venture further afield and you can discover the resplendent Patagonia and Mountain Empire region. You're also a stone's throw from the Sonoita American Viticultural Area, a sun-drenched basin famous for its cool climate and full-bodied blends.

Planning a getaway to the Grand Canyon State? Book an RV in Santa Cruz County and you can sleep under the stars …

Home to the famous Picacho Peak in the state of Arizona, Picacho Peak State Park is located right between the cities of Casa Grande and Tucson, off Interstate 10. One side of the park opens to the stunning Sonoran Desert while its main claim to fame, Picacho Peak, summits to 3,374 feet above sea level, attracting outdoor enthusiasts to its raw beauty. The desert landscape is interesting to observe, draws folks who are looking to book an RV in Pinal County, an opportunity to explore the geographical significance of the park and its surrounding areas.

The peak has been used since prehistoric times as a landmark by travelers making their way through the desert. More recently, it …

Situated within the Gila River Valley, four miles south of the town of Safford, is Roper Lake State Park. With the 32-acre Roper Lake as its border, the zone was developed into a recreation area back in the '60s. Today, the park is a perfect place to unwind and camp in an RV near Safford.

Explore the wild and untamed nature of Arizona and learn more about the flora that inhabits this area. The landscape is a combination of horticultural terrain and desert scrub, and most of the wildlife comes from the Chihuahuan Desert.

Since the park is also quite close to the towns of Thatcher (ten miles), and Pima (15 miles), seize this opportunity to expand your adventure …

Located in Southeastern Phoenix, AZ, Saguaro National Park encompasses 92,000 acres divided into two units known as districts. The two districts are bisected by Tucson and are located about 30 miles away from each other. Saguaro National Park is approximately 30 minute's drive from Sahuarita. Rincon Mountain District covers 67,000 acres while Tucson Mountain District covers 25,000 acres. Although Saguaro National Parks preserve over 25 types of cactus, it is most renowned for its towering saguaro cactus from which it derives its name. Nestled within the Sonoran Desert saguaro cactus are unique to this region. Initially, the park was established as a national monument in 1933 and was later designated as a national park in 1994. Besides the cactus, Saguaro …