Bonito Campground
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Bonito Campground
Bonito Campground is named for the Bonito Lava Flow which oozed across this high desert plain some 900 years ago. That river of liquid rock, now frozen forever, is just one of the many remnants of volcanic activity which lend an otherwordly appearance to this starkly beautiful place. Though the cinder cones, lava squeeze-ups, lava caves, and petrified rock bubbles that dot the landscape became inactive over a century ago, they all look as if they could have been spurting and spouting just yesterday. This area of recent volcanic activity is so unique that much of it has been set aside as the Sunset Crater National Monument. The monument is located just beyond the boundaries of the campground. Also nearby is Wupatki National Monument. The centerpiece of this area is a four story masterpiece of Native American stone masonry. Construction of that stone-age condominium began in about A. D. 1120. At one time it contained as many as 100 rooms and housed as many as 125 people. Both Sunset Crater and Wupatki have visitor centers and feature self-guided as well as interpreter guided tours. The campsites are located in a stand of ponderosa pines struggling to establish a foothold in this hostile environment. All roads and spurs are paved. In the summer, catch the Roving Ranger interpretive programs held weekly from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend! .noprint { display: none; } Hover mouse over photo to display slideshow controls. View album on Flicker
Before you go
Reservations
Reservations accepted
Fees
Camping: $30 per night, up to eight people with one vehicle. 22 sites are reservable/21 sites are first come, first served. • Second vehicle per night: $8 additional. • Picnic/day use (10 a.m to 4 p.m.): $8 up to 5 people. Senior and Access Interagency passes are accepted for a 50% discount on single-site camping fees. Other Interagency passes are not accepted.
Hours
Closed until Spring 2025
Restrictions
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (running generators not permitted during quiet hours)
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.