Ponderosa Campground and Group Sites
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.
Ponderosa Campground and Group Sites
Ponderosa pine trees surround and tower over open-space campgrounds, providing cool shade and gorgeous vistas. Most visitors enjoy taking advantage of the area’s hiking trails and lakes, traveling to Payson for the day or simply relaxing at the campsite to the sound of fluttering leaves. Review At-A-Glance below for more details about the site. 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. Recreation: Most visitors enjoy taking advantage of the area’s hiking 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 47 single campsites and two group sites that can accommodate up to 25 people each. The campsites are clean, flat and spacious with a good amount of shade from pine trees. Nearby Attractions: The nearby town of Payson, Arizona, offers restaurants, shopping and other conveniences.
Before you go
Season
April 1st – November 2nd
Reservations
Reservations accepted
Fees
Automatic fee machine is available on site at campground entrance, please follow the instructions. • $22 per night for standard sites; and $100 per night for group sites.
Restrictions
14-day stay limit. • No OHV recreational riding within the campground. • Dogs are allowed and must be kept on a leash. • Please use trash receptacles or pack it in, pack it out. • All campgrounds have posted Rules & Regulations at entrance kiosks. Please read and observe all rules. • Quiet hours 10:00 pm to 6:00 am (running generators are 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.