Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground

46101 Rocky Point Rd, Gila Bend, Arizona, United States
A long covered pavilion provides a shaded picnic area in the desert
Alternate view of Day Use picnic Ramada
Day Use picnic area
Alternate view of vault toilet building
West single vault toilet with parking and cement walkway

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly

About Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, approximately 90 mi southwest of Phoenix, Arizona, provides visitors the opportunity to view an archaeological site containing hundreds of figures and designs carved into rocks, known as petroglyphs. These were produced centuries ago by indigenous peoples. This site is considered important and even sacred to many of the Native American tribes in southern Arizona. Please keep this in mind when you visit and be respectful. Climbing on the rocks is prohibited and we ask that you keep dogs out of the area.There are also inscriptions made by people who passed through during historic times.  Many important trails are near the site, some of which have been traveled for thousands of years. The 1775 expedition of Juan Bautista de Anza passed nearby on his way to deliver soldiers, padres, settlers, and their livestock to a new home in northern California to secure the area for Spain. In 1846, the Mormon Battalion passed through, following Philip St. George Cooke along some segments of this trail to help secure California from Mexico. This venture included road building tasks along the trail, assuring that future trips could accommodate wagons. A need to improve communication and travel from east to west prompted Congress to fund a stage line. The result was the Butterfield Overland Stage Route, which began service in 1858 and traveled by this site. This mail and freight service guaranteed that the mail, freight, or passengers would be able to travel from Saint Louis to San Francisco in 25 days. Use was halted when the railroad was constructed in 1879. Formerly a unit of the Arizona State Park system, jurisdiction of Painted Rock Petroglyph Site returned to the Bureau of Land Management in 1989.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
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Feb
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Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Reviews (386)

What Guests Are Saying

Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground offers spacious sites, stunning views, and a peaceful atmosphere, making it a great destination for campers, especially those with large rigs. Visitors appreciate the interesting petroglyphs, clean facilities, and helpful camp hosts. While some noted the need for improved restroom facilities and a more straightforward payment process, the overall experience is highly positive, highlighting the campground as a tranquil retreat worth revisiting.

Review Summary

4.5
386 reviews
5
65.5%
253
4
23.1%
89
3
8.8%
34
2
2.6%
10
1
0.0%
0

Craig H

February 22, 2026

5

The camp ground was very clean.
It was very quiet both morning and night.
We will come back again.

Allison P

February 23, 2026

5

We had a really nice stay at Painted Rock Petroglyphs. Easy to find, very reasonably priced, sites were far enough apart for plenty of room, super quiet and a beautiful sunset. Can’t forget the amazing star gazing. We would definitely stop here again. Not a ton of amenities but there were a couple pit toilets. For sure worth the very small fee.

Allison P

February 23, 2026

5

We had a really nice stay at Painted Rock Petroglyphs. Easy to find, very reasonably priced, sites were far enough apart for plenty of room, super quiet and a beautiful sunset. Can’t forget the amazing star gazing. We would definitely stop here again. Not a ton of amenities but there were a couple pit toilets. For sure worth the very small fee.

Bill S

February 25, 2026

5

Great site. Petroglyphs are amazing

Bill S

February 25, 2026

5

Great site. Petroglyphs are amazing

Chris P

February 26, 2026

4

Very clean & quiet. Great BLM. Paved road to campsites. Spacious sites with many that have leveled gravel, fire pit & picnic table. Beautiful stars at night. Only wish there were some hiking trails from the campground - even if just winding through the brush. Interesting history & petroglyphs too. Would love to see even more history & info about the site too.

Chris P

February 26, 2026

4

Very clean & quiet. Great BLM. Paved road to campsites. Spacious sites with many that have leveled gravel, fire pit & picnic table. Beautiful stars at night. Only wish there were some hiking trails from the campground - even if just winding through the brush. Interesting history & petroglyphs too. Would love to see even more history & info about the site too.

Reggie F

February 28, 2026

4

o

Reggie F

February 28, 2026

4

o

Gary C

March 1, 2026

5

Painted rock was a great spot to go for a "break in" camp. Close to town, warm. The petroglyphs and history of the area add a learning aspect to the trip and remind you that people have been coming here for thousands of years.

Location & Directions for Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground

46101 Rocky Point Rd, Gila Bend, AZ 85337 United States

Elevation: 179 ft

Getting There

<p>Exit Interstate 8 at Painted Rock Dam Road/Exit 102, about 12.5 mi west of Gila Bend. Travel north on Painted Rocks Dam Road 10.7 mi to Rocky Point Road. Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site is 0.6 mi west of Painted Rock Dam Road on Rocky Point Road....

Nearest town

Gila Bend, AZ - 26 mi

About 26 min to downtown

Highway access

The campground is accessible via Interstate 8, with the nearest exit being Painted Rock Dam Road/Exit 102, approximately 12.5 miles east of the campground.

Policies & Rules

Safety & rules

  • Take pictures only; do not disturb fragile features.

Utilities

  • No water is available at the campground.
  • No electrical hook-ups are provided at the campground.
  • No dump station is available at the campground.

Accessibility

  • Cell phone service is unreliable at the campground; plan accordingly.

Wildlife & food storage

  • Do not approach or disturb wildlife for your safety.

Fires & fuel

  • No firewood is available for sale; plan accordingly for campfires.
  • Fire restrictions may apply; check for current rules before starting a fire.

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Last updated: October 7, 2026

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Explore Gila Bend, AZ

Population: 1,363

Nearby larger city

Buckeye, AZ

Approx. 36 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 735 ft

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