OutReserve

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

About Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, approximately 90 miles 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.

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Reviews (374)

What Guests Are Saying

Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground offers a peaceful and spacious environment with beautiful views and impressive petroglyphs, making it a great spot for camping and stargazing. Many visitors appreciate the clean facilities and welcoming camp hosts, highlighting the tranquility and privacy of the sites. While some noted issues with restroom cleanliness and the reservation process, the overall experience is described as enjoyable and worth a visit.

Review Summary

4.5
374 reviews
5
64.7%
242
4
23.5%
88
3
9.1%
34
2
2.7%
10
1
0.0%
0

Jess H

March 7, 2021

4

Great, quiet, inexpensive campground. Large campsites and nicely spaced apart. Camp hosts were friendly and helpful. It would be nice if they had more garbage service as their garbage cans were overflowing during our visit there. Pit toilets were clean and well maintained. Good cell service.

Jess H

March 7, 2021

4

Great, quiet, inexpensive campground. Large campsites and nicely spaced apart. Camp hosts were friendly and helpful. It would be nice if they had more garbage service as their garbage cans were overflowing during our visit there. Pit toilets were clean and well maintained. Good cell service.

David Y

February 4, 2021

3

The boondock campground was very good. It was quiet, spaces were far apart and folks abided by the generator hours. The petroglyphs were amazing. Much more than I've seen in one place before. Was very glad we stopped to experience this.
The lower rating was due to not being told before I made my reservation through Recreation.gov, that their reservation system did not work at this location. I reserved a specific site and was charge $8 as a reservation fee, but when I arrived, there was someone already at this site. Received an email from Recreation.gov a few days before stating that making a reservation did not guarantee having a spot at the campground. Luckily, there were open sites to choose another site to stay. Should not have this campground as a location where reservation can be made.

David Y

February 4, 2021

3

The boondock campground was very good. It was quiet, spaces were far apart and folks abided by the generator hours. The petroglyphs were amazing. Much more than I've seen in one place before. Was very glad we stopped to experience this.
The lower rating was due to not being told before I made my reservation through Recreation.gov, that their reservation system did not work at this location. I reserved a specific site and was charge $8 as a reservation fee, but when I arrived, there was someone already at this site. Received an email from Recreation.gov a few days before stating that making a reservation did not guarantee having a spot at the campground. Luckily, there were open sites to choose another site to stay. Should not have this campground as a location where reservation can be made.

Location Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground

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

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.

Latitude & Longitude: 33.0244 / -113.045

Elevation: 179 feet

Map of Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground location at Gila Bend, AZ, United States
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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: June 3, 2026

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Managed by Bureau of Land Management