Available sites
60 total sitesAbout Houston Mesa
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Year-round
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Restrooms
Pets and Policies
- Equestrian-Friendly
Rates, Sites & Availability
60 Sites Available
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No available sites
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Site Details
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60 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (784)
What Guests Are Saying
Houston Mesa campground offers a pleasant experience with spacious, well-maintained sites nestled among trees, providing a nice atmosphere for relaxation. Many reviewers appreciated the campground's cleanliness, helpful hosts, and convenient location near town amenities. However, some noted issues such as road noise, limited shade, and maintenance concerns with the bathrooms and showers, which could detract from the overall experience.
What Guests Are Saying
Houston Mesa campground offers a pleasant experience with spacious, well-maintained sites nestled among trees, providing a nice atmosphere for relaxation. Many reviewers appreciated the campground's cleanliness, helpful hosts, and convenient location near town amenities. However, some noted issues such as road noise, limited shade, and maintenance concerns with the bathrooms and showers, which could detract from the overall experience.
Review Summary
Richard H
VerifiedNovember 1, 2021 • Stayed at: 052, Loop: BEAR
VERY clean! Road noise is heard 24/7 throughout the campground (knew this going in). Loud partying noise was heard at 2:45am (did not know this going in).
Richard H
VerifiedNovember 1, 2021 • Stayed at: 052, Loop: BEAR
VERY clean! Road noise is heard 24/7 throughout the campground (knew this going in). Loud partying noise was heard at 2:45am (did not know this going in).
Cheryl F
VerifiedOctober 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 058, Loop: MOUN
While the location didn't work for us, it is by far one of my favorite campgrounds in Arizona for boondocking. Lots of trails, sits in the middle of the trees with amazing smells, and campsites are very dispersed; however because my husband and I were working we require there to be wifi. We were told it was fairly strong there but even with our booster we could not connect well enough to work. Unfortunately for us that is a no go. I highly recommend this location if you're able to unplug and just enjoy the outdoors. We have Verizon and AT&T. We ended up having to leave early and go to another not so wonderful campground with better wifi. We did take breaks and lunches walking the trails at Houston Mesa!
Cheryl F
VerifiedOctober 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 058, Loop: MOUN
While the location didn't work for us, it is by far one of my favorite campgrounds in Arizona for boondocking. Lots of trails, sits in the middle of the trees with amazing smells, and campsites are very dispersed; however because my husband and I were working we require there to be wifi. We were told it was fairly strong there but even with our booster we could not connect well enough to work. Unfortunately for us that is a no go. I highly recommend this location if you're able to unplug and just enjoy the outdoors. We have Verizon and AT&T. We ended up having to leave early and go to another not so wonderful campground with better wifi. We did take breaks and lunches walking the trails at Houston Mesa!
brian b
VerifiedOctober 21, 2021 • Stayed at: 041, Loop: BEAR
Always a great stay at Houston mesa. Camp host is super nice. Bathrooms clean, grounds manicured and clean. Will definitely be going back again
brian b
VerifiedOctober 21, 2021 • Stayed at: 041, Loop: BEAR
Always a great stay at Houston mesa. Camp host is super nice. Bathrooms clean, grounds manicured and clean. Will definitely be going back again
Angela Y
VerifiedOctober 19, 2021 • Stayed at: 046, Loop: BEAR
We had numerous issues at Houston Mesa. It is a beautiful area, but the days we were there, October 8-10, the host was not only rude and confrontational, but his knowledge about handicapped camping spots and parking areas was erroneous and caused so much conflict, that we weren't really able to enjoy our short stay. We had reserved a handicapped spot, and both vehicles we used had handicapped stickers. He forced us to park our two vehicles so close together, and then he directed 2 more vehicles to park in the same handicapped spot, that weren't handicapped stickered. He threatened to call the sheriff if we complained, but we decided to leave 2 days early from a trip that we had planned for months. I hope that he doesn't treat all guests this way, because if he does, I can't imagine who could enjoy staying there.
Angela Y
VerifiedOctober 19, 2021 • Stayed at: 046, Loop: BEAR
We had numerous issues at Houston Mesa. It is a beautiful area, but the days we were there, October 8-10, the host was not only rude and confrontational, but his knowledge about handicapped camping spots and parking areas was erroneous and caused so much conflict, that we weren't really able to enjoy our short stay. We had reserved a handicapped spot, and both vehicles we used had handicapped stickers. He forced us to park our two vehicles so close together, and then he directed 2 more vehicles to park in the same handicapped spot, that weren't handicapped stickered. He threatened to call the sheriff if we complained, but we decided to leave 2 days early from a trip that we had planned for months. I hope that he doesn't treat all guests this way, because if he does, I can't imagine who could enjoy staying there.
cristi p
October 18, 2021
Lovely, clean, we’ll maintained! Bathrooms super clean- we had great time! 5 stars!
cristi p
October 18, 2021
Lovely, clean, we’ll maintained! Bathrooms super clean- we had great time! 5 stars!
Location & Directions for Houston Mesa
2100 Houston Mesa Rd, Payson, AZ 85541 United States
Elevation: 1,546 ft
Getting There
From Payson, Arizona, go north for 1 mi to the junction of Highway 87 (Beeline Highway) and Forest Road 199 (Houston Mesa Road). Turn right (east) onto Forest Road 199 for .10 mi. The campground is on the north side of Houston Mesa Road.
Highway access
The campground is accessible via Highway 87 (Beeline Highway), which is located approximately 1 mile south of the junction with Houston Mesa Road.
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
2PM
Check out time
11AM
General
- Extra vehicle charge of $8 per night is required. Fee can be bundled with online reservation or purchased on-site at fee machine.
- No firewood sales available at campground. Plan to purchase ahead of time.
- Fireworks are always prohibited on National Forest Land.
- For first come first serve sites, you must physically arrive at the campground to see if the campsite is available. There is no guarantee this site will be available to purchase upon your arrival.
- Campers who reserve sites 7 - 18 in Horse Camp (Mule Loop) are required to have horses or mules present. You do not need to have any to use sites 2 - 6 and 19 - 30
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: October 18, 2026