Ponderosa (AZ) Campsite
Ponderosa (AZ) Loop A Amphitheater
Ponderosa CG
Ponderosa
Ponderosa (AZ) Water Source

Featured amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit

Available sites

37 total sites

About Ponderosa (AZ)

Named for the towering pines under which it sits, Ponderosa Campground is tucked in the rolling forests of northern Arizona. As the fifth-largest forest in the country, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited urban forests in the United States, boasting about 5.8 million visitors annually. Its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations to the east.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Apr 15 to Nov 1

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Site Setup and Access

Site Setup and Access

  • Shaded Site
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
  • Fire Pit
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

37 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 A-04, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 A-05, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 A-06, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 A-07, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 A-09, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 A-10, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 A-11, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 A-14, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 A-16, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 A-18, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 A-19, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 A-20, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 A-21, Loop: ALOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 B-01, Loop: BLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 B-02, Loop: BLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 B-04, Loop: BLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 B-07, Loop: BLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 C-02, Loop: CLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 C-03, Loop: CLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 C-04, Loop: CLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 C-05, Loop: CLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 C-06, Loop: CLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 C-07, Loop: CLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 C-08, Loop: CLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 C-09, Loop: CLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-01, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-02, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-03, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-04, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-05, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-06, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-07, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-08, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-10, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 D-11, Loop: DLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 GR-E, Loop: ELOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved
🚐 GR-F, Loop: FLOO RV
Pet Friendly · Paved

Reviews (515)

What Guests Are Saying

Ponderosa Campground offers spacious, clean sites with helpful camp hosts and well-maintained facilities, making it a pleasant camping experience. Many visitors appreciate the peaceful environment, despite some noise from the nearby highway. While some sites may be challenging for larger trailers and have limited shade due to recent tree thinning, the overall positive atmosphere and convenience to town make it a favored destination for campers.

Review Summary

4.4
515 reviews
5
69.5%
358
4
14.8%
76
3
5.8%
30
2
6.0%
31
1
3.9%
20

Jamie B

Verified

May 21, 2021 • Stayed at: A-18, Loop: ALOO

5

A+. This is a beautiful campground! Well maintained and good distance between campers. Beth, the camp host, is amazing! This was my first time on my own with two toddlers and she was so kind and helpful! Really helps a vacation having people like her around!

Jamie B

Verified

May 21, 2021 • Stayed at: A-18, Loop: ALOO

5

A+. This is a beautiful campground! Well maintained and good distance between campers. Beth, the camp host, is amazing! This was my first time on my own with two toddlers and she was so kind and helpful! Really helps a vacation having people like her around!

Leslie B

Verified

May 23, 2021 • Stayed at: D-01, Loop: DLOO

5

Beth was our campground host and was excellent. She maintained the campground impeccably all by herself. The bathrooms were always clean and stocked. Our campsite was beautiful and well maintained. We've been to Ponderosa before but it had been a few years. Always happy to see that the campground looks just as pretty as the pictures. Lots of trees and well spaced out.

Leslie B

Verified

May 23, 2021 • Stayed at: D-01, Loop: DLOO

5

Beth was our campground host and was excellent. She maintained the campground impeccably all by herself. The bathrooms were always clean and stocked. Our campsite was beautiful and well maintained. We've been to Ponderosa before but it had been a few years. Always happy to see that the campground looks just as pretty as the pictures. Lots of trees and well spaced out.

Kip T

Verified

May 24, 2021 • Stayed at: A-20, Loop: ALOO

5

The campground facilities are clean and well maintained. The Hosts were phenomenal. You could always see them moving about the campgrounds taking care of the sites and educating and interacting with the campers. It was clear that they placed the campers experience as their top priority. They were diligent in being sure that campers were educated, comfortable, safe and that the sites and restrooms were clean and ready. They were quick to anticipate and respond to any circumstances that may impact our stay.
Ponderosa campground has been one of my favorites for decades. With the current Host's it will be my number one choice in the future.
Thank You Host's and we hope to see you again this season.

Kip T

Verified

May 24, 2021 • Stayed at: A-20, Loop: ALOO

5

The campground facilities are clean and well maintained. The Hosts were phenomenal. You could always see them moving about the campgrounds taking care of the sites and educating and interacting with the campers. It was clear that they placed the campers experience as their top priority. They were diligent in being sure that campers were educated, comfortable, safe and that the sites and restrooms were clean and ready. They were quick to anticipate and respond to any circumstances that may impact our stay.
Ponderosa campground has been one of my favorites for decades. With the current Host's it will be my number one choice in the future.
Thank You Host's and we hope to see you again this season.

Catherine Z

Verified

May 27, 2021 • Stayed at: A-21, Loop: ALOO

5

We had a great camping experience at Ponderosa campground. Beth was our camp host, and she was helpful and friendly. The pit bathrooms were kept very clean, and the whole campground was nice and private.

Campsites are spaced far apart, and the ponderosa pines are perfect for hammocks. Firewood was available for purchase. Some of the sites in A loop are close to highway 260, and you will hear cars and trucks. The other loops were more quiet. We walked the whole campground and didn't find an undesirable site, it's a lovely place to stay. We didn't see any bears, but we were glad to have the bear box for our cooler and food. We will stay here again!

Catherine Z

Verified

May 27, 2021 • Stayed at: A-21, Loop: ALOO

5

We had a great camping experience at Ponderosa campground. Beth was our camp host, and she was helpful and friendly. The pit bathrooms were kept very clean, and the whole campground was nice and private.

Campsites are spaced far apart, and the ponderosa pines are perfect for hammocks. Firewood was available for purchase. Some of the sites in A loop are close to highway 260, and you will hear cars and trucks. The other loops were more quiet. We walked the whole campground and didn't find an undesirable site, it's a lovely place to stay. We didn't see any bears, but we were glad to have the bear box for our cooler and food. We will stay here again!

Edwin S

Verified

May 30, 2021 • Stayed at: C-02, Loop: CLOO

5

Beth was a wonderful and very helpful host.
The restrooms and the campground area is kept very clean. we are planning visiting this campground again soon.

Charlie V

Verified

May 30, 2021 • Stayed at: B-04, Loop: BLOO

5

I decided to take my two very young children on their first camping trip in April and this campground was an excellent choice. The area is clean and beautiful, and our host was very diligent in explaining all of the rules and procedures. It was reassuring to know that she was nearby, had we needed assistance with anything. The sites are relatively close together, perhaps 100 ft apart, but the dense forest provides privacy and we did not feel that we were sharing our trip with anybody else. I will certainly be returning to this campground in the future.

Location & Directions for Ponderosa (AZ)

1009 East Highway 260, Payson, AZ 85541 United States

Elevation: 1,730 ft

Getting There

From Payson, Arizona, go east on State Route 260. The campground is located on the south side of 260. A campground sign is visible before the campground entrance.

Nearest town

Payson, AZ - 13 mi

About 18 min to downtown

Highway access

The campground is accessible via State Route 260, which runs east from Payson. No interstates or major highways are noted within 25 miles.

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

Check in time

2PM

Check out time

11AM

Cancellation policy

  • Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
  • Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
  • Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
    • Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
  • Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
  • Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
  • Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.

Fees & deposits

  • A charge of $8 per night applies for a second vehicle.

Utilities

  • No hookups for electricity, water, or sewer are available at this campground.
  • Dump and fill station services are not available at this campground.

Site types & loops

  • First-come, first-served sites can be accessed with payment at an onsite fee machine.
  • You must arrive in-person to check availability of first-come, first-served sites; availability is not guaranteed.

Fires & fuel

  • Firewood cannot be purchased at the campground; bring your own.

Safety & rules

  • Fireworks are not allowed on National Forest Land.

Nearby Campgrounds


Last updated: October 21, 2026

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Explore Payson, AZ

Population: 16,622

Nearby larger city

Flagstaff, AZ

Approx. 69 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 4,961 ft

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