About Ponderosa (AZ)
Number of accommodations: 37
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Rates, Sites & Availability
37 Sites Available
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Site Details
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37 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 (474)
What Guests Are Saying
Ponderosa Campground offers beautiful, spacious sites surrounded by tall pines, making it a favorite for many campers. The hosts are friendly and maintain the campground well, ensuring clean facilities and a pleasant experience. However, some sites experience noise from the nearby highway, and concerns about tree removal for maintenance could impact future visits.
What Guests Are Saying
Ponderosa Campground offers beautiful, spacious sites surrounded by tall pines, making it a favorite for many campers. The hosts are friendly and maintain the campground well, ensuring clean facilities and a pleasant experience. However, some sites experience noise from the nearby highway, and concerns about tree removal for maintenance could impact future visits.
Review Summary
Emily P
VerifiedMay 17, 2021 • Stayed at: D-08, Loop: DLOO
This was one of the better campgrounds we have visited in Arizona. The sites were very large and shaded. We had plenty of room even with 2 big tents, 2 cars, 7 people and a dog. It was a beautiful campground with a great location. The host was extremely friendly and welcoming. She had the cutest dog with her and she keeps the campground meticulously groomed and clean. We had a great time and will definitely be visiting again!
Phyllis Z
VerifiedMay 17, 2021 • Stayed at: C-09, Loop: CLOO
The campground was great, super quiet with nice, spacious campsites. Vault toilet bathrooms are available and very clean. Beth, the camp host was amazing!!! We had some camper trouble and we didn't know how we were going to get it back home. She called someone, they came out right away, and we were good to go. Her help took the stress off and allowed us to have a great weekend. We took lovely walks around the campground and just enjoyed our site. We definitely plan on going back!
Kris R
VerifiedMay 14, 2021 • Stayed at: A-09, Loop: ALOO
This is my favorite campground in Arizona. The sites are well spaced apart and there is a good variety of walk up, pull through and nose in sites. Restrooms are clean and campsites with fire pit, charcoal grill, and picnic table, are always clean and raked. The pine trees provide a 24/7 aroma of forest pine scent. Beth, the Host is fabulous. It is only 15 minutes from Payson, which has plenty of restaurants, gas stations, motels, hardware stores, Starbucks, and a Big Five Sporting Goods store. The Mogollon Rim access is 15 minutes in the other direction. Weekends are already booked through til October, but they keep about 10% of the sites available for same day, first come first serve. Houston Mesa Campground is also nearby and much closer to Payson. It has sites with more privacy from bushes and small trees, and the campground has showers.
Kris R
VerifiedMay 14, 2021 • Stayed at: A-09, Loop: ALOO
This is my favorite campground in Arizona. The sites are well spaced apart and there is a good variety of walk up, pull through and nose in sites. Restrooms are clean and campsites with fire pit, charcoal grill, and picnic table, are always clean and raked. The pine trees provide a 24/7 aroma of forest pine scent. Beth, the Host is fabulous. It is only 15 minutes from Payson, which has plenty of restaurants, gas stations, motels, hardware stores, Starbucks, and a Big Five Sporting Goods store. The Mogollon Rim access is 15 minutes in the other direction. Weekends are already booked through til October, but they keep about 10% of the sites available for same day, first come first serve. Houston Mesa Campground is also nearby and much closer to Payson. It has sites with more privacy from bushes and small trees, and the campground has showers.
Doreen K
VerifiedMay 12, 2021 • Stayed at: B-04, Loop: BLOO
Great campground in a thick Ponderosa forest just east of Payson. Campsites are roomy with plenty of space between spots. Vault toilets are VERY clean. Beth, the campground host, is extremely friendly and helpful.
Doreen K
VerifiedMay 12, 2021 • Stayed at: B-04, Loop: BLOO
Great campground in a thick Ponderosa forest just east of Payson. Campsites are roomy with plenty of space between spots. Vault toilets are VERY clean. Beth, the campground host, is extremely friendly and helpful.
George O
VerifiedMay 11, 2021 • Stayed at: A-16, Loop: ALOO
Hosts were friendly and helpful. Site was quiet and clean. Bathroom was clean and had sanitizing station. Great experience
George O
VerifiedMay 11, 2021 • Stayed at: A-16, Loop: ALOO
Hosts were friendly and helpful. Site was quiet and clean. Bathroom was clean and had sanitizing station. Great experience
Victor M
VerifiedMay 9, 2021 • Stayed at: A-04, Loop: ALOO
Everything was great and the park rangers were nice and friendly!!
Victor M
VerifiedMay 9, 2021 • Stayed at: A-04, Loop: ALOO
Everything was great and the park rangers were nice and friendly!!
Location Ponderosa (AZ)
Address:
1009 East Highway 260
Payson, AZ, 85541
United States
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.
The campground is accessible via State Route 260, which runs east from Payson. No interstates or major highways are noted within 25 miles.
Latitude & Longitude: 34.2989 / -111.114
Elevation: 1730 feet
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
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 5, 2026
