Ponderosa Campground will be open First-Come First-Served from May 1 - November 3, 2025.
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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.
The facility provides 48 single campsites and two group sites that can accommodate up to 25 people guests each. The campsites are clean, flat and spacious with a good amount of shade from pine trees.
In addition, first-come, first-serve sites are available with payment completed using the on-site fee machine or with the mobile app using scan & pay. No cash is accepted.
Check-In is 2:00 pm
Check-Out is 11:00 am
The Tonto National Forest, Payson Ranger District has issued a closure for the Ponderosa Campground until June 1, 2025.
Please be patient as we work to reopen this campground.
Second vehicle charge of $8 per night is required. Fee can be bundled with online reservation or purchased on-site at fee machine.
First-come, first-served sites are available. Payment is done by fee machine pass or scan & pay.
No firewood sales available at campground. Plan to purchase ahead of time.
No Dump or Fill Station Services.
Please be advised bear activity can increase. All campers need to practice the following measures to prevent problems in bear country: 1) Always store your food securely. Use an airtight bear-proof container. Backpacks and coolers are not adequate; 2)Put all food away whenever you leave your campsite and at night. If bear-proof food storage boxes are not available, lock it out of sight in your trunk. 3) Store anything that has an 'attractive' odor good or bad - in the same way. Lotions, soap, toothpaste, bug spray, etc., may attract a curious bear. 4) Be extremely aware of your garbage. Deposit it in bear-proof refuse container. Always respect wild animals, especially bears. Never attempt to feed or pet a bear. Avoid surprising, aggravating or harassing bears. Avoid what might be misconstrued as aggressive behavior.
Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Quiet Hours are from 10:00pm to 6:00am.
Fireworks are always prohibited on National Forest Land.
The ponderosa pine trees make this a memorable campground. Larger ponderosas release a vanilla scent into the air and have a relatively open understory, making the area perfect for camping. Mixed into the understory are junipers, oaks and manzanita shrubs.
The campground sits on the border of the Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as "muggy-own," a 200-mile-long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. The unique landscape was created by extreme erosion and faulting that has sculpted spectacular canyons and buttes. The rim serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below.
The nearby town of Payson, Arizona, offers restaurants, shopping and other conveniences.
Most visitors enjoy walking along the campground's nature trail, traveling into the town of Payson, taking advantage of the area's hiking trails and lakes or simply relaxing at the campsite.
Scenic driving and outdoor recreation abound in the surrounding Tonto National Forest. A series of lakes called the Rim Country Lakes are about a 15 minute drive east. Woods Canyon Lake is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the state and offers options for boating.
1009 East Highway 260 PAYSON AZ 85541
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
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.
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