AZ ... any book worth buying on camping

Planning our first trip to AZ... never been... went down to Hoover last year, this winter venturing farther south. Have the camping in Utah book, excellent... have not seen anything new for AZ...

Ideas, hints.. I know about park advisor, etc.. but like the hands on..

Thanks!

Sorry can't help on a book.

What time of the year are you going?

Are you going to Quartzsite? 

Well Donna and Mark you are in for a real treat.  Arizona is a very pretty State.

Here is some info about the Flagstaff/Sedona areas:

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,112439.msg1018017.html#msg1018017

Of course the Grand Canyon is not far from there too and a Must See.

We have also stayed near Payson up at the Rim Lakes on the Mogollon Rim.  Several lovely campgrounds up there which are well kept.  The lakes are pretty and you can get out there fishing.

We drove the Young Highway from Pines to Desert.  This road takes you down to Theodore Roosevelt Lake.  We saw a Crested Saguaro on the road down towards the lake.

We have also visited Chiricahua National Monument close to Bisbee and Tombstone.  This is a lovely place with some nice hikes. 

https://www.nps.gov/chir/planyourvisit/index.htm

Bisbee is a lovely old mining town with lots of history.  Not sure of closest campsites as we were doing a car tour but I am sure there will be some.

Lavender Jeep Tours have nice trips.

Tombstone is interesting and I suggest visiting the graveyard which we missed but it looks good.  We will do that next time.

Sierra Vista is the largest town in that area and it is growing bigger and bigger.  Decent shops there.  Also lots of places for good bird watching in that area if you are interested.  Ramsay Canyon is one of the popular areas to see the Elegant Trogon and hummingbirds.

Whilst in AZ we did the Coronado Trail (near Show Low and Alpine AZ) and Apache Trail (from Roosevelt AZ) but you cannot do these in an RV as very narrow and twisting roads.

Tonto National Monument and the Superstition Mountains are down in that area too.

Saguaro National Monument, east and west both worth a visit.

https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

We really liked Organ Pipe and would like to spend more time there. 

https://www.nps.gov/orpi/index.htm

You can do tours of the Kitt Peak Observatory fairly close to Tucson if you book ahead.

We also stayed in Usery Mountain State Park close to Phoenix.  Wow it was really lovely.  The visitor centre there has lots of things going on and there are many birds and wild critters running around.  This whole area is a birding favourite. 

If you are touring down south then expect to be stopped several times by Border Patrol as they set up check points in various places not just at the main crossing points.

Lake Havasu is also in Arizona and there are several State Parks close to there which are very good.  AZ State Parks are very well kept indeed and have won several awards I believe.

The area around Page is interesting too with lots of things to see and do and just across the border is Kanab and the Grand Staircase Escalante area.....

It is a big state and these are just a few of the places to explore.

https://azstateparks.com/

Hope you have a great time.

For those interested in AZ State Parks, check out:

https://azstateparks.com/reserve/

Those entering the state west bound on I-10 should consider Karchener State Park, 8 miles off I-10 near Wilcox, AZ.  Good Campground and Karchener Caverns are a must see.

Thanks for the notes... we do lots of hiking and more hiking, have our Lexie dog so we usually avoid the National Parks... so your ideas are great! One thing we don't do is the big RV parks, we love state parks usually. Like to do some dispersed but always nervous about going too far off road.

Not sure on Quartzsite, wish we were there for the big flea market, want one of those mats and hear they have them!

Keep the hints going... love it, have quite a few books, brochures, etc. on the area, but always looking for more camping ideas. Though I know you like to keep your favorites hidden!

Donna and crew!

tanglemoose said:

Thanks for the notes... we do lots of hiking and more hiking, have our Lexie dog so we usually avoid the National Parks... so your ideas are great! One thing we don't do is the big RV parks, we love state parks usually. Like to do some dispersed but always nervous about going too far off road.

Click to expand...

You are in luck. The Rim Trail at the Grand Canyon is 12 miles of some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet and dogs are allowed.

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/pets.htm

There is also a wonderful pet hotel on the south rim.

I "think" you're asking for lists of campgrounds.  If so the most comprehensive campground directory is by Good Sam.  Their RV Travel Guide & Campground Directory lists thousands of public and private campgrounds in the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico.  Each entry tells you about length of sites, types of utilities, amenities, etc.  Many have ads that also tell you the nearby attractions.  We use it extensively.  And, yes, it's paper.  I also prefer paper!

If you are traveling on freeways, many states have welcome centers at the state line.  Many of them have all kinds of brochures for everything from campgrounds to attractions to restaurants to hiking trails.  You also can request information from each state but be specific or you might be inundated!  If you want to know about campgrounds say so.  If you want to know about museums say so.  Many now publish one "book" that has everything in one consolidated version.

Another useful publication to carry is the Next Exit which tells you want businesses are at various exits on the interstate highway system.  It includes restaurants, auto repair places, hospitals, and some campgrounds but the campgrounds have just the name.

ArdraF

My recommendations for you, and I live in AZ.
Bisbee, AZ - Fantastic historic town with a great rv park within a 3 minute walk from downtown.
Picacho Peak - Has a state park with full hook-ups, numerous hiking trails up to the peak. Located on I-10 between Tucson & Phoenix.
Catalina State Park - Located on the north side of Tucson, nice place with good hiking.