A Guide to Camping in Marana & Southern Arizona
Plan the ultimate camping or RV trip around Marana with our guide, featuring nearby campgrounds and RV parks, important resources, and tips for making the most of your time in the Sonoran Desert.
Fall and winter are the perfect seasons to fully immerse yourself into the desert on a camping, glamping, or RVing trip! Brisk mornings, warm sunny days, and some of the most stunning sunsets of the year make it a great time to spend a few days exploring the Sonoran Desert and reconnecting with nature.
Whether you're a full-time traveler, hitting the road to work remotely surrounded by the great outdoors, or taking your family on a Great American Road Trip, Southern Arizona should definitely be on your list. Just northwest of Tucson, Marana makes an excellent home base for all your adventures. From comfortable Marana RV parks with full hookups to primitive sites at Cactus Forest Campground, you’ll find plenty of options for camping in Southern Arizona.
Campgrounds & RV Parks in Marana
Marana is an excellent home base for all of your Southern Arizona adventures. You can camp surrounded by a natural desert landscape that feels like it's far from any civilization, but you'll actually only be minutes away from parks, trails, restaurants of all types, shopping, and more. What's more, most of the regional attractions in Southern Arizona are located less than 30 minutes away, with many being within a 15-minute drive.
Valley of the Sun Mobile Home & RV Park
Valley of the Sun Mobile Home & RV Park is a 55+ Good Sam Club park with 70 RV sites, with options for daily, weekly, and monthly rentals. Amenities include Wi-Fi, a pool, recreation, laundry, and many more. It's located near Downtown Marana, with easy access to Interstate 10 and all the other outdoor attractions in the area.
- Address: 13377 N Sandario Rd, Marana, AZ 85653
- Reservations: 520-682-3434
Wild Burro Desert Retreat
Book the only camping spot at the beautiful Wild Burro Desert Retreat (pictured at the top of the page) or other Marana-area private ranch stays, home stays, and campsites ranging from primitive to luxurious on HipCamp or your favorite vacation rental platform.
- Address: Located 7.7 miles (15 minutes) east of I-10.' Exact address provided after booking.
- Reservations: Wild Burro Desert Retreat Hipcamp
South Forty RV Ranch
South Forty RV Ranch is an adults-only, Good Sam Club RV Park located in Southern Marana near I-10 and Orange Grove Road. It's located just a short drive from most outdoor, shopping, dining, and entertainment attractions in the Tucson area, and has options for daily, weekly, and monthly rentals. Several retailers and restaurants are located very close by.
- Address: 3600 W Orange Grove Rd, Tucson, AZ 85741
- Reservations: 520-297-2503
Gilbert Ray Campground
Gilbert Ray Campground is a true gateway to outdoor adventures! It's in an excellent location West of the Tucson Mountains, right next to Saguaro National Park's West District, Old Tucson, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The endless dark skies full of stars at night are an added bonus! The park has a 7-day stay limit, and it very popular, so make sure to book your site ahead of time. Open seasonally, September 1st through April 30th. Tip: If Gilbert Ray is full, ask for recommendations for other camping facilities.
- Address: 8451 W McCain Loop, Tucson, AZ 85735
- Reservations: Gilbert Ray Campground Reservations
Camp Saguaro
Camp Saguaro is also a great base camp for outdoor activities, and is located in a peaceful location less than 5 miles from Saguaro National Park West, Tucson Mountain Park, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. They have sites for tent camping, van campers, overlanders, and truck campers, with a common area with flush toilets, sinks, and showers. Same-day reservations are available! Open seasonally, October 15th through April 10th.
- Address: 12150 W Calle Seneca, Tucson, AZ 85743
- Reservations: Book on Hipcamp
Picacho/Tucson Northwest KOA Journey
Located just off of Interstate 10, north of Picacho Peak. Picacho/Tucson Northwest KOA Journey is open year-round, and has RV sites with water and electricity, tent sites, and cabins. The campground features restrooms and showers, a year-round pool, dog park, firewood and propane for purchase, a laundry room, playground, and more! Open seasonally, September 1st to May 30th.
- Address: 18428 South Picacho Highway, Picacho, AZ 85141
- Reservations: Book on KOA site or call 520-466-2966
Picacho Peak State Park Campground
Picacho Peak State Park Campground is open year-round, and offers tent, RV, and group sites, all in the shadow of Picacho Peak! High-speed Wi-Fi is available for a fee, and the campground has modern, handicapped-accessible restroom and shower buildings. As a bonus, the park is located just off of I-10!
- Address: 15520 Picacho Peak Rd, Picacho, AZ 85141
- Reservations: Book through AZ State Parks
Picacho Peak RV Resort
Picacho Peak RV Resort is a 55+ community located in the shadow of Picacho Peak, that offers RV sites available for long- or short-term rental, plus many amenities, such as pickleball, a pool, clubhouse, billiards, a fitness center, and more!
- Address: 17065 E Peak Ln, Red Rock, AZ 85145
- Reservations: Book online
Double H Hacienda
Double H Hacienda has sites with full RV hookups, within an hour drive of the Red Hills Visitor Center at Saguaro National Park. Amenities include equine experiences, picnic areas, firepits, play area for kids, fenced dog area, pool and hot tub. Minimum stay of 3 nights, maximum 30 nights.
- Address: Just north of the Omni National Golf Course. Exact location provided upon booking.
- Reservations: Book on Hipcamp
Adventure & Backcountry Camping
Want to leave the amenities behind for a little while and truly escape into the desert? You can do that here as well! The wide open spaces around Marana let you disconnect from the modern world, and feel completely secluded, all within a 30-minute drive. These spots are free and first come first served. Be sure to follow the Leave No Trace guidelines when boondocking (dry camping).
Know Before You Go
Ready to camp under Marana’s wide-open desert skies? Before you set up camp, take a few minutes to get prepared. The resources below have everything you need for an unforgettable camping adventure.
Dump Stations
Safely and legally empty black and grey water tanks at the following dump stations:
- PremieRVehicle Storage | 7935 W Tangerine Rd, Marana, AZ 85658
- Tortolita Mountain RV & Boat Storage | 13051 N Tortolita Rd, Marana, AZ 85658
- Merrigan's Arizona Roadrunner | 4324 N Flowing Wells Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705
Current Fire Restrictions
Fire restrictions can vary throughout the year. Always follow posted guidelines and make sure fires are completely extinguished before you leave. Check the current fire restrictions below:
Weather & What to Pack
Marana has a desert climate, with hot summers and mild winters, so packing for the season is an important part of planning your trip. Visit our Weather page for the extended forecast, a look at what to expect throughout the year, and packing suggestions for every season.
Leave No Trace
Marana’s desert landscapes are as delicate as they are beautiful, and a little care goes a long way toward protecting them for generations. Following Leave No Trace principles means planning ahead, sticking to established trails and campsites, packing out everything you bring in, and respecting the wildlife that calls the Sonoran Desert home. By treading lightly, you help protect these wild places so every visitor can enjoy them for years to come.
For more information and additional resources, check out this comprehensive guide from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to help you prepare for your camping experience.
Camping Itineraries
This itinerary/blog post showcases local businesses in our community. We feature partners that serve food and drink, offer recreational opportunities, places to stay, and shopping. We value accuracy, fairness and balance in our advertising and marketing. We would love to showcase your business to our visitors. These advertising and marketing opportunities (social media, articles, website, and ads) are open to all businesses within Marana and the designated two-mile “Pima County Tourism Partner Zone” around the town limits that meet this criteria. If you want to be featured on our website or in social media, please contact us at MaranaInfo@Maranaaz.gov.
Related Content:
Taking its name from one of the longest living trees in the Arizona desert, the Ironwood Forest National Monument is a true Sonoran Desert showcase. Keeping company with the ironwood trees are mesquite, paloverde, creosote, and saguaro. The Silver Bell, Waterman and Sawtooth are rugged mountain ranges, from 1,800 to more than 4,200 feet in elevation. Desert valleys filled with diverse wildlife, such as pronghorn and mule deer, complete the setting.
2021 N. Kinney Rd Tucson, AZ 85743 (520) 883-2702 Website