A Guide to Camping in Marana & Southern Arizona

Now is the perfect time to fully immerse yourself into the desert on a camping, glamping, or RVing trip! The brisk mornings and warm, sunny days of the fall and winter here in Southern Arizona, plus the more-beautiful-than-usual sunsets, 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. Marana is an excellent home base to start all of your Southern Arizona adventures!

PicturedWild Burro Desert Retreat

Campgrounds and 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.

  • Picacho/Tucson Northwest KOA Journey - Located just off of Interstate 10, north of Picacho Peak. It's 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!
  • 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!
  • 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!
  • Valley of the Sun Mobile Home & RV Park is a 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. 55+
  • 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.
  • 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. Tip: If Gilbert Ray is full, ask for recommendations for other camping facilities.
  • 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!

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.

  • Want to fully get off-the-grid and into the desert? Camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the way to go. You can find your own campsite, where the only amenities are the ones you bring. Please remember to practice Leave No Trace principles and camp only within BLM rules and regulations.
  • Camping at Ironwood Forest National Monument is a rustic, remote, secluded experience in a place that is the definition of "off the beaten path". The 120,000-acre monument is home to several historic sites, an 80-armed saguaro cactus, and its namesake, one of the largest groupings of Ironwood trees anywhere. There is a designated campground, but sites are primitive (no amenities except those you bring), so it's great for RV camping. See the camping site map here.
  • Cactus Forest Campground is a primitive, dispersed-camping site located off of Park Link Drive, just north of Marana. What it may lack in amenities it more than makes up for in expansive desert views, cacti, and magnificent sunsets. Camping is free, since it's located on BLM land.
PicturedBackcountry Camping in Ironwood Forest National Monument

Unique Bed & Breakfast Inns

If tent or RV camping isn't really "your thing", but you still want to have a unique, immersive experience in a more secluded and intimate location, the areas surrounding Marana are home to several interesting homestays hosted by friendly locals, which are sure to give you a great experience with a personal, local feel - no tent required!

  • The Crickethead Inn is Balinese-themed, decorated with antique furniture and textiles. It sits within Picture Rocks, surrounded by breathtaking views of the Tucson Mountains, Saguaro National Park West, and endless stars in the night sky. This beautiful location is only 10 minutes from the modern amenities of Marana, just over the Tucson Mountains!
  • Sanctuary Cove offers a guest cottage for two people with a full kitchen. Sanctuary Cove is located in the middle of the classic Western movie filming scenery. Call or visit their website for details.
  • 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 and AirBNB.

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