Camping around Sedona

Almost everything on this list is public land, so the rules matter more than the amenities do.

There are two kinds of camping here. The first is the developed Forest Service campgrounds in Oak Creek Canyon and around town, booked through Recreation.gov. They have numbered sites and a nightly fee. They’re also smaller than people expect. The largest, Cave Spring, has 84 sites, takes RVs, trailers and motor homes up to 36 feet, and has no hookups at all. If you need power and water, you want a private RV park instead.

The second kind is designated dispersed camping west of Sedona. The Coconino National Forest runs eight main areas out there, with roughly 200 sites in total. It’s free, it’s first come first served, and no permit is required. The stay limit is 14 days per visit. Wood and charcoal campfires are prohibited outright in these areas. Only propane stoves and grills that can be switched on and off are allowed, and any posted fire restriction applies on top of that. Dispersed camping west of Sedona outside those eight areas is not allowed.

Several listings on this page are cabins, or group and day-use sites, rather than ordinary campgrounds. Read the listing page before you book. A ramada or a cabin is booked differently from a tent site.

Two practical notes. Thirteen of the fourteen listings here have a website, and most of those are the official Recreation.gov or Forest Service page, which is where you’ll find the current season, fee and closure. Nine of the fourteen have a phone number, so for the rest the web page is the only way in. Also, developed campgrounds in the canyon are seasonal, so check the official page for opening and closing dates before you drive up.

The Red Rock Ranger District visitor center answers questions about the dispersed areas on 928-203-2900.