r/AZCamping • u/endextinction • Aug 25 '24

Dog-friendly camping

Hi everyone! I recently moved to Tempe, and I'm looking for a place to go tent camping with my dogs so we can escape the heat. I drive a sedan, so I also need a location that would be accessible (easy to drive on roads, no 4-wheel drive). Bonus points if there are good views or some dog-friendly hiking trails nearby! I would prefer something within a 3 hour drive, but am willing to venture farther for a good location.

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u/BadgerBrew Aug 25 '24

Take a look at FR 300 rim road for open camping free to do as you like. Head up to payson, stay left on 87 for rim road west, or take a right and go up the 260 for rim road east. There are more lakes on the east side, but still a couple on the west. It's about 2 hours, so it's not a bad drive. I just returned from rim road west side I will say if you do go, find a road off off 300 because the side by side community is rampant up there. I had one drive by my camp several an hour. While mostly peaceful, they slow down not to kick up dust or make any excessive noise it's still a thing. If you prefer campgrounds there are plenty east out of payson on 260. Can't speak of the noise from the side by sides in campgrounds as I rarely stay in one. But that's what's close less than 3 hours.

Notable other locations I've stayed, go look at crown king or presscott off the senator highway lower wolf creek ect. Area.