Nice quiet CG. Easy access to town. Asphalt site pads. Very clean restrooms. Showers out of service when we were there
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What campers say
Houston Mesa Campground, just north of Payson, offers spacious, mostly wooded sites with picnic tables and fire rings and convenient access to town. Hosts and forest service staff are frequently praised and the grounds and restrooms are generally kept tidy. Expect tradeoffs: showers are often closed and water/outlet availability is reported as inconsistent, and many sites are close enough to the road or tracks to hear traffic or trains. The horse campground across the road is often quieter and sometimes less expensive. Wildlife sightings are common. Typical fees are about $29; seniors may pay roughly half with a pass.
Our summary of 654 traveler reviews.
✅ Amenities & Features
.GOV.RECREATIONBack-inBathroomsBikingCampfireDesertDirtDogsElectricEquestrianFamily FriendlyFirepitsForest ServiceGroupHikingHorse CampMountainsPetsPublic ParkRVShadeTentsTrailsTreesWaterWildlife
📖 About This Campground
Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just one mile north of Payson, Arizona and less than two hours from Phoenix. With family, equestrian and tent-only campsites, this campground can accommodate a range of visitors and offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors, including several miles of hiking and horseback riding trails nearby. As the fifth largest forest in the United States, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited "urban" forests in the United States (approximately 5.8 million visitors annually). Its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations to the east.
⭐ 2 Reviews⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0
Great quiet campground. Paved pads (asphalt). Showers out of service when we were there. Clean toilets