BLACK FRIDAY

Sedona Camping by the Numbers

Elevation 4,336 ft Town level. The Oak Creek Canyon campgrounds sit at 4,724 to 5,545 ft.
Best months Spring & fall Average high 65-84°F at the Sedona NOAA station.
Places to camp 6 campgrounds + 8 free areas
4 national forest1 state park1 RV park8 free areas
Booking window 6 months ahead Recreation.gov. Dead Horse Ranch takes bookings up to 12 months out.
Canyon season Apr-Oct Pine Flat runs mid-April to late October. Manzanita is open all year.

Sedona Campgrounds Compared

CampgroundMiles from UptownSitesFee per nightSeasonBookingMax RVWaterShowersHookups
Rancho Sedona RV ParkIn town-$69-88 + taxYear-roundDirect45 ft---
West Sedona dispersed areas (8): Greasy Spoon, Cockscomb, Nolan, Windmill, Surprise, Rockview, Angel Valley, Javalina8-10About 200FreeNot publishedFirst come-NoNoNo
Manzanita Campground4.914 + 4 first come$30Year-roundRecreation.gov + first comeNo RVs or trailersYesNoNo
Cave Springs Campground9.084$30Not publishedRecreation.gov36 ftYesYesNo
Pine Flat Campground10.259$30Mid-April to late OctoberRecreation.gov + first come36 ftYesNoNo
Dead Horse Ranch State Park16.4100+$25-50Year-roundArizona State Parks65 ft-YesYes
Clear Creek Campground24.213 + 5 first come$27Year-roundRecreation.gov + first come32 ftYes--

Sources: Recreation.gov, Coconino National Forest, Arizona State Parks, ranchosedona.com. "-" means the operator does not publish it.

Oak Creek Canyon Campgrounds

Choose Manzanita Campground if you want the smallest Oak Creek Canyon option near town. You get 14 reservable campsites and 4 first-come sites, open year-round, with potable water, toilets, and no showers. It sits 6 miles north of Sedona, the closest canyon campground to town.

Pick Cave Springs Campground if your group wants showers in Oak Creek Canyon. Cave Springs has 84 campsites, including one tent-only site, plus token-operated showers, drinking water, and vault restrooms. The campground sits in scenic Oak Creek Canyon in Coconino National Forest, and Slide Rock State Park is down the road.

Choose Pine Flat Campground if you want a seasonal stay with basic services. Pine Flat has 59 single-unit sites, including two accessible sites, and it opens from mid-April to late October. You get drinking water and vault restrooms, but you do not get showers or hookups. The campground sits 14 miles south of Flagstaff and 13 miles north of Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon.

Verde Valley Campgrounds

Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood suits you if you want state park services and hookups. The park gives you over 100 campsites. You pay $50 per night for a site with electricity, or $25 per night for a site without hookups. You also get restrooms and showers at the campgrounds and near the lagoons.

Clear Creek near Camp Verde suits you if you want a grassy, flat camp with tall cottonwood shade. Clear Creek offers five first-come, first-served standard family sites and 13 standard family sites through Recreation.gov. Single sites cost $27 per night, and additional vehicles cost $10 per vehicle per night. You camp beside West Clear Creek, with hiking, swimming, wading, and fishing nearby.

RV Camping Near Sedona

Start your Sedona RV camping plan by matching total vehicle length to each campground rule. Rancho Sedona RV Park takes rigs up to 45 feet. Dead Horse Ranch State Park fits many truck and trailer setups in pull-through sites up to 65 feet long. If your trailer runs shorter, Cave Springs takes RVs, trailers, and motor homes up to 36 feet.

Check your width as well as length before you reserve. Pine Flat lists a maximum vehicle length of 36 feet and cannot accommodate wide-body motor homes. Clear Creek takes vehicles up to 32 ft. Manzanita excludes RVs, trailers, and motor homes, so choose it only with your small sleep-in vehicle or tent.

Free Camping in West Sedona

Choose the west Sedona designated areas if you want to camp for free and can arrive self-contained. The area includes Greasy Spoon, Cockscomb, Nolan, Windmill, Surprise, Rockview, Angel Valley, and Javalina, with roughly 200 total campsites. Sites are first come, first served, so keep your plan flexible.

You may stay up to 14 days, and you must camp inside the named areas. Coconino National Forest prohibits charcoal and wood campfires at all times, so bring a gas stove or grill that you can turn on and off. Bring all water for your group, plus trash bags, shade, and a backup plan if your preferred area fills.

Sedona Camping Weather

For mild days, plan your Sedona trip for March, April, May, October, or November. Sedona's NOAA station gives March a 68°F average high and April 75°F. October averages 79°F, and November averages 67°F. Your nights still feel cool, with average lows from 40°F in March to 53°F in May.

Choose Oak Creek Canyon for a cooler sleep than town, especially after sunset. In April, the canyon station gives a 70°F average high while Sedona gives 75°F. The nights matter more for packing: in May the canyon averages a 46°F low, town 53°F. Bring warm sleep layers, and start exposed outings early as June heat builds.

Average daily high and low, °F, NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Sedona station.

How to Book a Sedona Campsite

First, pick your campground, then open the correct reservation system. Use Recreation.gov for Manzanita, Cave Springs, Pine Flat, and Clear Creek. Recreation.gov opens individual campsite reservations six months in advance, and you must book at least four days ahead of arrival. Use Arizona State Parks for Dead Horse Ranch, where you can reserve up to 12 months ahead.

If every reservable site is taken, aim for the first-come sites at Manzanita, Pine Flat, and Clear Creek, and arrive early with a backup plan. Keep your stay in the Red Rock District within the 7-day limit.

Gear for Camping Around Sedona

A water filterPack a water filter for the west Sedona dispersed areas, which have no potable water.An insulated sleeping padBring an insulated sleeping pad, since Oak Creek Canyon averages a 30°F low in January.A camping fanA camping fan helps in July, when Sedona's average high is 97°F.

Sedona Camping FAQ

Can you camp for free in Sedona?

Yes, you can camp free at the West Sedona Designated Dispersed Camping Area. Sites are first come, first served, and you can stay up to 14 days. Bring your own water because the site has no potable water, and use a gas stove or grill that can turn on and off.

Which Sedona campgrounds are open all year?

You have year-round choices at Manzanita Campground, Clear Creek Campground, Dead Horse Ranch State Park, and Rancho Sedona RV Park. Manzanita suits your tent or small sleep-in vehicle, while Rancho Sedona takes rigs up to 45 feet.

Are there campgrounds with showers near Sedona?

Yes, you can choose Cave Springs Campground or Dead Horse Ranch State Park if showers guide your plans near Sedona. Cave Springs has token-operated showers, drinking water, and vault restrooms. Dead Horse Ranch has restrooms and showers at the campgrounds and near the lagoons.

Where can you park an RV near Sedona?

You can park an RV at Cave Springs Campground, Clear Creek Campground, Dead Horse Ranch State Park, or Rancho Sedona RV Park. Cave Springs takes rigs up to 36 feet, and Clear Creek lists a 32 ft maximum vehicle length. Dead Horse Ranch has many pull-through sites for your truck/trailer setup up to 65 feet long, and Rancho Sedona allows rigs up to 45 feet.

When is the best time to camp in Sedona?

April and October give you milder tent weather in Sedona, with an average high of 75°F in April and 79°F in October. For cooler nights, your April average low is 44°F, and your October average low is 51°F.

More Camping in Arizona

← Camping in ArizonaAll state camping guides

Sources