Family Camping Adventures

Family Camping Adventures in Tucson, AZ 

By Heidi Ahrens

I love heading to Tucson with my family in late winter, when we can trade the frigid days of early spring in the Rockies for the temperate climate of southern Arizona (without the extreme heat of Tucson in midsummer!)

Here we spotlight two wonderful, family-friendly campsites near Tucson:

Gilbert Ray Campground (Pima County):  This is my favorite campground around Tucson because the landscape and vegetation are so remarkably beautiful. The campsites are surrounded by Agave, Saguaro, Prickly Pear, Churro and many other types of cacti – it’s like camping in an impeccably xeroscaped  garden that stretches for miles around you into the hills surrounding Tucson - perfect for early season camping! Fifteen years ago, this was predominantly a tent camping site but now you sleep amongst RVs too. I prefer to sleep under the stars here, since it is unlikely to rain and the night sky is so expansive. Gilbert Ray is close to both Tucson and the White Mountains, which means a large variety of activities are easily accessible from this site. Pack yours and the kids' hiking boots; there is even a hiking trail that begins at the campground.

Directions:

13 miles west of Tucson in the White Mountains, follow Kinney Road (continuation of Speedway) until you reach Gilbert Ray Campground. http://www.pima.gov/nrpr/camping/index.htm
Cost: $10 per night for tent site; $20 for RV. Maximum seven nights.

Extra Information: Modest bathrooms and no showers. Drinking water is available. Read up on your desert creatures since you may come across a rattler or tarantula!

Molino Basin Campground (Coronado National Forest):  This campground is about the same distance from Tucson as Gilbert Ray, but is surrounded by desert grasses, Oak, and Mesquite trees instead of cacti. Thousands of bikers use this mountain for either road or mountain bike training. It is also a great place to go climbing and hiking. You sleep by large rock faces and many of the sites are nestled amongst Mesquite trees, which provide welcome shelter from the midday sun. Molino Basin is a longer drive from town, but worth the feeling of being very much removed from city life.

Directions: Situated on the lower part of Mt. Lemon, east of Tucson.  Drive up the mountain 6 miles on Catalina Hwy.  It takes about 40 minutes from downtown.

Cost: $10 per night; accommodates tents or small RVs only.

Extra Information: No showers or water. Pit toilets only. You will hear the occasional car at night. Closed in the summer starting in mid-April.

Have fun exploring the desert!