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A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Mesquite

Forest Service campground in Tonto National Forest, Maricopa County, Arizona. 1,896 feet. 14.9 miles from Carefree.

Managed by
Forest Service Tonto National Forest
Elevation
1,896 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Reservations
First come, first served Claim a site when you arrive. Recreation.gov lists it for Scan and Pay, so the fee can be paid from its app at the campground
County
Maricopa County

Overview

Mesquite Campground provides privacy and shade. Here you can relax under the shaded canopies of mesquite trees while listening to the sounds of water flowing from the Verde River just a short distance from your site. Designated camp sites have fire rings, grills and picnic tables where families can enjoy time together. There are hiking, fishing, swimming opportunities and more.

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service. Camping passes can also be purchased at a Tonto Fee Machine Pass. $16 per site, per night. Nearest fee machine location is at the Cave Creek Ranger Station.

Recreation

Swimming

River and Stream Fishing

Non-Motorized Boating

Nearby Hiking Trails

Nearby OHV Routes

Facilities

12 campsites

First-come, First-serve only. No reservations.

Maximum occupancy per individual campsite is 10.

Maximum number of vehicles per individual camp unit is three. All vehicles must completely fit within the designated parking area.

Check-in time is 12:00 pm, and check-out time is 10:00 am.

14-day stay limit.

Portions of the Verde River are deep. Use of motorized watercraft on flowing portions of the Verde River is prohibited.

Road to campground is unpaved and unmaintained.

Recommend high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Not reccommended for trailers.

Potable water is not available.

Quiet hours 10:00 pm to 6:00 am (running generators are not permitted during quiet hours).

THERE ARE NO TRASH SERVICES. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT.

Natural Features

The Verde River is just a short distance from the campground, with swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating access. Large trees provide plenty of shade.

Nearby Attractions

Horsehoe Reservoir

Towns of Carefree and Cave Creek

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • canoeing
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • kayaking
  • off road vehicle trails
  • paddling
  • photography
  • water access

The land around Mesquite

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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