★ Field-verified · Dave's ownUSFSFree
Tonto National Forest
Drive-up · U.S. Forest Service · Maricopa County, AZ · 33.97066, -111.86564
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Ask about this camp →Dave's been here. A spot from Dave's own travels on U.S. Forest Service land — free to camp. Conditions still change, so confirm access, stay limits and fire rules before you go.
A free campground in Tonto National Forest near Carefree, Arizona. In valley next to small stream. Some tall trees provide shade. Vault toilet, picnic tables, fire ring. Enough room for two or three vehicles. No cell service. Reasonably convenient to town. There is a decent amount of traffic here, but it was of no consequence and still relaxing. Nearby hiking. Somewhat recommended.
USGS topo — contours & terrain
Aerial — USGS / NAIP
Weather outlook
Loading the latest forecast…
Live NWS area forecast (~2.5 km grid, not elevation-corrected). Camp sits at 3,346 ft.
Fire & smokeNIFC · AirNow
Checking active fires & air quality…
Active wildfires from NIFC (within ~50 mi); air quality from AirNow. Always confirm current fire restrictions with the managing office before you go.
Everything you need — measured from camp
Straight-line miles · bearings approx · roads run longer
Nearest of each
- WWater8 mi
- +Urgent care10 mi
- FFuel10 mi
- GGrocery10 mi
- @Mail10 mi
- MMechanic11 mi
- HHardware11 mi
- RxPharmacy12 mi
- DDump13 mi
- ShShower21 mi
- OOutfitter23 mi
- AAir-up24 mi
- LLaundry24 mi
- PPropane24 mi
≤30 mi30–4545+water
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 10 mi out.
One dot per need — the nearest of each kind, straight-line from camp. Places from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Open in Google Maps ↗
The site
Access
Drive-up
Land
U.S. Forest Service
Elevation
3,346 ft
County
Maricopa County, AZ
Coordinates
33.97066, -111.86564
Cost
Free
Nearby & resupply (OpenStreetMap)
- Water featureBronco Creek (stream) · nearby
- Nearest townRoad Junction Windmill · ~5.9 mi
- Drinking waterDrinking water · ~8.0 mi
- FuelShell · ~10.5 mi
- Propane / LPGSuper Pumper · ~17.1 mi
- Dump stationDump station · ~13.4 mi
- GroceriesDesert Donkey · ~10.5 mi
- PharmacyWalgreens · ~12.5 mi
- Hospital / clinicHonorHealth Primary Care - Dynamite Blvd · ~17.1 mi
- HardwareAce Hardware · ~17.1 mi
From the field — what Dave saw, in person
Cell service
No signal
Getting there
Any vehicle managed it
Fire ring
Yes
Toilet on site
Yes
Tent friendly
Yes
Verdict
Recommended
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- Vault / pit toiletCcc Campground · at this camp · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletCave Creek Th · at this camp · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletSeven Springs · ~0.2 mi S · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletCave Creek Group · ~0.3 mi N · USFS
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Juniper Dispersed~0.3 mi
- Juniper~1.1 mi
- Bronco Trailhead Dispersed~3.6 mi
- Ocotillo Rec and Boating Site Dispersed~8.4 mi
How we know this
Source
Dave's own travels
Confidence
Researched — The record is detailed and internally consistent, and the coordinates land where the managing agency says this site is.
How it was placed
FIELD VERIFIED by Dave Lalande -- he has stood on this site. Coordinates are his own GPX track point, not a geocode. County and state confirmed against the FCC Census Block API (Maricopa County, AZ). Everything under 'From the field' is a direct observation; nothing here is inferred from a land record.
Field check
Verified on the ground. Dave has stood on this one. Conditions still change — confirm before you commit.
What we don’t know
A land record can put you within a few metres of a spot. It cannot tell you any of this — so check it yourself, and treat anything below as the open question it is.
- How many rigs actually fit
- Seasonal & winter access
- Current fire restrictions
- Whether any water here is drinkable
- Shade & wind exposure
- Noise and who else shows up
Before you go
Finding water out here →What “dispersed” means here →Hot-weather camping →Power off-grid →All field notes →
Been here? Tell us what changed. This page is built from public records, so the fastest way it gets better is somebody who has actually pulled in. Road washed out, site gone, gate locked, or it is exactly as described — all of it useful. Send a report →