Houston Mesa Campground
Tonto National Forest
Write a Review Houston Mesa Rd. / NF-199 Payson, AZ 85541 928-474-7900 602-225-5200 Reservations: 877-444-6777 Official WebsiteGPS: 34.2697, -111.3192
Overview of Houston Mesa Campground
Last Price Paid: $27
Reported by jatkinson1104 on 4/4/2021
Longest RV Reported: 36 feet
Reported by Terry on 6/10/2019
Number of Sites 75
Pad Type asphalt
Reservations yes
Open Seasonally Feb-Nov.
Elevation 5,019 ft / 1,529 m
Max Stay 14
Max Length 40 ft
Tent Camping Yes







Unlock pro campendium features

Q&A - Ask the Community about Houston Mesa Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 928.474.7900
camper-647461 asked on 4/2/2022
Answer questionReviews of Houston Mesa Campground 15 people have reviewed this location.
“Nice camp. Very close to town”
Reviewed 10/31/2022
Days stayed: | 3 |
---|---|
Site Number: | 17 |
Yes, it’s super close to Payson so you do get traffic noise, but not so bad that I’d not come back (we camped). It’s a lovely small site with various loops. Had to look around for a level site, but we had lots to choose from. It was very quiet most of the time, friendly hosts helped when needed but didn’t intrude. I’d recommend this if... more
Yes, it’s super close to Payson so you do get traffic noise, but not so bad that I’d not come back (we camped). It’s a lovely small site with various loops. Had to look around for a level site, but we had lots to choose from. It was very quiet most of the time, friendly hosts helped when needed but didn’t intrude. I’d recommend this if you want to be close to amenities, it’s a great compromise and really very lovely grounds. Lots of amazing hikes nearby and excellent cafes in Payson if you don’t want to cook.
Ols would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Good spot”
Reviewed 4/4/2021
Nightly rate: | $27 |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | Moun 6 |
Easy to get to, right in Payson. Lots of tree cover and flushing restrooms are clean. It was easy to maneuver my camper around the campground. No hookups but there is fresh water fill-up and dump station. One complaint is road noise, but should be expected for location
jatkinson1104 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Secluded only 5 minutes from town! ”
Reviewed 2/23/2021
Nightly rate: | $27 |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | ELK-11 |
This camping spot was perfect. Site Elk-11 was a great site, it was very secluded. My truck was less than 50’ from the site, and couldn’t hardly see it. Lots of nice pine trees. Camp was very clean. Included a fire pit and a picnic table that was in great shape. The site is large enough for around 4 10 person tents or so, plenty of roo... more
This camping spot was perfect. Site Elk-11 was a great site, it was very secluded. My truck was less than 50’ from the site, and couldn’t hardly see it. Lots of nice pine trees. Camp was very clean. Included a fire pit and a picnic table that was in great shape. The site is large enough for around 4 10 person tents or so, plenty of room! It was first come first serve. We arrived 2/20/2021, which was a Saturday, and had availability. We couldn’t reach the host by phone, so we bought firewood. Had we arrived during the day, we could’ve gathered wood, as there was downed trees in the area, but it was night, so we bought $6 bundles from the Home Depot that is right across the highway! As far as the noise, we could hear some vehicles on the highway, but not enough to bother us. It’s not a major interstate with lots of traffic, and the speed limit is only 45 mph I believe, so minimal noise. Anyways, great place to stay for sure, looking forward to heading here again in March!
mattcessna182 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice park”
Reviewed 8/27/2020
Nightly rate: | $27 |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 4 |
Site Number: | 14 |
Nice location just outside of Payson. There is a gas station just across the highway if you need anything. Our site backed up to the highway so you could hear loud vehicles, but not see them. Some sites you can see the highway from the fire pit. Site 14 was a bit tight width wise for out 35 foot travel trailer with two slide outs on th... more
Nice location just outside of Payson. There is a gas station just across the highway if you need anything. Our site backed up to the highway so you could hear loud vehicles, but not see them. Some sites you can see the highway from the fire pit. Site 14 was a bit tight width wise for out 35 foot travel trailer with two slide outs on the driver side, but length was long enough to leave our F250 attached. You felt like you were in a remote forest, so it was a nice break from Phoenix. The camp hosts were knowledgeable of the area and friendly. We did a day trip to the Wagon Wheel Falls. Which is only 15 minutes away, with easy access to the creek. The falls were packed and there was a $10 self pay station at the trail entrance. We were able to work, stream movies, and play Xbox using a mobile router using an ATT sim. Our Verizon cell phones had good bars, but service was below 2 mbps, so assuring congestion in the area on Verizon. We would stay here again but look for a site away from the highway.
AZCamper would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice and quiet during the week.”
Reviewed 7/22/2020
Nightly rate: | $28 |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 7 |
Site Number: | 14 |
Nice pull Thru site with no water, elect., or sewer but surrounded by tall pine trees. Coming in the roads are paved and one-way only. They have a water station fill up for free, but dump station is $10. Park is well maintained. Each site has a picnic bench and fire ring (no fire restriction currently in effect). They even raked t... more
Nice pull Thru site with no water, elect., or sewer but surrounded by tall pine trees. Coming in the roads are paved and one-way only. They have a water station fill up for free, but dump station is $10. Park is well maintained. Each site has a picnic bench and fire ring (no fire restriction currently in effect). They even raked the dirt around the picnic area. Weekends are very busy, but week days feels like you have the park to yourself. Site 6-14 is adjacent to Hwy 87, so is a bit noisy but we got use to it as our generator was probably just as loud. Sites are spacious and you don't feel like you are on top of each other. Bathrooms are well maintain and clean as we peaked in. Weather is great this time of year, between high 90' during the day & can reach to 100' but feels cooler in the shade and mid 60's at night. Cellular service has 3-4 bars for AT&T, but Verizon had 2-3 bars., works fine for us as we are working remotely. Across the Hwy is Home depot and a gas station. Only a couple miles to town and about 13 to Pine, AZ and a few more miles to Strawberry. All county forest roads are closed due to fire restrictions. We would come here again just to get out of the house during covid and still feel that we are distancing.
HKfromAZ would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Horse/Regular Campsite”
Reviewed 5/29/2020
Nightly rate: | $20 |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | H24 |
There is another campsite off Houston Mesa Road - opposite the privatized campsite. Called Equestrian Campsite - has sites for without horses. $20 per night - I paid $10 with Lifetime Pass. Large flat, well maintained sites with water, flush toilets and trash. Beautiful trees and vegetation, easy access and location close to town. Woul... more
There is another campsite off Houston Mesa Road - opposite the privatized campsite. Called Equestrian Campsite - has sites for without horses. $20 per night - I paid $10 with Lifetime Pass. Large flat, well maintained sites with water, flush toilets and trash. Beautiful trees and vegetation, easy access and location close to town. Would stay again.
gubbinism would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Sad privatized NFS campground”
Reviewed 10/30/2019
Nightly rate: | $13 |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | E2 |
Very expensive $26 a night for dry camping. Lots of road noise, restrooms and showers locked for no reason. Dump site is on the premises but it's another $10 on top of the nightly fee. Three large, unsightly host sites (in the Elk loop alone) with the tackiest of trailer park decor---these "hosts" were invisible but clearly had settled... more
Very expensive $26 a night for dry camping. Lots of road noise, restrooms and showers locked for no reason. Dump site is on the premises but it's another $10 on top of the nightly fee. Three large, unsightly host sites (in the Elk loop alone) with the tackiest of trailer park decor---these "hosts" were invisible but clearly had settled in for the long haul. Seeing a national forest service campground taken over by a for-profit service provider is a tragedy, especially if this is the outcome.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice park”
Reviewed 6/10/2019
Nightly rate: | $26 |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 7 |
Site Number: | 8 |
The site we stayed in could accommodate any size rig. Very quiet during the week and not bad on the weekends. The have water and a dump station and the town of Payson is a 2 minute drive.
Terry would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Love the Cedar aroma ”
Reviewed 4/22/2019
Nightly rate: | $12 |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 4 |
Site Number: | 15 |
Dump site is closed due to malfunction of credit card swipe. Sites are very clean. Campground Hosts on site and very welcoming. Definitely improved since my last visit. Beautiful weather during the last week of April!
Gypsy Woman would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Convenient ”
Reviewed 4/8/2019
Nightly rate: | $26 |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 22 |
Spots were level and private. Most of them were fairly large, especially the pull thru sites like ours (elk loop #22). Showers $3 for 6 minutes. Clean and well maintained. Very noisy campground both from road noise and fellow campers. Only 15 minutes to Natural Bridge state Park and about 10 minutes pass that to some great food/... more
Spots were level and private. Most of them were fairly large, especially the pull thru sites like ours (elk loop #22). Showers $3 for 6 minutes. Clean and well maintained. Very noisy campground both from road noise and fellow campers. Only 15 minutes to Natural Bridge state Park and about 10 minutes pass that to some great food/drink establishments in Pine and Strawberry. Unfortunately the hosts never seemed to be on duty and were not very good at updating the spots available. We were there on the 6th and they still had tags up from the 25th of the previous month. It made it very difficult to know which spots were available and it was impossible to find someone to ask. Dump station closed while we were there. Across the road is the horse campground which has one loop anyone can use. We ran by it and seemed quieter. There is a partial dirt road in but it’s not rough. I’d recommend checking it out too. Overall it was a convenient place to stay.
Explore.Something.New would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Be the first to add a note for Houston Mesa Campground!
Be the first to add a video for Houston Mesa Campground!
Family Time at Houston In Payson
Aspen Campground I call out “rise and shine Aiden”, as Jagger jumps on his bed trying to stir him up. He spent our last night here at Aspen Campground with Jagger and I. Once Aiden got up...
Contact us to update this listing.
Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
Recreation
- picnic area
- recreation trail
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- dump station
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- trash
- water available
Pets
- pets
Nearby
Speedway RV Dump Station
I’m not sure what people are expecting. I thought It was the best of both worlds! Quick and convenient.
- camper-710545
Please select a reason for flagging this item: