Best Places to Camp In and Near Flagstaff with Kids

Camping is one of the easiest ways to give kids open-ended, memorable adventures. Up here in the pines, you've got cool summer days, lakes to fish, a volcano to climb, and campgrounds that range from "three miles from downtown" to "tucked deep in the forest."

A few of these sit right in town, so a first camping trip can have an easy bail-out if bedtime goes sideways. Others are worth the short drive for the water or the views. All of them work with kids — here's how each one is different, and what to know before you book.

One thing first: nearly every campground around Flagstaff is seasonal, usually open from about May into October. We sit close to 7,000 feet, so even summer nights get cold. Pack layers and warm sleeping bags, and confirm fees and open dates when you reserve — they shift every season.

Fort Tuthill County Park Campground

Where: About 3 miles south of downtown Flagstaff

Cost: From about $29 a night

Best for ages: All ages, especially first-time campers

This is the closest campground to town, which makes it the easiest place to try camping with little kids. It's a Coconino County park with about 100 sites for tents, trailers, and RVs, set in the pines with trails and open space around it. If the weather turns or someone's just done, you're 10 minutes from a real bed. Plus, you’re within walking distance of everything Fort Tuthill has to offer.

Good to know

• No electric hookups; 8 RV sites have water and sewer.
• Drinking water and vault toilets on site, with ice and firewood for sale.
• Reservations run early May through mid-October, booked through Campspot. Book at least 3 days ahead, or you'll be treated as first-come, first-served when you arrive.
• Confirm current fees and dates with the county — they vary by season and site.

Flagstaff KOA Holiday

Where: In Flagstaff

Cost: Rates vary by season and site type

Best for ages: Younger kids, and families new to camping

If your kids need more to do than a campfire, this is the pick. It's a private campground with a nature playground, a giant jumping pillow, and a Family Fun Zone with foosball and a pool table. From Memorial Day to Labor Day there are free barrel train rides, family movie nights, and a cafe making breakfast. There are miles of paved roads for biking, bikes to rent, and a dog park for the family pup.

Good to know

• Hookups, hot showers, cabins, and in-town convenience — the gentlest landing for first-timers or RV families.
• No pool on site, but it's about 2 miles from the Flagstaff Aquaplex indoor waterpark.
• It's a commercial campground, not a wild-forest experience, and it's priced like one. Reserve early for summer weekends.

Bonito Campground

Where: About 18 miles northeast of Flagstaff, by Sunset Crater

Cost: About $18 a night

Best for ages: Elementary and up (and curious younger kids)

Bonito sits right next to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, so a day of exploring lava-flow trails and the visitor center is built into the trip. At about 6,900 feet, it has paved roads and spurs and — a real win with little ones — flush toilets.

Good to know

• 44 sites; roughly half can be reserved on Recreation.gov and half are first-come, first-served, so a summer weekend without a reservation is a gamble. Check the current details before you count on a spot.
• Drinking water on site; no hookups.
• Open about April 15 through November 1.

Lakeview Campground

Where: Near Upper Lake Mary, southeast of Flagstaff

Cost: $30 a night, plus a reservation fee

Best for ages: All ages

True to its name, Lakeview puts you within an easy walk of Upper Lake Mary — about a half mile on the Wood Memorial Trail, or a short drive. It's a quiet ponderosa setting that's hard to beat for shoreline play and a first fishing lesson.

Good to know

• Drinking water and accessible vault toilets on site.
• Reserve through Recreation.gov.
• Lake levels rise and fall year to year, so the shoreline walk can be longer some seasons.

Pinegrove Campground

Where: Along Lake Mary Road, southeast of Flagstaff

Cost: $34 a night

Best for ages: All ages, especially for longer stays

Pinegrove is the most comfortable of the forest-service options, and the reason is simple: coin-operated showers and flush toilets. For a multi-night trip with kids, that's the difference between roughing it and actually relaxing.

Good to know

• 46 spacious sites with picnic tables, fire rings, cooking grills, and drinking water.
• Reservable through Recreation.gov.
• It's the priciest of the nearby national-forest campgrounds, and it books up early.

Dairy Springs Campground

Where: Near Mormon Lake, southeast of Flagstaff

Cost: $30 a night

Best for ages: All ages

Tucked into cool groves of ponderosa pine and white fir, Dairy Springs is a classic Flagstaff-area fishing camp, with Mormon Lake nearby. There's a camp store close by for the things you'll inevitably forget.

Good to know

• Tent, RV, primitive, and group sites; vault toilets and drinking water.
• Mormon Lake's water level swings a lot from year to year — check conditions before you go if fishing is the main event.

Bonus: White Horse Lake Campground

Where: Near Williams, about an hour west of Flagstaff

Cost: $30 a night for a single site, plus a one-time reservation fee

Best for ages: All ages, especially budding anglers

If you're up for a drive, this one's worth it. White Horse Lake sits in the Kaibab National Forest about 19 miles southeast of Williams, and it's a longtime favorite for fishing. A trail follows the lakeshore, there's room to bike and explore, and you're about an hour from the Grand Canyon's South Rim — easy to fold into a bigger trip.

Good to know

• 94 sites with tables, fire rings, grills, and tent pads. Some are reservable and the rest are first-come, first-served, with double and group sites available too.
• Reserve through Recreation.gov. In 2026, reservations start May 15 and the campground closes October 15.
• It's the farthest pick here, so plan it as a destination, not a quick overnight.

A few things to know before you go

• Most of these are seasonal. Expect roughly May through October, with Bonito running a little longer. Everything closes for winter.
• Nights get cold. At 7,000 feet, even July nights can drop into the 40s. Warm bags, layers, and hats are worth the space.
• Reserve early, and know the system. Summer weekends fill fast. Fort Tuthill uses Campspot; the national-forest campgrounds use Recreation.gov.
• Double-check fees and dates. Rates and open dates change every season — confirm them when you book.
• Store your food. This is bear and critter country. Keep food and trash secured, especially overnight.

Pick the one that fits your crew — closest to home, most to do, or deepest in the trees — and you've got the makings of a trip your kids will still be talking about next summer.