Houston Mesa
Houston Mesa is a national forest campground in Arizona. Hookups: electric.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- Arizona
- Coordinates
- 34.27000, -111.31417
- Hookups
- Electric
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Hiking, Horse Camping, Horseback Riding, Picnicking
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 928-468-7135
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Houston Mesa
Overview Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just north of Payson, Arizona and less than two hours from Phoenix. With family, equestrian and tent-only campsites, this campground can accommodate a range of visitors and offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors, including miles of non-motorized trails nearby. Easy access to the Town of Payson amenities makes this campground ideal! As one of the largest forest in the United States, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited "urban" forests in the United States (approximately 5.8 million visitors annually). Its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations to the east. Recreation Many visitors come to Payson to ride, hike, camp and picnic. Houston Mesa Campground is centrally located for access to Rim Country's best trails. Check out the National Recreation Highline Trail from its many access points along the control road (beginning or ending at Pine TH or 260 TH) or travel a short distance to the Pine trailhead to access over 20 miles of non motorized trails in the Pine Strawberry area. Facilities Houston Mesa has 102 campsites, including 46 standard sites, 27 equestrian sites for campers with horses or mules, and 29 tent-only sites for those who want a quieter experience. There are several amenities to make campers feel at home, including flush toilets. The horse camping section
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- Woods Canyon Dump Station · 22 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- Pinnacle Propane · 43 mi
- Low clearances
- 2 bridges or tunnels at 14 ft or less within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 2 designated routes (6 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Mesa Horse | Private campground | under 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Houston Mesa Group | National forest group campground | 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Houston Mesa Group | Private campground | 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Houston Mesa Horse | National forest horse camp | 0.2 mi | — | — |
| Houston Mesa Campground | Private campground | 0.2 mi | — | — |
| Houston Mesa Campground | Private campground | 0.3 mi | — | — |
Open Houston Mesa in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.