Weather Conditions

State park camping is available year-round in most places depending upon weather conditions. Heavy snowfalls may prevent access to the campground as not all roads are routinely maintained. Modern conveniences such as water, flush toilets and shower buildings are closed during the winter months. It is recommended that campers may want to call ahead and check the weather and road conditions before heading out to camp.

Camping Guidelines

Camping is permitted only in designated areas. Camping is restricted to one basic unit per site except that a small tent or other type of camping unit may be placed on the site with the basic unit so long as the persons occupying the second unit are under 18 years of age and are dependent members of the immediate family occupying the larger unit. The maximum number of people using a campsite is six (6). When a number of persons wishing to occupy a single campsite exceeds six, the group shall split and occupy more than one site. Exception: A family whose size exceeds six (mother, father, children) and cannot logically split up the group (however, the equipment capacity stated above still applies).

Campers are furnished space, drinking water (where available) and sanitary facilities. The use of one picnic table per camping unit is permitted.

Check-out time is 4 p.m. daily on first-come, first-serve campsites and 3 p.m. daily on reservable campsites. The length of stay in campgrounds is limited to two weeks. Campers must then vacate and can not return to the same campground for three nights. There is a fee for all camping facilities. The fee varies depending on the season of the year and the facilities available for the camper. Check with the local park staff for details.

Some state forests contain campgrounds administered by the State Parks Bureau. The same regulations governing fees, use of campsites, quiet hours, etc. apply to the state forest campgrounds as are applicable in the state parks.

Reservable Campsites

Reservations are accepted for half of the campsites in all DNR managed state park, recreation area and state forest campgrounds, except at AA Call, Fort Defiance and Preparation Canyon State Parks. The remaining 50% of campsites will be available for first-come, first-serve camping only.

Important 2010 Reservation Dates -- The following chart shows the first date the reservation window would be open to accept a reservation for a camping stay starting on that particular arrival date.

*There is no 3 day minimum stay for the 4th of July weekend because the holiday falls on Sunday. However, the Friday/Saturday stay requirement can not be broken.

Extra Vehicles

Campers are allowed one vehicle to be parked at a campsite which can be used for transportation at no extra charge. Some parks do allow a second vehicle to be parked at the campsite at no extra charge. The vehicle policy is posted at each campground.

Persons with Disabilities

Some camping areas contain sites designated with the persons with disabilities parking symbol. Use of these sites is limited to vehicles displaying the wheelchair symbol on their license plate or the rear view mirror tag. The vehicle must be in use by a person with disabilities either as a driver or passenger. This is similar to the restrictions on parking in public parking lots.