Cholla Campground
Tonto National Forest
Cholla Campground at Roosevelt Lake, is one of several campgrounds on the shores of the largest lake/reservoir located entirely in the State of Arizona. It is situated within a lush sonoran desert landscape at an elevation of 2168'. Cholla Campground is also the largest solar powered campground in the United States. Each of its 206 campsites have shade ramadas, firepits, grills, and picnic tables. Playgrounds, showers and toilet facilites are scattered throughout the campground. The area around Cholla Campground is often alive with abundant wildlife such as mule deer, coyotes, geese, fox, javalina, and the occasional bald eagle.
Cholla Campground has 206 campsites. Each site has shade ramadas, firepits, grills, and picnic tables. Scattered throughout the campground are playgrounds, showers and toilet facilites. Highly developed boat ramps with accessible boat boarding ramps are also available within the Campground.
Need to Know
- Quiet Hours are from 10:00pm to 6:00am.
- During June, July, and August temperatures reach well over 100° and many RV air conditioners cannot keep up.
- Maximum trailer length is 32'.
- Gas is only located at both ends of the lake.
- Fees will be collected for extra vehicles.
- The closest grocery store is 17 miles north in Tonto Basin.
- Boat ramps are usable when water elevations are higher then 2,110 feet.
- Fireworks are always prohibited on National Forest Land.
Natural Features
Roosevelt Lake was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1911 and boasts 112 miles of shoreline and peaceful coves. When full, the lake provides 21,500 acres of surface water for your recreating pleasure. Cholla Campground is situated within a Sonoran Desert Landscape along the lakes shorelines. Views of the blue water and sunsets against the Sierra Ancha, Salome, and Superstition Wilderness' are a sight that keep many visitors coming back year after year.
Nearby Attractions
Two National Scenic Byways (AZ Hwy 88 Apache Trail and AZ Hwy 288 Spines to Pines Highway). Roosevelt Dam, Tonto National Monument, the Arizona Trail, endless miles of jeep trails, Towns of Payson and Globe, Superstition, Sierra Ancha, and Four Peaks Wilderness'. Don't forget to stop by the Tonto Basin Environmental Center learn about the history of the area.
Recreation
Recreation opportunities abound at Cholla Campground. Launch your bass boat, ski boat, or pontoon boat from the developed boat ramps within the recreation site and play on the water all day long. If motorsports aren't your thing, there's an abundance of places to explore from your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. While you're visiting, you can also hike a portion of the Arizona Trail, visit the Tonto National Monument cliff dwellings, explore endless miles of jeep trails or drive a portion of the Apache Trail or Spines to Pines Highway. If if you're looking for a day in town, consider the easy 45 minute drive Globe or Payson where you can shop for antiques, buy ice cream and learn about Arizona's rich mining and timber history. Roosevelt Lake is a landscape photograhers dream so don't forget your camera (and sunscreen).
Contact Information
28079 N. AZ HWY 188 ROOSEVELT AZ 85545
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: TONTO BASIN RANGER DISTRICT (602) 225-5395
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
Cholla Campground is 5 miles north of Roosevelt Dam. From Mesa: Take State Hwy. 87/Beeline Highway north for about 60 miles to its junction with State Hwy. 188. Turn right and follow State Hwy. 188 south for 28 miles to the site. From the Globe area: Take State Hwy. 188 north for 30 miles to its junction with State Hwy. 188. Continue on State Hwy. 188 across the bridge for 6 miles to the site.
Available Campsites
- Site 180, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 49, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T18, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T7, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 43, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 165, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 37, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 177, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 44, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 62, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 170, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 181, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 42, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 25, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 188, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 50, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 58, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T13, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 61, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 178, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 19, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 36, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 89, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 54, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 169, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 22, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 4, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 51, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 6, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 10, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T17, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 30, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T12, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 8, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 56, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 93, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 174, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T1, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 15, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 78, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 65, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 175, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 173, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 7, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 53, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 18, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 45, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 34, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T10, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 59, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 2, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 176, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 66, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 88, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 186, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 162, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T3, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 168, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 85, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 167, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T11, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 13, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 24, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 3, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 80, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 90, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 94, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 92, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 79, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 185, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 166, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 73, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 52, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 11, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 12, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 86, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 46, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 96, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 48, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 41, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 60, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 9, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T8, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 183, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T2, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 75, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 16, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 84, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 77, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T16, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 187, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 172, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 14, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 38, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 163, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 47, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 23, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 63, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 20, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 40, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 5, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 82, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 17, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 83, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 91, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 55, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 184, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 29, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 95, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T6, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T4, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 32, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 76, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 81, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 64, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 26, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 68, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 57, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 35, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 164, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T5, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 182, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 21, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 28, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 27, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 67, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 39, Loop BUCKHORN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T15, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 179, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 31, Loop TEDDYBEAR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T9, Loop CHRISTMAS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T14, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 171, Loop CANE, Type Standard Nonelectric
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