CampgroundsDB

Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Its 123 sites are reservable through Arizona State Parks & Trails reservations, camping costs $50/night electric, $25 non-electric/tent; extra vehicle $15, and it is open year-round. Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a State Park campground near Cottonwood, Arizona.

Reservable: Arizona State Parks & Trails reservations

State Park · Cottonwood, Arizona

Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood, Arizona, USA
Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood, Arizona, USA. Photo: Benjamin Cody, CC BY-SA 3.0
Managed by
State Park
Hookups
Some sites
Max RV length
65 ft

Dead Horse Ranch State Park sits inside Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Its hours, entrance fee, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits 0.2 miles outside the boundary of Verde River Greenway State Natural Area; its hours, entrance fee, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits 0.3 miles outside the boundary of Coconino National Forest; its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Verde River and fishing lagoons: Three stocked fishing lagoons and riparian trails along the Verde River; the park says a pair of nesting bald eagles returns each year. (azstateparks.com)

Getting a site

Managed by
State Park
Reservations
Arizona State Parks & Trails reservations Book a site
Fee
$50/night electric, $25 non-electric/tent; extra vehicle $15
Entrance fee
Included in camping; $10 (1 person) or $20 (2-4) per vehicle if arriving before noon
Booking window
Up to 365 days ahead, and at least one day ahead
Cancellations
$20 cancellation fee; canceling after 2 p.m. the day before check-in also forfeits one night. $3.60 reservation fee is non-refundable.

Source: azstateparks.com, accessed 2026-09-29

Sites and hookups

Total sites
123
Tent sites
17
Accessible sites
5
Hookups
Some sites , up to 50 amp
Max RV length
65 ft
  • ✓ Toilets
  • ✓ Potable water
  • ✓ Showers
  • ✓ Dump station
  • ✓ Pets allowed

On site: Toilets, potable water, showers, dump station, and pets allowed.

Source: azstateparks.com, accessed 2026-09-29

Rules

Stay limit
14 nights in a 30-day period
Quiet hours
10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Generators
Not allowed
Pets
Allowed

Source: azstateparks.com, accessed 2026-09-29

Access and cell service

Elevation
3,324 ft

Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)

AT&T
4G LTE and 5G (35/3 Mbps)
T-Mobile
4G LTE and 5G (35/3 Mbps)
Verizon
4G LTE and 5G (35/3 Mbps)
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, data as of December 31, 2025

Outdoor coverage each carrier reports to the FCC at this campground's map point, and the nearest mapped coverage within about half a mile. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it. These are carrier predictions, not measurements, and can be wrong either way: real service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle is often weaker. 5G speeds are the FCC's 7/1 and 35/3 Mbps tiers. This product uses the FCC Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

34.7545, -112.0172 in Yavapai. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is open year-round .

Source: epqs.nationalmap.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
Sites at Dead Horse Ranch State Park are reserved through Arizona State Parks & Trails reservations (https://azstateparks.com/reserve/dead-horse/camping/). Booking window: Up to 365 days ahead, and at least one day ahead.
How much does it cost to camp at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
Camping at Dead Horse Ranch State Park costs $50/night electric, $25 non-electric/tent; extra vehicle $15.
Is there a separate entrance fee at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
Yes. The entrance fee is Included in camping; $10 (1 person) or $20 (2-4) per vehicle if arriving before noon, on top of the $50/night electric, $25 non-electric/tent; extra vehicle $15 camping fee.
What happens if I cancel or don't show up at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
$20 cancellation fee; canceling after 2 p.m. the day before check-in also forfeits one night. $3.60 reservation fee is non-refundable.
How many campsites does Dead Horse Ranch State Park have?
Dead Horse Ranch State Park has 123 campsites, including 17 tent sites. 5 sites are accessible.
Are there accessible (ADA) campsites at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
Yes, 5 sites are designated accessible at Dead Horse Ranch State Park.
Does Dead Horse Ranch State Park have RV hookups?
Some sites at Dead Horse Ranch State Park have hookups, up to 50 amp; others do not. The longest rig allowed is 65 feet and there is a dump station.
Is there drinking water at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
Yes, Dead Horse Ranch State Park has potable water. It also has toilets and showers.
Are dogs allowed at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
Yes, pets are allowed at Dead Horse Ranch State Park.
When is Dead Horse Ranch State Park open?
Dead Horse Ranch State Park is open year-round.
How long can you stay at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
The stay limit at Dead Horse Ranch State Park is 14 nights in a 30-day period.
Are generators allowed at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
No, generators are not allowed at Dead Horse Ranch State Park.
Is there cell service at Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
Yes, outdoors: the FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows 4G LTE and 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. The map is carrier-reported and modeled for outdoors, so expect weaker service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle.
Who manages Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
Dead Horse Ranch State Park is managed by the state park system.

Around Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Public land · within 15 miles

Public land within 15 miles: Jerome State Historic Park (5.3 miles to its center) , and Red Rock State Park (11 miles to its center) ; publiclandsdb.com has each unit's camping rules and boundary.

Swimming nearby

swimholesmap.com · within 30 miles

Nearest to Dead Horse Ranch State Park, in straight-line miles: Crescent Moon (swimming hole, 13 miles), Grasshopper Point (swimming hole, 19 miles), Slide Rock (swimming hole, 20 miles), The Crack (swimming hole, 21 miles), and Watson Lake (swimming hole, 25 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.

Reservable Mingus Group Jerome · National Forest Season May 1 to October 31 Fee Not on record Reservable Mingus Mountain Campground Jerome · National Forest Season May 1 to October 31 Fee Single Site with electric hook-up: $14 per night Reservable Playground Group Campground Jerome · National Forest Season May 1 to October 31 Fee Group Site: $75 to $150 per night by group size (1 to 100 people) Reservable Potato Patch Campground Jerome · National Forest Season May 1 to October 31 Fee Single Site: $14 per night; with electric hook-up: $18; Group Site: $28 (4 vehicles)

More campgrounds: camping near Cottonwood and campgrounds in Yavapai.

Sources

Photo credits

Reservable: Arizona State Parks & Trails reservations $50/night electric, $25 non-electric/tent; extra vehicle $15
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