Houston Mesa Campground
Its 86 sites are reservable through Recreation.gov, and camping costs Single Site: $29 per night. Houston Mesa Campground is a National Forest campground near Payson, Arizona.
Reservable: Recreation.gov
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Max RV length
- 99 ft
Houston Mesa Campground sits inside Tonto National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- Recreation.gov Book a site
- Fee
- Single Site: $29 per night
Source: recreation.gov, accessed 2026-09-29
Sites and hookups
- Total sites
- 86
- Tent sites
- 29
- Group sites
- 2
- Accessible sites
- 3
- Max RV length
- 99 ft
- Site driveways
- Mixed
- ✓ Toilets
- ✓ Potable water
- ✓ Fire rings
- ✓ Pets allowed
On site: Toilets, potable water, fire rings, and pets allowed.
Source: recreation.gov, accessed 2026-09-29
Campsites
86 sites in 5 loops; 20 pull-through; the longest takes a 99 ft vehicle. Every site below links to its own page on Recreation.gov, where it is booked. Official site list and booking on recreation.gov.
| Book | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 032 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 032 |
| 033 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 033 |
| 034 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 034 |
| 035 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 035 |
| 036 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 036 |
| 037 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 037 |
| 038 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 038 |
| 039 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 039 |
| 040 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 040 |
| 041 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 041 |
| 042 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 042 |
| 043 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 043 |
| 044 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 044 |
| 045 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 045 |
| 046 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Yes | Full | Book loop BEAR, site 046 |
| 047 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 047 |
| 048 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 048 |
| 049 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 049 |
| 050 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 050 |
| 051 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 051 |
| 052 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 052 |
| 053 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 053 |
| 055 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 055 |
| 056 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 056 |
| 057 | BEAR | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop BEAR, site 057 |
| 002 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 40 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 002 |
| 003 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 35 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 003 |
| 005 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 35 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 005 |
| 006 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 99 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 006 |
| 007 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 40 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 007 |
| 009 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 99 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 009 |
| 013 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 20 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 013 |
| 014 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 99 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 014 |
| 018 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 45 ft | Back-in | Not on record | Yes | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 018 |
| 020 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 45 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 020 |
| 021 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 30 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 021 |
| 022 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 99 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 022 |
| 023 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 60 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 023 |
| 024 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | 35 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop ELK, site 024 |
| 027 | ELK | Standard nonelectric | Not on record | Back-in | Not on record | Yes | Yes | Book loop ELK, site 027 |
| Group Site 2 | Fox | Group standard electric | 70 ft | Not on record | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop Fox, site Group Site 2 |
| 058 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 40 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop MOUN, site 058 |
| 059 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 54 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop MOUN, site 059 |
| 060 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 75 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop MOUN, site 060 |
| 061 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 75 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 061 |
| 063 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 45 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 063 |
| 064 | MOUN | Tent only nonelectric | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop MOUN, site 064 |
| 065 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 50 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 065 |
| 066 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 99 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 066 |
| 067 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 20 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 067 |
| 068 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 35 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 068 |
| 069 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 45 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 069 |
| 070 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 60 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Full | Book loop MOUN, site 070 |
| 071 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 35 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 071 |
| 072 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 35 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 072 |
| 077 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 30 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 077 |
| 078 | MOUN | Standard nonelectric | 30 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MOUN, site 078 |
| 002 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 40 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 002 |
| 003 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 40 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 003 |
| 004 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 40 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 004 |
| 005 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 99 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 005 |
| 006 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 40 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 006 |
| 007 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 40 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 007 |
| 008 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 40 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 008 |
| 009 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 45 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 009 |
| 010 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 45 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 010 |
| 011 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 45 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 011 |
| 012 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 99 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 012 |
| 013 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 013 |
| 014 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 30 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 014 |
| 015 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 015 |
| 016 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 50 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 016 |
| 017 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 30 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 017 |
| 018 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 018 |
| 019 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 30 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 019 |
| 020 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 40 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 020 |
| 021 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 35 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 021 |
| 022 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 022 |
| 023 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 40 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 023 |
| 024 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 024 |
| 025 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 45 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 025 |
| 026 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 026 |
| 027 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 027 |
| 028 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 028 |
| 029 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Pull-through | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 029 |
| 030 | MULE | Equestrian nonelectric | 60 ft | Back-in | Not on record | No | Not on record | Book loop MULE, site 030 |
Data source: Recreation.gov , accessed 2026-09-29. Site details are Recreation.gov's own per-site listing and can differ from the campground-wide facts above.
Rules
- Pets
- Allowed
- Campground host
- On site
Source: recreation.gov, accessed 2026-09-29
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 5,100 ft
Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)
- AT&T
- 4G LTE; 5G mapped about 0.1 mi away
- 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.
34.2705, -111.3198 in Gila. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Houston Mesa Campground?
Sites at Houston Mesa Campground are reserved through Recreation.gov (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232355).
How much does it cost to camp at Houston Mesa Campground?
Camping at Houston Mesa Campground costs Single Site: $29 per night.
How many campsites does Houston Mesa Campground have?
Houston Mesa Campground has 86 campsites, including 29 tent sites and 2 group sites. 3 sites are accessible.
Are there accessible (ADA) campsites at Houston Mesa Campground?
Yes, 3 sites are designated accessible at Houston Mesa Campground.
Are there pull-through sites at Houston Mesa Campground?
Recreation.gov lists 20 pull-through sites at Houston Mesa Campground.
Is there drinking water at Houston Mesa Campground?
Yes, Houston Mesa Campground has potable water. It also has toilets.
Are dogs allowed at Houston Mesa Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Houston Mesa Campground.
Is there cell service at Houston Mesa Campground?
Yes, outdoors: the FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows 4G LTE from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon and 5G from T-Mobile and Verizon at Houston Mesa Campground. The map is carrier-reported and modeled for outdoors, so expect weaker service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle.
Is there a campground host at Houston Mesa Campground?
Yes, Houston Mesa Campground has a campground host on site.
Who manages Houston Mesa Campground?
Houston Mesa Campground is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Houston Mesa Campground
C.C. Cragin Reservoir's mapped center point is 21 miles from Houston Mesa Campground in a straight line. Current water level: C.C. Cragin Reservoir water level on reservoirfinder.com.
Hot springs, waterfalls and swimming nearby
Nearest to Houston Mesa Campground, in straight-line miles: Waterwheel Falls (waterfall, 5.9 miles), Fossil Creek Waterfall (waterfall, 19 miles), Fossil Creek (swimming hole, 20 miles), and Verde Hot Springs (hot spring, 23 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.
Reservable Houston Mesa Group 
First-come Kehl Springs Reservable Ponderosa Group 
Reservable Ponderosa Campground
First-come Kehl Springs Reservable Ponderosa Group Reservable Ponderosa Campground More campgrounds: camping near Payson and campgrounds in Gila.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-28
- recreation.gov (reservationSystem, reservationSystemName, reservationUrl, maxRvLengthFt, drivewayType, petsAllowed, hostOnSite, sites, campsites), accessed 2026-09-29
- broadbandmap.fcc.gov (cellCoverage), accessed 2026-09-27