With a climate conducive to year-round travel and breathtaking surrounding terrain that includes stark deserts, wind-torn rock formations and thick mountaintop forests, Scottsdale provides the perfect balmy haven for those who want to escape the cold of winter and those who enjoy basking in the heat all summer long. The city’s mix of upscale shopping and charming Old West architecture makes it an appealing backdrop for an extended stay. Its bars, restaurants and roadside eateries are practically legendary for a fun night out.
Scottsdale’s reputation as an art mecca is unparalleled in the Phoenix region, with much of the city’s retail shops featuring work by local artists and an entire section of the city devoted to galleries. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is a great way to see the highlights of residents’ artistic endeavors. For visitors in town on Thursdays, the Scottsdale Art Walk offers snacks, music and a chance to enjoy the creative talent showcased in the gallery district.
The number of sunny days each year makes Scottsdale a haven for outdoor sports enthusiasts, particularly golfers. The city features a number of excellent courses for those who want to get a game in, but if golf isn’t at the top of the list, the nearby hiking trails on Piestewa Peak, mountain biking along the canals, desert Jeep tours or horseback riding in the style of the Old West may prove irresistible. For the even more adventurous, there are hot air balloon tours or ATV rentals that offer a unique way to experience the beauty of the surrounding rugged landscape.
Eagle View RV Resort at Fort McDowell caters to every need RV campers have, offering full hookups, easy dumping facilities, a dog park, a fitness center, a pool, basketball court, Wi-Fi and showers. The location offers natural desert beauty and convenient amenities like on-site restaurants.
Mesa Sunset RV Resort gives visitors plenty of reasons to stay longer than planned, offering amenities like a swimming pool, laundry, a dog run, pickleball and fitness equipment. All sites offer full hookups and access to restrooms and showers.
Scottsdale Trailer Corral offers guests excellent accessibility to the heart of Scottsdale, where they can easily reach the Old Town shopping and restaurant district when it’s time to take in the town. There are spaces and hookups for most RVs, although longer rigs may struggle to fit in certain campsites.
Lost Dutchman State Park is nestled in the heart of the mythic and mysterious Superstition Mountains, the iconic peaks a favorite subject of hikers and photographers alike. The allure of a lost gold mine drew fortune hunters to the area for decades, but the real gold to be found is in the stunning Arizona sunsets enjoyed from the peaks. The area of the park is just over 300 acres and features hiking, picnicking, wildlife viewing and mountain biking. RV camping is available on-site, with dozens of campsites offering full hookups, fire pits and picnic tables. The park makes an excellent base for exploring the nearby Tonto National Forest, with some trailheads in the park leading onto National Forest land.
McFarland State Historic Park brings the era of the Old West alive with many preserved buildings dating to the late 1800s, including the courthouse and jail. Fans of this historical era will enjoy touring the buildings and viewing related artifacts. RV visitors will find excellent parking at the site, with nearby RV parks the best place to set up camp for a visit to the area, as the site itself closes for the evening and on Sundays.
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area is in the heart of the White Mountains and provides a cooling respite from Arizona’s famously sizzling summers. This clear mountain lake features camping right on the edge of the water and offers all the classic water sports, like fishing, kayaking, swimming and boating. There are activities for all ages, including a Junior Ranger program for kids. There are 82 RV sites that offer electric hookups and are appropriate for rigs 40 feet in length and under.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument encompasses a site built by the ancient peoples who lived in southern Arizona for more than a thousand years. Their dwellings and buildings included the four-story structure that gives the site its name today. Standing for more than six centuries, the “Big House” is the focal point of any visit, along with ancient irrigation canals and other ruins. The visitors center provides extensive information and ample parking while enjoying the park. There are nearby RV campgrounds for those wanting to stay in the vicinity, as the site itself closes for the evening and has no camping facilities.
Hohokam Pima National Monument belongs to the Gila River Indian Community and is all that is left of a once flourishing village named Snaketown that housed thousands of inhabitants for centuries. Excavated artifacts can be viewed at the nearby Casa Grande National Monument and the Heard Museum in Phoenix, although the site itself has been covered over for its own protection. RV visitors can find nearby campsites for lodging while visiting Casa Grande and area museums.
Tonto National Monument is a fascinating cliffside dwelling dating to 1200 A.D. Used for centuries by the Native peoples, the structures remain in an excellent state of preservation today, offering a glimpse of life as it was lived almost a thousand years ago in the vicinity of what is now Phoenix. Visitors can tour the site, enjoy learning about native plants and find plenty of information in the adjacent visitors center. The parking area has ample space for RVs and there are campsites in the nearby Superstition Mountains.
Prescott National Forest protects more than 100,000 acres of forest and desert land, offering almost 1,000 miles of maintained trails for hiking and biking, horse riding and ATV use. The many streams and small lakes are perfect for fishing and various other water activities. Visitors can picnic in designated areas and enjoy scenic drives on preplanned routes. RV camping is available at many of the campgrounds, but visitors should be aware that most don’t offer hookups and restrict vehicle length to 40 feet. The toilets are vault-style and most campsites offer a fire pit or grill and picnic area.
Tonto National Forest is the largest national forest in Arizona and one of the top 10 largest in the United States. Almost 3 million acres beckon visitors with promises of stunning rock formations, desert vistas, sparkling lakes and archeological wonders. Hiking, fishing, climbing and biking top the list of popular activities, with camping available close to sites of particular interest. Most campgrounds welcome RV travelers but offer only basic services. The Tortilla Flat campground has sewage hookups and a nearby restaurant. There are also boat rentals available for Roosevelt Lake.
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest offers astonishingly beautiful scenery from mountaintop heights that often remain cool even in the otherwise blazing heat of an Arizona summer. The Alpine terrain is perfect for hiking, winter sports, fishing, swimming, horseback riding and enjoying ATVs. As the elevation at some of the campgrounds is above 9,000 feet, larger vehicles can struggle to make the climb up the winding mountain roads. Many of the campsites limit vehicle length to no more than 16 feet. The Luna Lake campground allows vehicles up to 32 feet in length and offers toilets, drinking water and picnic areas.
Saguaro National Park offers a scenic loop drive to view some of its best sights, or for the more adventurous, plenty of biking and hiking trails to better experience the stark beauty of the desert landscape. While the main highlight is the majestic cactus that gives the park its name, there are stunning vistas, a range of wildlife and natural rock formations to enjoy as well. While there is backcountry camping available, RVs aren’t accommodated for overnight stays, but that’s hardly an impediment given the excellent RV campgrounds located within a few miles of the park.
Petrified Forest National Park offers visitors not just mineralized trees in rainbow hues, but also a whole landscape of surrounding sand in vivid shades of purple, green, pink and gold. The ancient tree trunks sprawl across the landscape, giving only a hint of the majesty of the Jurassic Period forest it used to be. Hiking is the best way to view these remains, but a scenic drive through the park also highlights the grandeur for those with limited time. While there are no accommodations for RV camping inside the park, hikers can camp a half a mile from their vehicle with a free permit. The surrounding area offers plenty of RV-friendly campsites that can be used as a home base while visiting the park.
Grand Canyon National Park is an awe-inspiring sight whether viewed from the vastly different North or South rims. Carved out of the living stone over unimaginable eons of time, the layers of rock are equally enthralling whether viewed from the scenic overlooks or while hiking into the canyon itself. This bucket list destination deserves to be savored, and there’s plenty of RV-compatible camping to be found both in the park and on the way there for those who want to spend a few days enjoying park activities like hiking, photography, riding on a pack mule or taking a helicopter ride over the canyon. Trailer Village is the South Rim’s RV site, and reservations for this popular spot are strongly encouraged.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Scottsdale, AZ, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Scottsdale?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Scottsdale from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Scottsdale?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
