Oracle State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Enjoy 4,000 acres of high-desert wilderness at Oracle State Park in southern Arizona. Located just east of the town of Oracle and nestled in the Catalina Mountains foothills, the park offers varied activities like hiking, stargazing, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Officially established as a state park in 2001, Oracle also features a ranger-led and self-guided geology tour, the historic Kannally Ranch House, and environmental education programs for kids. The park's elevation offers a cool respite from the hotter nearby cities like Tucson.
Nearby Cities:
Oro Valley, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Florence, AZ
Casa Grande, AZ
Spring 54-82 F
Summer 65-89 F
Fall 42-65 F
Winter 37-59 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Oracle State Park
Oracle State Park does not offer any overnight camping.
Wishing Well RV Park
Located about 18 miles from Oracle State Park, Wishing Well RV Park features sites with 30- and 50-amp hookups that are large enough for 45-foot-long campers and RVs. The park is located just off Highway 77 in the vicinity of restaurants and small stores, and the daily rates start at $30.
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Water hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Showers, community center with laundry facilities, library of videos, book exchange
Hay Creek Ranch
Located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Hay Creek Ranch is about 7 miles from the state park and offers roomy pull-through sites from which you can enjoy the beautiful desert sunsets. This is also a horse camp, so you’ll find covered corrals, horse stalls, an arena and a tack room.
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Water hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: No
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Laundry, bathrooms, community room with kitchen
The Prince of Tucson RV Park
About 37 miles from Oracle State Park is The Prince of Tucson RV Park, a 176-site facility loaded with amenities such as a heated pool, shuffleboard courts, a lounge with satellite television and a convenience store. Pet-friendly walking paths and bike paths are also nearby, and downtown Tucson is only 11 minutes away.
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Water hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes (main buildings)
• Pet-friendly: Yes (breed restrictions apply)
• Other amenities: Laundry facilities, showers, Jacuzzi, pool table, dump station, propane service
What to Do at
Oracle State Park
Take a self-guided tour of the Kannally Ranch House to see what life was like for the Kannally family, who purchased the site in 1903 and later developed it, with the ranch house built from 1929 to 1932. Sign up for a ranger-led geology tour on the 1.2-mile Geology Trail and learn about the region's geological history. You can also take a self-guided tour of this trail. Oracle State Park features 24 miles of trails, many of which are multi-use for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. Because of its high-elevation location far from major cities, the park is a great place to go stargazing at night. Oracle is also a fantastic place for bird-watching, especially in the winter when several migrating species come to the area.
Inside Oracle State Park
The top draw for this state park is the 15 miles of hiking trails that you can explore on foot, mountain bike or horseback. The trails range in length from three-quarters of a mile to 3.5 miles, and you should be on the lookout for park wildlife, such as bobcats, deer, rabbits, foxes, mountain lions and even skunks. You can take a self-guided tour of the Kannally Ranch House, which dates back to 1929 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home and the state park’s lands formerly belonged to the Kannally family before being donated to the Arizona State Parks Board. Oracle State Park is a designated International Dark Sky Park, a distinction bestowed upon public lands that are far enough away from sources of light pollution that the Milky Way and other night-sky phenomena can be observed with the naked eye.
Geocaching
The park has several geocaches, and you can use your smartphone or GPS device to find them. Once you do, you can take a prize and sign the logbook. However, don't forget to bring a family-friendly item to leave in the container for the next treasure hunter.
Nature Watching
The park is an important birding area for species that migrate south for the winter. Some birds you may see include ravens, cardinals, warblers, sparrows, turkey vultures, curve-billed thrashers, and Gambel's quail. In addition, the park is home to 11 species of owls, including barn, whiskered screech, short-eared, and great horned owls. The park's location is also right on the butterfly migration superhighway. Some of these colorful critters include pipevine swallowtails and painted ladies.
Stargazing
Oracle became an International Dark Sky Park in 2014. Attend a star party where you can view the Milky Way and countless stars through crystal-clear skies. The park also has ranger-led events where you'll learn how to identify constellations and planets through a telescope.
Flora and Fauna
Expect to see desert plants like mesquite, cholla cacti, prickly pear cacti, and scrub oak. At higher elevations, you can see juniper trees and pinon pines. Look for reptiles that include diamondback rattlesnakes, Arizona alligator lizards, and Colorado River toads. Mammals include cottontail rabbits, mule deer, and coyotes. Javelinas dwell within the park; these creatures look a lot like pigs, but they're classified as peccaries.
Hiking
Oracle State Pak has several hiking trails of varying difficulties, and part of the Arizona National Scenic Trail runs through here. The Nature Trail Loop is an easy hike from which you can view wildflowers during the springtime bloom. The Granite Overlook Loop is a more strenuous trail that leads you up near the highest point in the park. Note that you can also go horseback riding on some of the hiking trails. Practice trail etiquette if you encounter riders. Always yield the right of way to horses on a hiking trail.
Biking
You can take your bike out on several of the park's trails. Some trails to try out on your bike include the six-mile-long Arizona Trail Loop, the Gasline Road, and the Powerline Trail, which is 3.5 miles one-way.
How to Get to
Oracle State Park
Directions from Tucson: At the intersection of W. Jacinto Street and N. Oracle Road in downtown Tucson, go north on Oracle, which will also become AZ-77. AZ-77 and head northeast for 31.1 miles. When you get to the outskirts of the town of Oracle, turn right at W. American Avenue and drive for 2.4 miles. Make a right onto E Mt Lemmon Hwy and go for 1.1 miles. Turn left onto Wildlife Drive and continue for 1.1 miles to the park's entrance.
By Car
Entering Oracle State Park
The day-use fee is $7 per vehicle. If you enter the park on foot or on your bike, the fee is only $3. Note that if you wish to come at night to stargaze after the park officially closes, you'll need to pay an advance reservation fee of $12 for gate access at the American Avenue Trailhead. The park has several parking lots, including at the Kannally Ranch House.
Oracle State Park Per Vehicle : $7.0
1-4 adults
Oracle State Park Per Bicycle : $3.0
per person
Saddle up on your horse, strap on your hiking boots, jump on your bike, or just marvel at the night sky at Oracle State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oracle State Park
You can visit Oracle State Park comfortably for most of the year. The park's elevation means it doesn't get too hot like the surrounding lower-desert areas. Winter nights can get cold, so dress appropriately and be mindful of Arizona's monsoon season from July through September, when the park can get anywhere from 6 to 8 inches of rain.
While visiting the park, keep an eye out for javelinas, coyotes, white-tailed deer, rabbits, and skunks. Birders can spot avian species such as hooded orioles, great horned owls, hummingbirds, and canyon towhees.
The park does not have any RV campgrounds. The closest park with RV campsites is Catalina State Park, 23 miles south in the city of Tucson.
Oracle State Park does not have any campgrounds on-site.
Yes, you can bring your pet to the park. Some trails allow pets, but some do not, so check for posted signs. While visiting, your furry companion must be on a leash, and you are responsible for cleaning up after them.