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Next time you need a break in your busy life consider cool weather camping at Tucson Mountain Park's beautiful Gilbert Ray Campground, located on the west side of the Tucson Mountains, a convenient 13 miles from Tucson. RV campers should access the park by way of Ajo Highway to Kinney Road and follow the signs to the campground.
The campground has 130 RV sites with individual 30-amp electrical hook-ups. The campground has 5 sites that are designated tent only, however tenters are welcome to camp in an RV site but are asked not to use the electrical hook-ups. It has centrally located water, picnic tables, modern restrooms, and an RV dumping station. Shower facilities are not available. There are handicap bathrooms.
There is a seven-day length of stay limit. The park's peak season is January 1st through March 31st. Camping fees are $10.00 per night for tents and $20.00 per night for trailers and RVs. Senior Pass/Golden Age Pass NOT valid. Due to limited tent sites you can tent in a RV site, however, during peak season the RV campsite fee applies. Wood fires are prohibited.
Directions from Tucson: Speedway Boulevard west of I-10. At Camino de Oeste, Speedway Boulevard turns into Gates Pass Road. Follow Gates Pass Road across Gates Pass (NOT recommended for trailers or RVs over 24 feet) to the "T" intersection with Kinney Road. Turn right on Kinney Road. Travel approximately 0.6 miles and then turn left on McCain Loop. The campground entrance is on the left.
Directions from I-10 east of Tucson: I-10 west to I-19 south. Exit at Ajo Way (exit 99), turn right. Go west to Kinney Road approximately 5 miles, turn right. Follow Kinney Road to McCain Loop, turn left. The campground entrance is on the left.
Directions from I-19 south of Tucson: I-19 north. Exit at Ajo Way (exit 99), turn left. Go west to Kinney Road approximately 5 miles, turn right. Follow Kinney Road to McCain Loop, turn left. The campground entrance is on the left.
Directions from I-10 west of Tucson: I-10 west. Exit on Avra Valley Road (exit 242), turn right. Take Avra Valley Road west to Sandario Road, turn left. Take Sandario Road south to Mile Wide Road, turn left. Mile Wide Road merges with Kinney Road after two miles. Pass the first McCain Loop turnoff. Turn right at the second McCain Loop turnoff. The campground entrance is on the left.
Great access with plenty to do. I came in the off-season and the staff was nice enough to give me a discount. I went tent camping and it had everything a tent camper would want. Great access to biking trails. Would definitely recommend this to my biking friends over the overcrowded dispersed sites. The pay is worth it.
A very nice campground in the heart of the Tucson Mountain Park. There is electricity at most of the sites, modern bathrooms (no showers). This is a Pima County facility and is very well run and maintained.
Camping here is like living in an established natural southwest cactus garden surrounded by mature saguaros, barrel cacti, teddy bear cacti and more. It’s super quiet and the views of nearby mountains, distant galaxies and Tucson in the distance- especially at night with its “dark sky” - will calm your soul. They have clean restrooms and even dishwashing sinks. Get there early or make a reservation; they fill up quickly. Unfortunately, there are no showers but go anyway.
Sites are excellent, surrounded by Saguaro cacti!
Electricity but no water (there are 3 water stations close to loop A to fill RV tanks and a dump station). Paid under $40/night with clean washrooms and station to clean dishes, so great value!
But the best is that the campground is close not only to Tucson but the Saguaro National Park (west part) and the Sonoran-Arizona Desert Museums (like 10 min drive).
It was very quiet but no playground for kids. It is a PIMA county facility and well run and organized.
I am not sure about WIFI as we used our Starlink with great access to the sky. Cell phone connectivity but limited.
Small picnic table on our site (25). No fire pit but was able to use BBQ with briquettes.
Amazing sunsets and sunrises!
Wow beautiful campground so close to town. Stayed in loop A. Nice back in site for our camper. Clean restrooms, and a couple of stations to wash dishes if needed. No showers on site. No generators! (Love)
