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Lake Pleasant Regional Park offers 148 sites for RV and tent camping within the campgrounds (does not including primitive camping sites)
Each "Developed Site" has water, electricity, dump station, a covered ramada, a picnic table, a barbecue grill and fire ring.
Each "Semi-Developed Site" and tent site has a covered ramada, a picnic table, a barbecue grill and fire ring, unless otherwise acknowledged in the description or camping map.
Restroom and/or shower facilities are available at both types of campsites. All sites in the campground may be reserved online at www.maricopacountyparks.org/.
Campgrounds
Desert Tortoise Campground has 74 campsites: 25 Developed Sites, 39 Semi-Developed Sites, and 10 Tent Sites.
Roadrunner Campground offers 71 sites for RV and tent camping. All sites are Developed.
Large groups can reserve the Desert Tortoise Group Campground. The Group Campground includes a parking area for RVs, picnic tables, and ramadas. The use of this area is by reservation only and requires a minimum commitment of 10 camping units.
Shoreline Camping
Lake Pleasant Regional Park also has shoreline/primitive camping during most of the year, depending on water levels. Shoreline camping is only permitted within designated areas for such use, when available. Day-of availability will be on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be reserved during business hours at the park. For information on camping fees, click on this link to be redirected to the "Fees" page.
The first phase or re-introducing primitive/shoreline camping will be rolled out in late January 2021, with the area of the Dirt Spillway. Future areas will be included in phases at later dates.
Campers must park in designated parking areas. Tent camping will be permitted along the shoreline within the designated area. No vehicles will be permitted to park along the shoreline within the area.
Check-in time the day of arrival shall occur no earlier than 2 p.m. Campers must check out the day of departure by 12 p.m. (noon).
Boat-In Camping
Boat-in camping is now available at the 10 Lane Parking Lot. Roughly 30 assigned parking spaces have been designated for such use. Each camping/parking space is approximately 45 feet long by 12 ft. wide to accommodate most boat trailers and towing vehicles. Reservations are required. Day-of availability is on a first-come, first-served basis, and can only be reserved during business hours at the park.
Boaters must camp on the waters of Lake Pleasant – no shoreline camping available at this time. Camping is not permitted within the parking lot/camp space. Boat-in camping is a great option for fisherman looking to fish in the late evening/early morning hours. Boat-in campers must arrive and check-in before the park closes at night (8 pm).
From central Phoenix, take I-17 north to Carefree Highway (SR 74). Exit Carefree Hwy. and travel west 15 miles to Castle Hot Spring Road. Travel north to Lake Pleasant Regional Park entrance.
CAMPING RESERVATIONS
Campers are required to enter the park between 1 pm and 8 pm the day of their arrival. No entry access available between 8 pm and 5 am. NOTICE: ALL campsites and restrooms in the Roadrunner Campground will be TEMPORARILY closed from July 5, 2022, to December 31, 2022. And, effective January 5, 2022, reservations for ANY date in that range will not be accepted online or in person.
Please see website for closures and alterations to the normal camping schedule.
You can make a reservation for one or more campsites at a time, and for up to 14 nights.
I had an awesome time at Lake Pleasant Regional Park! It's a big, beautiful lake with lots to do. I went fishing with my family, and we caught some fish. There's also a cool marina with boats. You can go swimming, jet skiing, or just relax. We had a picnic by the water, and it was so peaceful. The desert scenery all around is amazing too. There are hiking trails if you like that stuff. I saw some cute birds and even a big cactus! It's a perfect spot to have fun in the outdoors with friends and family.
Great State Park with lots to do or just do nothing and watch the wild burros. We stayed in a lakeside campsite with water and electric with a shaded picnic table. There was a marina in the park with a restaurant and boats to rent. The place was clean and quiet and the birds and burros were abundant.
What a pretty place . I saw some wild burros. You can camp here if you make a reservation. $15.00 for a primitive site $22.00 for semi developed and $32.00 for a fully developed site per night. The Discovery Center is an interesting place to visit on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, and the view of the lake from here is awesome. Stop by the Scorpion 🦂 Bay restaurant for a bite to eat and make sure you get the onion 🌰 rings.
Favorite place so far to go boating near us. We have yet to explore more lakes in AZ but we still find areas here we haven't explored so it makes for great boating! We've seen cows and donkey and even two bald eagles while on the water.
Wild Burro Trail: 4/5 stars
We went on this trail with the family, hopeful of seeing some wild donkeys. However, the lady at the park entrance booth told us that there’s actually not a lot of burros anymore, as the BLM (I think?) came and took a bunch of them away. As we walked on the trail, we asked some people walking back if they had seen any, and they said no. As we got to the point where we could see a view of the lake, we heard one, and that was good enough for us so we turned back. Either way, the trail was nice and easy for a family.
Scorpion Bay Grill restaurant: 5/5 stars
I did a separate review for that.
Stargazing event: 5/5
I definitely recommend looking at the park's website to see if they have any upcoming events, like the stargazing one that we went to. It was a surprisingly unique thing to add in to our vacation. It was a cloudy day, but the ranger was able to show us the moon, Saturn, and Jupiter with its moons. I was quite impressed with how well we could see them!
