How much does camping cost at Campground Upper Loop?

Camping fees at Campground Upper Loop range from $50-$129/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Campground Upper Loop first-come first-served or reservation?

Campground Upper Loop accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Campground Upper Loop before I book?

Yes! Campground Upper Loop has 20 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Campground Upper Loop?

Campground Upper Loop is open Official page does not list full seasonal closures for loops; group/tent camping may be reserved June through October on a first-come, first-served basis.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Campground Upper Loop?

Yes, Campground Upper Loop has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Campground Upper Loop?

Fire policies at Campground Upper Loop: All sites have a fire ring and table; shared-use group areas have grills/charcoal BBQs. (No additional fire restriction details provided on the official page.). Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

How many campsites does Campground Upper Loop have?

Campground Upper Loop has 58 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Campground Upper Loop?

Pets are not allowed at Campground Upper Loop. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Campground Upper Loop?

Campground Upper Loop offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Dump Station, Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Campground Upper Loop?

Popular activities at Campground Upper Loop include Hiking, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Campground Upper Loop

4.51

162 reviews

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

$50 - $129/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

58 campsites

Season

Official page does n...

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Partial HookupsShowers

Book on Arizona State Parks Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

$50 - $129/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

58 campsites

Season

Official page does n...

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Partial HookupsShowers

Book on Arizona State Parks Official Website

Campground Upper Loop

$50.00 - $129.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Campsites: $50/night (includes water, electric, showers/restrooms, and dump station). Cabins: $129/night plus a $5 reservation fee and a refundable...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Arizona State Parks

Provider

(520) 586-4100; Reservations Desk 1-877-MY-PARKS (1-877-697-2757)

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Campground Upper Loop

Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.

Campground Map

Campground Upper Loop

No map location available

Nearby places

Benson

Bisbee

Sierra Vista

Tombstone

Nearby supplies

Benson (nearest town mentioned for nearby attractions and services)

Weather at Campground Upper Loop

Best Time to Camp at Campground Upper Loop

Fall through spring offers the most comfortable window, with October–November bringing daytime highs in the 70s–80s°F and cool nights in the 40s–50s°F. The Upper Loop closes during summer heat, when only the Lower Loop stays open. Winter and early spring remain pleasant for hiking and cave tours, with moderate crowds compared to peak spring weekends. Desert nights cool down reliably even after warm days.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Official page does not list full seasonal closures for loops; group/tent camping may be reserved June through October on a first-come, first-served basis.

About Campground Upper Loop

The Upper Loop campground sits at the southwest edge of Kartchner Caverns State Park, where 58 paved sites with water and electric hookups serve as base camp for cave tours and desert hiking. Sites run $50–129 per night and put you within walking distance of the Discovery Center and trailheads into the Whetstone Mountains. The loop closes during summer, reopening in fall when temperatures drop.

Two-loop developed campground with back-in and pull-through sites, offering RV and tent camping and shared group areas. Cabins are available elsewhere in the park (separately reserved).

Weather and SeasonsFall through spring offers the most comfortable window, with October–November bringing daytime highs in the 70s–80s°F and cool nights in the 40s–50s°F. The Upper Loop closes during summer heat, when only the Lower Loop stays open. Winter and early spring remain pleasant for hiking and cave tours, with moderate crowds compared to peak spring weekends. Desert nights cool down reliably even after warm days.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies the transition zone where Sonoran Desert vegetation meets the Whetstone Mountain foothills. Saguaros and mesquite dot the landscape around paved sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring. Perimeter sites back directly to open desert terrain and low mountain slopes, offering unobstructed views of distant peaks. Night skies are dark enough for serious stargazing. Inside-loop sites face other campers rather than the desert backdrop.

Geological RegionDesert landscape at the base of the Whetstone Mountains (high‑desert/sonoran transition described in supplemental sources).

Scenic ViewsCabins and many campsites provide views of the Whetstone Mountains; several perimeter sites back up to desert and low ridges offering open sky and mountain views.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-in

2:00 PM (campground)

Check-out

12:00 noon (campground)

Stay Limit

14-day stay limit

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsArizona State Parks online reservations and Reservations Desk (1-877-MY-PARKS / 1-877-697-2757).

Cancellation PolicySee Reservation Terms & Conditions (referenced on the Arizona State Parks reservation pages).

Total Campsites58 campsites

Best CampsitesSites 13, 16, 17, 19, 22, and 24 are the Upper Loop's strongest options. Long, relatively flat, and backing toward the desert or mountains for better privacy and views. Site 24 stands out as exceptionally deep with an isolated feel. Avoid sites 14, 15, 18, 23, 25, and 26 if you're in a larger RV; reviews call them out as short or sloped, requiring multiple leveling blocks. Site 21 works well at the deep end but slopes at the front for some rigs.

Need help booking Campground Upper Loop?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Upper and Lower Loop campsites have water and electric at each site, shared restroom and shower buildings, and a dump station. Sites include a picnic table, fire ring, hose bib and power post; restroom buildings have bottled water vending machines and dishwashing sinks. Grills/charcoal BBQs are available in shared group areas; three ADA-designated sites are provided.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

Flush toilets

Dump station

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Activities center on cave tours and park interpretation, with easy to moderate desert hiking and wildlife/ birdwatching opportunities near the campground and Discovery Center.

Hiking

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.5

162 reviews

Top-Rated

Campground Upper Loop is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviews and park information are largely positive: visitors praise the cave tours and Discovery Center, and campers note a very clean, well‑maintained campground with paved sites, water and electric hookups, showers/restrooms and a dump station. Common negatives include strict no‑camera cave rules, warm/humid cave conditions for some visitors, and uneven or short sites in parts of the Upper Loop for larger RVs.

Review Summaries

Based on 162 reviews

What Campers Love

Exceptional cave tours and an informative Discovery Center; clean, well‑maintained campground facilities; paved sites with water and electric hookups, picnic tables and fire rings; convenient...

Based on 162 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

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Go if

Perimeter sites here back up to open desert with mountain views and serious night skies. Tent campers and RVs under 30 feet who book cave tours in advance get the full package; the Discovery Center is a short walk from your site.

Skip if

Larger RVs will fight the Upper Loop's shorter, sloped sites without leveling blocks, and careful site selection matters. No cell service, no camp store, no laundry, and the park gate locks at 10 p.m., so late arrivals need to plan ahead.

Campgrounds

Kartchner Caverns

Campground Upper Loop

About Folsom Lake

Context for the broader area surrounding Campground Upper Loop, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

Recreation at Folsom Reservoir is managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, Central California Area Office. The reservoir was created by <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/mp/sod/projects/folsom/">Folsom Dam</a> across the American River. The dam is a feature of the Central Valley Project - American River Division - <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Folsom+and+Sly+Park+Units+Project">Folsom and Sly Park Units</a>. Folsom Lake offers 75 miles of shoreline. Usually open 7 days a week, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., contact the park office for seasonal variations. Facilities include 3 public campgrounds, 2 with showers, 60 miles of equestrian trails, 10 miles of paved bicycle trails, 8 miles of advanced mountain bike trails, and excellent year-round bank or boat fishing. Several launch ramps provide continuous boat launching access throughout the lake fluctuation zone. At capacity, Good fishing for both cold- and warm-water species including rainbow trout, brown trout, black bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. The American River Water Education Center at Folsom Dam contains exhibits that promote water education directly related to the American River Watershed.

Directions

Folsom Lake is located 20 miles northeast of Sacramento via Highway US 50.