Houston Mesa in AZ -- Campground & RV Camping
Houston Mesa in AZ
Road Access
- Road difficulty 2 of 5: a moderate drive in.
- Recorded as maintained for passenger-car comfort, graded dirt, pitching to 6%.
Rig fit
- Maximum published vehicle length: 75 ft.
- Longest published RV site: 75 ft.
- Longest published trailer site: 75 ft.
- 20 pull-through sites.
Campground details
Setting
Houston Mesa sits one mile north of Payson in Tonto National Forest at 5,100–5,200 feet elevation with 102 campsites including 28 equestrian sites with corrals, 29 tent-only sites, and one group site. Flush toilets and potable water are available. Each site has a picnic table with fire ring and grill. A second vehicle incurs an $8 nightly fee. The area supports wildlife including hawks, eagles, deer, and coyotes, with access to hiking and horseback riding trails.
Getting there: From Payson, Arizona, go north for 1 mile to the junction of Highway 87 (Beeline Highway) and Forest Road 199 (Houston Mesa Road). Turn right (east) onto Forest Road 199 for .10 miles. The campground is on the north side of Houston Mesa Road.
- Little separation from through roads or other sites here, a 126-site campground with the nearest through road 0.1 miles off.
- Estimated night sky: Bortle 4, a rural sky with a glow on the horizon.
Climate averages
October normals 44–74°F, 1.3″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.
Starlink Radar
Open sky · Terrain & buildings · Tree canopy
Estimated horizon in eight compass directions, using 10 m USGS elevation. Sky clearance 98 of 100.