Molino
Coronado National Forest — fishing, hiking
Location: Tucson, AZ, AZ
Price: From $100 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (12 reviews)
Season: May through October
Visitors are drawn to Molino Campground for its group camping area, scenic mountain surroundings and hiking and mountain biking opportunities. While most other campgrounds in the Catalina Mountains are closed in winter, Molino Campground and its picnic area are open in late fall, winter and early spring. The pleasant winter weather at this elevation makes it a great time to visit.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Bear Boxes, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/molino to be notified when sites open up.
Molino Campground offers scenic mountain surroundings in the Catalina Mountains with excellent hiking and mountain biking opportunities. Real campers praise very clean restrooms, nice trails, and plentiful camping spots even on busy weekends.
Wildlife alert: White-nosed Coati, Ringtail, Western Screech-Owl, Greater Roadrunner, Purple Martin, California King Snake, Arizona Black Rattlesnake, and Desert Kingsnake have been documented within 8km.
Insider tips for Molino: Arrive early on weekends — campsites fill but some remain empty if you get there Friday afternoon Campsite 31 offers amazing views but requires good physical condition to access Park at your site but not IN your site — most spots are designed for tent camping, not vehicle camping
Skip Molino if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites. You want year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October. You prefer spontaneous trips — federal campground requires booking early.
Best time to visit Molino: May-October — Official operating season listed in verified data. Late Fall through Early Spring — RIDB description notes Molino remains open when most other Catalina Mountains campgrounds close, with pleasant winter weather at this elevation.
Nearby campgrounds: Rose Canyon (Mt. Lemmon, AZ), Sollers Cabin (Az) (Tucson , AZ), Showers Point Group Site (Mount Lemmon, AZ), Whitetail Campground (MT. LEMMON, AZ).
Cell Phone Coverage at Molino
Cell signal at Molino (Tucson, AZ): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Visitors are drawn to Molino Campground for its group camping area, scenic mountain surroundings and hiking and mountain biking opportunities. While most other campgrounds in the Catalina Mountains are closed in winter, Molino Campground and its picnic area are open in late fall, winter and early spring. The pleasant winter weather at this elevation makes it a great time to visit.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryArrive early on weekends
campsites fill but some remain empty if you get there Friday afternoon
Campsite 31 offers amazing views but requires good physical condition to access
Park at your site but not IN your site
most spots are designed for tent camping, not vehicle camping
Official operating season listed in verified data
RIDB description notes Molino remains open when most other Catalina Mountains campgrounds close, with pleasant winter weather at this elevation
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Tucson, Arizona, take Catalina Highway off Tanque Verde Road in Tucson. Drive 4.2 miles northeast to the Coronado National Forest boundary and continue 5.7 miles to the campground. The campground is between mileposts 5 and 6. All campsites are adjacent to paved roads.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Coronado National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Coronado National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Molino cost per night?+
What season is Molino open?+
Does Molino have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Molino?+
How do I make reservations at Molino?+
What is the cell service like at Molino?+
What season is Molino open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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