Rainbow (Az)

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Pinetop, AZ, AZ

Price: From $34 per night

Price range: $34–$110 per night

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (234 reviews)

Season: May through October

Rainbow is the largest campground in the Big Lake Recreation Area in eastern Arizona. Because of its proximity to the lake, size and the many amenities it offers, Rainbow is a favorite for families. Popular activities include hiking, horseback riding and fishing.The facility boasts 165 campsites organized into six loops.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Camp Host, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/rainbow-az to be notified when sites open up.

Rainbow is the largest campground in the Big Lake Recreation Area with 121 sites featuring large, heavily wooded lots and proximity to one of Arizona's top trout fishing lakes. Campers praise its cleanliness, quiet atmosphere, and abundance of amenities including hiking trails, horseback riding, and boating.

Wildlife alert: Mexican Wolf, Wapiti, Coyote, American Badger, Dusky Grouse, and garter snakes present in area

Insider tips for Rainbow (Az): Mix of reserved and first-come-first-served sites available Choose open sites if you rely on solar; shaded sites are abundant but reduce solar efficiency Walk to Big Lake for sunrise photos and nature trails from visitor center

Skip Rainbow (Az) if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; suitable only for self-contained RVs. You prefer to book last-minute — federal campground requires early reservations due to high demand.

Best time to visit Rainbow (Az): May-October — Official seasonal operations period.

Nearby campgrounds: Brookchar (Pinetop, AZ), Grayling (Pinetop, AZ), Cutthroat (Pinetop, AZ), Winn (Greer, AZ).

Cell Phone Coverage at Rainbow (Az)

Cell signal at Rainbow (Az) (Pinetop, AZ): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

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.

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Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Rainbow (Az)

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Pinetop, AZ, AZ★ 4.7 (234 reviews)From $34/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Rainbow is the largest campground in the Big Lake Recreation Area in eastern Arizona. Because of its proximity to the lake, size and the many amenities it offers, Rainbow is a favorite for families. Popular activities include hiking, horseback riding and fishing.The facility boasts 165 campsites organized into six loops.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV180 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
ADA sites2 sites
PetsAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesFirewood for Sale
Family & Pets
Camp Host

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; suitable only for self-contained RVs✕ You prefer to book last-minute — federal campground requires early reservations due to high demand

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Mix of reserved and first-come-first-served sites available

Choose open sites if you rely on solar; shaded sites are abundant but reduce solar efficiency

Walk to Big Lake for sunrise photos and nature trails from visitor center

Best: May-October

Official seasonal operations period

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Mexican Wolf, Wapiti, Coyote, American Badger, Dusky Grouse, and garter snakes present in area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
928-537-8888· Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Getting there →

From Pinetop, Arizona, take Highway 260 east 25 miles to Highway 273 south. Follow Highway 273 south 19 miles to Forest Road 8115 (Big Lake Entrance). Turn right and travel 1 mile to the campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Rainbow (Az) cost per night?+
Rainbow (Az) costs $34–$110 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Rainbow (Az) open?+
Rainbow (Az) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Rainbow (Az) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Rainbow (Az)?+
Rainbow (Az) can accommodate RVs up to 180 feet.
How do I make reservations at Rainbow (Az)?+
Rainbow (Az) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Rainbow (Az)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Rainbow (Az) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Rainbow (Az) open, and what are check-in times?+
Rainbow (Az) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Forest Service Concessionaire
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$34 /night★ 4.7 (234)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Rainbow (Az) cost per night?+
What season is Rainbow (Az) open?+
Does Rainbow (Az) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Brookchar

Pinetop, AZ

From $26/night

Grayling

Pinetop, AZ

From $34/night

Cutthroat

Pinetop, AZ

From $26/night

Winn

Greer, AZ

From $26/night

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