CamperWatch

National campground directory. Verified data, live availability, community tips.

info@camperwatch.org

Explore

  • Search all campgrounds
  • Free camping guide
  • Dispersed camping guide
  • National park campgrounds
  • When Yosemite is sold out
  • When Yellowstone is sold out
  • Availability alerts
  • Community feed
  • Baja California RV parks
  • Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Featured Campgrounds

  • Emerald Bay — Lake Tahoe CAState
  • Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe ParksTribal
  • Slough Creek — Yellowstone
  • North Pines — Yosemite Valley
  • Jenny Lake — Grand Teton
  • Many Glacier — Glacier NP

For Owners

  • List your campground free
  • Hipcamp alternative
  • Campspot alternative
  • Campground booking software
  • List campground free guide

© 2026 CamperWatch · Not affiliated with Recreation.gov, NPS, or USFS

TermsPrivacyCancellationContactllms.txt

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.

    CamperWatch
    CommunityPlan a tripCompareTribes
    CamperWatch›AZ›Rainbow (Az)
    Rainbow (Az) — photo 1
    Rainbow (Az) — photo 2
    Rainbow (Az) — photo 3
    See all photos
    Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Rainbow (Az)

    Share: X Facebook
    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
    camping@rrmofa.com
    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

    Own a campground nearby?

    List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

    List your campground →
    $34–110 /nightNo booking fees
    +TRIPCheck availability