Riverside Campground (Az)
Tonto National Forest — lakeside
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, AZ
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: May through October
Riverside Campground offers more peace and tranquility than the busier recreation sites at Bartlett Lake. With the campground’s proximity to water, fisherman and avid water recreationalists enjoy this spot all year long. There are designated grills, fire rings and picnic tables where families can enjoy the day together along the river, not far from the dam.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/riverside-campground-az to be notified when sites open up.
Riverside Campground offers peaceful camping with direct proximity to water, making it ideal for fishing and water recreation. Google reviewers praise the fire rings, scenic beauty, and cool water access, with one noting they've 'always been able to get a great spot.'
Wildlife alert: Gila Monster, North American River Otter, Belted Kingfisher, Desert Spiny Lizard, and Checkered Garter Snake documented in the area
Insider tips for Riverside Campground (Az): First-come, first-served only—arrive early to secure a site Located 23 miles east of Carefree; take Cave Creek Road 7 miles, then Bartlett Dam Road 13 miles No running water at sites despite drinking water availability—bring supplies
Skip Riverside Campground (Az) if: You need hookups—no hookups available. You prefer booking in advance—first-come, first-served basis only. You visit outside May-October—seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Riverside Campground (Az): May-October — Official seasonal operations window as listed by RIDB.
Nearby campgrounds: Mesquite (Az) (Scottsdale, AZ), Horseshoe (Az) (Scottsdale, AZ), C C C (Az) Tonto Nf (Scottsdale, AZ), Cave Creek Group Site (Scottsdale, AZ).
Cell Phone Coverage at Riverside Campground (Az)
Cell signal at Riverside Campground (Az) (Scottsdale, AZ): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 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.
Riverside Campground offers more peace and tranquility than the busier recreation sites at Bartlett Lake. With the campground’s proximity to water, fisherman and avid water recreationalists enjoy this spot all year long. There are designated grills, fire rings and picnic tables where families can enjoy the day together along the river, not far from the dam.
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 entryFirst-come, first-served only
arrive early to secure a site
Located 23 miles east of Carefree; take Cave Creek Road 7 miles, then Bartlett Dam Road 13 miles
No running water at sites despite drinking water availability
bring supplies
Official seasonal operations window as listed by RIDB
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
This site is 23 miles east of Carefree. Take Cave Creek Road for 7 miles then turn right on Bartlett Dam Road and continue for 13 miles. Just before reaching the Jojoba Boating site, FR 19 becomes a maintained gravel road that turns south (right). Follow it for another 3 miles to Riverside.
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 — Tonto National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Tonto National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Riverside Campground (Az) cost per night?+
What season is Riverside Campground (Az) open?+
Does Riverside Campground (Az) have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Riverside Campground (Az)?+
How do I make reservations at Riverside Campground (Az)?+
What is the cell service like at Riverside Campground (Az)?+
What season is Riverside Campground (Az) 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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