Introduction:
This no frills first come/first served campground in South Tucson isn't much to look at, but you can't beat the price for full hook ups.
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The Basics:
Overall Rating: 3.1/5
Price per night / Discounts: $21 / Rate is $30 per day or $150 per week.
Campground website: Pima County Fairgrounds
Our Site #: Unk
Privacy Rating (how spacious and private do the sites feel):
2/5: This is a simple gravel parking lot with RVs lined up one next to the other and minimal space in between. The one saving grace is that it is so large, there's a good chance you won't have neighbors, unless you're there for an event or you're staying in the longer term section.
Location Rating (accessibility to points of interest or to major highways):
3/5: The location in South Tucson isn't bad for visiting area features, but it is a bit farther away than the Tucson KOA, which is the other place we stayed in south Tucson. Given the price difference, it's not that big of a deal. There's not a ton right in the immediate area, but you can certainly find all your necessities within a 10 or 15 minute drive.
Site Quality and Big Rig Accessibility Rating (utilities and accessibility of campground hook ups):
3/5: Sites are just a gravel/dirt, so nothing special, though the sites are pretty level. As for accessibility, there is a huge dip along a major portion of the front lot, so if you're not paying attention, you could easily bottom out. The staff directs you to your site and tries to avoid that dip, but we saw a couple people go right over it. Otherwise, the facility is large and roads are easy enough to navigate in a big rig.
Technology and Customer Service Rating (online resources, reservations, and staff):
3.5/5: This is a first come/first served campground only, so there are no reservations to be had, which is a bummer. The folks who work there are very nice and helpful.
Internet Availability Rating (Verizon coverage or campground wifi):
4/5: The campground wifi worked pretty well for us and we had no issues with our AT&T hotspot.
Summary:
Overall this was a good place to set up shop for a week when we wanted to find an inexpensive campground with full hook-ups. We'd just spent a very expensive week at the KOA and wanted to balance out our costs. The other option we considered was Gilbert Ray, but there it costs $20 per night for electric only. For $21 here, we got full hookups, so it was kind of a no brainer.
This place isn't much to look at, but it has some nice features - small dog runs, a couple huge fields we used for getting our dog exercise, a little nature trail for exercise, propane for sale, etc. It's not pretty by any stretch, and nowhere you'll be enticed to sit outside for happy hour, but if you're looking for a reasonably priced place to set up for a couple days or weeks in south Tucson, it's a solid option.
Gilbert Ray is the way to go in Tucson. It’s in the middle of 20,000 acre Tucson Mountain Park next door to Saguaro National Park. You’re surrounded by scenery every bit as good as the NP. If you’re there for a city experience, there’s Sentinel Peak. You can walk to the light rail and go to the University district or downtown.
Agree! We stayed at that campground several years ago and loved it. The only downside is they didn’t offer reservations. I’m not sure if that’s changed now but if not, it’s kind of a deal killer for us because we’re so big and only fit in so many sites. But otherwise, it was just wonderful!