State park · Cottonwood / Sedona · Arizona
Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a year-round Arizona state park campground in Cottonwood, about 20 minutes southwest of Sedona in the Verde Valley. It is the practical answer for RVers who want developed camping near the red rocks without paying a private Sedona resort rate: 106 RV-capable sites across the Quail, Red-Tail and Cooper's Hawk loops, potable water and 30/50-amp electric at the pad, hot showers, a dump station, three fishing lagoons and trails linking to the Verde River Greenway. It suits budget-minded Sedona day-trippers and anyone who wants a real state-park stay rather than an overflow lot.
| Hookups | Water + 30/50-amp electric; dump |
|---|---|
| Sites | 127 sites across multiple loops; some accommodate rigs up to 40 feet |
| Max RV length | Exact site; most pull-through motorhomes 40 ft / combinations 65 ft |
| Cost | $50 + fee |
| Fees | $3.60 reservation fee; no sewer at the site; generators prohibited. |
| Reservations | Up to 365 days |
| Season | Year-round |
| Dump station | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Cell signal | Moderate; Verizon and T-Mobile are serviceable |
| Pets | Allowed on leash |
| Generators | Prohibited |
Source-backed: Official Arizona State Parks camping page (checked 2026-08-05). Rates and site details change — verify with the operator before you book. Compare it with every other park we track in the price index.
Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a year-round Arizona state park campground in Cottonwood, about 20 minutes southwest of Sedona in the Verde Valley. It is the practical answer for RVers who want developed camping near the red rocks without paying a private Sedona resort rate: 106 RV-capable sites across the Quail, Red-Tail and Cooper's Hawk loops, potable water and 30/50-amp electric at the pad, hot showers, a dump station, three fishing lagoons and trails linking to the Verde River Greenway. It suits budget-minded Sedona day-trippers and anyone who wants a real state-park stay rather than an overflow lot.
Practically, this is partial hookups only, with no sewer at the site; registered campers use the dump station free. Most pull-throughs take 40-foot motorhomes or 65-foot truck-and-trailer combinations, but the individual site record controls. Electric sites run $50 a night plus a $3.60 reservation fee, bookable up to 365 days out; the park often sells out in spring and fall. Generators are prohibited, so the pedestal matters. The trade-off is the commute up 89A into Sedona, and the separate Blackhawk loop is tent-only, so its cheaper $25 rate is not an RV option.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Full review
Dead Horse Ranch State Park Camping: RV Sites & Fees (2026)Verified Dead Horse Ranch State Park camping guide covering the $50 RV fee, 106 electric sites, loop sizes, 65-foot combination fit, reservations, showers, dump station, and Sedona trade-offs.
Regional guide
Arizona RV Parks: The Snowbird's Complete GuideLocated in nearby Cottonwood, about twenty minutes from Sedona, Dead Horse Ranch is the budget-conscious alternative. The park sits along the Verde River with decent shade trees and a more relaxed atmosphere than the Sedona corridor.
Is Sedona worth $100-plus per night? For a week, almost certainly yes — the hiking alone justifies it. For a month-long snowbird stay, the math gets punishing fast. The smart move is basing in Camp Verde or Cottonwood and treating Sedona as a day-trip destination. You get the scenery without the nightly rate eating through your winter budget.
Read the guide →Regional guide
Sedona RV Parks & Camping: Red Rock Country on a Budget (Sort Of)Dead Horse Ranch is not in Sedona. It is in Cottonwood, about 20 minutes southwest, and it is the option that saves your budget without making you feel like you are roughing it. This is a well-run Arizona State Park with a developed campground, lagoon fishing, creek access, and trails that connect to the Verde River Greenway.
The park's Quail, Red-Tail, and Cooper's Hawk loops contain 106 RV-capable sites with water and 30/50-amp electric. There are no sewer connections at the sites, but registered campers can use the dump station and showers. The separate 17-site Blackhawk loop is tent-only: RVs, camper vans, and truck campers are not permitted there.
The drive into Sedona from Dead Horse Ranch uses 89A and adds a commute compared with staying in town. The trade-off is that the state-park setting includes lagoons, the Verde River Greenway, trails, showers, and a dump station. Electric sites currently cost $50 per night plus the $3.60 reservation fee, so this is no longer a bargain-basement campground—but it can still undercut a premium private park.
Read our complete Dead Horse Ranch State Park camping review for the loop breakdown, rig-fit rules, cancellation deadlines, and the important tent-only restriction.
Read the guide →Our verdict
Book Dead Horse Ranch if you want partial hookups, showers and a year-round Verde Valley base for Sedona at a public-park price. Skip it if you need sewer at the site, a generator, or a campsite right under the red rocks.
No. RV sites have potable water and 30/50-amp electric but no sewer. A dump station is free for registered campers.
Electric campsites are $50 per night plus a nonrefundable $3.60 reservation fee. The $25 nonelectric rate applies only to the tent-only Blackhawk loop.
Most pull-through sites accommodate motorhomes up to 40 feet or truck-and-trailer combinations up to 65 feet, but that is not guaranteed for every pad. Enter your full equipment length and confirm the individual site record.
About 20 minutes, driving up 89A from Cottonwood. Leave the RV set up and take a smaller vehicle into Sedona.
Yes. Arizona State Parks accepts reservations up to 365 days ahead and at least one day before arrival. Peak-season weekends require two nights and the park often sells out in spring and fall.
No. Generators are prohibited throughout the campground, and quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Compare alternatives before you book — or browse the whole Arizona hub.