Full review
Gilbert Ray Campground Review: Fees, Sites & ReservationsAn honest Gilbert Ray Campground review with the current $35 fee, 138 sites, 40-foot total-rig limit, reservation rules and seasonal closure.
County park · Tucson · Arizona
Gilbert Ray Campground is a Pima County public campground in the desert west of Tucson, Arizona, next to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and about five minutes from the western entrance of Saguaro National Park. It is a landscape campground rather than a resort: 130 electric RV sites and eight tent-only sites among dense saguaro forest, with the Bajada Loop Drive practically at the gate. It suits snowbirds, photographers, and birders who would rather have cactus and dusk light than pickleball courts.
| Hookups | 20/30/50-amp electric only; dump |
|---|---|
| Sites | 130 RV sites plus 8 tent-only sites |
| Max RV length | 40 ft total vehicle |
| Cost | $35 |
| Fees | Closed May 1–Aug 31, 2026. |
| Reservations | Reservation only |
| Season | September 1–April 30; closed May 1–August 31 |
| Dump station | One for registered campers |
Source-backed: Official Pima County policies (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.
Gilbert Ray Campground is a Pima County public campground in the desert west of Tucson, Arizona, next to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and about five minutes from the western entrance of Saguaro National Park. It is a landscape campground rather than a resort: 130 electric RV sites and eight tent-only sites among dense saguaro forest, with the Bajada Loop Drive practically at the gate. It suits snowbirds, photographers, and birders who would rather have cactus and dusk light than pickleball courts.
Every RV pedestal has 20/30/50-amp electric, but there is no water or sewer at the pad, and one dump station serves registered campers. The RV rate is $35 a night, every site is reservation-only up to a year ahead, and stays are capped at seven days followed by seven days out. The season runs September 1 through April 30; the campground is closed May 1 through August 31. The hard limit is 40 feet for the complete traveling combination including tow vehicle and carriers. The trade-off is that short-stay rule and the lack of water at the site, plus a routing note: Gates Pass is not recommended for RVs or trailers over 24 feet, so rigs over 25 feet should come in via Ajo Highway and Kinney Road.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Full review
Gilbert Ray Campground Review: Fees, Sites & ReservationsAn honest Gilbert Ray Campground review with the current $35 fee, 138 sites, 40-foot total-rig limit, reservation rules and seasonal closure.
Regional guide
Arizona RV Parks: The Snowbird's Complete GuideFor the snowbird who'd rather have saguaro cactus forests than pickleball courts. Gilbert Ray sits in the desert west of the city, adjacent to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum — one of the best natural history museums in the country and well worth a full day.
Read the guide →Regional guide
Tucson RV Parks & Campgrounds: Saguaro Country on Your ScheduleGilbert Ray is the public landscape campground west of Tucson. Pima County lists 138 total sites: 130 electric RV sites and eight tent-only sites. All RV pedestals provide 20/30/50-amp electricity; there is no water or sewer hookup at the pad, and one dump station serves registered campers.
The setting is the entire point. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum — one of the best natural history museums in the country, despite the misleading name — is a two-minute drive. The western entrance to Saguaro National Park is about five minutes. The Bajada Loop Drive through the park's densest saguaro forest starts practically at your doorstep. If you are a photographer, a birder, or someone who just wants to sit outside at dusk and watch the desert turn orange, Gilbert Ray is the campground.
The important restrictions are unusually clear. The maximum is 40 feet for the complete traveling combination, including tow vehicle and attached carriers. Every site is reservation-only, including Loop H, with booking up to one year ahead. Stays are limited to seven days followed by seven days out. The campground is open September 1–April 30 and closed May 1–August 31.
Route warning: Pima County says Gates Pass is not recommended for RVs or trailers over 24 feet and directs RVs over 25 feet to Ajo Highway and Kinney Road.
Read the guide →Our verdict
Book Gilbert Ray if you want electric among the saguaros for a week at a time in the cool season and can manage without water at the pad. Skip it if you run over 40 feet combined, need sewer, or want a month-long snowbird stay in one spot.
No. RV sites have 20/30/50-amp electric only, with no water or sewer at the pad. One dump station is available for registered campers.
$35 per night for an RV site and $10 for a tent-only site.
40 feet for the complete traveling combination, including tow vehicle and any attached carriers or extensions.
Yes. Every site, including Loop H, is reservation-only, and bookings open up to one year ahead. Stays are limited to seven days followed by seven days out of the park.
No. It is open September 1 through April 30 and closed May 1 through August 31.
About five minutes from the western entrance; the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a two-minute drive. Rigs over 25 feet should use Ajo Highway and Kinney Road rather than Gates Pass.
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