U.S. Forest Service · Tonto National Forest · Roosevelt, AZ

Schoolhouse Campground

Schoolhouse Campground is located in close proximity to the eastern shores of Roosevelt Lake with an elevation of 2,100 feet. Roosevelt is Arizona's largest lake offering a number of great water based recreation opportunites such as fishing, motorized and non-motorized boating, and lakeside hiking.

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Arizona · reservable in Arizona · big rigs in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Schoolhouse CampgroundSchoolhouse Campground Information KioskSchoolhouse Campground Self-pay StationSchoolhouse Rec. Site
Photos courtesy of Tonto NF, Conservation Legacy · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups40
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 32 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

40 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
166Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront20 / 6YesStandard
167Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront10 / 3YesStandard
168Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront10 / 3YesStandard
169Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront10 / 3YesStandard
170Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront10 / 3YesStandard
171Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront10 / 3YesStandard
172Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront10 / 3YesStandard
173Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront20 / 6YesStandard
174Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront20 / 6YesStandard
175Pull-through50GravelPartialLakefront10 / 3YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 10:00 AM.

Campground map of Schoolhouse Campground
Campground map published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to Tonto NF. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length50 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 179, 195, 198, 199 are listed accessible

This campground offers 40 campsites within Mesquite Loop, which can accomidate RVs, trailers, and multi-vehicle parking. Each individual campsite has the capacity to hold 10 individuals and 3 vehicles, while the double campsites can hold up to 20 individuals with 6 vehicles. Most sites offer pull through parking, a shade ramada, picnic tables, and campfire rings with grills. This site also offers fully accessible campsites with paved parking and stand-up grills. Other amentities include a paved boat launch area for motorized and non-motorized boating, and vault toilets.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonYear-round
ForestTonto National Forest
Fees$20/site/night; $40/site/night for double camp unit; America the Beautiful Interagency Senior or Access Pass holders receive 50% discount (persons over 62 or have a permanent disability) for single camp units only. Campground fees must be paid for at the fee machine located at the campground.
Rules14-day stay limit. Trailers under 32 feet. Please use trash receptacles when available. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. Rules and regulations are posted on bulletin board. Please observe. Quiet hours 10:00 pm to 6:00 am (running generators are not permitted during quiet hours).

Tonto National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Schoolhouse Campground50°60°70°80°90°100°January: 2.21 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.70 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.72 inches of precipitationApril: 0.58 inches of precipitationMay: 0.33 inches of precipitationJune: 0.13 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.57 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.10 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.42 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.98 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.08 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.09 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 50.3°F averageFebruary: 54.1°F averageMarch: 60.6°F averageApril: 68.1°F averageMay: 77.1°F averageJune: 87.2°F averageJuly: 90.9°F averageAugust: 89.2°F averageSeptember: 83.4°F averageOctober: 72.0°F averageNovember: 59.5°F averageDecember: 50.1°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 in2.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Roosevelt 1 S, 6 miles from the campground at 2,605 feet, station USC00027281 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 16 inches a year.

Getting there

This site is located 11 miles south of the historic Roosevelt Dam. From Mesa: Take the State Hwy. 87/Beeline Highway north for about 60 miles to the junction with State Hwy. 88. Continue on State Hwy. 88 south for 8 miles to Forest Road (FR) 447/Schoolhouse Recreation Site. Turn left and continue for 4 miles to the site.

Nearest townRoosevelt, Arizona
Coordinates33.6502° N, 111.0122° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Water is not available at this recreational area.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D2 Sinkhole Rx

    46 mi from the campground · 875 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗19.6 mi
RV sales & serviceRV Park Model Traders ↗37.1 mi
Outdoor gearGold Dog Tents ↗42.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Private Campground in Northern California II Schoolhouse Canyon

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Tonto National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground loop provides spacious sites perfect for RVs and trailers with mesquite trees throughout, and views of the mountains and native Sonoran Desert plants and wildlife. This is a small campground ideal for individuals or families looking for a quiet area to get away.

Recreation

Schoolhouse Campground offers easy access to Roosevelt Lake with a paved boat ramp. This provides excellent opportunities for boating, kayaking, canoeing, and other water-based recreation activites. Fishing is another popular activity where anglers fish for Largemouth and Small mouth Bass; Crappie; Sunfish; Channel and Flathead Catfish. Other activities in this area include, hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, and photography.

Nearby

Two National Scenic Byways (AZ Hwy 88 Apache Trail and AZ Hwy 288 Spines to Pines Highway). Roosevelt Dam, Tonto National Monument, the Arizona Trail, endless miles of jeep trails, Towns of Payson and Globe, Superstition, Sierra Ancha, and Four Peaks Wilderness'. Don't forget to stop by the Tonto Basin Environmental Center learn about the history of the area.

Guidebooks for Tonto National Forest and Arizona

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Day & overnight hikes, Arizona's Tonto National Forest
    Tony Padegimas, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Arizona
    Bruce Grubbs, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Tent Camping: Arizona
    Kirstin Olmon Phillips and Kelly Phillips, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Schoolhouse Campground?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Schoolhouse Campground?

$20/site/night; $40/site/night for double camp unit; America the Beautiful Interagency Senior or Access Pass holders receive 50% discount (persons over 62 or have a permanent disability) for single camp units only. Campground fees must be paid for at the fee machine located at the campground.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Schoolhouse Campground?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 10:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Schoolhouse Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year-round.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Schoolhouse Campground have?

40 sites, including 40 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Schoolhouse Campground?

The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Schoolhouse Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Schoolhouse Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Schoolhouse Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. 14-day stay limit.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Schoolhouse Campground?

Sites 179, 195, 198, and 199 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Schoolhouse Campground?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Schoolhouse Campground?

Schoolhouse Campground offers easy access to Roosevelt Lake with a paved boat ramp. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Schoolhouse Campground?

Roosevelt, Arizona. Two National Scenic Byways (AZ Hwy 88 Apache Trail and AZ Hwy 288 Spines to Pines Highway).

Source: Getting there