RV Park Review – Point Of Rocks RV Park, Prescott AZ
A cozy, natural-feeling RV park in a fabulous location amongst the Granite Dells rocks just next to Prescott, central AZ
Link to RV park info here: Point of Rocks RV Park, Prescott, AZ
Link to map location here: Point of Rocks RV Park, Prescott, AZ
- Site quality = 3.5/5
Natural-feeling, but very mixed site quality here. The sites at Point of Rocks RV park are arranged in 2 main loops (“lower park” #1-46 and “upper park” #46A-98) surrounded by the gorgeous Granite Dell rocks, mature trees and bushes. Because sites are located within the rocks, they are unevenly spaced and the entire campground feels much more like a public park than a private one. This makes for very “natural” feel, but also means site quality is very mixed. All sites are basic dirt with full hookups (either 30amp/water/sewer or 50amp/water/sewer) and separate “sitting area” containing picnic table. Majority of sites are back-ins with only 4 pull-throughs out of 98 total sites. Where the big variation comes in is size and arrangement. Some sites are huge, spacious & flat with excellent privacy (trees, bushes) whereas other sites are small, cramped and uneven with limited to no privacy. Upper park sites tend to be bigger (in general) than lower park, but it’s a bit of a mish-mash throughout, so it just depends which site you end up with. Most sites have lovely rock views, but a select few in lower loop (particularly around 10-12) have select valley views too. - Facilities = 3.5/5
Two shower/toilet facilities on-site here (one for lower loop, one for upper), both of which were rather dated. Shower temp/pressure was good altho’ the shower heads in top loop facilities were mounted too low (= required some shower “limbo dancing” on my part). Other than this the showers had decent space and all facilities were impeccably clean. - Amenities = 2.5/5
Limited amenities here. There is a very nice laundromat on-site by lower loop, kept impeccably clean with 4 machines (good price too -> $1 wash, $0.75 dry). Office offers DVD & books for loan and there is free on-site WiFi which works so-so (some days it was great, some days it was terrible). No other amenities. - Location = 5/5
One of the big draws of this park is its excellent location. It is just NE of Prescott, right next to the fabulous Granite Dells so you have endless miles of hiking/biking directly from camp. Also it is only ~10 minutes from downtown with all the shopping (Trader Joe’s, Costco, Whole Foods etc.), eating & entertainment you could want. Great location all-around. - Pet friendliness = 5/5
Fabulous spot for doggie. There is good space in your campsite (depending which site you get) and direct access to MILES of dog-friendly hiking in the Granite Dells right next-door. Poo bags provides on-site. (Note/ Watson Lake is also hiking distance from the park, but it was full of algae and not good for doggie swimming, so hiking is your best doggie option here. There are also several off-leash doggie parks around town).
Overall rating = 3.9
BONUS ALERT = Camp amongst the gorgeous Granite Dells rocks only minutes from downtown Prescott!
Summary: We wanted to stay somewhere close to Prescott and had other RV buddies who’d raved about this place, so we took a chance and booked 2 weeks here. It ended up being a wonderful choice. The park is in an excellent location, right in the middle of the gorgeous Granite Dells (miles of hiking, biking, rock exploring right from your site) and only minutes from downtown. Since it’s located within the rocks, the sites are arranged in a rather “dispersed” format around 2 main loops (upper and lower), giving the park a very “public park” type feel and none of the side-by-side rigidity of a typical private park. This makes for an incredibly peaceful/natural atmosphere, but also means there is a lot of variation in site quality. Sites are all dirt, mostly back-in with a choice of either 30amp/water/sewer or 50amp/water/sewer. Some sites are large, spacious and very private whereas others are cramped, small and too close together. It’s a bit of a mish-mash throughout, so just depends where you end up. Smaller rigs definitely have more site choices here, and some of the roads getting around the campground are a bit cramped, but overall there are plenty of sites to fit just about anyone except perhaps the biggest rigs. Most views are of rocks & trees, but a select few sites (esp. in lower loop) have valley views too. The park offers decent daily rates, but even better weekly/monthly rates, the owners are super friendly and the location is awesome. We absolutely loved the natural feel and location of this park and spent all of our time either hiking/biking/bouldering directly from camp or exploring downtown. A definite recommend!
Extra Info: Free on-site WiFi, which was so-so (sometimes it worked well, sometimes it didn’t). VARIABLE cell signal which definitely benefited from boosting. In upper loop we had 1 bar unboosted Verizon LTE and 2 bars unboosted ATT LTE (of the two, ATT was the fastest/most stable). 98 sites total with either 30amp/water/electric or 50amp/water/electric. Sites cost $33.50/night or $200/week ($180 for 2nd week). Monthly rates & Good Sam’s discount (on daily rate) available.
We stayed there a couple of years ago and really liked it. Great review!
This looks exactly like the kind of park and location that we enjoy. Thanks once again for your wonderful reviews, Nina!
This place would most definitely be right up your alley!
Nina
Great write up and review! I am kind of enjoying being a couple of weeks behind everyone heading south so I can see what is ahead of me, ha-ha. I am working my way down towards Prescott but will preferably be boondocking. I hope everyone is staying healthy. Cheers!
Jeff
Not much boondocking close to town (that I know of), but there are several nice Forest Service campgrounds not far away. Our local friends told us White Spar (south of town) was quite lovely. Haven’t been to scope it out, so can’t say more, but maybe that would be an option for you? Also once you get further south on I-89 I believe Prescott NF allows dispersed camping in the forest. I researched this a few years back, but it looked too small (roads too windy, forest too thick) for “the beast”. If you’re smaller in size however it may be worth checking out. Prescott NF publishes a MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map) which shows you exactly which roads legally allow dispersed camping. Check & download here:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/prescott/maps-pubs
Nina
Thank you very much 🙂
We have been on the road for six days now, on day lay over in Wyoming, but are heading south. Made it to our destination, Kingman AZ today, our rig has a problem with slide outs, problem is they won’t and the parts are no longer available off the shelf since the rig is an 03 and Rexhall went out of business in 12. they had to order part, 2 weeks to get here. So we found a nice spot in Golden Shores Az about 50 miles south of Kingman on goose lake. Not bad spot full service and good WIFI. We are here, thanks to you folks who make full timing look like such a wonderful idea. We will be a bit crowded for a couple of weeks but then we can spread out. At only 105 bucks a week, I guess we can live with that as well.
Bummer about the slide problem (we know aaaall about that from our first year on the road), but hopefully it’s an easy fix once you manage to track down the parts. $105/week is a deal for hookups and Kingman should be decently sunny and warm.
Nina
How fun to read a park review in our home (domicile) area!
So glad you enjoyed Point of Rocks. You did get one of the nice big sites with room to sit outside. It was great to be able to hike to the cool Granite Dells right from the park:) We love the rocks and trails. The kayaking was great fun, too!
See you Thursday!!
We did indeed get one of the bigger sites. Some of the smaller sites we wouldn’t have had any space to sit outside at all. It’s definitely a total Mish mash of site quality here.
Nina
Thanks for all your posts about the Prescott area, hope to spend some time there someday and have saved your post notes for that. Also happy you visited the wonderful Bayfield gang.
We live in Anchorage, snowbird in Merritt Island Florida and do mini trips to many locations. Prescott is on the list.
Thanks again.
Wow! You guys drive some serious miles each year! Alaska to Florida. What great places to summer and winter though.
Nina
Spot on review. We usually, having been to Point of Rocks only 5-6 times now, request sites 68-73, last year spending I think 10 days in site 69. Depending upon the time of the year, the sunsets are a bit different. We like the upper section, due to less road noise.
And if I missed it I’m sorry, but Point of Rocks has several sites that are dedicated to year round occupation. Some are in ‘habitat’s’ that will probably break apart if every attempt to move. (Well maintained, but with additions, and age, really no longer ‘mobile’ living spaces.)
Don’t get me wrong, we like the park, and agree that it is well maintained on the restroom/shower/laundry review perspective. And, sites not used mostly year round, are well maintained. While we like the views of the upper loop ‘rim’ section, we have been also pleased with the privacy of some of the non view sites. And have never had a problem with any of the longer term residence, and their upkeep of their sites.
WE’ve also always had cheerful and very helpful experience with the staff. Really respect the founder of the park, who last year was ‘checking in – via a multiple time drive thru’ with in his Volvo. But also with his son, who sure seems to be straightforward in his dealing with guests, long tremors, and staff.
Nina highlighted the positives/negatives of Point of Rocks well. But I want to point out how much my wife and personally appreciate the tenacity of the founder, Dad, in the building and expanding of what Point of Rocks is today. Many would have ran from the massive effort of cutting, and probably blasting, thru rocks, in order to facilitate the upper loop part of the park. Salute.
Nina’s review of the dog friendliness of the area is also spot on…
But, picking up on a them form her earlier general post on her and Paul’s travel, with the ‘sickness; part pointed out. I want to repeat my post on that thread, about not every trying to go to Prescott, or Point of Rocks. Yep, not the place for you. Instead, consider a cliff hanging side street in Jerome, and do the tours available!! Yep, you can just stop in the apex of a tight corner. And do level as best as you can, as no one will be getting around you. Yep, Jerome’s is the place for RV’ers (NOT!). Just skip Point of Rocks…. and Prescott…
Great review Nina, as usual!
Smitty
Good point about the permanent resident sites. I forgot to mention them, but like you said I found all the permanent sites to be well maintained and the people friendly. Our site was actually right next to three permanent resident sites (#56C, 56D, 56E), all of whom were respectful and quiet.
And I did like the owners a lot. Very friendly and inviting folk. I was a bit worried when I booked coz the lady on the phone said they don’t use computers and just keep track of reservations using a big white board with sticky notes. But it seems to work for them! They had our booking ready when we arrived and were all-around lovely people.
Nina
You really should be getting free or reduced fees from the parks where you stay. Your reviews are always better than their websites! Another wonderful park, and in an area where we plan to be in the Spring so it’s definitely on the list :-)))))
Thanks! We’ve actually been offered free stays in a few spots, but have never taken any of them. I’m always a bit worried that accepting a free stay would somehow influence my review of the place. As long as I’m a paying customer I feel I can say what I want 🙂
Nina
Thanks for the review. I noticed you showed that as current location and was waiting for the review. We may make that our first stop on the way south in January before heading to Quartzsite.
It’s a sweet spot to visit. Just keep a watch on the temps. Since Prescott is at just over 5,000 ft altitude it can get pretty chilly in winter (we saw snow one of the days we stayed here!).
Nina
Based on your review, we added this to our must stay list when we’re in the area until we read the dog policy. Maybe a 5/5 on pet friendliness if you have less than two (or even one “scary” dog), but more than two, you are out of luck.
Ah bummer…didn’t catch the 2-dog limit. Thanks for mentioning it.
Nina
Awesome review. Just bought a 2012 Thor ACE and will be making our first of many trips to South Florida where we use to live and still have family. I enjoy your blog and hope to one day be full timing RV’er. Keep the post coming.
The Diaz Family
Thanks for the great review. We had planned to spend a couple of weeks there when we leave Mesa in the spring. We enjoyed kayaking in Watson’s Lake the last time we went thru there.
i just check Point of Rocks RV Park, Prescott, AZ. the new rate as of march 15 2017 is 42 bucks a night.