Campgrounds and RV parks near Sanders, AZ

Sanders sits along Interstate 40 in Apache County, northeastern Arizona, at roughly 5,700 feet on the Colorado Plateau. The town works as a quiet high-desert base between Gallup, New Mexico and Holbrook, Arizona, with the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park roughly 45 minutes to the west and the Navajo Nation extending north. RV travelers use Sanders as a low-traffic overnight stop off I-40 or as a launch point for day trips into the national park, Canyon de Chelly, and the Chuska Mountains. Gateway To The Petrified Forest RV Resort is the closest full-service option to the park's south entrance, while USA RV Park in nearby Gallup offers a larger commercial park with pull-through sites. For lake-based camping, Lyman Lake State Park lies south near St. Johns, and St Johns RV Resort provides a small-town base closer to the White Mountains. Asaayi Lake South Shore in Bowl Canyon sits on Navajo Nation land in the Chuska Mountains for travelers wanting a more remote setting, though access and camping status can change seasonally.

Reservation systems vary by campground type. Lyman Lake State Park uses the Arizona State Parks reservation system, bookable online at azstateparks.com or by phone at 1-877-MY-PARKS. The park has 56 campsites, including 38 hookup sites (13 with sewer) and 18 non-hookup sites, plus camping cabins, and there is no maximum RV length. A non-refundable reservation fee applies per site. Private parks including USA RV Park, St Johns RV Resort, and Gateway To The Petrified Forest RV Resort accept direct bookings through their websites or by phone, and typically appear on major RV booking platforms. Asaayi Lake South Shore falls under the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department. Permits, entry fees, and current camping status should be confirmed at navajonationparks.org or by phone before arrival, and a separate Navajo Nation fishing license is required to fish.