Arizona / Coconino County / Coconino National Forest

Bonito Campground

Closed — Closed for winter. Operates from early May to mid-October. 22 sites are reservable via Recreation.gov and 22 sites are first-come, first-served.

About

Bonito Campground is named for the Bonito Lava Flow which oozed across this high desert plain some 900 years ago. That river of liquid rock, now frozen forever, is just one of the many remnants of volcanic activity which lend an otherworldly appearance to this starkly beautiful place. Though the cinder cones, lava squeeze-ups, lava caves, and petrified rock bubbles that dot the landscape became inactive over a century ago, they all look as if they could have been spurting and spouting just yesterday. Located 18 miles northeast of Flagstaff near Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments, the campground offers 44 single-unit sites set among ponderosa pines struggling to establish a foothold in this volcanic environment. Twenty-two sites are available by reservation and 22 are first-come, first-served. All sites feature picnic tables, fire rings, and cooking grills, with paved roads and spurs throughout. The campground provides flush toilets, drinking water, and a campfire program auditorium. Maximum RV/trailer length is 42 feet, and no hookups are available. Popular activities include hiking, wildlife viewing, and exploring the nearby national monuments and their visitor centers.

Directions

Drive 12 miles northeast of Flagstaff on US 89. Turn east (right) on FR 545 (toward Sunset Crater Volcano) and drive 2 miles to Bonito Campground. Campground entrance is just before the entrance station of Sunset Crater National Monument.

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