We are open all year and have some of the most desirable camping sites near Bisbee AZ; we have 108 full hook ups sites with 30 and 50 amp. Power water and sewer that can accommodate any size of motor home or camp trailer. We also have tent camping on grass sites close to the bathroom and showers.
Explore Santa Cruz County and Southeast Arizona
The following links are provided as a convenience only; they are not a recommendation of any product, service, or organization. Arizona State Parks maintains this list at its own discretion. Links will open in a new window and leave the Arizona State Parks website.
Patagonia, AZ
Patagonia is a defunct mining town that is now surrounded by opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing. It is located 12 miles from the park and has restaurants and a selection of shops featuring uniquely crafted works of art and antiques. Just southwest of Patagonia is The Nature Conservancy with a riparian area that meanders through the Cottonwood lined Sonoita Creek.
Fort Huachuca
An active military base established in 1877 as a base for American soldiers fighting the Indian Wars and was home to the Buffalo Soldiers. It is about 52 miles from Patagonia Lake and requires a 1 1/4 hour drive. The Fort Huachuca Museum highlights early military history. Visitors will need a driver's license and vehicle information when you register at the front gate. Call (520) 533-3638.
City of Tombstone, AZ
The 'Town too Tough to Die' and location of the OK Corral and Boot Hill Cemetery is located 63 miles from the park and requires a 1 1/2 hour drive. Shops line the main walkways, gunfight re-enactments, stagecoach rides and other amusements are to be found. The Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park dates back to 1882 as the Cochise County Courthouse. It houses many artifacts from the various eras of Tombstone's history in the museum and serves as a resource for historical researchers. Contact the Tombstone Chamber of Commerce at P. O. Box 995, 4th and Allen, Tombstone, AZ 85638. Phone (520) 457-9317, or toll free (888) 457-3929.
Bisbee, AZ
The city of Bisbee is located 76 miles Southeast of the park and requires a two hour drive. It is a curious mix of the old and the new. The downtown historic district recalls the wild days as a booming mining town, while the newer parts of town carry on as a modern municipality. See the large, open lavender pit or take the Copper Queen underground mine tour. Contact the Bisbee Visitor Center at #2 Copper Queen Plaza and Convention Center, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Phone (520) 432-3554, or toll free (866)-2BISBEE.
Cochise Stronghold
is named for the legendary Apache chief who evaded U.S. troops by hiding in the rugged hills and canyons of the Dragoon Mountains. It is located about 97 miles east of the park and takes two hours to drive to. History, hiking trails and picnic opportunities await the visitor in this scenic 'hideaway'. Phone (520) 364-3468 or (520) 364-6800.
- Bisbee, 90 miles southeast of Tucson and nestled amongst the Mule Mountains, is the picturesque county seat of historic Cochise County. The community was founded in 1880 and named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee, a financial backer of the Copper Queen Mine.
- Bisbee Grand Hotel. 61 Main Street Bisbee, AZ 85603 www.bisbeegrandhotel.com.
Amerind Foundation
The Amerind Foundation is hidden among the Dells of Texas Canyon in the Dragoon Mountains. It is located about 59 miles to the East off of I-10, about a 1 ¼ hour drive from Patagonia Lake. It features a museum of Native American artifacts and artwork and serves as an archaeological research center. Contact them by phone at (520) 586-3666.
San Pedro River Riparian Natural Area
This natural area is a long vegetated strip, 37 miles long that runs down the center of the San Pedro River valley. The San Pedro House serves as a visitor center and trailhead and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The San Pedro natural area is about 1 1/2 hour from Patagonia Lake and it is an ideal location for hiking and nature viewing, especially as a shady retreat during the warmer months. Phone (520) 439-6400.
Nogales
The city of Nogales is the main border entry point into Mexico from southeastern Arizona. It is located approximately 16 miles southwest of the park and requires ½ hour of travel time. The town of Nogales (from the Spanish word for walnut) is actually two towns, one on each side of the border. Shopping and entertainment are the main attractions, especially for those who enjoy the challenge of haggling for a bargain. Due to changing laws regarding documents required for crossing, it is recommended that you call U.S. Customs prior to your trip for up to date information. Call with questions at (520) 287-1410. You may also call (520) 885-0694 for more information. You may also contact the Nogales-SCC Chamber of Commerce Office at 123 W. Kino Park Way, Nogales, AZ 85621. Phone (520) 287-3685.
Whipple Observatory
The Smithsonian institution's visitor center is located about 53 miles north of the park in the Santa Rita Range of the Coronado National Forest. The visitor center conducts guided tours of The Fred Whipple Observatory, located on Mt Hopkins, for the general public from March through November. Please call 520-670-5707 for more information.
Titan Missile Museum
The Titan Missile Museum showcases the dramatic vestiges of the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union and is located about an hour from Patagonia Lake State Park. This Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile site housed the first liquid propellant missile that could be launched from underground. For more information call 520-625-7736.
Wineries of Sonoita
The following wineries are located around the small town of Sonoita approximately ½ hour from Patagonia Lake and are open to the public:
Dos Cabezas Wine Works, 520-455-5141
Rancho Rossa Vineyards, 520-455-0700
Callaghan Vineyards, 520-455-5322
Village of Elgin, 520-455-9390
Sonoita Vineyards, 520-455-5893
A trip to Tucson hardly seems complete without a day spent 70 miles southeast of the city. In Tombstone, famed shootouts of the Old West are regularly re-enacted and the cream-of-the-crop saloon, theater and gambling parlor is open for touring. Twenty-five minutes down the highway, mining history is proudly highlighted in scenic and friendly Bisbee, a history-laden town set among hilly green landscapes just above a mile high. And both offer plenty of shopping distractions for Western-wear fashionistas, jewelry collectors and fine-art admirers.
Set the alarm clock, fuel up the car, plug in the GPS (though you'll barely need it) and escape the city for a day in cooler temps around small-town charm and the artistic and Western flair of Southern Arizona's mining towns.
Begin in Bisbee
The farthest of the two towns from your starting point in Tucson is just over an hour-and-a-half drive. Take Interstate 10 east to Highway 80. Along Highway 80, about 20 miles south of Tombstone, landscapes begin to change into rolling green hills. Enter a mountain tunnel and the town of Bisbee is just on the other side nestled between the hills.
Plan to arrive no later than mid-morning for a bite to eat at Bisbee Breakfast Club at the south end of town. After filling up on potato cakes with applesauce or huevos rancheros, make your way to Bisbee's Queen Mine for a tour.
Though no longer in operation, the mine produced millions of pounds of copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc in its nearly 100 years of operation. Visitors are dressed with a yellow jacket, brown leather belt, hard hat and flashlight before boarding the miniature open-sided train that enters into the mine. Once inside, a guide (often a former miner) explains the history of the mining operation and the equipment used throughout the decades. Pay attention for fun anecdotes about the miners' sense of humor, and don't be afraid to ask your friendly guide questions about the mining lifestyle.
Next up is Main Street, located just a half mile east (on the other side of Highway 80) from the mine tour. Park along the street or in designated lots and spend an hour or two peeking in and out of quaint shops and galleries. It is not uncommon to be serenaded by talented street musicians while wandering this part of town. Enjoy the free-spirited vibe and, if time allows, stop in for a coffee at Bisbee Coffee Company or lunch at neighboring Bisbee's Table, and take a tour the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum across the street.
An Afternoon in Tombstone
By mid-afternoon, it's time to retrace Highway 80 back to Tombstone for a blast from the Wild West. Park at the corner of 6th and Allen streets and take a selfie in front of the 'Town Too Tough to Die' sign. It's one of Arizona's many selfie-friendly works of art and may prove to be the perfect album cover for your Southern Arizona trip.
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Between 6th and 3rd streets, Allen Street remains a historical Old West town—a dirt road, horse and carriage transportation (no cars allowed), saloons and gunfights (albeit staged).
Top must-visit stops for the afternoon are the O.K. Corral, where visitors get a glimpse of the Old West through staged re-enactments, and the iconic Bird Cage Theatre, said to be the most elite theater, gambling hall and saloon during the days Allen Street's red-light district was in full swing. The theater remains intact with relics from its operating days in addition to many town artifacts. Bullet holes from past shootouts are visible and tales claim the building to be haunted—'Ghost Hunters' filmed an episode there in 2006.
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Afterward, shop for Westernwear and Southwestern jewelry at Bronco Trading, Spur Western Wear, Arlene's and other neighboring shops.
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Drop by for a wine tasting at Silver Mine Winery and settle in for dinner at one of the street's historically intact saloons, such as Big Nose Kate's or the Crystal Palace.
If time allows, the Rose Tree Museum just south of Allen Street on 4th Street houses plenty of interesting Tombstone artifacts with accompanying stories, and what is claimed to be the world's largest rose tree has taken over the courtyard. And before leaving Tombstone, stop by the Boothill Graveyard. Tombstones and a corresponding map tell of the cowboys, miners and passerby victims who experienced the Wild West days of Tombstone but never made it out.
The drive back to the city may be just long enough to jog minds back to present day. Though Tucson's historical sites, Western shops and cultural attractions are an obvious choice for any vacation itinerary, don't miss the opportunity to road trip to these small towns for unique mining-day and Wild West experiences.
