Picacho Peak State Park

Picacho Peak State Park is located at mile 219 on Interstate 10, about midway between Phoenix and Tucson. It is only open seasonally between mid-September and mid-May. It's well known for a 4 mile hike to the top of Picacho Peak, and can be busy during the winter months. The park entrance is within 1/4 mile of the freeway.

There are three loops in the camp area with a total of 85 individual camp sites. Each site has power (up to 50 amp) but no water or sewer at the individual sites. There is a dump site near the entrance to the campground loops. All of the sites have a paved driveway. Most have a picnic table and a tent pad. Because of the location there is some train and freeway noise that reaches the campsites.

Picacho Peak is the location of the western-most battle of the Civil War. The park hosts a reenactment every year, usually the 3rd weekend in March. This draws re-enactors from all around the southwest.

Also on the south side of the freeway interchange is the Arizona Nut House. It was closed, perhaps because the state legislature is in session. Maybe after the session some of those nuts could return to the Nut House.

The sign suggested the Nickerson Farms Restaurant might be a place for breakfast, but all that is left is the sign.

There were two other businesses on the south side of the freeway, a former gas station selling very tired looking used cars, and an Adult Boutique in a hot pink building without any customers.

On the north side of the freeway, Dairy Queen offers Unleaded and Mid-Unleaded Breakfasts until 11 a.m. every day.

In spite of the tired neighborhood, the park offers big views, great campsites, free hot showers, strong AT&T & Verizon cell signals, and an excellent pay-for-use WiFi system. Not a bad spot to spend some time if you're in the neighborhood before the temperatures hit triple digits.