# Pine scent, crater lakes and elk in the headlights – by camper across the Mogollon Rim in Arizona’s White Mountains > From Payson and Tonto Natural Bridge via the Rim Road, Show Low and the land of the White Mountain Apache to Greer, Big Lake, Alpine and Springerville… Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-537-arizona-white-mountains-mogollon-rim/ **At a glance:** 7-day road trip of about 660 km (410 mi) with 14 stops, from Phoenix to Springerville. About 7 h 19 min of driving in total. Best time to go: April and October–November. No toll roads expected for a car. From Payson and Tonto Natural Bridge via the Rim Road, Show Low and the land of the White Mountain Apache to Greer, Big Lake, Alpine and Springerville: around 1,000 kilometres through Arizona’s cool high country between 1,500 and 2,800 metres. | | | |---|---| | Distance | approx. 660 km (410 mi) | | Driving | 7 h 19 min | | Suggested days | 7 | | Stops | 14 | | Route | Phoenix → Springerville | | States | AZ | | Best time to go | April and October–November | | Tolls and vignettes | None expected | | Updated | October 1, 2026 | [Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-537-arizona-white-mountains-mogollon-rim.gpx) Practical guides for this route: [Driving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-driving-rules-visitors/), [Fuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-fuel-tolls-distances/), [US national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-national-park-passes/) *From Payson and Tonto Natural Bridge via the Rim Road, Show Low and the land of the White Mountain Apache to Greer, Big Lake, Alpine and Springerville: around 1,000 kilometres through Arizona’s cool high country between 1,500 and 2,800 metres.* ## The spirit of the route If you only know Arizona as desert, this is where you meet the other half of the state. Beyond Payson the road climbs an escarpment several hundred metres high, the Mogollon Rim, and at the top begins the largest continuous ponderosa pine forest in North America. The air is suddenly cool and resinous, in the morning there is dew on the picnic table, and from the sliding door you look out over Woods Canyon Lake or over the edge down into blue, layered valleys. Further east, mountain meadows with aspens open up where elk herds graze in the evening, the Little Colorado River begins as a creek near Greer, and at over 2,700 metres the sky is mirrored in Big Lake. In between lies the land of the White Mountain Apache, with its own rules, and the deeply cut Salt River Canyon. In July and August thunderheads build up around midday – afterwards the forest smells of wet resin. ## Stage-by-stage plan ### Stage 1: Phoenix to Payson (approx. 175 km) - **The drive:** Phoenix is just the starting point: via Mesa and Fountain Hills onto AZ-87, the Beeline Highway, which climbs as a four-lane road out of the Sonoran Desert with its saguaros through the Mazatzal Mountains to around 1,500 metres. The grades are long but even; in summer keep an eye on engine and transmission temperature. Around 1.5 hours to Payson, then a good 15 kilometres further north to the turn-off for Tonto Natural Bridge. On Friday afternoons and Sundays the city’s weekend traffic backs up towards the mountains. Plenty of filling stations and supermarkets in Payson. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Tonto Natural Bridge State Park: one of the largest natural travertine bridges in the world, around 55 metres high over a tunnel through which Pine Creek flows. Short, steep paths lead down to the creek and under the bridge; day use only. The access road from AZ-87 is steep and winding – check the park’s advice on long trailer combinations and large motorhomes, as well as opening hours, on azstateparks.com. - Rim Country Museum and Zane Grey Cabin in Payson: small local history museum with a replica of the cabin where the Western author wrote his novels about the Rim Country. - View of the Mogollon Rim: even from Payson you can see the edge as a dark, forested band to the north – the stage for the coming days. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Houston Mesa Campground (Tonto National Forest): Forest Service campground right on AZ-87 north of Payson, several loops with RV sites, shower block and dump station. Reservations via recreation.gov; check hookups and maximum vehicle length when booking. In high summer it is full at weekends as people escape the heat of Phoenix. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Tonto National Forest, dispersed camping is only permitted on routes and in corridors shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM); around Payson there are areas where it is restricted because of overuse. Maximum stay is usually 14 days. Overnight stays are prohibited at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. - **Insider tip for campers:** Fill up the tank in Payson and stock up on food and water – up on the Rim there are only small shops for many kilometres. If you are towing a trailer, visit Tonto Natural Bridge as a side trip from the campground without the trailer. ### Stage 2: Payson to Woods Canyon Lake (approx. 90 km) - **The drive:** East on AZ-260 via Star Valley and through the valleys of Tonto Creek and Christopher Creek, then up a long, well-built climb onto the Rim at about 2,300 metres. At the top, at the Rim Visitor Information Station, Forest Road 300 branches off: the Rim Road, a gravel road running west right along the edge of the escarpment. The section to Woods Canyon Lake is short; the access road to the lake and the campgrounds is paved. Only compact vehicles are suitable for exploring further west on FR 300 – washboard, potholes and mud when it rains. Driving time around 1.5 hours plus time for the Rim Road. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Mogollon Rim Overlook at the Rim Visitor Information Station: view over the edge south across the Tonto Basin, and in clear air as far as the Mazatzal and Sierra Ancha mountains. From here the Rim Lakes Vista Trail runs on the forest floor along the edge. - Woods Canyon Lake: reservoir in the pine forest with a shoreline path, marina, boat rental and shop; often mirror-smooth in the morning, with ospreys and bald eagles hunting over the water. - Forest Road 300 (Rim Road): sections with open views over the edge; viewpoints and the historic General Crook Trail, once the army’s supply route between the forts, cross here. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Aspen Campground and Spillway Campground at Woods Canyon Lake (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests): Aspen has around 136 sites at about 2,130 metres, drinking water, vault toilets, fire rings, paved roads, no hookups; season according to the Forest Service roughly May to the end of October, weather permitting. Some sites can be reserved via recreation.gov, some are “first come, first served”. Other campgrounds at the Rim Lakes: Mogollon Rim Campground, Crook Campground and Sinkhole Campground at Willow Springs Lake. Ask about a dump station in advance. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the Rim Lakes area, free camping is only permitted at designated, numbered dispersed sites along the forest roads; anywhere else it is prohibited. Fires only when no stage restriction is in force – otherwise only gas stoves with a shut-off valve. - **Insider tip for campers:** Elk cross AZ-260 between Christopher Creek and Heber, especially at dusk; drive slowly despite wildlife fences and underpasses. On the Rim the air is noticeably thinner: gas stoves and fridges sometimes need adjusting, and water boils at around 93 °C. ### Stage 3: Woods Canyon Lake to Show Low (approx. 110 km) - **The drive:** Back onto AZ-260 and east across the high plateau: long straights through pine forest, moderate grades, hardly any bends. Short detour to Willow Springs Lake, then via Forest Lakes to Heber-Overgaard. On the way to Show Low the road crosses the traces of the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire, which threatened both towns – younger forest and tree skeletons tell the story. Driving time around 1.5 hours. Filling stations in Forest Lakes, Heber-Overgaard and Show Low. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Willow Springs Lake: smaller lake right on the Rim with picnic areas and shoreline paths; quieter than Woods Canyon Lake. - Heber-Overgaard: two logging and ranching towns that have grown together, with shops; starting point for forest roads to Black Canyon Lake and into Chevelon Canyon. - Show Low: the name goes back to a card game in which two settlers played for the ranch; that is why the main street is called Deuce of Clubs. The largest supply centre in the region. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area (Arizona State Parks) on the north-western edge of Show Low: lake in the pine forest, sites with electricity and water, shower block, dump station, boat ramp. Reservations via the Arizona State Parks booking system; book early in summer. Alternative in the forest: Scott Reservoir Campground east of Show Low (basic, no hookups). - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, the Motor Vehicle Use Map sets out on which forest roads and in which areas dispersed camping is permitted; maps are available free of charge from the ranger districts and digitally. Driving off the roads is prohibited. Within the built-up areas of Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside, overnight stays on the streets are not permitted. - **Insider tip for campers:** Show Low is the best place on the route for a big shop, propane and repair garages. Stock up for several days here: on the reservation and in the high White Mountains, shops are small and more expensive. ### Stage 4: Show Low to Salt River Canyon and back (loop) (approx. 230 km) - **The drive:** Loop based in Show Low or Pinetop-Lakeside: via Pinetop-Lakeside on AZ-260 to McNary, there onto AZ-73 south through pine and juniper country to Whiteriver and Fort Apache. Continue west on AZ-73 to Carrizo, then south on US-60 into Salt River Canyon: the road drops in tight hairpins and on a long descent around 600 metres to the river and climbs back up the south side just as steeply. Turn around after the bridge and return to Show Low on US-60. In the canyon, choose a low gear and spare the brakes. Driving time 3.5–4 hours; filling stations in Whiteriver and only a few along US-60. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Fort Apache Historic Park: former army post with 19th-century officers’ quarters and barracks, and the Nohwike’ Bágowa, the cultural centre and museum of the White Mountain Apache, which tells history and the present from the tribe’s point of view. Check opening hours in advance. - Salt River Canyon: viewpoints on US-60 on the north slope looking into the gorge and down onto the hairpins; at the bottom a rest area by the bridge, next to it the old steel bridge for pedestrians. The river forms the boundary between the reservations of the White Mountain Apache (north) and the San Carlos Apache (south). - Pinetop-Lakeside: two towns at the edge of the forest with small lakes such as Rainbow Lake and Woodland Lake Park with walking paths. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Back to Fool Hollow Lake (see stage 3) or Lakeside Campground (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest) in Pinetop-Lakeside near Rainbow Lake, basic forest sites without hookups. On the reservation: Hawley Lake and other tribal campgrounds, only with a White Mountain Apache camping permit. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** On the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, tribal law applies, not National Forest law: camping, fishing, hiking away from the through roads and driving on side roads require permits from the White Mountain Apache Tribe (Outdoor Recreation Division, wmatoutdoor.org; outlets include the Sunrise General Store). Without a permit, only drive on the through roads and stop at public rest areas. On the riverbank in Salt River Canyon, likewise only with a permit – on the south side the rules of the San Carlos Apache apply. - **Insider tip for campers:** On the reservation, do not photograph or film ceremonies and dances unless it is expressly permitted; observe the tribe’s alcohol rules. During the monsoon (roughly July to September), thunderstorms can wash rockfall and mud onto US-60 in the canyon – do not drive into flooded dips. ### Stage 5: Show Low to Greer (approx. 95 km) - **The drive:** Via Pinetop-Lakeside and McNary on AZ-260 east through the reservation: Hon-Dah, dense pine forest, then open mountain meadows. The road climbs steadily to over 2,500 metres. Shortly before the end of the reservation AZ-273 branches off to Sunrise, and a few kilometres further on AZ-373 leads down into the Greer valley. Driving time around 1.5 hours. Fill up in Pinetop-Lakeside or Hon-Dah; in Greer there are only a few shops. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Greer: small village of log cabins in a valley at around 2,550 metres, through which the West Fork and East Fork of the Little Colorado River flow – this is where the river begins that further north flows into the Grand Canyon. After wildfires, trails and campgrounds in the area may be closed for a time – check the status with the Springerville Ranger District. - Greer Lakes: Bunch, River and Tunnel Reservoir at the entrance to the village, trout waters with shallow shores and elk in the evening. - Mountain meadows along AZ-260 and AZ-373: yellow aspens in autumn, wildflowers in late summer; the best time for wildlife watching is dusk. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Rolfe C. Hoyer Campground (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest) on the edge of Greer: forest campground with RV sites, drinking water and toilets; season roughly May to September. Nearby are other smaller campgrounds such as Benny Creek (partly run as a group area) and Winn Campground on AZ-273 towards Sunrise. Reservations via recreation.gov. After wildfires, trails and campgrounds may be closed for a time – check the current opening status on the forest’s website. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Around Greer, dispersed camping in the National Forest is only permitted where the MVUM allows it; in burn areas take care because of falling dead trees, and some are closed. On the neighbouring reservation only with a tribal permit. - **Insider tip for campers:** At over 2,500 metres, night-time temperatures are often below 5 °C even in summer, and below freezing in spring and autumn – protect the water tank and pipes from frost from September. If you are coming from the lowlands, plan two easy days to acclimatise to the altitude and drink plenty. ### Stage 6: Greer to Big Lake (approx. 55 km) - **The drive:** Back to AZ-260, briefly west and onto AZ-273 south: the paved road passes Sunrise Park across wide mountain meadows and through spruce and fir forest to Big Lake at around 2,750 metres. Winding but easy to drive; grazing cattle and elk on the road. AZ-273 south of Sunrise is not ploughed in winter and is then usually closed until spring. Driving time under an hour – time for hiking and fishing. No filling station on the way except at the store at Big Lake. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Sunrise Park: ski area of the White Mountain Apache on the Mount Baldy massif with a lodge and general store; hiking and mountain biking in summer. This is where you get tribal permits for camping and fishing on the reservation. - Mount Baldy: the summit lies on reservation land, is sacred to the White Mountain Apache and closed to visitors; the trails from the forest side (West Baldy and East Baldy Trail) end at the reservation boundary below the summit. Respect the boundaries. - Big Lake and Crescent Lake: high-altitude trout lakes in open meadowland, boat rental and store at Big Lake; mist over the water in the morning, elk on the shore in the evening. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Big Lake Recreation Area (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest) with several campgrounds by the lake, including the large Rainbow Campground with several loops at about 2,750 metres, flush toilets, showers and a dump station in the recreation area, no electric hookups; season from roughly mid-May. Also Grayling, Brookchar, Cutthroat and Apache Trout Campground. Reservations via recreation.gov. Drinking water is not always available – check in advance and arrive with a full tank. Sunrise Park Campground (tribal) is a basic site without hookups; ask the tribe about fees and rules. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Dispersed camping in the forest away from the lakes only according to the MVUM; it is not permitted within the recreation area itself. Black bears are present: keep food, cool box and rubbish in the vehicle or in bear-proof containers. - **Insider tip for campers:** In July and August monsoon thunderstorms roll across the high plateaus almost daily from midday; lightning on open meadows and by the water is the greatest danger. Schedule hikes and boat trips for the morning and head back to the vehicle at the first thunder at the latest. ### Stage 7: Big Lake to Springerville/Eagar (approx. 115 km) - **The drive:** From Big Lake east towards Alpine; the direct route via forest roads is partly unpaved – ask the ranger district about conditions. With a large motorhome it is safer to go north on AZ-261 to Eagar and south on US-191 to Alpine (2,450 metres). From Alpine back on US-191 via Nutrioso to Springerville and Eagar, at around 2,130 metres. South of Alpine begins the Coronado Trail (US-191) to Clifton and Morenci: around 150 kilometres with hundreds of bends, long descents and hardly any services – unsuitable for large motorhomes and trailer combinations; with a compact vehicle allow a full day. Driving time for this stage 2–2.5 hours. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Alpine: small village in a wide high valley on the upper San Francisco River, starting point for the Coronado Trail and for hikes in the Blue Range; Luna Lake east of the village. - Casa Malpais: ruins of a Mogollon culture settlement on basalt terraces on the edge of Springerville, accessible only on a guided tour starting at the Heritage Museum in Springerville; confirm times by phone. - Springerville Volcanic Field: hundreds of extinct cinder cones between Springerville and Show Low that shape the landscape as you leave the mountains. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Lyman Lake State Park (Arizona State Parks) around 30 kilometres north of Springerville on US-180/191: reservoir in open, hilly country, sites with electricity and water, shower block, dump station; reservations via Arizona State Parks. In the mountains: Alpine Divide Campground on US-191 north of Alpine and Luna Lake Campground east of Alpine (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest), basic forest sites without hookups; check season and reservability. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Around Alpine there are forest roads where dispersed camping is permitted according to the MVUM; not, however, on the open grazing and private land around Springerville and Eagar. Highway rest areas are not campgrounds. - **Insider tip for campers:** From Lyman Lake, US-180 continues to Holbrook at Petrified Forest National Park – this part is covered in the CampingSpirit travel guide to Route 66. For rock gorges and canyons to the north see “Red walls, starry skies – the great canyon tour through the Southwest”, for Sedona and the Verde Valley the travel guide to Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona and Jerome, and for the Gila Wilderness and Arizona’s Sky Islands the two dedicated travel guides. ## Camping practice & local rules ### Wild camping & overnight parking - National Forests (Tonto, Apache-Sitgreaves): dispersed camping is permitted in principle, but only on roads and in areas opened up by the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM); usually up to 14 days in the same place. In popular zones such as the Rim Lakes, only at designated, numbered sites. Violations and unauthorised fires are punished with fines. - Fire restrictions: the forests and the tribe regularly impose Stage 1 and Stage 2 restrictions in early summer (Stage 2: no charcoal grills either, often no smoking outdoors); in extreme years entire forests are closed. Check the current status daily with the forests, the tribe and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. - Fort Apache Indian Reservation: tribal land with its own sovereignty. Camping, fishing, boating and driving on side roads only with permits from the White Mountain Apache Tribe (wmatoutdoor.org, outlets such as the Sunrise General Store); the Arizona fishing licence is not valid there. The summit of Mount Baldy and closed areas are off limits. - Reservations: National Forest campgrounds via recreation.gov (some with a “first come, first served” share), state parks such as Fool Hollow Lake and Lyman Lake via the Arizona State Parks booking system. Peak season is summer weekends, when Phoenix escapes to the mountains. - Federal fees: at US national parks such as Petrified Forest, visitors without US residence may face higher fees or surcharges; check current amounts on nps.gov. - Apps: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt and Recreation.gov; the MVUM is available free of charge as a georeferenced map for map apps. Park4Night is not widely used in Arizona. ### Waste disposal & supplies - Dump stations: Houston Mesa, Fool Hollow Lake, Rainbow (Big Lake) and Lyman Lake; most small forest campgrounds have none. Empty your tanks in Payson or Show Low before heading into the high country. - Drinking water: available seasonally from taps at many forest campgrounds, but not everywhere and not always – check the details on recreation.gov shortly before arrival. From autumn, water lines are shut off because of frost. - Empty grey water and chemical toilets only at dump stations; draining onto the forest floor is prohibited, and on the reservation as well. - Propane: filling stations in Payson, Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside and Springerville; European cylinders are not refilled. Gas appliances work less efficiently at high altitude. - Electricity: hookups only at state park and private campgrounds; the forest campgrounds have none, and generators only during the signposted hours. A solar panel is worthwhile – the sun at altitude is strong. - Fuel and shopping: Payson, Heber-Overgaard, Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside have supermarkets; Greer, Big Lake and Alpine only small shops. Filling stations are almost entirely absent between Alpine and Clifton. ### Vehicle size & traffic rules - Speed limits: interstates in Arizona up to 75 mph; highways such as AZ-87, AZ-260 and US-60 mostly 55–65 mph, considerably less in towns and in Salt River Canyon. There are no separate limits for motorhomes and trailer combinations, but trailers need working brakes according to weight class. - Using a phone while driving is only permitted hands-free in Arizona. Arizona does not switch to daylight saving time – in summer the reservation is on the same time as Phoenix, whereas the neighbouring Navajo Nation further north is an hour ahead. - Monsoon (roughly mid-June to September): afternoon thunderstorms with lightning, hail and flash floods. Arizona has a “Stupid Motorist Law”: if you drive into a flooded dip despite a barrier, you can be held liable for the rescue costs. In the lowlands around Phoenix, pull over during dust storms, lights off, foot off the brake (“Pull Aside, Stay Alive”). - Altitude: the route runs mostly between 2,000 and 2,800 metres, with Sunrise and Big Lake among the highest points. The engine delivers less power, and brakes get hot on long descents (Salt River Canyon, Coronado Trail) – use a low gear. - Wildlife: elk are large and heavy, especially at dusk on AZ-260, AZ-273 and US-191; grazing cattle stand on open, unfenced stretches. Drive slowly after dark. - Winter closures: FR 300 and the access road to Woods Canyon Lake as well as AZ-273 south of Sunrise and AZ-261 are generally not ploughed in winter and are usually closed until spring; many forest campgrounds only open from May. On AZ-260 and US-191 in winter, keep snow chains and the weather forecast (az511.gov) to hand. - Emergency: 911. Mobile coverage is good in the towns, patchy on the Rim Road, in Salt River Canyon and on the Coronado Trail. ## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist - Motor Vehicle Use Map for Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves offline on your phone: it determines where dispersed camping is permitted – indispensable without a signal on the Rim Road. - Warm sleeping bag and frost protection for water pipes: at 2,500 to 2,800 metres, nights drop below 5 °C even in summer, and below freezing from September. - Gas stove with shut-off valve: under Stage 2 restrictions, campfires, charcoal and often wood stoves are banned, while gas stoves with a valve are usually allowed. - Rain jacket and a lightning app or weather radio: during the monsoon, thunderstorms build over the Rim almost daily from midday. - Bear-proof cool box or containers: black bears at the lakes and campgrounds; never leave food out in the open. - Cash and printed permits: tribal permits for camping and fishing on the reservation must be carried, and there is often no signal for online checks. _As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._ ## Sources - [USDA Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves NF – Rainbow Campground](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/apache-sitgreaves/recreation/rainbow-campground) - [USDA Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves NF – Amended Greer Fire Closure](https://fs.usda.gov/r03/apache-sitgreaves/alerts/amended-greer-fire-closure-06262025) - [USDA Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves NF – South Fork Day Use Area](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/apache-sitgreaves/recreation/south-fork-day-use-area) - [USDA Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves NF – Rim Lakes Wildlife Habitat and Public Safety](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/apache-sitgreaves/projects/archive/23242) - [Recreation.gov – Houston Mesa](https://recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232355) - [Recreation.gov – Benny Creek Group Area](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/poi/232191) - [Town of Springerville – Casa Malpais Archaeological Park](https://springervilleaz.gov/casamalpais) - [Archaeology Southwest – Casa Malpais Archaeological Park](https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/explore/casa-malpais-archaeological-park) - [Arizona Highways – Take the High Roads](https://www.arizonahighways.com/article/take-high-roads) - [azfamily – Arizona businesses impacted by Greer Fire hoping for bounce-back summer](https://www.azfamily.com/2026/05/15/arizona-businesses-impacted-by-greer-fire-hoping-bounce-back-summer/) ## Which stops are on the route from Phoenix to Springerville? 1. **Phoenix** (AZ) 2. **Payson** (AZ) 3. **Tonto Natural Bridge State Park** (AZ) 4. **Woods Canyon Lake** (AZ) 5. **Heber-Overgaard** (AZ) 6. **Show Low** (AZ) 7. **Pinetop-Lakeside** (AZ) 8. **Fort Apache** (AZ) 9. **Salt River Canyon** (AZ) 10. **Greer** (AZ) 11. **Sunrise Park** (AZ) 12. **Big Lake** (AZ) 13. **Alpine** (AZ) 14. **Springerville** (AZ) ## When is the best time for the route from Phoenix to Springerville? The most pleasant months are usually April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, May, September and December. Hot in June–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons) ## FAQs **How long is Pine scent, crater lakes and elk in the headlights – by camper across the Mogollon Rim in Arizona’s White Mountains?** 7-day road trip of about 660 km (410 mi) with 14 stops, from Phoenix to Springerville. About 7 h 19 min of driving in total. **How many days do you need for Pine scent, crater lakes and elk in the headlights – by camper across the Mogollon Rim in Arizona’s White Mountains?** We suggest 7 days: about 7 h 19 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops. **Where does Pine scent, crater lakes and elk in the headlights – by camper across the Mogollon Rim in Arizona’s White Mountains start and end?** It starts in Phoenix and ends in Springerville. **Which states does Pine scent, crater lakes and elk in the headlights – by camper across the Mogollon Rim in Arizona’s White Mountains pass through?** Arizona. **Where can you camp along Pine scent, crater lakes and elk in the headlights – by camper across the Mogollon Rim in Arizona’s White Mountains?** OpenStreetMap lists 145 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Aspen Campground, Head of the Ditch Campground and Alpine Village RV Park.