Overnight Camping at Aspen Campground and a Scenic Drive Along the Mogollon Rim
June 26, 2026
An overnight at Aspen Campground followed by a scenic drive along Rim Road through Arizona's beautiful Mogollon Rim
Not every adventure has to be a week-long expedition. Sometimes all you need is one night in the Arizona high country to unwind, enjoy a great meal, and explore one of the state's most scenic drives.
This trip took us to Aspen Campground, where we settled in for a relaxing overnight stay surrounded by cool mountain air and towering pines. Once camp was set up, it was time for one of our favorite parts of camping—cooking. Dinner was a perfectly seared steak topped with a rich and creamy mushroom sauce. It's hard to beat a meal like that after spending the day outdoors.
The next morning, we stopped by the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center before making our way along Forest Road 300, better known as Rim Road. If you've never driven this route, it's well worth the trip. The road winds through beautiful forests with breathtaking overlooks, and there are plenty of places to stop, stretch your legs, and take in the scenery.
One of the best things about Rim Road is the abundance of dispersed camping opportunities. If you enjoy camping away from developed campgrounds, you'll find plenty of quiet spots to spend the night while exploring the Mogollon Rim.
We had also planned to spend a little time fishing at Canyon Woods Lake, but our timing happened to coincide with the Juneteenth holiday, and the lake was packed with visitors. Rather than fight the crowds, we decided to continue our drive and simply enjoy the journey.
Our final planned stop was the Pie Bar in Strawberry, where we were hoping to pick up a few of their famous homemade pies and empanadas. In our opinion, they make the best empanadas within 150 miles! Unfortunately, the line stretched well outside the door, and with the drive back to the Valley still ahead of us, we decided to save that stop for another trip.
Things don't always go exactly as planned, and that's part of what makes overlanding so enjoyable. We may have skipped the fishing and missed out on the empanadas this time, but we still enjoyed an incredible steak dinner, a peaceful night at Aspen Campground, and one of Arizona's most scenic drives. Every trip is another opportunity to explore somewhere new and make memories along the way.
If you're looking for an easy weekend escape from the Valley, this route is hard to beat. Between the cool temperatures, the stunning views along the Mogollon Rim, and the many dispersed camping opportunities on Rim Road, it's a trip we can easily recommend—and one we'll certainly be making again.
Trip Details
Location:
Mogollon Rim, Arizona
Vehicle:
Jeep Gladiator "Green Goblin"
Trip Length:
2 days / 1 night
Camping:
Aspen Campground
Difficulty:
Easy
Best Season:
Spring through Fall
This trip took us to Aspen Campground, where we settled in for a relaxing overnight stay surrounded by cool mountain air and towering pines. Once camp was set up, it was time for one of our favorite parts of camping—cooking. Dinner was a perfectly seared steak topped with a rich and creamy mushroom sauce. It's hard to beat a meal like that after spending the day outdoors.
The next morning, we stopped by the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center before making our way along Forest Road 300, better known as Rim Road. If you've never driven this route, it's well worth the trip. The road winds through beautiful forests with breathtaking overlooks, and there are plenty of places to stop, stretch your legs, and take in the scenery.
One of the best things about Rim Road is the abundance of dispersed camping opportunities. If you enjoy camping away from developed campgrounds, you'll find plenty of quiet spots to spend the night while exploring the Mogollon Rim.
We had also planned to spend a little time fishing at Canyon Woods Lake, but our timing happened to coincide with the Juneteenth holiday, and the lake was packed with visitors. Rather than fight the crowds, we decided to continue our drive and simply enjoy the journey.
Our final planned stop was the Pie Bar in Strawberry, where we were hoping to pick up a few of their famous homemade pies and empanadas. In our opinion, they make the best empanadas within 150 miles! Unfortunately, the line stretched well outside the door, and with the drive back to the Valley still ahead of us, we decided to save that stop for another trip.
Things don't always go exactly as planned, and that's part of what makes overlanding so enjoyable. We may have skipped the fishing and missed out on the empanadas this time, but we still enjoyed an incredible steak dinner, a peaceful night at Aspen Campground, and one of Arizona's most scenic drives. Every trip is another opportunity to explore somewhere new and make memories along the way.
If you're looking for an easy weekend escape from the Valley, this route is hard to beat. Between the cool temperatures, the stunning views along the Mogollon Rim, and the many dispersed camping opportunities on Rim Road, it's a trip we can easily recommend—and one we'll certainly be making again.
Trip Details
Location:
Mogollon Rim, Arizona
Vehicle:
Jeep Gladiator "Green Goblin"
Trip Length:
2 days / 1 night
Camping:
Aspen Campground
Difficulty:
Easy
Best Season:
Spring through Fall