Kartchner Caverns State Park, Benson AZ

[SargeW]

Kartchner Caverns is a great Arizona state park on Highway 90, which is about 8 miles from Interstate 10. Getting to the park is easy, and contains the wonderful “Kartchner Caverns” that were discovered there in 1974 by a pair of amateur “spelunkers” (cave explorers) while exploring the base of the Whetstone Mountains. The cave was kept a secret for about 10 years until the Arizona State park system got involved and eventually opened to the public. The cave is open for tours daily and is amazing to experience.

The RV park next door is 62 sites, both pull through and back in. Sites have 50/30/20 amp hook up and water. A double sided dump station is available at the park free of charge. The RV parking sites are large and the roads are all freshly paved asphalt, the roads are easy to navigate and the park well maintained by Rangers and volunteers. The water pressure at our site was low, 20# psi on the water gauge, so if you like a steady pressure shower you may need to fill your water tank and use the on board water pump.

The grasses have been cut down, but this time of year it is starting to die off so there are some stickers to get caught in doggy paws. The park is surrounded by rocky vistas that are stunning, and various hiking trails wind throughout the hills.

The restrooms on site are basic and clean, but a little older. The shower rooms are wide and handicapped accessible. We paid $30 a night, and we paid $3.20 for an “on line reservation fee”. There is also an on site Interpretive center that’s free to see. We didn’t do the cave tour this time as the tours were sold out during our stay. We have done the tour in the past, and it is well worth the time and money.

There several nearby towns that are worth visiting either for supplies, or just to explore. The closest is the town of Benson about 10 minutes away, Sierra Vista where Fort Hauchuca is located, the old west mining town of Tombstone, (Wyatt Earp and the OK Corral) and Bisbee (now an artist hang out). So there is lots to do in the area, and the temps right now are terrific. Benson is at an elevation of 2500’ so it gets a break from the Phoenix heat in the summer.

If you don’t want to take your RV, there are cabins for rent in the park as well. Cabins rent for $99 a night and can sleep up to 6 people. A few of them will allow pets.

We used Starlink for internet and streaming, so I didn’t use the local cell service provider. Over the air had few channels to choose from.

[dutchmensport]

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