Chavez Crossing Group Campground is a group-only campground in the Red Rock District of the Coconino National Forest near Sedona, Arizona. Recreation.gov describes it as being “placed beside a creek” with sycamore and cypress groves—an appealing setup for groups that want shade and easy access to the Oak Creek area. With a 4.4 rating from 140 reviewers and family-camping positioning, it’s a practical choice when your group plans around shared meals, coordinated arrival, and creek time.
Group sites, capacity, and what “group-only” really means
Recreation.gov lists three group sites available, with a total capacity of 110 across all three sites. Because this is not a typical single-family campground, your reservation needs to function as the planning document: confirm which group site(s) you’re assigned, coordinate how your group will use shared space, and align your schedule to when you can actually start setting up and settling in.
Nonelectric sites: plan power, food, and lighting accordingly
Recreation.gov describes the available sites (for example, Site 1 in the Loop Cypress and Site 2 in the Loop Ponderosa) as Group Standard, nonelectric. That means you should plan for lighting, charging, refrigeration, and any cooking or brewing needs using your own power options. If your group expects “campground convenience,” set expectations early so arrival day doesn’t turn into an impromptu problem-solving session.
Oak Creek and Sedona drives: schedule around your creek time
One of the defining features here is the combination of creek-side scenery and nearby Sedona attractions. Recreation.gov highlights opportunities to wade or fish in Oak Creek and notes that Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock are famous nearby sights for exploring and photographing. It also references driving through Oak Creek Canyon for views of cliffs, buttes, and canyons.
To keep a group itinerary from getting derailed, choose an “anchor time” for the outdoors—such as morning creek time—then build your Sedona-facing plans around it. That simple sequencing helps reduce late arrivals to viewpoints and prevents the common pattern of trying to do too much in one rushed afternoon.
Rules that affect arrival and on-site downtime
Before you pack, review the operational rules, because they determine when your group can start camp and what “off-limits” behavior looks like.
- Reservations only. Recreation.gov states there are no walk-ins.
- Sites must be occupied the first night. You can’t treat the campground like a “set up now, arrive later” reservation.
- Stay limit in the Red Rock District. The campground lists a 7-day limit.
- No unattended extended downtime. The campsite cannot be unattended more than 24 hours.
- One camper/RV/trailer per campsite. Recreation.gov limits the setup to one camper, RV, or trailer per campsite.
- Fire and wood rules. The campground emphasizes “Don’t Move Firewood” to prevent pests and includes restrictions on cutting/splitting/chopping wood in the campground.
There are also notable electronics and comfort expectations. Recreation.gov includes an “important notices” note stating no radios or amplified devices are allowed. If your group planned to use speakers for bonding, plan an alternative plan in advance—or confirm what audio options are permitted—so you don’t arrive with something that won’t be allowed.
Address, contact, and the questions to confirm before you drive in
Chavez Crossing Group Campground is listed at Oak Creek Cliffs Dr, Sedona, AZ 86336, United States and is categorized as a Family Campground. The phone number shown is +1 877-444-6777, and the official website is http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55270.
For the smoothest arrival, your group coordinator should confirm logistics tied to the specific reservation: which group site you have, where check-in occurs on arrival day, and how the “first night occupied” requirement is handled for larger parties. Also, because the campground is nonelectric, confirm everyone’s plan for lighting, charging, and food storage so the group arrives ready rather than improvising.
Practical tip: If your group plans to mix Sedona shopping with outdoor time, build buffer into your schedule for Oak Creek Canyon drives. It’s an easy way to keep the plan realistic once you’re near the traffic and viewpoint hotspots.
