Inns, resorts, rentals and campgrounds in and around Cave Creek and Carefree, with who each one suits best.
Last checked against each organizer's or business's own website. Details change, so please confirm before you go.
No paid placements or affiliate links on this page. No business paid to appear here, and we don't earn a commission when you book. If that ever changes, those links will be clearly labeled.
| If you want… | Look at |
|---|---|
| To walk to Cave Creek's saloons and shops | Prickly Pear Inn |
| A big resort with golf and spa | The Boulders Resort & Spa |
| A wellness retreat | CIVANA, or Spirit in the Desert for a quieter retreat |
| A kitchen and space for a family | Villas of Cave Creek, Rancho Mañana, Full Circle Ranch (groups up to 12) |
| A simple hotel near the Carefree Sundial | Hampton Inn by Hilton Carefree |
| To camp with hookups | Cave Creek Regional Park Family Campground |
Cave Creek · 6268 E Cave Creek Rd · (480) 488-2616
A small boutique inn in the middle of the historic town core. Rooms are large and have kitchenettes and outdoor decks with mountain views. Check-in is at the Grumpy Ole Mule Mercantile, which doubles as the lobby (open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily).
Best for: walking to Cave Creek Road saloons, shops and the museum without driving.
Cave Creek · 38001 N School House Rd · (480) 595-1200
Two-story, two-bedroom villas with a full kitchen, two fireplaces, a whirlpool tub and a private backyard spa. The resort has a pool, a 24-hour fitness room and free Wi-Fi.
Best for: couples or small families who want a kitchen and more room than a hotel.
Cave Creek · 5720 E Rancho Mañana Blvd · (480) 575-7900
A vacation-club resort beside the Rancho Mañana Golf Club with two-bedroom suites that have kitchens and fireplaces. It is part of Hilton's vacation-ownership network, so availability works differently from a regular hotel.
Best for: golfers and longer stays; Hilton Grand Vacations members.
Cave Creek area · Whole-home rental · (928) 447-6330
A former bed-and-breakfast, now rented as a whole property: six suites with private entrances for up to 12 guests, a pool and hot tub, in a quiet canyon about 15 minutes from town. The owners list nightly rates and fees on their site.
Best for: family reunions, groups and small retreats.
Carefree · 34631 N Tom Darlington Dr · (480) 488-9009
A large desert resort among giant granite boulders, with casitas and villas, golf, a spa and several restaurants. It is part of Hilton's Curio Collection.
Best for: a full-service resort stay with golf and spa.
Carefree · 37220 Mule Train Rd · (480) 653-9000
A wellness-focused resort with a spa, pools and daily fitness and mindfulness classes. Day visits are also offered.
Best for: a restful, wellness-centered trip.
Carefree · 2 Easy Street · (480) 476-9200
A standard Hilton-brand hotel right on Easy Street, a short walk to the Sundial, Desert Gardens and downtown Carefree restaurants.
Best for: a simple, predictable hotel within walking distance of downtown Carefree.
Carefree · 7415 E Elbow Bend Rd · (480) 488-5218
A faith-based retreat center that welcomes all and offers lodging and dining for groups and personal retreats.
Best for: quiet personal or group retreats.
Cave Creek · 37019 N Lava Lane · (602) 506-2930 ext. 8
Maricopa County runs 55 developed sites for tents and RVs, each with electric and water hookups, a picnic table and fire pit, plus restrooms with hot showers and a dump station. Pull-through sites fit RVs up to 60 feet. There is no primitive camping and no group campground. Reserve online.
Best for: RV and tent campers who want hookups and trail access from camp.
About 20 miles north of Carefree · Cave Creek Ranger Station: (480) 595-3300
A shady Forest Service campground among big sycamores, about 300 yards north of the Seven Springs picnic area. Sites cost $16 a night (14-day limit). There is no drinking water, trailers over 16 feet aren't allowed, and the last 9 miles of Forest Road 24 are narrow gravel with blind curves. The old Seven Springs picnic site itself has no vehicle access.
Best for: self-sufficient tent campers and small rigs who want a creekside forest site.
We started from the Cave Creek Visitor Center's area lodging handout and checked every place against its own website or the managing agency's site. We kept places we could confirm are operating and dropped one bed-and-breakfast whose listed website now shows unrelated content, and an old camping link that no longer works. We don't rank places and nobody paid to be here. Rates aren't listed because they change by season; book directly on each site.
Need help planning? The Cave Creek Visitor Center is at 6528 E Cave Creek Rd, just west of Dairy Queen, (480) 525-2049. It's open Oct. 1–May 31, Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–1 p.m. (Town of Cave Creek).
The Prickly Pear Inn is in the historic town core on Cave Creek Road, within walking distance of restaurants, saloons, shops and the Cave Creek Museum.
Cave Creek stays lean Western and casual: a small downtown inn, villas and vacation rentals. Carefree has the big resorts (The Boulders and CIVANA) and a Hampton Inn on Easy Street near the Sundial.
Yes. Cave Creek Regional Park has a 55-site family campground with electric and water hookups and hot showers, reserved online through Maricopa County Parks. Farther north, the Forest Service's CCC Campground near Seven Springs has $16 sites with no drinking water.
No. We link to each place's own website so you can book directly. We don't earn a commission on bookings today.
Install the guide for quick access, even with a weak signal on the trail.