Last Updated: May 2, 2026
Cave Creek, Arizona is a small town of fewer than 5,000 people about 30 miles north of Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert — rural enough to feel genuinely removed from the city, yet close enough that a Costco and Home Depot are a short drive away. It was founded in 1870 by soldiers from Fort McDowell and takes its name from the cave along the creek at the town’s heart. The surrounding landscape of mountains, saguaro forest, and desert washes gives it a character that’s distinctly different from the sprawling Phoenix metro just to the south. We came from Fort McDowell — about an hour’s drive — and stayed at Cave Creek Regional Park, one of the best camping experiences of our entire Arizona season.
[Read more…] about Cave Creek, Arizona: Regional Park, Jewel of the Creek & Carefree Dining