Camp Verde, Arizona
The Center of it All
Camp Verde’s central location, along with its temperate year-around climate, abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, and bucolic setting on the banks of the Verde River, make it one of Arizona’s premier tourist destinations.
Less than an hour from Phoenix, Flagstaff, Prescott, and Payson, Camp Verde and the surrounding Verde Valley offer numerous venues for visitors interested in history and cultural heritage, boating, hiking, biking, wine tasting, or just taking in the landscape. Add to that mix the Out of Africa Wild Animal Park and Cliff Castle Casino and you can begin to see why Camp Verde caters to all ages and every taste.
In 2012, a gubernatorial proclamation and a determination from the Arizona Professional Land Surveyors identified the Town of Camp Verde as the municipality nearest to the center of Arizona. That same year, the Town of Camp Verde erected a monument in Rezzonico Family Park to honor the community’s unique location within the state. For those looking to find the official center, as determined by APLS, it is located near the confluence of the Verde River and East Verde River, about 15 miles SSE of Camp Verde in the rugged Mazatzal Wilderness Area. The coordinates for the official geographic center are:
34° 16″ 31.1″ N 111° 39′ 36.8″ W
Explore Camp Verde
Outdoor Recreation
Camp Verde is situated at the southern (downstream) end of the Verde Valley, surrounded by a landscape of 6,000 to 7,000 foot highlands. Within the surrounding region there are nine federal wilderness areas, dozens of hiking trails leading to some of Arizona’s most beautiful vistas and Camp Verde has direct access to Arizona’s two Wild and Scenic Rivers: Fossil Creek and Verde River.
Heritage
With nearly 10,000 years of human habitation by a diversity of cultural groups, the Verde Valley has a long and rich history to share. Home to Fort Verde State Historic Park, Verde Valley Archaeology Center, Montezuma Castle and dozens of other historic sites, Camp Verde is full of history to explore.
Local Agriculture
Since the Hohokam developed extensive networks of irrigation canals that transformed the bottomlands of the Verde Valley into rich agricultural areas, the region has served as a farming land for those who call it home. The agricultural legacy today can be found in the use of historic irrigation ditches and at the local farmers market on Saturdays during the summer.
International Dark Sky Community
In June 2018, Camp Verde became the 20th Dark Sky Community and received their Dark Sky Community recognition from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)! Learn more about this international recognition.
Attractions
Camp Verde is full of adventures for all taste and all ages. From Zip lining and watching wildlife at Out of Africa to Cliff Castle Casino and exploring Montezuma’s Castle, there’s never a dull moment to be had in Camp Verde.
Archaeology
Discover the archaeology of Camp Verde! Archaeologists have worked to unravel ancient cultures in the Verde Valley, like the Hohokam and Sinagua, through cultural sites left like Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well.
The climate is always nice in Camp Verde
Arizona’s Verde Valley lies in the High Desert transition zone between the Sonoran Desert to the south and the Colorado Plateau to the north. At 3,100 feet elevation, it boasts some of the mildest weather in the Nation.
Climate in Camp Verde
Average high and low temperatures
Curiosities
Over the centuries, if not eons, the Camp Verde area has seen its fair share of unusual happenings. Read about the iron meteorite discovered in an abandoned pueblo, the Legend of Sierra Azul or its landscape of ancient inland lakes and volcanic upheavals.
Annual Events
Camp Verde hosts 6 annual events downtown that locals and visitors love year after year. Pecan and Wine Fest in March, Cornfest in July and Fort Verde Days in October are a few to mark on your calendar!
Visitors Map
Our visitors map is fully interactive where you get a birds eye view of all there is to do in Camp Verde. You can click on the businesses with an outline to learn more about them. The map shows our farms, businesses, nearby municipalities, and more! Click below and start exploring Camp Verde!
Camp Verde Visitor Center and the Camp Verde Historical Society Museum
The Camp Verde Visitor Center and the Camp Verde Historical Society Museum are located at 435 S. Main Street, a few paces down the street from the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and around the corner from Fort Verde State Historic Park. Stop in for a taste of the area’s rich past, some friendly advice on how to make your visit more enriching, or a cool drink of water.
We hope to see you there! If you have questions or need directions please call (928) 554-0851.
