Lake Pleasant: Camping, Boating, and Visitor Information

Who operates the park, and who operates what is around it?

The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department operates Lake Pleasant Regional Park, at 41835 N Castle Hot Springs Rd in Morristown, with the county parks phone line at 602-506-2930. The county sets the park's access, fees, camping rules, and boating rules, and its website, maricopacountyparks.net, is the authoritative source.

Not everything at the lake is county-run. Some facilities, services, and concession operations around the shoreline are privately operated, with their own fees and rules. The practical habit: identify the operator of the specific service you plan to use, and confirm that operator's current terms separately from the county's.

What are the current fees, and when do they change?

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved fee revisions on December 10, 2025, effective January 1, 2026, with phased increases scheduled for January 2027 and January 2028. As of the current schedule:

• Day use is $10 per vehicle entry, with an annual day-use pass at $120
• Motorized watercraft pay an additional entrance fee on top of the vehicle entry
• Developed campsites with water and electric are $40 per night in 2026, rising to $50 in 2027 and $60 in 2028
• Semi-developed campsites are $25 per night in 2025 through 2026, rising to $35 in 2027 and $45 in 2028
• Primitive camping is offered only at Lake Pleasant within the county park system

Fees are exactly the kind of detail that changes, so confirm the current schedule on the county's fee page before you plan a trip.

How do camping reservations work?

The park's roughly 148 RV and tent sites sit in the Desert Tortoise and Roadrunner campgrounds, and reservations are made online at maricopacountyparks.net. The reservation carries a non-refundable reservation fee, currently $8 and scheduled to rise to $10, plus a $10 cancellation or modification fee. Boat-in camping is different: it is reserved in person at the park entry station, with same-day bookings on a first-come, first-served basis and the reservation fee waived. Book early for weekends and holidays, and confirm the current process with the park.

What should boaters know about launches and rules?

The park offers three launch areas: the main 10-lane boat ramp with roughly 479 vehicle and trailer spaces, a 4-lane ramp at the north end with about 112 spaces, and the Castle Creek boat ramp. Boats pay the motorized watercraft entrance fee, and launch capacity can fill on busy weekends, so arrive early and check the park's current conditions. Water levels, closures, and boating rules change with the season and the reservoir's management, and the county's park pages and any posted notices are the place to confirm them.

What should you verify before you go?

• Current fees and the annual pass, on the county's official fee page
• Campground availability and the reservation process for the dates you want
• Launch conditions, water levels, and any closures or restrictions
• Fire restrictions and weather conditions, which can close areas or change plans
• Which operator runs the specific facility or service you plan to use, and that operator's terms