When camping near Safford, bring your binoculars—and a telescope.
Southeast of Phoenix on the way to Texas, the small city of Safford is well-known among astronomy buffs, and is the gateway to Mount Graham in the Coronado National Forest, the site of the Mount Graham International Observatory. It's also a great place for birders, offering easy access to the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, which is also a good place for summertime swims. Roper Lake State Park—which is also popular among birders, anglers, and summertime swimmers—is just a short drive from the city center, too. While Safford is undoubtedly urban, you're never far from great places to camp, particularly if you head south of town toward Wilcox, where you'll find everything from tent sites on vineyards to historic farms that welcome tent and RV campers. Some properties even have glampsites in the form of canvas tents for added convenience.