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Arizona Trip Logistics
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(see California also)
(See Nevada also)
AZ-68 crest above Bullhead City
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (Coolidge)
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (see Utah)
Tuzigoot National Monument (Cottonwood)
Navajo National Monument (Katyeta) - not worth visiting
Petrified Forest National Park (Holbrook)
Pipe Spring National Monument (Fredonia)
Prescott National Forest (Prescott)
Apache Creek Wilderness
Castle Creek Wilderness
Cedar Bench Wilderness
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Overnight parking is permitted at rest areas or welcome centers. No camping.
Arizona State Parks range from $15/non-electric to $25 for electric.
Golden Age (62+ years old) & Golden Access (Handicapped) should get 1/2 price for campsites at all National Park Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau Of Reclamation & US Fish & Wildlife Serivce campgrounds.
No overnight parking at Wal-Mart in Tucson by city ordinance. There's another Super Wal-Mart in Cortaro, I-10, exit 246.
Apache National Forest:
Camping Areas:
Lots of free Camping Areas and dispersed camping along the entire 100 miles of US-191.
Trailheads:
Lots of horse trails and hiking trails along the entire 100 miles of US-191.
Apache Lake:
Camping Areas:
Campground mostly for RV's. Boat ramp $5/day. A few forest roads with camping.
BLM LTVAs:
BLM Long Term Visitor Areas charge $40/2 weeks, $180/Sept to Apr 15. After season's over normal BLM rules apply; 14 day limit, leave for 14 days before coming back for another 14 days, etc.
Quartzsite
Dispersed Camping Area
La Posa Long Term Visitor Area (BLM LTVA)
Dispersed Camping Area
Bureau Of Land Management (BLM)
From its junction with I10 in Quartzsite take AZ95 south for 1 mile. Camping areas to east & west of highway. Dispersed camping, no RV limit, dumpsters, pit toilets, water spigots (threaded) & dump station @ AZ95 MM 102 (La Posa South) for registered campers only.
Camped 11-01-11: 2 more LTVA areas @ mile about mile 102 on AZ95 south of Quartzsite. Permit to one BLM LTVA area gives access to all.
Many LTVA folks have a trailer & pump black & Gray water into one 50 gallon drum & fresh water into another so they don't have to move their rigs.
Yuma
Dispersed Camping Area
Imperial Dam Long Term Visitor Area (BLM LTVA)
Bureau Of Land Management (BLM)
From its junction with AZ95 (MM 44) take Imperial Dam Road 7.4 miles to Senator Wash Road. Turn right & go 2.6 to South Mesa, the main LTVA entrance. Dispersed camping, dumpsters, flush & pit toilets, water spigots (threaded) & dump station, @ main entrance (South Mesa). Facilities for registered campers only.
Senator Wash boat ramp: From its junction with South Mesa entrance take Senator Wash Road go .5 miles to parking area on left.
Squaw Lake boat ramp: From its junction with South Mesa entrance take Senator Wash Road go .5 miles recreation center on right. Camping ($14), flush toilets, hot showers (4 quarters = 5 minutes. Good pressure) & boat ramp. Year round.
North Shore boat launch: From its junction with Senator Wash Road & South Mesa entrance follow South Mesa Road .5 miles to cross roads (end of pavement) and turn right. Proceed .5 miles and turn right again @ North Shore sign. Go about 1 mile to a couple of boat launch spots, some campng (road not very good for RVs) and a vault toilet.
Camped 11-09-11 (Nov to Mar): Propane (Mon, Tue 9-12 only) & free mail delivery, including FedEx & UPS (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9-12) @ Christian Servic Center a couple of miles south of South Mesa (above).
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge:
Camping Areas:
I camped off Ruby Road in Arivaca. Lots of back roads along Arivaca Road and AZ-286.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument:
Camping Areas:
NPS campground at visitor center Area surrounding National Monument lands is Indian Reservation. There are many side roads within the monument though. One area had a sign saying "Private land, no camping". Presumably the other areas
are not private and camping is permitted.
Canyon Lake:
Camping Areas:
Campground mostly for RV's. Boat ramp $4/day.
Free camping opportunities a few miles on both sides of lake.
Chiricachua National Monument:
Water at visitor center.
Camping Areas:
Campground within National Monument. $12/night
Trailheads:
Get maps and trail descriptions at Visitor
Cochise Stronghold:
Camping Areas: $10/night. Water, toilets. Lots of free camping on 84A and 84B just inside Coronado National Forest.
Coconino National Forest:
Camping Areas:
Directly across from Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument entrance off of US-89.
Lots of free camping off US-180.
Coronado National Forest:
Camping Areas:
Chiricahua Mountains
Free Camping Areas accessed from the east off AZ-181 at Turkey Creek Road (10 miles south of Chiricahau National Monument then 8 miles up Turkey Creek Road). Pretty nice, toilets, trash barrels, picnic tables. Other Camping Areas off Rucker Canyon Road.
From the west off AZ-80 at Portal Road. Note that land surrounding is all private ranch land so other access is not available. Dunno if they're free or not.
See Chiricahua National Monumen.
Pinaleno Mountains
4 Camping Areas out past AZ-366. Road closed October 15/April 15.
Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim):
Showers, laundromat.
Camping Areas
Free camping throughout Kaibab National Forest.
Grand Canyon (North Rim), Kaibab National Forest Jacobs Lake Campground $12
Grand Canyon (North Rim), Kaibab National Forest De Motte Park Campground $10
Grand Canyon (North Rim), Grand Canyon North Rim Campground $15
Trailheads:
Get maps and trail descriptions at Visitor Center.
Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim):
Water next to site 37 at Desert View Campground
Showers ($1=5 minutes) and laundromat at Grand Canyon Village.
Very heavy airplane and helicopter traffic dawn to dusk.
Camping Areas
Free camping throughout Kaibab National Forest. Two forests road within a couple of miles of the park entrance and more farther away.
Grand Canyon (South Rim), Grand Canyon National Park Desert View Campground $10
Grand Canyon (South Rim), Grand Canyon National Park Mather Campground $15
Grand Canyon (South Rim), Grand Canyon National Park Trailer Village $20
Tusayan, Camper Village $15-$23
Tusayan, Kaibab National Forest Ten-X Campground $10
Trailheads:
Get maps and trail descriptions at Visitor Center
Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument:
You can get into the area from Mesquite, NV & Colorado City, AZ.
From St. George, UT: turn east on Brigham Road off of I15 Exit 4.
Go 1.6 miles and turn right on River Road.
Go 3.6 to end of paved road & Arizona state line.
@ 50 yards side roads begin & camp sites.
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge:
Camping Areas:
Lake Havasu City, Craggy Wash, dirt road immediately north of airport. 14
days, quiet, mountainous, no facilities
Topock Marsh area, BLM land, campground at Five Mile Landing.
Boat Ramps:
Topock Marsh, Catfish Paradise, ramp, toilet, dumpster
Topock Marsh, Five Mile Landing
Topock Marsh, North Dike, ramp, no facilities
I8 & I10 Corridor:
24 hour limit @ Arizona interstate rest areas
Freeman
Bureau Of Land Management
Exit 144 from I-8 (30 miles E of Gila Bend). Lots of dispersed camping all along the 13.5 mile road, no facilities. There is a sandy spot in the road about 5 miles in. I plowed through it with a 6 cylinder pickup a few years ago. Lava Flow Trail (south) and the Table Top Mountain Trails at the end of the 13.5 mile road.
A sign near the beginning of the road warns of illegal activites going on in the area (people coming up from Mexico with drugs or illegals. I've continued camping there a few days at a time for several years after the sign went up with no problems. I haven't seen anyone else camped there though.
Casa Grande
Jim Korsten
West Pinal County Park
Stanfield exit 151 from I8, N on SR84 1.2 miles. Free, dispersed sites, 40ft RV limit, 3 day limit, no drinking water, trash cans, toilet?, all year.
Not much else along the corridor except the rest areas & WalMart in Cortaro, I10, exit 246.
Kaibab National Forest:
Camping Areas
Free camping throughout national forest.
Lots of free camping off of US-180 in the Kendrick Mountain area.
Grand Canyon (North Rim), Kaibab National Forest Jacobs Lake Campground $12
Grand Canyon (North Rim), Kaibab National Forest De Motte Par Campground $10
Trailheads:
Kendrick Mountain Trail: FR-193 off of US-180 at mile 233 to FR-171 then to FR-190. Just follow the signs.
Red Mountain Trail: US-180 at mile 247.
Red Butte Trail: Turn right onto fR-320 right before the Kaibab National Forest sign for the Grand Canyon South Rim section of the forest. Follow it to FR-340 and then to FR-304A.
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge:
Campging Areas
Castle Dome, Mile 55 on US 95. Turn at the sign amd go 10 miles (2 miles are paved) and camp where ever. Free, no facilities.
Stone Cabin Mile 76.6 (King Valley Road) on US 95. Turn at the sign amd camp where everyou can. Free, no facilities.
Palm Canyon, Mile 85.3 on US 95. Turn at the sign amd go about 10 miles to the refuge. A road to left by the kiosk leads to some other decent camping too. Free, no facilities.
MT & Tower, Mile 92.6 on US 95. Camp where ever. Free, no facilities.
Crystal Hill, Mile 95 on US 95. Turn at the sign. Day use only first 3 miles. Some nice camping spots @ Crystal Hill at mile 6. Stoney road, smaller RVs.
Trailheads:
No Trailheads: but I find lots of interesting stuff by just wandering off into the foothills and mountains.
Lake Havasu City:
Craggy Wash: immediately north of the Lake Havasu City Airport fence on US95. Go 1 mile to large open area suitable for large RVs. Many spots farther on. No Facilities. Camped 05/2001.
More camping several miles south of Lake Havasu City on US95. Near highway, used by ATVers. No Facilities.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area:
Airplane & helicopter noise can be horrific near Las Vegas, as frequently as every 1-2 minutes flying directly overhead.
Camping Areas:
US 93 mm 14, Willow Beach (Colorado River) (campground, toilets, dumpster, water, boat ramp)
US 93 mm 19, Bonelli Landing, turn north on paved road (CR143) for about 12.6 miles. Turn left onto washer board dirt road for 4 miles. Bear left at fork for 2 miles. Turn left at fork for .7 miles or right for 1.0 mile to the lake. Not good for
RV's. Toilet both directions, dumpster at beginning of dirt roads.
US 93 mm 19, Bonelli Bay, turn north on paved road (CR143) for about 12.6 miles. Turn left onto washer board dirt road for 4 miles. Bear right at fork for 2 miles to Bonelli Bay. OK for RV's. Toilet, dumpster at beginning of dirt roads.
US 93 mm 19 Temple Bar Marina, turn north on paved road (CR143) for 28 miles to end of road. Ccampground, toilets, dumpster, water at dump station, boat ramp.
US 93 mm 42 South Cove, turn onto Pierce Valley Road (CR25) at Doland Springs and drive 45 miles on paved road. Turn left and drive 4 miles on paved road to boat ramp. (toilets, dumpster, boat ramp). Follow dirt road 4.5 miles to camping area (toilets). Good for RV's. Dump station and drinking water about mile 39 at the junction of Pierce Ferry Road and Hualapai Creek Road (last set of buildings in Meadview).
US 93 mm 45.5 Mohave Lake turn onto Cottonwood Road and drive xx miles
to the end. (toilet, put in)
US93 mm 51.5 Big Wash Road (hiking, camping).
Montezuma Castle National Monument:
No camping in national monument. May be some in nearby national forests.
Organ Pipe National Monument:
Camping Areas
Water at visitor center on the right,
Lukeville, Gringo Pass Motel & RV Park (Low cost)
Organ Pipe National Monument Camping Areas.
US-85 mile 63 or so and 3 mikes back Alamo Canyon Road by trailhead. $5 day use fee but I think the 8 camp sites are free. Close together but no room for rigs and trailers.
Pena Blanca Lake Recreation Area:
Camping Areas:
Several NFS Camping Areas at $5 per area near lake on AZ-289 off US-19 near Nogales.
Launch Areas:
South end of lake off AZ-289
Quartzsite Area:
Bouse
Bouse Community Park
From its junction with AZ72 in Bouse take Plamosa Road south about 1 mile. Dry Camp, $8/day, $40/week, $100/month, Water & electric, $14/day, $70/week, $160/month, no RV limit, flush toilets, water ($.05/gallon), hot showers (probably), dumpsters, dump station ($10 non-campers), year round.
Visited 11-01-11: Much dispersed camping a mile farther south to the nountains,
See BLM LTVAs also (above)
Quartzsite, hundreds of free, 14 day camping, no facilities.
Lots more free camping I10 exit 6, 13 miles west of Quartzsite. Much less crowded.
Free camping on Palm Canyon Road (mile 85) and King Valley Road (mile 76)
in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.
No camping directly off of I8 east of Yuma until exit 102. Follow Painted Rock Road 4-5 miles past the farm field. Painted Rock Campground around mile 10. $4/night.
Roosevelt Lake Recreation Area:
Camping Areas:
Seems to be $4 day/night fee, camp where you want. RV's lined side by side along lake. Golden Eagle no good.
A couple of forest roads lead off of AZ-188 where I found a camping spot.
Saguaro Lake:
Camping Areas:
Didn't notice any camping opportunities passing by.
Saguaro National Park:
Camping Areas:
Tucson Mountain District (west side)
Water machine at gas station at park entrance
No Camping Areas within Tucson Mountain District.
Exit 242 off I-10 to Avra Valley Road. I found free camping on Avra Valley Road 12-13 miles beyond Sandario Road and the National Park turn off. (may be along smuggler route).
Tuscon Mountain County Park is on Sandario Road on the other side of the National Park.
Rincon Mountain District (east side)
No Camping Areas within Rincon Mountain District.
Salt River:
Boat ramp and campground/boat ramp around miles 4 and 5 on Apache Trail (AZ-88) from Roosevelt Lake. $4/day.
May be a couple of places for free camping but still need access to river.
Sitgreaves National Forest:
Camping Areas:
Lots of forest roads leading off of AZ-260 from Show Low to the Tonto
National Forest.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument:
Camping Areas right outside of entrance.
Coconino National Forest access directly across from Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument entrance off of US-89.
Table Top Wilderness:
See I8 & I10 Corridor above).
Tombstone:
Commercial Camping Areas a few miles away.
Tonto National Forest:
Forest roads and Camping Areas off of AZ-260. I saw at least one collection booth as I went by.
Tonto Creek Road has to apparently free Camping Areas but they were still
closed in late March. Many roadside campsites are available.
Tonto National Monument:
No camping facilities. See Roosevelt Lake Recreation Area above.
Vermillion Cliffs National Monument:
Coyote Buttes (South)
Reservations required:(www.az.blm.gov/paria)or pull name out of a hat the day before at Paria Contact Station (mm 21 US 89 in Utah) or ranger station in Kanab, Utah on US 89. $5/person for 1 day.
MM 25.6 of US 89 in Utah (about 4 miles west of the Paria Contact Station) turn south at the signed Houserock Valley Road. This is a rough, stony, washer board road. Turn left at the unsigned dirt road at 16 miles. This is a sandy road suitable only for 4WD. Park at the
clearing and walk 2.5 miles to Paw Hole.
Paria Canyon: see Utah.
Walnut Canyon National Monument:
No camping in national monument. See Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
below.
Wupatki National Monument:
No camping in national monument. Coconino National Forest access directly across from Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument entrance off of US-89.
Yuma Area:
See BLM LTVAs also.
Camping Areas:
Mittry Lake, from its junction with I8, take US 95 north 5.3 miles and turn right (between 2 gas stations) onto Avenue 7E at the Mittry Lake sign. Follow this road 9.5 miles to the boat ramp. Individual lake front campsites along the last mile or so. More campsites beyond. Free, chemical toilets & dumpster near the boat ramp.
Mile 7.4 from the gas stations there's a camping area sits back on the right. Dunno if it is public or not.
Mile 9.3 from the gas stations turn right for a RV camping area. Several other sites avilable along the lake.
Mile 9.9 from the gas stations is the boat ramp on left & toilet up hill on right. Another boat ramp 2 miles past the first one.
Mile 10.9 Many more campsites. RV's should walk in to check for branches scratching paint.
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