GILBERT RAY, Tucson,AZ

GILBERT RAY CG, TUCSON, AZ

RUN BY:  Pima County

LOCATION:  Tucson Mtn Park west of Tucson, AZ

UTILITIES:  Electric

COST:  $20

DISCOUNTS:  none known

OUR RATING (1-5): Category I.  Rating 4.5

NOTES:  This is one of the more expensive places we’ve stayed but it was beautiful and well managed. You are in the middle of a large valley close to the Tucson Mountains in a county park known as Tucson Mountain Park.  Pima County gets kudos for this!!  The sites are fairly level and not too close to your neighbor. We had some shrubs between us and our neighbor. All of the sites on the outside of the loops have great views. The park is on the edge of the Saguaro National Park, so the desert is magnificent with 15-20 varieties of cacti including forests of the giant Saguaro. The park is very green. If something can be recycled, they recycle it.  In fact, they take the little Colman gas cylinders.  It is neat and clean.  There is a seven day stay limit!  Bummer!!  In early March they were filling by 10 or 11am.   Dispersed camping isn’t as safe near a city as it is in the wilderness. That’s why we picked this place.  It was an excellent choice. We will definitely go back if we want to be near Tucson or spend more time in the Saguaro Nat’l Park.

Environment:   In the middle of a beautiful part of the Sonoran desert in the Tucson Mountains. Surrounded by cacti and low shrubs.

Amenities:  NONE

Dump:  YES

Public Water:  YES

Toilets:  YES

Showers: NO

Laundry: NO  -  but several places <15 miles in Tucson

Phone Service: Verizon  4G3

Nearest Propane: Tucson

Location: 

Proximity to shopping:  Quickmarts just down the road. Tucson shopping 8-10 miles.

Camping Population:   wide variety.  Mostly full-timers and snow-birds around us.

Sites:   Very nice. Not too close.  Picnic tables and charcoal grills. (No wood fires permitted) 

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RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

HOLE IN THE WALL, Mojave, CA

HOLE IN THE WALL CG, Mojave Nat’l Preserve, CA

RUN BY:  Nat’l Park Service

LOCATION: Mojave Nat'l Pre., Hole in the Wall CG  35.046050  -115.394354

UTILITIES: NONE

COST:  $12

DISCOUNTS: Senior Access  50%

OUR RATING (1-5): Category I. Rating 4.5

NOTES:  We have paid for more places this year than ever before, but some of these campgrounds are not only the only thing available if you want to see an area, but they are worth the money even if there is something else. Hole in the Wall is at the end of the pavement.  It sits at the base of Barber Peak in Mojave National Preserve.  You are either looking at the mountain or across a large plain at Woods Mountains. The desert is magnificent and, if you hike the area, you will notice the variety of ecosystems. 

Environment:  Desert.  Surrounded by magnificent mountains and gorgeous desert.

Amenities:  NONE 

Dump:  YES

Public Water:  ES

Toilets:  YES

Showers: NO

Laundry: NO

Phone Service:   Verizon  4G. 1bar

Nearest Propane:  Fenner, CA about 22 miles away.

Location:  I-40 Exit 100 (west of Needles, CA). This is Essex Rd.  Turn north.  Go to Black Canyon Rd and turn right. Follow this road to Hole in the Wall Campground which will be on your left just past the Visitor Information Center. 

Proximity to shopping:  A very long way!! 

Camping Population:  varied.

Sites:  Outstanding. Roomy and level. 

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RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

MITTRY LAKE, Yuma, AZ

MITTRY LAKE,  Yuma, AZ

RUN BY:  Dept. of Interior

LOCATION:  32.819206  -114.485348 north of Yuma. 

UTILITIES:  NONE

COST: NONE

DISCOUNTS: N/A

OUR RATING (1-5):  Category II.  Rating 4.0

NOTES:  We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Mittry Lake.  We were at the south end of the lake near the outlet and just around the corner from Betty’s Kitchen, a wildlife viewing area.  We were on a small channel and our nearest neighbor was across the channel. The coordinates will take you to our spot.   We have been told that mosquitos can be really bad, but we didn’t have any trouble in February. It has a fourteen day stay limit and BLM trucks go by frequently.  The roads in are dirt and washboard in many places.  We had a friend join us who has a very low Winnebago on a Toyota truck chassis. She had no problems.

Environment:  A lake in the middle of the desert. 

Amenities:  NONE

Dump:  NO

Public Water:  NO

Toilets:  NO

Showers: NO

Laundry: NO

Phone Service:   Verizon 4G. 3-4bars

Nearest Propane: There is a Love’s with dump and propane 14 miles away at Gila Ridge Rd and South Ave 3E.

Location:   (1) From Hwy 95 on the way to Quartzsite, you can turn left onto Avenue 7 ½ which becomes Laguna Dam Rd. and follow it to camping.  (2) Coming south on Hwy 95 from Quartzsite you can turn wests on E Imperial Dam Rd into the Yuma Proving Grounds. Landmarks – big guns!  Follow that to just past the main gate to the fort. You will cross a canal and turn left.  Be watching. It is easy to miss.  Follow this road (Laguna Dam Rd) to camping. 

Proximity to shopping:  Yuma shopping within 12-18 miles.  Walmart is 16 miles away.

Camping Population:   Lots of locals.

Sites:   Dispersed so vary widely.

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RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

STANDARD WASH, Lake Havasu City AZ

STANDARD WASH, Lake Havasu City, AZ

RUN BY:  Bureau of Land Management

LOCATION:  34.398738  -114.171613 south of Lake Havasu City, AZ

UTILITIES: NONE

COST:  NONE

DISCOUNTS:   N/A

OUR RATING (1-5):  Category III.  Rating 3

NOTES:  From what I can tell there is a large area known as Standard Wash.  We spent a night at one area just south of the raceway that was an old gravel pit. The only reason that we stayed there was because we had friends staying there and we stopped to see them as we were passing by.  The first time we stayed in the Standard Wash BLM area was at the coordinates given. This is a dirt road that turns east off of highway 95.  It was pleasant except for the great number of ATV during the day.  I did do a couple of cross-country hikes, avoiding ATV and going where they couldn’t go.  You are up on a ridge, so you have a nice view.  We stayed there two nights.

Environment:   Open desert.

Amenities:  NONE

Dump: NO

Public Water: NO

Toilets: NO

Showers:  NO

Laundry:  NO

Phone Service:  Verizon 4G 3-4bars

Nearest Propane: Lake Havasu City <10 miles.  

Location:  34.398738   -114.171613

Proximity to shopping:  Lake Havasu City

Camping Population:  Some full-timers.  Lots of ATV

Sites:   N/A.  Dispersed camping where you can find it.

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RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

TWIN PEAKS, Organ Pipe, AZ

TWIN PEAKS CG,  Organ Pipe Nat’l Monument, AZ

RUN BY:  Nat’l Park Service

LOCATION:  24 miles south of Why, AZ  (31.942863  -112.811363) 

UTILITIES:  NONE

COST:  $16/night

DISCOUNTS:  Senior/Access passes $8

OUR RATING (1-5): Class I.  Rating 4.5

NOTES:  This is a beautiful area and a fine campground.  Yes, there is some BLM land outside the park and you can get passes to camp on the Air Force Target Ranges, but if you want the best possible experience, I’d suggest shelling out the money and staying at Twin Peaks Campground.  It is clean, very well managed and very well laid-out. The bathrooms have showers but beware. The shower water is solar heated.  There is a no-generator section as well as a tent only section. There are giant Saguaro, Creosote, Ocotillo and magnificent Chainfruit Cholla (also known as Jumping Cholla) all around you in the campground.   There are some neat drives and good hikes.

Environment:   Beautiful desert

Amenities:  None

Dump:  YES

Public Water:  YES

Toilets:  YES

Showers:  YES

Laundry: NO

Phone Service:  Verizon  4G 2-3bars

Nearest Propane:  at the Why Not Travel Store in Why, AZ

Location:  31.942863  -112.811363  Follow AZ-85 south four about 24 miles. Turn right (west) at sign for Visitor Center and Campground. 

Proximity to shopping:  Why is closest community.

Camping Population:  Variety. Typical National Park.

Sites:   All paved pull through. Nicely spaced.  Two rows are no-generator area.

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RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

High Gate Rd, Buenos Aires NWR

HIGH GATE ROAD,  BUENOS AIRES NWR

RUN BY:  U.S. Fish and Game

LOCATION:  West of Arivaca, AZ   31.643351  -111440056

UTILITIES:  NONE

COST:  NONE

DISCOUNTS:  N/A

OUR RATING (1-5):  Category II.  Rating 4

NOTES: High Gate Road is a dirt road with some significant ruts, but it is passable by most RVs. It might be a tad difficult if you’re extremely low to the ground.  This is actually one of the “major” roads in the refuge since it is one of only four roads with a name. It is on a ridge that runs down through the grasslands that are being restored. You have a really nice view both east and west.  Camping areas are numbered. 

Environment:  Very open grasslands

Amenities:  NONE

Dump:  NO

Public Water:  NO

Toilets:   NO

Showers:  NO

Laundry:  NO

Phone Service:  Verizon 4G3

Nearest Propane:  Crossroads called Three Points, AZ  (AZ 86 & AZ286)  has propane and basic supplies. May also be available in Arivaca (east on the Arivaca-Sasabe Rd.) but we didn’t go there.

Location:  31.643351 -111440056.  Turn south at Intersection of AZ86 and AZ286. Travel south for approximately 33 miles and turn left on the Arivaca-Sasabe Road. Go approximately 3.5 miles and watch for High Gate (NWR Rd 227) on the left.  It is marked NWR 227, but the sign isn’t easy to see. It is the second cross-roads from Hwy 286. 

Proximity to shopping:  Locals go to Tucson but basic in Arivaca and quickmarts at Three Points and Sasabe, on the Mexican border.

Camping Population:   dispersed but south side of High Gate seems to be a lot of local hunters.

Sites:   Dispersed but lots of beautiful places.

High Gate Road.  You need descent ground clearance.

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RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

WHITEWATER DRAW McNeal AZ

WHITEWATER DRAW WILDLIFE AREA, McNeal, AZ

RUN BY:  Arizona Game and Fish 

LOCATION:  southwest of McNeal, AZ

UTILITIES:  NONE

COST:  NONE

DISCOUNTS:  N/A

OUR RATING (1-5):  Category III.  Rating  4

NOTES:  If you are a bird enthusiast or, like us, just want to experience the phenomena of the Sandhill Cranes, this is the place. You can stay three nights, and that’s what we did. 

Environment:   Open arid grasslands

Amenities:  NONE

Dump: NO

Public Water:  NO

Toilets: PIT

Showers: NO

Laundry:  NO

Phone Service:  Verizon 4G 2-3 bars

Nearest Propane:

Location:  From the traffic circle at the intersection of AZ 80 and AZ92 in Bisbee go 4.3 miles and turn left onto W Double Adobe Rd. Travel 8.0 miles and turn left onto N. Central Hwy. Go 6.2 miles and turn left again onto W Bagby Rd to N. Coffman Rd. which will take you to Whitewater Draw.  From the town of McNeal, AZ take W Davis Rd a short distance to N. Central Hwy and turn left.  Take the second right onto W. Lee Rd.  A short distance brings you to N Coffman Rd where you turn left which takes you to Whitewater Draw.

Proximity to shopping:  Gas and basics at McNeal Mercantile 5.5 miles away.

Camping Population:   Bird and wildlife enthusiasts.

Sites:   There are five picnic tables but, if everyone cooperates, more can get in. It is a circular parking area.  No assigned or designated sites.

=========================================================================

RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.