Quartzsite - camping?

[asirimarco]

Has any one done any desert camping in or around Quartzsite? We will probably head that way after leaving Vegas on our way to Mexico. Was wondering what the protocol was for parking in the desert - permit needed? do other campers mind a stranger movng in? Any way any info will be welcome.
We will probably be leaving Indiana in two to three weeks at the most then going to Vegas to visit relatives then heading south. We did have the solar panels installed so that should help
Got the Church's latest camping in Mexico book and am as I write printing out the updates to it. 66 Pages!!!
Bill is out working in Alfie - doing who knows what and I am cleaning out the freezer in here - making soup with the turkey breast that has been in there for ever. Smells good.
Trying to remember everything we need to do to be on the road for any length of time, especially with the house as before we always had someone living in it when we were gone. Such fun.

[Sparkle]

We may be in the Quartzite area at the same time. I'm looking forward to answers to your questions. I was just going to wing it....that's got me in trouble before....I'm going to see if I can get just one Solar Panel to attach to my existing deep cycle batteries. I have an address in Quartzite to go to.

[Bethers]

I know we have forum members who go there - hope they speak up for you!

[avalen]

seems to me we have a few that have been to Quartzite, I think Sprinter maybe?
and Seeyagal I'm sure knows the ropes for Q
oops, nevermind about Sprinter, I just found out she's not a member here.

[Bethers]

Plus she's never been there, yet. LOL - but yes to Seeya and some of the others - so hopefully they'll jump in here.

[AlmostThere]

Camping: Check with the chambers for RV park information. If you want a hookup spot for January or a longer season, best to make reservations. Dry camping parking lots (paid) and RV parks abound in Quartzsite close to the shows or within walking or biking distance.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offers 14-day dry camping areas in all directions from town. La Posa Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA), one mile south of town off Highway 95, offers dry camping with water, dump and trash dumpsters available for permit holders. The full-season permit costs $140, a 14-day permit costs $30. Permits can be used at any of the other LTVAs near Yuma and in California as well.

Water, dump, propane: Free water and dump is available in Blythe, California at the Lovekin exit (go south). Two vendors in Quartzsite are Mort's Campground and the RV Pit Stop.

Laundromats/showers: Q-Laundromat at 205 E. Main has lots of washers and dryers. Showers in sanitized rooms are $5, including all supplies. Palm Plaza Laundromat is at 255 N. Central.



Mail: Have mail sent in care of General Delivery:

Quartzsite, AZ General Delivery 85346-9999

During the winter months the Post Office operates an annex on the east side of town on North Plymouth Street, near the town hall and library. All general delivery mail is handled in the annex building.

Because of crowds in Quartzsite, veteran visitors pick up their mail in Blythe (where they also go for grocery shopping, water, and dump):

Blythe, CA General Delivery, 92226-9999.

The Blythe post office is at 200 E. Murphy St. (at Broadway) north of Business I-10 (east of Lovekin).

Getting Around: Your best bet is to park on the edge and walk or ride bicycles. Traffic and parking can be horrendous, especially when the RV show is on. If you need to do errands, go early in the morning and use the Interstate to get from one end of town to the other and closer to your destination.

Internet: Love's Truck stop has WiFi only for existing truckstop.net customers. There's an Internet café on Main Street, just east of Pro Mack and Little Dealer. The Library (opens at 8:00 a.m.)has 13 Internet computers available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

Quartzsite RV Show: The Sports, Vacation & RV Show takes place in the big tent on south Hwy 95 from January 22 through January 30.
Bureau of Land Management Camping Sites near Quartzsite, Ariz.
Directions to BLM Camping Areas
14-Day Areas

Plomosa Road

Located about 5.5 miles north of Quartzsite on the north and south sides of Plomosa Road. Take AZ 95 north from Quartzsite to the Plomosa Road turnoff and turn right.

Hi Jolly / MM112

Located about three miles north of Quartzsite at Mile Marker 112 of AZ 95. Take AZ 95 North from Quartzsite to mile Marker 112 and turn right at t he entrance

Dome Rock Mountain

Located about six miles West of Quartzsite off of I- 10. Take I10 West from Quartzsite to the Dome Rock exit. The camping area is south of I- 10.

Scaddan Wash

Located about 3.5 miles East of Quartzsite off of I- 10. Take the I10 frontage road from the Mile Marker 19 Exit East. The camping area is south of the frontage road.

Road Runner / MM 99

Located about five miles south of Quartzsite at Mile Marker 99 of AZ 95. Take AZ 95 South from Quartzsite to Mile Marker 99. The camping area is west of AZ 95 between the gas line road and La Paz Valley Road.

Long-Term Visitor Area (LTVA)

La Posa LTVA

Located less than one mile south of Quartzsite on AZ 95. Take AZ 95 south of Quartzsite to the brown brick Contact Station at the entrance to each section The camping area has four sections: La Posa North, La Posa West, La Posa South, and La Posa Tyson Wash

For More Information Contact

Outdoor Recreation Planner
Bureau of Land Management
Yuma Field Office
2555 Gila Ridge Road
Yuma, Arizona 85365
(520) 317-3200

[avalen]

wow, that was great information, I'm hoping to make a trip there myself soon.
This website has some good info on whats scheduled to go on in the near future.
Didn't know there was so much to do there,
http://www.desertusa.com/Cities/az/quar ... chor832645

[snowball]

we boondocked there last winter our first winter there!
We stayed on BLM land the cost for it was 180 you could stay there from Sept. till April 15
There are free places on BLM land where you can stay up to 14 days
When you stay on BLM land there are businesses that will dump your tanks for a fee and fill them for a fee for 5th wheelers that is great
I think that they have short term fees on BLM land but don't know that for a surity
There are lots of 'swap meet type businesses' fun shops to browes through some places that have just what you as a RV'er didn't know that you needed....
Blythe is close and we did go there and get our mail will we do it this year not sure however grocery's were way more there than in AZ
Not sure if I've answered the question oh yes the showers they went up to 6.00
Sheila

[SeeyaGal]

We were in Quartzsite this year, noticed the number of people in the area were less than other years.'We camp out off the scadden wash 5 miles from town with the Boomer group. Since the Alfa's have their own group out there too we take the Jeep and go visit them.
We jusyt make sure our gray & Black tanks are empty and out fresh water is full. There is a place called the Pittstop in town where you can fill-empty and get propane. True there are people who will come out and fill your tanks or empty them.

Be prepared to walk alot...this is the biggest yard sale you'll ever see! Lots to do there and if you want a fire please bring your own wood it is illigal to gather food from the desert to burn.
People either love it or hate it there.

Area I stay in is free for 14 days

[SeeyaGal]

Stock up on food before you go there, not much in the stores and pricey!
If you have a 5th wheel or travel trailer, made sure you chain up your portable generator....people went through snatching peoples generators last year.

[asirimarco]

thank you all so much for the information. have printed it out and will visit the web sites next.
Not sure if we will stop there or not but wanted to be prepared. From reading your posts I guess nothing can prepare us for that sight. Thanks again

[Liz]

Great detailed information! I shall print it out for my files for future reference. Thanks to all who contributed. I'm not going there soon, but was wondering too.

[Sparkle]

I was going to go to Camping World in Nevada before I went to Quartzite, but I wonder if I would be better buying it in Quartzite. Any comments?

[snowball]

buying what Sparkle?
Solar Panels? Yes get them there I will probubly even be able to get dh to put them on for you
What else?
Hopefully we will see you in "Q" we will be there early Dec hopefully
sheila