Dear Reader: We are updating these listings now. The listings on this page now are in many cases outdated. We except to have our updated directory posted by April, 2005.

ARIZONA FREE CAMPING

Highway Rest Areas: Overnight stays are permitted in most rest areas.

Wal-Mart stores. Unless posted, RVers may spend the night for free in most Wal-Mart parking lots. For a list of Wal-Mart stores that do not permit free overnight stays, click here.

Rules about camping on public lands

Chinle

Cottonwood Campground (elevation 5,540 feet) is 1/2 mile south of the Visitor Center of Canyon de Chelly National Monument, adjacent to the Thunderbird Lodge. It's open year round on a first-come first-served basis with 104 RV and tent sites. From April to October facilities include flush toilets, picnic tables and drinking water. There are no shower facilities. No fee is required. -- THE EDITOR

Chloride

Free overnight camping (no hookups) is available at the VFW as well as on the old school ground.Contact the Chloride Fire Department for camping on the old school property.  Also there is free entertainment on the first and third Saturdays by the Immortal Gunfighters and the Vaudeville Troupe starting at noon. -- ROY CHANCE

Congress North Ranch, on Highway 89 near Milepost 264, is an Escapees Club Park. The Escapees is a group of full-time RVers, some of whom own campsites in Escapee parks around the country. Members who do not own campsites in the parks may stay there on a space available basis, like here at North Ranch, where a campsite with full hookups is $8 a night. Dry camping is free the first night and then $2.50 a night thereafter. An annual membership in Escapees is $50, and worth every penny for the full-timer or frequent part-timer. For more information, check out the Escapees web site. In addition to its campgrounds, the Escapees have many unofficial (to the public at least) boondocking sites. Members know where they are.

Cottonwood

"Our favorite free campsite is on government lands between Sedona and Cottonwood. We are able to spend two weeks at a time in one location (the limit) in the middle of desert range land where an occasional Brahma herd of cattle would cross outside our livingroom window. We enjoyed absolute solitude except for the daily morning air balloons which would land a half-mile away in the desert. Dump stations are in Cottonwood, just a few minutes away." -- L. & R. BROWN

Flagstaff

A reader reported in July, 2000 that Flagstaff shopping centers have "No overnight parking" signs and that anyone who attempts to stay will be booted off. Same with the local Wal-Mart.

The Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce email FreeCampgrounds.com to confirm that no overnight stays are permitted at the local Wal-Mart.

Gila Bend
There is free overnight parking and free dump station at the Texaco Truck Stop. Go west from Gila Bend on I-8 and take 119 turnoff (1st one). Next to Super 8 Motel.

Globe

Free overnight parking is permitted at the Apache Gold Casino, 7.5 mi E of Globe on Highway 70 at mile marker 258. There is water and a dump station at Globe visitor center.

Holbrook
At the I-40 Adamana Exit (303), 13 miles east of Holbrook, is the Silverado Ranch, run by 72-year-old Belle Star with her companion Lobo, a full-blooded wolf. Nearly singlehandedly, Belle has created a wildlife preserve, bird sanctuary, botanical garden and much more — surrounded by natural desert flora and fauna. She runs it all by herself and shares it freely, taking only contributions. She invites RVers to boondock or stay at one of her old West-style cabins. For information, call 928-524 -9127.

RV Boondocking Basics Learn everything you need to know about RVing without hookups. Info on solar, windmills, waste water disposal, and more. Save money by being self-sufficient! MORE INFO OR ORDER

Kayenta

Camping is free in the campground at Navajo National Monument, which is 30 miles from Kayenta along a good paved road. The campground is primitive with 30 paved pad sites that can handle RVs up to 25 feet. Drinking water and a bathroom are on the premises, but that's about it. -- THE EDITOR

Lake Havasu City

Just a tad north of town on U.S. 95 (editors note: between mile markers 190 and 191), just north of the airport on the east side of the highway, is BLM land where a lot of RVers dry camp. It's absolutely beautiful scenery with spectacular sunsets. -- JACK AND NAN

However, a warning. . . (9-00):
I stayed at Lake Havasu City, mile markers 190-191. I will not stay again as the two times I was there, the local police rounded up two different vehicles. The first was a suicide, the second was drug related. There are a lot of sites farther in but extreme caution is needed if going any further than 1/2 mile from the turn off. It seems like there are a lot of shady people (other than the regular RV'ers) who stay there. -- Jim Cirka

AND A COMMENT (10-00): My wife and I stayed the night on the BLM land at mileposts 190-191 without incident. But, after reading the warning of problems there, I might chose the 24 hr. Wal-Mart on US 95 in Lake Havasu City. When we were there in Feb. 2000, there were a few rigs parked for the night. Jim D.

Received 1-13-01 -- The Lake Havasu City Walmart does not allow overnight camping — city ordinance. -- Unsigned

Oatman

There's a parking area on the north end of town for RV's, but no facilities. I think there was a limit on number of days but I don't remember. -- UNSIGNED

Phoenix

The Harrah's casino on the Akchin Indian Reservation south of Phoenix allows overnight stays in its parking lot. A security guard came by and asked if he could get anything for us. -- W. KLAUS

Quartzsite

Visit Snowbird Capital Quartzsite, Arizona on this fabulous DVD! LEARN MORE!

This is Mecca for the boondocker. In the winter, up to a hundred thousand RVers at a time camp in these parts -- a dusty splotch of desert and center stage for the Mother Of All Flea Markets. Here's the best place in America to buy a $2 wristwatch or a pound of fossilized dinosaur dung. RVers can just roll off into the nearby desert and squat for free on government land, or pay $25 for two weeks or $120 for the seven month winter season in the La Posa Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) where there's water, phones, dump stations and pit toilets. Quartzsite, permanent pop. 2,000, has the basic stores, post office, a few mediocre restaurants including a McDonalds (with live music every night during the winter Snowbird season), a lively senior center, some RV parks, and, of course, the Quartzsite Yacht Club -- a landlocked Budweiser emporium. The town is located at the intersection of I-10 and Arizona Route 95 east of Blythe, Calif. When in town, tune to KBUX, 94.3 FM, the local radio station run from the spare bedroom of owners Buck and Maude Burdette. The popular recreation around here: rockhounding and sunbathing -- THE EDITOR

Wickenburg

A very secluded campground is one mile up a hill out of town across from the rodeo grounds.  It has large sites, is very secure and has a beautiful view of Wickenberg after dark. The only noise you hear at night is coyotes. The $2 fee is well worth it.   -- R. & D. THOMPSON

Yuma

The Imperial Dam Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) is about 25 miles north of Yuma off State Route 24 via Senator Wash Road on the California side of the Colorado River. The 3,500-acre "campground" is in the flat, sparsely shaded desert with dump sites, two restrooms, outdoor showers and trash facilities. Camping is $20 per week or $100 for the Sept. 15 to April 15 season. -- THE EDITOR

Take Highway 95 north out of Yuma to Circle K (Ave 7E), turn left and continue five miles to the Mittry Lake area where there is free camping for ten days (no restrooms, showers, etc.) The road turns into gravel but we had a nice spot with our large rig right on the lake. There are a lot of areas to camp here, some on the lake, some higher up. This road eventually takes you to YMCA gate entrance. -- SHARON H.

Many RVers camp for free six miles west of Yuma in California on the north side of the I-8 exit to Algondes, Mexico. -- THE EDITOR

CAMPING ON PUBLIC LANDS IN THE VICINITY OF YUMA. More information
Or contact the Bureau of Land Management, 2555 Gila Ridge Road Yuma, AZ 85365, (520) 317-3200.

Wal-Marts that ban overnight stays in RVs

Read messages about free camping from RVers who do it.

---

ELSEWHERE IN THIS SITE

Arizona - California - Colorado - Idaho - Kansas - Montana - Nevada - New Mexico
- Oklahoma - Oregon - South Dakota - Texas - Utah - Washington - Wyoming
Index - Other Free Camping Areas -- Free Camping Resources - Contact us

Do you know of any additions or changes we should make to this list? Please let us know.