Phoenix area one-nighter

fanrgs wrote:
Are you using I-10 or I-40/I-17 to get to Phoenix? If I-10, I can recommend two places. The Pima County Fairgrounds just south of I-10 outside Tucson has first come-first serve, FHU sites for ~$30/night. There is nothing around the fairgrounds except a car race track, so non-race nights are quiet.

If you want a quiet, dispersed site, try the BLM's Sonoran Desert National Monument. Take I-10 to I-8, then west to an exit about 10? miles west of the truck stop-rv park at Exit 151. North of the exit are a couple of ranches, but south is the open BLM land. So go south from the exit on Vekol Valley Rd. and camp at one of the many locations just off the road. Sandy desert terrain, so little risk of getting stuck. But do be aware of flash flood potential, so advise staying away from the creek.

PS--I looked the I-8 exit up on Google Earth street view and it is Exit 144. Hope that helps!

fangrs,
We were going to use 40/17/85 into Gila Bend. I did see the Sonoran Desert National Monument area and that seemed like a good point to stop/overnight. Thanks for the info.

Dave

Are you using I-10 or I-40/I-17 to get to Phoenix? If I-10, I can recommend two places. The Pima County Fairgrounds just south of I-10 outside Tucson has first come-first serve, FHU sites for ~$30/night. There is nothing around the fairgrounds except a car race track, so non-race nights are quiet.

If you want a quiet, dispersed site, try the BLM's Sonoran Desert National Monument. Take I-10 to I-8, then west to an exit about 10? miles west of the truck stop-rv park at Exit 151. North of the exit are a couple of ranches, but south is the open BLM land. So go south from the exit on Vekol Valley Rd. and camp at one of the many locations just off the road. Sandy desert terrain, so little risk of getting stuck. But do be aware of flash flood potential, so advise staying away from the creek.

PS--I looked the I-8 exit up on Google Earth street view and it is Exit 144. Hope that helps!

Roy&Lynne wrote:
The Bass Pro Shop in Mesa allows overnight camping.

Thanks, that is good to know. Not a lot of traffic at Bass Pro late at night :)

Thanks,

Dave

The Bass Pro Shop in Mesa allows overnight camping.

If you are an Elks Lodge member, the Gila Bend Lodge has overnight parking.

In larger cities my DW loves to overnight at Casinos, of course I oblige. In most cases they have sections of the parking lot where this is allowable, usually pretty easy to get in and out as well. We always catch a meal and my DW will no doubt find something to do otherwise as well.

We liked our overnight stay at the Gila Bend KOA near the junction of State Route 85 and Interstate 8, southwest of Phoenix.

Gila Bend KOA

About a half mile south of the KOA is Holt's Shell RV Park. We have not stayed there, but it looks good and is cheaper than the KOA.

Holt's Shell RV Park

Ed