Arizona--mid-January to late February--suggestions?

[coolmom42]

My travelling partner and I are considering spending some time in Arizona this winter. We will be in a 26 foot trailer with pickup, coming from Tennessee.

Neither one of us has ever been to Arizona before. We would like to stay in multiple locations staying 7-10 days in each, in order to see different parts of the state. Of course we want warmer weather than in Tennessee, but are happy with highs in the upper 50s if it lets us see some new areas. And of course warmer is nice, too.

We like to stay in National Forests, state parks, etc but are not opposed to commercial parks for a few days. Something quiet but fairly convenient to amenities is ideal.

We have good batteries and a generator so are limited only by the black tank, which we are pretty good at conserving.

Any suggestions of campgrounds in good locations around the state?

[BarbaraOK]

coolmom42 wrote:
Wow. As best as I can tell, the Maricopa County Parks are 95% booked for Jan & Feb. Same for many of the state parks. That's nuts.

We were wanting to avoid having to be tied to a schedule. Are we going to be "homeless" without reservations?

We have a generator, and good batteries. Black and gray tanks will be our limiting factors anywhere without a dump station.

It is Snowbird Time! The desert areas are prime locations for a lot of snowbirds and the Maricopa Parks really have made a name for themselves - as well as the state parks around the bigger cities.

Usually one can find a spot for a day or two, even up to a week, but if you want longer, you have to make reservations in advance for the winter. Now, a lot of those reservations will be canceled as people realize their health is so bad they can't make the trip south. And others will just not show up because there has been a death and no one is looking at whether reservations were made for the next year.

There is boon docking in west Arizona (BLM Lands) but if you also want to enjoy what the bigger cities (and also smaller ones) have to offer in the winter, make some reservations NOW. And then check every few weeks to see what has opened up.

[Padlin]

Most of the more desirable state and county parks will already be booked up, you can however get into the overflow areas in the ones that have them, and save a few bucks too. Dead Horse Ranch is worth a couple weeks, had friends stay in the overflow. Usery and McDowell were worth the week in each we've stayed. I heard Lake Pleasant is too although I've not stayed there. Gilbert Ray is 1st come 1st served, we had no problem getting in showing up when they allow check in. Catalina SP was excellent, as was Lost Dutchman, they'll be full as may be the overflow, worth a try though.

Organ Pipe was real noice, also first come first serve. You'll see a bunch of folks boondocking just before you get there so that's an option too.

A few other spots, Kartchner, Patagonia Lake, and our favorite, Bonita in Chiricahua Nat Monument.

Coming from the east on 10, we like a couple nights in City Of Rocks SP in NM, mostly FCFS, but you need to pull in pretty early, not many sites can handle a bigger trailer rig. We've been finding it's too cold coming in on 40.

If you go that route, Balmorhea, Seminole Canyon, and Davis Mountain SP's in TX are nice. Seminole's dry area is worth using. They were rebuilding Balmorhea last winter so you'd have to call ahead.

[ItsyRV]

Dump stations should not be a problem as they are all over the place. true you have to pay to use the private ones, but they are plentiful.

Once again, AZ is a popular winter destination for RVer's so it should not come as a surprise that campsites are filling up.

[coolmom42]

Wow. As best as I can tell, the Maricopa County Parks are 95% booked for Jan & Feb. Same for many of the state parks. That's nuts.

We were wanting to avoid having to be tied to a schedule. Are we going to be "homeless" without reservations?

We have a generator, and good batteries. Black and gray tanks will be our limiting factors anywhere without a dump station.

[ItsyRV]

Depends on locations. In some municipalities, you are not allowed by law to park overnight and Walmart's security kicks you out at 2 am. Some Walmart's are leased space in retail developments and the development's management prohibits overnight RV parking. Other places Walmart's has banned RV overnight due to abuse of the privilege. The best thing is to ask as these self impose (not by force) bans are up to the discretion of the store manager.

[coolmom42]

Thanks, everyone! This is exactly the type of info I wanted.

If we get caught waiting for a spot somewhere.... are Walmarts RV friendly??

[The_Mad_Norsky]

Usery Mountain Regional Park, just on the north side of Mesa is a great park.

[2gypsies1]

We have stayed in every one of Arizona's state parks and Maricopa County Parks. They are awesome.

https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/

Tucson also has Gilbert Ray campground in Tucson Mtn. park - a beauty and nice hiking in the area.

In your timeframe I wouldn't recommend that you venture farther north than Phoenix.

Hope you enjoy Arizona. We sure do!!

[BarbaraOK]

pawatt wrote:
We have traveled coast to coast and border to border and rarely make reservations. Occasionally may have to call two or three places the day of arrival. We use RV park reviews and RV Parky apps regularly

While that is usually what we do as we move, when in Arizona in the winter, you have to plan ahead. Already most of the state parks and county parks are running short on open sites for January-March, which is the HEAVY snowbird season.

[pawatt]

We have traveled coast to coast and border to border and rarely make reservations. Occasionally may have to call two or three places the day of arrival. We use RV park reviews and RV Parky apps regularly

[Dave5143]

X2 on Kartchner Caverns State Park in Southeast AZ. They have a very nice RV park on site. Tombstone and Bisbee are nearby and worth a day trip. It does get a bit chilly at night since it's at 4700 feet altitude but usually sunny and nice during the day.

[Desert_Captain]

Since I am lucky enough to live in southern Arizona {25 miles north of Tucson at the foot of Mt Lemon} permit me offering some free advice.

Lots of good suggestion above but keep in mind that anywhere above 4,000' in the winter will probably remind you of... well, winter. It gets cold in Arizona and the average elevation is something north of 4,000'. Stay under 4K' and you should be fine but watch the weather carefully as it can change very quickly. Saw 6" of snow in Flagstaff the first week in May a couple years ago.

Secondly, make reservations for everywhere you go and the earlier the better. A couple of weeks is usually enough but Arizona is inundated with snowbirds from November through May As a local, we have to fight this battle for campsites all winter. I agree that the State parks offer the best of Arizona {nice amenities, weather, spectacular scenery etc., at pretty reasonable rates} so long as you can handle the crowds. Good luck!

Here is a shot of the coach parked in front of our house with Mt Lemon in the background, Catalina SP is just 6 miles down the road with pretty much the same view:



This is a shot of our backyard, again with Mt Lemon in the background:



:C

[crcr]

Lost Dutchman State Park, one of the most beautiful parks that we regularly camp at in the winter (and we only live an hour away). Point of Rocks campground in Prescott is very nice. Lynx Lake in Prescott has a nice campground, is also in Prescott, but feels remote, even though Prescott is a few miles away. Canyon Lake /Tortilla Flat near Apache Junction -- beautiful small lake, some sites right at the water.

Good luck!

[BarbaraOK]

almcc wrote:
You sound like more of a state park person, I'll give you a couple of suggestions:

Picacho Peak state park, north of Tucson - nice hiking
Kartchner Caverns state park near Benson - caverns are in great shape, better than the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico
Roper Lake State Park - a good park for a short stop when entering Arizona, near Safford

Lost Dutchman State Park - east of Apache Junction
Usery Park (Maricopa County), on the north side of Mesa.

I believe each has a 2 week limit, but they would give you easy access to the Superstitions and to the metro Phoenix area.

Pay close attention to the elevation - - we often see snow on the Superstitions in January.
And in January night time temperatures will often be in the low 40s. The desert cools at night with no cloud cover and no humidity. But once sun is up it warms up quickly!