Quartzsite caravan camping is much like living a perpetual block party. We nomads tend to spend much time outdoors (weather permitting), some sitting, some walking, many with dogs, cats, and other critters. If you’re outside your rig or the door is open you might as well hang a sign for visitors welcome. With so many interesting people caravan camping you’re bound to meet some you like and make lifelong friendships along the way.
Where to caravan camp
The BLM (Bureau of Land Management, sometimes referred to as Livestock and Mining) manages 12.1 million acres of public land in Arizona. Some of the land is not really accessible for camping by vehicle. Some of the land can be camped on for up to 14-days free. 11,400 acres south of Quartzsite have been designated LTVA (Long-Term Visitor Use Area). Additional designated areas are located north of Quartzsite, and there’s more in southern Arizona and California. A map can be found here. If you like to move around every 14 days you could spend the entire winter exploring different places. If you’d like to stay in place longer at the LTVAs a permit currently costing $180 allows that from September 14th through April 16th. Some LTVAs provide services like trash receptacles, RV dump stations, potable water, and drop-pit toilets, while some do not. I usually stay on 14-day free. This is the first time I’ve bought a LTVA permit. I’m parked a little closer than I normally would, but I am with caravan friends, plus thousands of new friends.
Some people set up camp for an entire season with no plans to move their home on wheels. That usually means having a separate mode of transportation for town runs and can include towing a portable blue-boy tank to dump gray and black water which avoids moving the RV. An enterprising person will suck those tanks and fill fresh water for a fee. Some people move a rig regularly and often return to park in the same tire prints. Others move away. Occasionally a newbie parks in a dry wash where they sometimes get stuck, especially when it rains for 22 hours straight like it did a few weeks ago.
What to caravan camp in
Vehicles that people live in are as variable as the people living in them, anything from tent and small car to multi-million dollar RVs. And they can all be happy camper neighbors. There are full-time and part-time nomads without a base to call home. And then there’s snowbirds who usually have a base home where they spend part of the year in northern America or Canada.
I’ve noticed that nomads spend much time rearranging their wheeleastate, most prominently in the smaller home on wheels. Moving this and that from here to there. If you add something it’s likely you’ll have to get rid of something. This moving of stuff also includes portable solar panels moved throughout the day for maximum gathering of the sun rays. If it works for you, live in it.
Activities & entertainment for caravan camping
Kofa Mts
For almost 30 years I’ve avoided other campers like the plague, even before COVID. Winter traveling was a down-time for me when I still worked summers as a Park Ranger. I had to go to town for supplies so interacted with people every 2-3 weeks.
There are numerous activities in and around Quartzsite all winter, with almost overload during January. Many gatherings to choose from day and night: community tie-die, music jams and drum circles, bonfires, potlucks, circle chats, and lots of holiday functions.
People helping people
The man who organizes the Lit Cactus activities says it best, “No body is nobody!” No body should go hungry or wanting. Most people willingly offer helping hands. There are literally thousands of people camping. Some are clustered in groups of friends or organizations, some are parked alone. Mostly we live interesting and fun lives, just like you. Sometimes things break and we ask for help. Needed repairs happen with too much regularity and Tim is a journeyman mechanic so his skills are in demand.
Me, I keep busy trying to get back into my life routines, not always so successfully. After all the moving and cleaning of the 5th-wheel it’s been listed for sale online (video tour here) and I’ve gotten a few bites. Finally got the new laptop set up the way I want it and that mean finding a work-around MicroSoft.
Kestrel
Had company and was motivated to go take photos.
Even had clear enough skies to shoot December’s Cold full moon.
Christmas eve, Tim cooked a pot roast with trimmings and others brought side dishes. Our little caravan of people joined around the campfire grateful for decent weather and marvelous company. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I’ll catch up with you next year.
Oh yea, when one caravan camping person gets sick, everybody catches it. I fought a head cold for days but am finally on the mend.
I’m boondocking outside of Q. Id
I’d like to meet up with you. I leave end of this week. Chey
Hi Chey! Are you the same Chey from the blogorino chat @ rvSue’s? So good to see you here. I always wondered if you were successful in getting a rv to live in. Happy for you! Have a good time in Q.
Forwarded this message to Chey.
I’ll be around for a while. Let me know when you’d like to stop by. I’m camping next to the Lit Cactus.
It sounds like you’ve got a great community there! How fortunate to have friends, especially skilled ones, who live nearby and provide such varied entertainment. 😊 I’m glad you’re feeling better and are recovering well from the fire.
Great moon photos! Such beautiful colors!
Did you make calendars this year?
Thanks. I’m blown away by so many good people here, even if it’s a few too many people. I didn’t make a calendar because I don’t have photos and so recently got a laptop.
Great read and perfect discription of Quartzsite.
Happybyou are doing better.
Thanks. Quartzsite is a zoo.
Interesting post and you seem fairly settled at present. I recognise the shot of the 5th wheel I hope it sells soon for you. Beautiful moon photos. All the very best for 2024 and big hugs, Diane and Nigel
Thanks. I sure wish the 5th-wheel will sell soon.
I so loved your descriptions of caravan camping. Got a good 101 class feel of it. Great narrative. Seeing a Kofa and your moon(s) again! I learned L&M:), acres and camp times allowed. One question you said people with dogs, cats, and other critters. What might other critters there be?
Thanks. It’s sure a different kind of nomad life than I’m used to. I miss being in the middle of nowhere also. I’ve heard about rabbits and birds.
I am glad you are on the mend.
What a wonderful time you are having!
Thanks. It’s an interesting life.
We’ve stopped in Quartzite many times, but never in January! It’s still too crowded for my taste, but you really are having a very great time of it!
I don’t blame you. Wouldn’t be my first choice for January. Way too crowded, but it’s mostly a good crowd.
Hi Gaelyn! Nice to see a post made on your new laptop. With pictures! Have you replaced a camera or were those cell phone shots? Kofas and the moon ~ they’re beautiful! Have fun!
Thanks. Most of these shots are phone. A friend did send me a Nikon D90 so some from that. Still working on a better upgrade but can only handle one thing at a time.
Definitely new to see you gathered intentionally among a lot of people! Also sounds like you’re having a grand time having found your tribe. Beautiful moon shots, glad your company inspired you! Hope you’re staying warm and enjoying the new year.
Yes, this is certainly a different way to live. Love them but also miss more alone time. Soon. Thanks, felt good to get out and shoot the moon with a decent camera.
Great read about caravan camping. I have read and seen many bloggers who do this, especially back in the early days when blogging was still a thing. The closest I ever came to a group thing was the bloggerfest I think in 2015. All those people are something I don’t do well. A group of six that I know well is my limit. I am more of an introvert than I appear to be since I can be friendly and talkative in small groups of people I know. Not so much in these kinds of bigger groups. I run and hide. LOL So caravan camping isn’t for us, but I am so glad you have found it and you enjoy it. It looks like a great solution for being out on the road on your own, especially that you can no doubt come and go as you pleas and get needed alone time. On another note, having a trusted companion in life as you age is a truly wonderful thing. I probably wouldn’t be nearly so independent if I didn’t have Mo to share the ups and downs of travel and life in general.
Thanks. It sure is different being among so many people. Some days get a little overwhelming. I should be able to run away for a while real soon.
The Nik D90 is a pretty good early DSLR that would have been better and a keeper if it had a Tilt or Flippy screen. At its original price it should of had one, but Nikon was slow to add those to their DSLR’s. My old Canon G5(@ half the price) had a ‘Tilt & Flip’ screen clear back in 2004 and it is a camera I still on occasion use because of its color rendering even though it only shoots at 5-megapixels(Which in reality is plenty). I also still use my old Nik D40 for the same reason… CCD color. About a year ago I picked up a D90 for one of my grandchildren priced at $60.00. Now because of YouTube presenters featuring it, the price has risen to about 3-times that so no bargain now.
My trusty old Nik D750 was the first DSLR full frame FX format Nikon camera that I acquired that had the Flippy screen. I had previously bought a Nikon ‘Bridge/Prosumer’ camera that had a flippy screen. It also isn’t a wrist breaker for those needing a lighter pro-featured camera. Currently they run from $500 to $650 and with the 1.4 prime lens can produce outstanding images, and just about any previous Nik lens can be used so lens options are plentiful and reasonable especially if you already have some on hand.
The D90 is an OK camera, just not what I want ultimately so I’ll continue looking. Been too busy to camera shop right now. Very glad I still had a telephoto lens, 18-200mm.
The quiet allure of the beautiful Kofa Mountains area must tug at you.
I hope to expand my exploration of it with my new AWD cargo E-bike which can pack enough, food, water, and gear for a couple of nights way out and away from the jeep roads/trails. The new E-bikes are a great addition to an RV’rs mobility.
I love the Sonoran desert and the Kofa gives me a lift and still keeps me near either Quartzsite or Yuma. However, I love the area further south by Ajo even better. I’d rather walk than ride a bike so won’t be adding that toy to my pile.
If an E-bike gives you back some of your lost mobility, it is a welcomed ‘tool’ rather that a “Toy”.
Looks like I’m late. Not sure how that happened but love your pictures and this look at Caravan camping. I’ve always been as you describe, a loner camper but it sure looks nice to have friends near by. I can see how you might catch whatever is going around but you also have folks to help you if you do end up with something and that’s always so nice.
Hope you’ve sold your 5th wheel. I really liked your bus and am wondering what made you swap out for the Class C. Or did I miss that?
I’m late at everything lately. Just too much to do. I love these people but dearly need some extended alone time. Have to find balance.