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.
