ROCKHOUSE ROAD BOONDOCKING, BORREGO SPRINGS, CA

Our Opinion: Recommend. Plenty of open space with vast views near an interesting small town.

Date of Stay: March 10th through 15th, 2009.

Weather During Stay: Desert springtime weather - warm days, cool nights, some clouds, lots of sun, calm, breezy and windy alternately.

Sites: No developed sites. Dispersed camping in a huge tract of land located at the intersection of S22 and Rockhouse Road on the eastern edge of Borrego Springs, CA.

Rate: Free. Near the beginning of Rockhouse Road, signs on both sides say “No Trespassing”. These signs are completely ignored by boondockers and are not enforced.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon phones and aircard, if you stay near the intersection of S22 and Rockhouse Road, but the signal diminishes if you travel further back towards the mountains. Nothing to block satellite. Didn‘t bother with TV antenna. NPR from Palm Springs/Indio at 92.9 FM

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Elevation is 660 feet. View is of scrubby desert and scattered RV’s with arid mountains in the distance. Wide open spaces.

Lighting/Noise: No night lighting whatsoever. When the moon is full, it is bright enough to cast a shadow. Noise during the day from passing traffic on paved S22 and vehicles moving about in the area - and the distant sound of generators humming

Favorite Sites: Dispersed camping available along dirt roads throughout the area - find a flat spot with a nice view and you’re home.

Hiking/Walking: Walk in any direction on dirt roads/tracks throughout the area, or stop by the Anza Borrego State Park Visitor Center for information on the many, many hikes in the park This photo was taken on a hike on the west side of Borrego Springs, several miles from our boondocking site.

Comments: Rockhouse Road is the gateway to one of several boondocking areas surrounding the small town of Borrego Springs, located in the center of California’s largest state park. Lots of interesting activities in the state park and in the town, with more decent restaurants than is typical for a town its size. There are a couple of golf courses in town (one 9 hole) and a very upscale RV Resort, along with a few other RV parks and a FHU campground in the state park. The small grocery store is well supplied by not inexpensive - bring supplies.

HOLT'S SHELL RV PARK, GILA BEND, ARIZONA

This review has been updated to reflect a more recent stay.  Click here to read our latest review.

PIMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, TUCSON, AZ

Our Opinion: Neutral. The fairgrounds are convenient when we are passing through Tucson and want to overnight or spend an extra day stocking up on supplies.

Date of Stay: February 19th (our third stay)

Weather During Stay: High in the low 70’s, low in the low 40’s.

Site Description: We are parked in the 500’s, a row of 50 amp/water sites that back up to a row of trees. Very level, with more grass than dirt. No sewer hookups in this row, but there is a dump station available. The utility boxes are absurdly close together - it would be impossible to have RV’s occupy all the “sites” at one time.

In another, larger, lot, a large number of 30 amp FHU sites are available on level, packed dirt, and most RV’ers seem to prefer them. The sites are back to back, closely packed. Since we won’t be here long enough to need a sewer connection, we picked one of the more spacious, grassy E/W sites. All sites are the same rate.

Rate: $20/night for 30 amp FHU or 50 amp/water.

Phone/radio/TV: All good. Cell phones and aircard have 5 bars. Local NPR on 81.5. Several local TV stations on the antenna, including PBS (channel 6). No obstacles for the satellite.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Elevation is around 2,800 feet. Terrain is flat desert, but palms, evergreens and grass have been planted at the fairgrounds - welcome green. Arid mountain ranges frame the distant views.

Lighting/Noise: Various fairground activities can be noisy during the day, but it has been quiet at night when we have been here. We are far enough from the light poles that the night lighting is unobtrusive - but this would not be true in all spaces.

Favorite Sites: The 500’s, with 50 amps and water.

Hiking/Walking: This is a large fairground with plenty of space for walking.

Comments: Typical fairgrounds, with an arena, many large buildings, restroom blocks, pavilions, lots of parking for RV’s and cars. Because of the horse and livestock events held here, we noticed lots of flies on one stay. A few miles off of I-10, it is a convenient spot to overnight or stay a few days to stock up at Costco and Trader Joe’s in Tucson. For a longer visit to Tucson, we prefer Catalina State Park or Justin’s Diamond J on the west side of town.

AUGIE'S QUAIL TRAIL RV PARK, GILA BEND, AZ

Our Opinion: Neutral. This is our “backup” park when the cheaper RV park down the road behind Holt’s Shell station is full - a decision based purely on price.

Date of Stay: January 28, 2009

Weather During Stay: Sunny and calm with a high in the 60s, low close to freezing.

Site Description: We were in site 31, a long, wide, very level pull-through. 50 amp FHU, no cable (second photo). All the sites at Augie’s Quail Trail are exceptionally large. Not all are pull-throughs, but both times we have stayed here for an overnight, we had a convenient pull-through site. Around 100 sites total. No picnic tables, at least in our row.

Roads and sites are gravel and dirt. Roads are very wide, turns are easily negotiated. The park has a spacious feel. Nice clubhouse (third photo) and laundry (we didn’t use either). Near the office (top photo), they have a special spot for car or RV washing: $2.00 to wash your car, $4 for your RV (you do the washing). Several dumpsters around the park, but it was a long walk to the nearest one.

Rate: Escapees pay $22 night for 50 amp FHU. I’m not sure what the “regular” rate is - surely not much higher.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon service, both phone and aircard, is excellent in Gila Bend. Didn’t bother with TV antenna or local radio. No obstructions for TV satellite dish. They advertise free WiFi, but we didn’t try it.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, dirt and gravel roads and sites at 790 feet elevation. A few garden areas and native trees have been planted in the park; the surrounding area is scrubby desert. Distant views are of arid mountains.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet except for the occasional distant train. No night lighting near our site; very dark and pleasant.

Favorite Sites: 31 was a nice site. The sites in that row of pull-throughs are numbered 19 through 33 and all would be similar. 33 might be most pleasant as it is on the end with a small garden area.

Hiking/Walking: The park is large enough that you can get a bit of exercise walking around the loops. We have not found any trails.

Comments: We often find ourselves in Gila Bend for an overnight after boondocking in Yuma or Quartzsite. We want a level, FHU site with 50 amps. Holt’s Shell RV park costs $9.50 with the SKP discount, and has easy access to fuel and propane. They don‘t take reservations at Holt‘s, and only have around 20 spaces. Augie’s Quail Trail is prettier and easier to negotiate, but costs more than twice what Holt’s does, $22 vs $9.50. If there is space at Holt’s, that’s where we park.

FREE 14-DAY BLM CAMPING, QUARTZSITE, AZ

Our Opinion: Neutral. If our Boomer RV group was not camped here each year during January, we would not be, either - but it is an excellent rally spot in the dead of winter.

Date of Stay: January 23-28, 2009

Weather During Stay: Days of sunshine, a day of rain, days of wind and partly cloudy days. Highs in the upper 60’s and low 70’s changed to highs in the upper 50‘s later in the week. Lows in the 40‘s. Some wind and wind chill.

Sites: The town of Quartzsite is surrounded by BLM land, with different rules for different sections. No developed sites. Dispersed camping. Our area is stony and sloped, but it is possible to find ways to get reasonably level. Because of the stones, we have less problem with dust on winday days that the rigs closer to town. Roads to and through th camping area are dirt/dust.

Rate: We stay in the “14 day limit” area, free for 14 days, after which you must move. If you want to move to another 14-day area, it has to be 25+ miles away. Other nearby areas have longer stays, or water and dump services, but associated fees.

Phone/radio/TV: Excellent Verizon phone signal, aircard on Broadband. Nothing to block satellite. Didn‘t bother with antenna. Used satellite radio only, so don’t know about local radio. No local NPR.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Elevation is 1,110‘. Views are of arid mountains, desert shrubs, and stony soil. We meet our group at N 33 38.960, W114 09.090, east of and slightly higher than the town of Quartzsite so night time views include the distant “city“ lights.

Lighting/Noise: No night lighting whatsoever. No moon, so the stars are brilliant. The only noise was made by our camping companions and the wind.

Favorite Sites: Anywhere level that isn’t already occupied. We tend to stay near the edge of the enclave.

Hiking/Walking: Step outside and head out in just about any direction of existing dirt roads and tracks.

Comments: We come to Quartzsite in January to camp with our RV’ing group. The town is nothing special at all. During January, the usual population of 2,000 swells to around 150,000 as RV’ers pour in by the thousands to boondock in all directions and shop at the annual RV sales, gem shows and flea markets that spring up. It is a sight to see, but the only draw for us is the comraderie of our RV’ing friends - a way to touch base and catch up with old and new friends each year.