Camping in arizona under the age of 55 (Chandler: phone, restrictions)

[johnp292]

Originally Posted by Mady624

We are trying to sell our camper before we move to arizona, just wondering if its worth it to keep it? Is there good family camping within a few hours of Phoenix? Most of the places I have looked into are retirement parks.. I have kids and dogs! I love camping and I love my camper..so do we keep it? And I want parks that give us things to do while we are there..like hiking, swimming.. fishing...TIA

In no particular order...

Kartchner Caverns State Park
Trailer Village at Grand Canyon or the other campgrounds in the national park
Lost Dutchman State Park
Grand Canyon Caverns (cheesy but worth a visit for a night or two)
Grand Canyon North Rim (no hookups)
Several RV parks in Sedona
Grand Canyon Railroad
Several in the Verde Valley
Monument Valley

Or for longer trips, go up to Utah for Arches...Canyonlands...Zion...Bryce...etc....
California beaches such as Silver Strand and others


Keep the camper!

[MGotcha]

We had a great 3 day stay at Rocky Point, Mexico right on the Beach last weekend in our Travel Trailer. It gets a bit hot during the summer but right now it's perfect with warm water and cool evenings, and only takes 4 hours travel and 1 hour or less wait at the border

[Mady624]

Thanks guys! I'm coming from the upper Midwest. Arizona is going to be 100%new territory for us!

[Ponderosa]

A warning of sorts on your camper. Almost all housing built since 1990 or so now has HOAs that prohibit you from parking a camper on your lot. Some cities, even, have laws against RVs in the front of the property. So you might plan to budget for storage. It will run from about $60 a month.

[adriver]

Here you go, Bureau of land management

Camping - Recreation - BLM Arizona

Developed Campgrounds & Picnic Areas - BLM Arizona

Arizona RV Camping And Campgrounds | RV Camping


Unlike anywhere in the Midwest, most of this state is undeveloped. Theres plenty of places even along the side of the busiest state highway, (I-17) you can literally just pull off and camp.

Don't forget our lakes.
http://azbw.com/Arizona_Lake_List.php

[AZ Tracy]

I've never heard of age restricted camping??? Bring the camper - you'll love heading to the mountains in the summer, to get a break from the heat.

[teddyearp]

Keep the camper. If your qualifier is a few hours from Phoenix, well you will find so many places to camp in that 'area' it could take you the rest of your life to find them all. Most will be to the north and/or east, but there's plenty to the west and south as well.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by teddyearp

Keep the camper. If your qualifier is a few hours from Phoenix, well you will find so many places to camp in that 'area' it could take you the rest of your life to find them all. Most will be to the north and/or east, but there's plenty to the west and south as well.

The west is pretty cool. I had largely ignored it until this winter, but spent time exploring out there. There are so many places to go on BLM lnd in the many small ranges to the west and northwest of Phoenix. And virtually no one around. So nice.

[HTY483]

Originally Posted by Mady624

Thanks guys! I'm coming from the upper Midwest. Arizona is going to be 100%new territory for us!

Just drive up into the white mountains and turn off on a random dirt road. Just be sure to check with the local forest service for camp fire restrictions first.


If you're not into roughing it then there are developed camp sites in the Bradshaw Mountains just outside of Prescott. Probably allow pop-ups, just no motorhomes.

[ArrisSevvin]

Define camping. If you want to boondock there are several places around the state. Seen Quartsite? I enjoyed Ajo while we were boondocking. We actually stayed in Why AZ. But I don't know why.

Gila Bend is about an hour from west Phoenix. None of these places are age restricted.

If you want to plug in, there are a few kids welcomed places east of Phoenix. I don't often go to Phoenix so I don't know what's available in the city. But Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa have some kids welcomed parks. Kon Tiki Mobile Village in Chandler was were we stayed with our 12 year old for many months. Pool, club house, plenty of shopping close by.

If you don't need to find work, we liked Payson. Small place. Not many six figure jobs there. But it is only an hour from the city and and 30 minutes from the rim. You have got to visit the rim.

Apache Junction has a KOA.

There are parks and trails all over within an hour of Phoenix. Mount Lemon is a must see. And Tucson is about 30 minutes in good traffic. I've yet to visit the Airplane Graveyard, but hope to. If you want to make a day trip or an overnight, there is Tombstone and Grand Canyon.

In all fairness, my experience of RV parking is a decade old. Had to get a house. Our 30 ft Mini Winnie got too small for the three of us after six months. But there are plenty of places that would welcome your kids and your dog.