Winter RV Camping in Southern Arizona
TL;DR: RVing in Arizona's warm deserts in winter is a hit. Try Quartzsite for boondocking, Copper Hop Ranch for beer and camping, Organ Pipe Cactus NM for scenic boondocking, Sonoita Vineyards for wine lovers, Tucson BLM for city access, and Thunder Mountain Alpaca Ranch for unique experiences. Enjoy sunny adventures!
RVing in the winter can be tricky at times. Cold temperatures and snow can be very challenging conditions to experience in your RV, and, for this reason, many RVers spend their winters in the warm deserts. Of all the best desert areas to vacation in the winter, Arizona is one of the most popular. Between the two larger cities, small desert towns, national parks, state parks, mountains, and much more, Arizona offers so much to enjoy. With winter temperature averages in the 60s and 70s, Southern Arizona in particular provides many opportunities for camping and exploring. With all the beautiful places one can find to visit, there are actually many locations available with no camping fees, as well. Check out any of the six places below for fun camping beneath the warm desert sun for RV camping in Arizona.
1. Quartzsite
Amongst RVers who enjoy boondocking, Quartzsite is immensely popular. While most public lands allow RVers to camp for up to fourteen days, certain permits allow RVers to boondock for up to seven months in the long-term camping area. The town itself is set up specifically to accommodate winter campers, with water refill areas, dump stations, repair and service shops, and so much more. Since the area is small, you will find only a handful of restaurants and shops available. However, there is also a series of tents and buildings selling useful RV items and most other essentials. It all has a sort of RV flea market feel to it. Each year, the area also hosts a large RV show, as well as a bunch of RV gatherings and meetups. If all this sounds confusing, then perhaps you just need to visit and see it for yourself.
2. Copper Hop Ranch
Beer lovers from all over the country will love this family-owned microbrewery in Santa Cruz County. Located just an hour south of Tucson, Copper Hop Ranch grows fourteen varieties of hops on their ranch. They produce a variety of craft beers and ciders, and they have a food menu available on Sundays. Throughout the year, they even host events, such as parties, weddings, showers, and more. Copper Hop visitors can also find plenty to do in the surrounding towns. This farm just so happens to be a Harvest Hosts location, so be sure to support the local business if you plan to spend a here with no camping fees.