If you’ve spent any time in an RV or in RV circles, you’ve probably heard of Quartzsite, Arizona. This tiny town in the middle of the Sonoran desert swells in population every winter from around 2,000 residents in the summer to over 1.5 million. How does “The Q” handle such fluctuations? Bureau of Land Management (BLM) camping!
In addition to the innumerable RV parks inside the city limits of Quartzsite, Quartzsite is a nexus of not just “standard” BLM camping but also hosts 4 unique Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs), making boondocking on BLM land in Quartzsite an easy option.
Also, be sure to check out the things to do in Quartzsite, AZ.
BLM Camping: Standard vs LTVA
The difference between a standard BLM site and an LTVA are few, but important. Both types of camping are boondocking, meaning no hookups, and both have no designated sites. Where they differ is cost, duration, and amenities.
Standard BLM camping lets folk stay for free, for 14 consecutive days, with a requirement to move your rig at least 25 miles. Additionally, you can’t camp in the vicinity of your old spot for 28 days. The free locations around Quartzsite can be divided into three main areas: Hi Jolly Campground, Dome Rock dispersed camping, and Plomosa Road.
On the other hand, $180 (as of the 2025/26 season), allows one to park their rig inside any of the Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs), both around Quartzsite and beyond, for the whole season.
The season for the winter LTVAs in Quartzsite is September 15th through April 15th. In addition to not needing to move your rig once a fortnight, the LTVAs have many amenities. The LTVAs often have dumpsters available and one of the areas in Quartzite, as of the 2023/24 season, has dump stations and water fill stations. A second area is being outfitted with waste and water facilities during the 23/24 season. This may be open next year.
Free BLM Camping
Hi Jolly
When we first pulled into Quartzsite, we rolled into Hi Jolly Campground. At the time, we were unsure if we’d stay for the season. Hi Jolly, named after Hadji Ali, a notable historical figure who called Quartzsite home, is very accessible from the highway. The terrain is flat and easily navigable. Due to this, we accidentally performed a small breach of boondocking etiquette. We stopped, initially, a little too close to another camper. Their response was somewhat less than cordial, so we drove further back into the campground and found a good spot to stay for a few nights. It looks like the campground goes back a lot farther than we went in. The rigs thinned out the further back you looked.
Dome Rock Area
The Dome Rock campground can be divided roughly into two areas. There is a steep and rocky area surrounding Dome Rock (Sugar Loaf Peak), where we stayed, and a flat area closer to town. In the rocky area, we were able to get the bus in and out without too much hassle, scouting first with the toad. The flat area close to town was pretty packed for the whole duration of our stay.
Plomosa Road
Plomosa Road is a little further away from the city than the other two and a little less populated as a result. We stayed here for a short stint while participating in our first Xscapers event, New Year’s Eve. The area has a lot of flat areas and not much more to worry about. One does have to be a little careful when finding a spot near the back. The BLM land is adjacent to a day-use-only area and it’s well-patrolled.
Limitations on Free BLM Camping
As we said above, one cannot stay in these locations for more than 14 days in 28 days. While this can be circumvented by rotating among the three, you’ll have to make your peace with not getting your “spot” back. I’d also advise against staying in the same spot more than once in your rotations. If a ranger ID’s your rig, but doesn’t make regular rounds, you could be asked to move prematurely.
These sites also have no amenities. Luckily, the town of Quartzsite has several RV “pit stops” where one can dump their waste and refill water for a fee. There is also a waste transfer station not too far out of town that will take residential garbage. However, be warned that water can be expensive in Arizona. We’ve been quoted as much as 50 cents a gallon; it might be cheaper to just pay the LTVA fee!
LTVAs Around Quartzsite
South of Quartzsite are 4 LTVA camping areas. These are named La Posa South, North, West, and Tyson Wash.
La Posa South
When people imagine the LTVAs in Quartzsite or hear about parties in the desert, they are probably talking about La Posa South. As of the 23/24 season, it was the only LTVA with RV dump facilities and freshwater filling stations. For many, it’s their first stop and likely their main base for their duration in the area. When we first visited, the area was packed for several miles from the main road.
When we decided to stay for the season, we first camped at La Posa South. Unrealized by us at the time, La Posa South is the “Party” LTVA. Most of that activity surrounds an area known as “The Lit Cactus.” As I said before, La Posa South was packed close to the main road and amenities. We drove about 5 miles back and found lots of space.
Tyson Wash
The other LTVA we stayed in was Tyson Wash. We stayed here when we returned from another Xscapers event called Bash. Tyson Wash looks like it may either host another water and dump site in the future or may replace La Posa South. It has all the facilities in place, but nothing was “on” during the 23/24 season. As for population, it wasn’t nearly as densely packed as La Posa South and it was nice to be closer to the road. Oddly enough, Tyson Wash was the only LTVA not to have a dumpster.
La Posa North and West
These are both the northernmost LTVAs and are just across the highway from downtown Quartzsite. While we didn’t stay in either of these, we did drive through a few times with the toad to use the dumpster. These locations were pretty full with most of the population hugging the boundary between LTVA and town, facilitating walking trips to the grocery stores and shops. The only facilities these LTVAs offered were a dumpster and some vault toilets, so you’ll still need to head over to La Posa South to get fresh water and dump waste.
Want to Start Your Own Boondocking Adventure? Dadding on the Road Can Help
We have lots of resources available to help out travelers of all skill levels, from newbies just hitting the road to experienced travelers. Some things to check out
- Our extensive articles on Boondocking 101
- Gear that we love, or left behind
- Check out our free route planner
- Let Dadding on the Road do the hard part and engage our planning service!
Summing Up
Even with the rumors of 200%-300% price hikes, the cost of the Quartzsite LTVAs is hard to beat. With most RV parks charging at least $500 a month, even with a 300% increase, it’s still a great deal for up to 7 months of guaranteed camping, water, and waste. The only thing the parks offer at this point is an electrical hook up, and maybe a bath house. But if you’re already set up to boondock, do you need it?
However you choose to spend your time in Quartzsite, there are plenty of ways to park your rig for free or cheap and enjoy the snowbird capital of the southwest!
