After staying for half a year in Virginia, and driving through North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico, we were nearly at our winter base in Arizona. Tanque Rd BLM was the perfect spot for us to get out and recharge for a few days. It’s far away from cities and noise, but close enough to get supplies. Of all the spots we stayed at on our trip west, this one was the first “proper” Bureau of Land Management (BLM) camping spot.
About Tanque Rd BLM Camping
Tanque Rd is all dirt and gravel, but fairly easy to navigate for the first mile or two. We found several large sites within a ½-mile of the main road that comfortably fit our rig.
Surrounded by scrub lands on the edge of the Chihuahuan desert, the kids spent hours exploring! While we were there, we were delighted to see that the cholla cacti were all in fruit. We even tried them! I wouldn’t recommend them unless you’re a fan of slimy fruits like okra. Also, the fruits are covered with mini spines that you need to carefully rub off before consuming. This is something The Girl didn’t quite do when she got herself a second one to try…
Speaking of cactus adventures, both The Girl and The Boy had valuable lessons learned on Tanque Rd about cacti. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest and being very familiar with stinging nettle, you’d think they would know better.
Sadly, Tanque Rd BLM also had a lot of trash. Every site had something, from some beer bottles and gun shells to parts of cars and carpeting. While we packed out 2 kitchen-sized bags from our site, it still needs a lot more work. I’ve read of the BLM shutting down areas that get repeatedly trashed, so it’s important for all of us to not just leave no trace, but to try and leave these public spaces better than when we got there.
Amenities Around Tanque Rd BLM
Being BLM land, Tanque Rd BLM has no amenities. Not even dumpsters. However, the nearby town of Safford has a couple of laundromats and a Walmart for resupplying groceries. As for water and waste, we were able to dump and refill at a Pilot in Lordsburg, NM. In Safford, they have an RV resort, but they may or may not have accessible facilities.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Tanque Rd BLM. It was secluded, but not off the map. Scenic, without occluding our solar power, and a wonderful break from parking lots, Boondockers Welcome, and other less ideal camping spots.