Community Forums

AJMike · 10-31-2020, 04:12 PM

We do a fair amount of "boondocking" near where we live, but all of that is in free BLM camping areas. We have not stayed in any of the BLM land that charges for a 2 week stay, but are heading to Yuma, AZ and the only BLM land that I know of in the area charges with a maximum stay of 14 days, so I have a question or two. Or three.

When you stay at a fee based BLM campground do you get a specific location? And have to stay in that location? I assume there are no "sites" in these places so I refer to the camping spot as a location.

Can you leave and come back during that 14 day period? Or do you have to stay camped? If you can leave, do you have to come back to the same location? Or can you use any place in the open area?

If you are leaving and plan to come back that day, do you mark your location? And if you end up in another location how does the local host know you have paid? By your tag number? Or do you get some receipt?

I just don't know how this all works on BLM land where there are charges. Thanks for any help.

PJStough · 10-31-2020, 04:59 PM

Staying on BLM LTVAs(Long Term Visitor Areas) is much like saying the 14 day free areas, except in the LTVAs there is access to fresh water, a dump station, and a place to get rid of garbage.

When you come into a LTVA you pay $40.00 for a two week stay, you can pay $180.00 for the "season" and a sticker is placed on your RV and your tow vehicle or your toad if you have one.

Also, you can renew your "two week" stay as many times you want.

AJMike · 10-31-2020, 06:17 PM

Thank you.

In the free areas we have used there were never any stickers or other ways to indicate when you arrived, so the only way I can see for them to enforce the 14 day limit was for someone to come around and take down license plate numbers. We have never stayed at any of those areas for longer than 2 days, and I have never seen anyone take any information, so I did not know what happens in the LTVA areas.

Roadglide54 · 10-31-2020, 07:38 PM

Coming into Q I 10 west take the second exit bridge turn left over the bridge you will come to a tee Doom Rock road turn left everything on the right is free BLM that’s just one place around Quartisite.

UTTransplant · 11-01-2020, 07:30 AM

There are a number of free areas in the Yuma/Quartzsite area. However, if you stay in one you will have to pay for dumping and fresh water in town. The paid LTVAs give you free water, trash, and dumping, and the price is awfully close to dump fees for a two week stay. For a seasonal stay, the $180 is a great deal considering the water and dumping cost in town. And they really do check your stickers at the dump/water station! There is someone stationed there all the times the water is turned on. Whether free or paid, the sites are pretty much “find a spot wherever you want.” They are definitely not set up like a campground. However the “good” sites (good drainage, not in a wash, not too sandy, not right on the road, etc.) have been used extensively for many years and you can tell where they are.

PJStough · 11-01-2020, 08:47 AM

A couple of more points on the LTVAs.

You can buy a two week pass at one LTVA, and it is good at ALL the LTVAs.

Another is check out time. Your two week permit expires at midnight on the date on your sticker, so you can stay that night because they dont come around at midnight and kick you out, but you can not use the dump, or get water the next morning.

ByeTheWay · 11-01-2020, 12:33 PM

Some BLM sites are Free, but no services provided. They do ask you to register.

Roadglide54 · 11-02-2020, 05:28 PM

I forgot about the BLM behind the VFW 5 miles north of Yuma on 95 . The VFW has dancing and dinning several times a week . It’s flat hard packed ground . There is senators wash or Martinez lake through Yuma proving grounds. That is about 25 miles from know where but there is nice canteen on the river with food and cold beer pool tables.

AJMike · 11-05-2020, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJStough

Staying on BLM LTVAs(Long Term Visitor Areas) is much like saying the 14 day free areas, except in the LTVAs there is access to fresh water, a dump station, and a place to get rid of garbage.

I assume that is true for some BLM LTVA access areas but it apparently is not true for all or, perhaps, even most.

We just returned from the LTVA area at Pilot Knob just outside of Yuma and they do not have water or a dump station and when I asked about them the host opened a map and showed me that of the 7 BLM LTVA areas in their vicinity only 1 had water all the time, 1 had a limited amount of water and there remaining 5 locations had no water. 4 of the 7 had a dump station while the other 3 did not. Some locations were near commercial water and dump stations, although there may be an additional fee for those and I ended up paying $15 to use the dump station at a nearby gas station.

The Pilot Knob LTVA area was very nice other than the lack of facilities, although one thing it did have that I was not expecting as a train crossing and about a half dozen loud whistles during the otherwise quiet night.

AJMike · 11-05-2020, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadglide54

Coming into Q I 10 west take the second exit bridge turn left over the bridge you will come to a tee Doom Rock road turn left everything on the right is free BLM that’s just one place around Quartisite.

Based on your "Q" and I-10 I assume you are referring to Quartzsite, but we were trying to find someplace near Yuma.

We generally use the Roadrunner free camping location when at Quartzite and did so when we left Yuma. It was nearly empty and so very, very quiet. Slept well.

AJMike · 11-05-2020, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UTTransplant

The paid LTVAs give you free water, trash, and dumping

Some do. Not all. The Pilot Knob LTVA area outside of Yuma has neither water nor a dump station. They did have trash containers.

Roadglide54 · 11-06-2020, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJMike

Based on your "Q" and I-10 I assume you are referring to Quartzsite, but we were trying to find someplace near Yuma.

We generally use the Roadrunner free camping location when at Quartzite and did so when we left Yuma. It was nearly empty and so very, very quiet. Slept well.

Sorry about that number 8 post I mentioned Yuma area.

Florida Rang · 11-06-2020, 04:38 PM

In Florida we do not have any BLM [Moderator Edit] camping areas . I am very surprised that there are so many available in other States.

twogypsies · 11-06-2020, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florida Rang

In Florida we do not have any BLM [Moderator Edit] camping areas . I am very surprised that there are so many available in other States.

Florida has too many people!! No room for big expanses of public land. There are national forests which can be similar in some respects. Check them out.