A planning guide, not a campsite directory. We have not verified individual campsites. This page summarizes what land managers publish; your exact location and dates decide what is allowed. Last checked October 15, 2026.
📋 Rules at a glance
| Topic | What the agency says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BLM dispersed camping | Generally 14 days in a 28-day period, but limits vary by field office. Mittry Lake moved to 14 days in 28 from Nov. 1, 2025. | BLM Arizona |
| Long-Term Visitor Areas | Season Sept. 15 to April 15. La Posa (Quartzsite): $180 long-term permit, $40 short-visit permit (14 days). | BLM La Posa LTVA |
| State Trust Land | Recreational Permit required for everyone on the land: $15 individual or $20 family, valid one year. Overnight camping limited to 14 cumulative days per calendar year. | Arizona State Land Department |
| National forest | Coronado allows free dispersed camping across most of the forest; use the Motor Vehicle Use Map for routes and dispersed camping corridors. | Coronado National Forest |
🗺️ Land you will run into
BLM land and Long-Term Visitor Areas
BLM manages the open desert most RVers picture, including the La Posa Long-Term Visitor Area south of Quartzsite (about 11,400 acres in four areas: North, South, West and Tyson Wash). Amenities listed by BLM include vault toilets, water faucets, a dry dump and a dump station with water, and trash service. Off-season (April 16 to Sept. 14) fees are $15 per vehicle overnight or $75 for an annual pass, with a 14-in-28-day stay limit. The Imperial Dam LTVA is another Arizona option near Yuma; contact the Yuma Field Office for its map and rules.
Arizona State Trust Land
State Trust Land is not public land in the BLM sense. Anyone on it needs a Recreational Permit from the Arizona State Land Department, except licensed hunters and anglers pursuing game or fish in season. An OHV decal does not replace the permit. Land leased for uses such as agriculture or mining can be closed to camping, and entering without a valid permit can bring trespassing charges.
National forests
Coronado, Tonto, Coconino and other forests each publish their own motor vehicle use map and dispersed camping rules. Dispersed sites have no water, restrooms or trash service.
✅ Also plan around
- Permission: BLM and Forest Service dispersed camping needs no permit in most places; State Trust Land needs the Recreational Permit.
- Water and waste: Plan to dump at authorized facilities. La Posa has dump stations; dispersed sites do not.
- Fire: Check current restrictions with the local BLM, Forest Service or state office before any campfire.
Hazards: Summer desert heat, and flash flooding in washes during monsoon season. Never camp in a wash or drainage, and check National Weather Service forecasts for storms upstream. Check the National Weather Service for current forecasts.
➡️ Next steps
- First boondocking trip: beginner guide
- Resource calculator: what runs out first?
- BLM RV camping guide and national forest RV camping guide
- Overnight RV parking guide for travel nights
- Arizona RV parks and campgrounds in our directory for a paid, serviced stay
- Sedona RV travel guide
❓ Common questions
Is Arizona State Trust Land free camping?
The land is not free to use: you need the Recreational Permit ($15 individual, $20 family when checked), and overnight camping is capped at 14 cumulative days per calendar year.
When is the Quartzsite LTVA season?
BLM lists the La Posa permit season as Sept. 15 to April 15. Outside it the limit is 14 days in a 28-day period.
📚 Official sources
Checked October 15, 2026. Rules, closures and local orders change; confirm with the land manager before you travel.