car camping in phoenix area...

[goldlion12]

hi all,
im leaving for phoenix soon from texas. looking to move to az. im currently living in my car. would prefer a van, man.
im wondering if there any areas in phoenix that are best for car camping under the radar in a safe, sane, manner.
i just beginning to figure out how to find spots in the city im in right now, though, ive been living in my car for a couple of years now. crazy... didnt think id ever have to do this. making the best of it. thanks for any constructive feedback.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Phx can be a rough city. I'm not sure about their ordinances there, as I stay out of Phx every chance I get. 
Sorta the wrong time of year to head into 'Cactus Patch'...its a furnace in summer. Living in a vehicle is a challenge when its still 97 at 10pm.

I'm currently in Tucson for a few more days and its iffy around here. I know several places where I can park but it took a while to find them and I know this city pretty well.

Wishing you well.

 

[ZoNiE]

The Phoenix Metro area is actually a group of about 24 cities. Scottsdale does not allow overnight parking, even at Walmart. I don't know about the rest of the valley. The East valley is safer than the west valley, for the most part, and south Phoenix is sorta the gritty part. Some people camp along the salt river.

The Nicest area is the NE (Scottsdale) and SE (Gilbert, South Tempe) valley areas, but those also tend to not allow overnight parking. I'm sure there are nice areas in the NW (Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead) but I don't know that part of town and not a huge fan of the west valley anyway.

Lots of apartment complexes everywhere, and you may find street parking near apartments south of Thomas and between 56th and 52nd street (not avenue) habitable by car. I lived in apartments in that area when I was in my 20's and It's not the ritz, but pretty quiet and safe, not overly low rent, but about the lower end of the middle in rents if that makes any sense, and people will probably go about their business without taking a second look at a car on the street. Working class neighborhood with a lot of older cars, close to just about everything.

**** Luck.

 

[blars]

There are a couple of casinos on the edge of the phonix metro area that allow a few days dry camping free. Tucson also has a couple.

 

[ZoNiE]

There are a  couple of casinos on the edge of the phonix metro area that allow a few days dry camping free.  Tucson also has a couple.

Yeah, that is true, But I think they are limited to actual RV's... Not sure.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

We've used many casinos and never been refused for being in a van.
I guess there could be a first time.

 

[goldlion12]

im in a scion xB, which is a small mini van type of car....
im guessing that prescott is even more difficult to car camp on a street. flagstaff is also probably challenging too.
i had preferred to find a cheap room in phx to decompress from living in a car for 2plus years. then perhaps find a
used toyota van that i might trade my scion for. i might also go to co. for the summer again.
any thoughts on prescott or flagstaff or co. springs?

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

Goldlion12, here's a write up of a site near Prescott. I think Bob's still there now (?)
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/prescott-nf-campsite-friends-share/

KinA

 

[akrvbob]

Do you specifically want to be in the city? If not there are many great boondocking spots in the National Forests around Flagstaff and Willaims AZ that are very cool in the summer.

Flagstaff is not conducive to stealth parking, but I have friends who do it.
Bob

 

[goldlion12]

national forests around flagstaff sounds good. how far from flag. and what is best way to gather info for nat. forest around flag.?
perhaps forest service...

 

[goldlion12]

looking at brother bob's map of prescott area, it seems there might be some nat. forest closer to prescott due east or so...

 

[Grizzly Stardust]

Phoenix seems like it would be an awful idea for summer car camping.. unless you have a specific reason to be here, like getting a new job or visiting family. It's hot here, man. REALLY hot. It will be a rough summer for you and I wish you the best.

 

[FALCON]

In Coconino and Tonto forests, there are a LOT of places you can dispersed camp. (Dispersed camping sites are free, and do not have any facilities like water/trash/tables/etc. There are dirt/gravel/rock roads that you can take the Scion on easily, and there are little turnoffs from the roads where you can camp. You can call or go to the Ranger or some visitors stations and they can tell you about this. There are maps you can get that specifically show which roads it is ok to dispersed camp off of. The visitors centers are helpful, and they will give you some maps. There are some small areas, such as the RedRock area right around Sedona, where you can't dispersed camp at all. But you can do so outside of those - and near Sedona, you can just go 5-10 miles west of town to Forest Service (FS) roads 525 and 525c, for example, and there are a lot of dispersed camping spots.

 

[goldlion12]

Phoenix seems like it would be an awful idea for summer car camping.. unless you have a specific reason to be here, like getting a new job or visiting family. It's hot here, man. REALLY hot. It will be a rough summer for you and I wish you the best.

i was considering car camping while looking for a room in phx area. tho., i may just car camp in cooler areas like flag. or co. or find a room in cooler area for summer. come back to phx. to find room for winter....

 

[mockturtle]

You would die [literally] living in a car in the Phoenix area in summer.

 

[akrvbob]

It's still not clear to me, do you specifically want to be in the city. If not it's easy to disperse camp where it is cool. If yes, we'll stop suggesting you disperse camp.

I have a friend who was a college student in Phoenix through the summer (Phd program) he lives in his van. He ran an ad on craigslist and said he was a college student and offered to pay $100 a month for a driveway to park in or $150 a month with an extension cord for power. He got lots of calls and chose the one closest to campus.

That's a very good option. But I'd do it in Flagstaff, much cooler and I like it better than the crime and traffic in Phoenix.
Bob

 

[goldlion12]

It's still not clear to me, do you specifically want to be in the city. If not it's easy to disperse camp where it is cool. If yes, we'll stop suggesting you disperse camp.

I have a friend who was a college student in Phoenix through the summer (Phd program) he lives in his van. He ran an ad on craigslist and said he was a college student and offered to pay $100 a month for a driveway to park in or $150 a month with an extension cord for power.  He got lots of calls and chose the one closest to campus.

That's a very good option. But I'd do it in Flagstaff, much cooler and I like it better than the crime and traffic in Phoenix.
Bob

thanks bob. sounds like a good option-flagstaff. i am considering moving to phx. at some point. the heat of the summer is not the best timing for sure. had various vectors that delayed me here in central tx. perhaps i can find a van and a driveway in flag. for the summer. good ideas....: )

 

[littlebillspokane]

well this is an old reply to your message anyhow I am also going to the Phoenix area did you ever find any camping in the Phoenix area I have a camper van hi-top so it's not incognito or anything is there places that I will be able to park overnight Reddit somebody said it Scottsdale you can't even park at the Walmart where is the person to be able to park anywhere in the Phoenix area and I consider all their municipalities Phoenix so if it's in the Phoenix metro area please let me know

 

[deadwood]

I spent all last winter urban camping in Phoenix last year. I found the area near Arizona State in Tempe a great place to park at night. There are plenty of apartments with lots of overflow parking on the street. I found enough spots to move around quite regularly.

I spent the winter there and it was quite comfortable. But once April gets here the Phoenix area will be quite hot for van living. I’ll be in LA this summer and I’m hoping it doesn’t get too hot there this summer.

Most Walmart’s in AZ don’t have overnight parking. As to the vehicle, I drive a high roof transit and still didn’t have any problems parking in Tempe