A guide to FREE camping just an hour south of Phoenix, Arizona on the lands of the Sonoran Desert National Monument.
It is a large area with room for RVs of any type and size. The access road is firm with a few soft spots but 4WD is not needed. Verizon delivers a good data signal.
Directions
As shown on the map below, head south from Phoenix on I-10 (Tucson) then take SR347 towards Maricopa. Turn right onto SR238 and travel west towards Gila Bend.
Look for a gate on the right after about 23 miles. On some maps, it is called Estrella Road Parking. 33° 0’18.01″N, 112°25’18.22″W
Official Information
Please visit https://www.blm.gov/visit/sonoran-desert-national-monument.
Note – sometimes the website may indicate that an area is closed when it is open! This was the case during our visit.
Camping at Sonoran Desert National Monument
The parking area at the entrance has an information board but it does not say much about camping.
The rules state online that you can camp for 14 days in a 28-day window. More importantly, perhaps, is the rule stating that you MUST camp with 100 feet on either side of the lone access road. I’ve seen folks drive offroad towards the hills to camp and that’s illegal!
Please follow the rules and stay within 30 yards or so from the road!
The access road is good and I’ve driven at least 1.5 miles to find sites. The further you go the less train noise so most folks camp at least one mile away from SR238. Aim for the rocky outcrop in the distance as shown in my pictures below.
