Have a trip planning to Arizona

[vcbice]

OK, so if it is for pleasure stay away from Phx and Tucson in summer. Grew up in Phx and lived in NM for 30yrs. Sorry, but living during summer in the southeast does not prepare you for Phx summer. When it gets above 110F it is just horrible. The whole valley is crowded so there are no 'less crowded' areas.

Even in southern NM we find other places to go in summer. The nice thing out here is it only takes a couple hours to get to cooler climates (cooler is 80's and 90's). My parents had a summer place outside Flagstaff. Prescott and Kingman are good. Also White Mountains are nice, Show Low to Payson, Pinetop, Alpine, etc. You will be at higher altitudes so allow yourself time to acclimate to the lower oxygen levels. Call ahead for camping spots as weekends they may get full.

If you like to boondock there is a lot of National Forest space where you can just pull into a spot and camp. You can call the local ranger stations for ideas on where to go. The NF also has some established camping areas (including ones with hookups) as well.

All depends on what kind of entertainment you are looking for. The larger towns loke Flagstaff have a decent shopping and nightlife areas while the smaller towns have more 'quaint' places to go. Indian reservations also mean casinos nearby. If outdoors stuff the White Mountains are heaven! Fishing, hiking, rivers, lakes, etc.

PS September in Phx is one of the worst months. Still way over 100F during day. If you want to visit Phx plan on winter, Jan/Feb. You will need to make reservations. Me? I'd probably stay at one of the casinos unless you want the "RV Park community" amenities.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by vcbice

OK, so if it is for pleasure stay away from Phx and Tucson in summer. Grew up in Phx and lived in NM for 30yrs. Sorry, but living during summer in the southeast does not prepare you for Phx summer. When it gets above 110F it is just horrible. The whole valley is crowded so there are no 'less crowded' areas.

Even in southern NM we find other places to go in summer. The nice thing out here is it only takes a couple hours to get to cooler climates (cooler is 80's and 90's). My parents had a summer place outside Flagstaff. Prescott and Kingman are good. Also White Mountains are nice, Show Low to Payson, Pinetop, Alpine, etc. You will be at higher altitudes so allow yourself time to acclimate to the lower oxygen levels. Call ahead for camping spots as weekends they may get full.

If you like to boondock there is a lot of National Forest space where you can just pull into a spot and camp. You can call the local ranger stations for ideas on where to go. The NF also has some established camping areas (including ones with hookups) as well.

All depends on what kind of entertainment you are looking for. The larger towns loke Flagstaff have a decent shopping and nightlife areas while the smaller towns have more 'quaint' places to go. Indian reservations also mean casinos nearby. If outdoors stuff the White Mountains are heaven! Fishing, hiking, rivers, lakes, etc.

PS September in Phx is one of the worst months. Still way over 100F during day. If you want to visit Phx plan on winter, Jan/Feb. You will need to make reservations. Me? I'd probably stay at one of the casinos unless you want the "RV Park community" amenities.

Thank you sir so much, I will take your advise this is for sure good info.

[Nmgypsy]

Southern Arizona in the summertime is about the last place I would want to be. You can check each city that you might be interested in possibly on the Chamber of Commerce website, and get the average temperatures for the whole year. I winter in Southern Arizona in Casa Grande and spend the summer in Washington State. I've lived in the desert most of my life but I cannot no longer tolerate that type of heat and the other folks are correct there is no way to keep an RV cool enough even with my two air conditioners. Carolyn Clark

[Big1]

Well I think that the DW and I are changing our plan for now because my brother is changing his plan, all of this was pending him and myself going to N.C. my brother was going to fly and the DW and I was going to take our rv.

So now since he have change his mind we are going to make our own plan to go some place else. I do want to thank all who commented to my post on not to make the mistake on going in the dead of summer but maybe we still might go but just maybe later in the year.

[Kim Gass]

April or beginning of May nice.
Saguaros and other cact in bloom

[Big1]

We have a couple of short trips starting in April and right about now i can't wait.

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[WinnieView]

Please do come to Arizona, but before June or after September. We would love to have you. But not see you get a nasty sunburn!

[Big1]

Originally Posted by 2008Seneca

Please do come to Arizona, but before June or after September. We would love to have you. But not see you get a nasty sunburn!

Lol,thank you the last time we were there we was in Mesa and love it but haven't been there in years though.

Since we are retired but we do pastor a church and need to getaway we might come or think about coming after September.

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[bdreinv]

Great camping in southern Arizona starts Thanksgiving,Northern Arizona in the Mountains June 1st.Hope To see Ya!

[Big1]

Originally Posted by bdreinv

Great camping in southern Arizona starts Thanksgiving,Northern Arizona in the Mountains June 1st.Hope To see Ya!

Yes, yes so where in southern AZ the wife and are talking hard about going, as both pastor we will need to get away. What are some good camp ground in southern AZ? Or Northern so I can start planning?

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[WinnieView]

Originally Posted by Big1

Yes, yes so where in southern AZ the wife and are talking hard about going, as both pastor we will need to get away. What are some good camp ground in southern AZ? Or Northern so I can start planning?

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

Do you require/prefer full hookups or boondocking?

[Big1]

Originally Posted by 2008Seneca

Do you require/prefer full hookups or boondocking?

Full hook up for now the DW and I are just getting into camping so we are doing baby step, we are going on ours second Year. We don't mine doing State and National Parks.

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[WinnieView]

We recommend these websites for a wide variety of places and prices;

RV Park Reviews - Trusted Reviews of Campgrounds & RV Parks

www.campendium.com

www.freecampsites.net

[Big1]

Originally Posted by 2008Seneca

We recommend these websites for a wide variety of places and prices;

RV Park Reviews - Trusted Reviews of Campgrounds & RV Parks

www.campendium.com

www.freecampsites.net

Oh yeah thank you I will start checking those out.

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[Big1]

I have been looking at those site and love how they show pics and the rating of each site, it make it so easy to see and make up ours mind on where to go, thanks again.

[WinnieView]

When you get here if you need any help getting around or just have questions please let us know. We are almost always online.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by 2008Seneca

When you get here if you need any help getting around or just have questions please let us know. We are almost always online.

I sure will, so what about Mesa or Sedona any good place or where is the best place, not too far from the store, the wife love to shop?

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[WinnieView]

Originally Posted by Big1

I sure will, so what about Mesa or Sedona any good place or where is the best place, not too far from the store, the wife love to shop?

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

Sorry but we don't camp around home. We try and get as far away as possible from the 5.5 million other people.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by 2008Seneca

Sorry but we don't camp around home. We try and get as far away as possible from the 5.5 million other people.

Lol, yeah I don't blame you that is a lot of people.

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[Chrisbn]

Big !... Come north to Prescott!! We are 2 hours out of the Phoenix valley at about 5000'. We have forests and mountains and beautiful camping all over. 4 real seasons and a handful of hot days all year. Last year we ran the air conditioner 4 times over the summer. We have a great historic downtown, some fun saloons and good restaurants.

Send me a note if you get out this way...