Quartzsite is rockin’ and a rollin’ this week as snowbirds and vacationers flock to this rocky location for a winter of boondocking fun in the sun. While many full-timers checked in several weeks ago, the vast majority arrive in January when the big Quartzsite RV Show kicks off, which this year will take place between January 17 and 25th. And while the regional weather might be colder than usual, that’s not going to slow down the hordes of hearty, happy RVers ready to set up camp in the Arizona desert. If you’re a full-timer or just dreaming about it, Quartzsite needs to be added to your learning agenda in order to make the most of this lifestyle. Here are two important RVing subjects you can learn about:
Boondocking
You’ll have a fair number of RV parks in Quartzsite to choose from and if you’re new to RVing these full-hookup campsites are a great place to get your feet wet. But keep in mind that the real fun happens in the vast expanse of public lands surrounding town limits. From the free 14-day camping at Dome Rock to the nominally-priced Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs), Quartzsite boondocking comes in a variety of prices and services but what it doesn’t have is water, electric and sewer. That’s where dry camping know-how is key. But if you don’t know the best ways to save water, stay warm and go solar, fear not, you’ll have lots of experts there to show you how. Quartzsite campers are a camaraderie of outdoor lovers, snowbirds, cheapskates and gypsies that make it a fun, fearless place to learn about living off-grid. Join a rally that’s right for you – from the Cheap RVing Rubber Tramp Rendezvous happening between January 6 and 20th, to the Escapees Club Rallies held throughout the season, and you’ll enjoy a boondocking education you can’t get anywhere else.
Workamping Opportunities
The Quartzsite RV Show is a free showcase of vendors pitching everything from cupboard organizers to chair massages, all underneath a colossal, chaotic circus tent. Many of the products being demonstrated have nothing to do with RVing but they’re fun to check out. However, don’t let the bright shiny objects distract you too much. The show also features many different workamping employers who actively solicit RVers eager to workamp at jobs ranging from campground hosting to sugar beet farming. You can’t go down an aisle without being approached by an employer who wants you to commit to their seasonal jobs. However if you’re not ready to sign up, at the very least take advantage of the ability to interview these workamper employers by asking all the questions you have about trading your labor for a free or low-cost campsite. Just be sure to visit early in the morning in the middle of the week, since crowds inside the tent can get so thick it’s hard to walk, much less have a meaningful conversation with vendors.
Quartzsite is full of opportunities to fall in love with full-time or part-time RVing. Don’t let another year go by without making your own pilgrimage.
Rene Agredano and her husband, Jim Nelson, became full-time RVers in 2007 and have been touring the country ever since. In her blog, Rene chronicles the ins and outs of the full-timing life and brings readers along to meet the fascinating people and amazing places they visit on the road. Her road trip adventures are chronicled in her blog at LiveWorkDream.com.
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