Pima Air & Space Museum Tucson - Boondocking?

[EscapeBoulder]

Is it possible to boondock at, or overnight at a Walmart/Cabella's (or similar) near the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson?

Thank you, in advance for your thoughts.

[Jon in AZ]

No responses, so you may have to google some likely merchants, call and ask. Because Tucson is such a popular winter RV area, it's very possible the practice may be restricted by merchants or local ordinance. But I don't know for sure. Fun museum.

[EscapeBoulder]

Thank you for the info, Jon. Further googling shows that there are at least a couple of (I assume) Indian casinos within a half an hour of the Pima museum where overnight parking is allowed.

[Radar1]

Can't answer your questions about boondocking near there, but we did stay at the Davis-Monthan Air Force base FAMCAMP. If you fall within one of these categories you could stay there. "Authorized Users: Active, National Guard, Reservists, Retired, 100% DAV, DoD civilians, Guests."
Great museum, we enjoyed the boneyard tour also. Got to see the stealth fighter parking spot but hard to see the actual aircraft in stealth mode.

[WaltP]

Looks like you may have what you need, but otherwise I always call ahead to a Walmart and ask if they permit overnights.
Easy peasy as they say. (where'd that one ever come from?)

Walt

[rad]

Walmart is very close to the museum, as is camping world, if you like those places. Nicer place but more of a drive is Gilbert Ray campground in Tucson Mountain Park.

[AndylikesOTMusic]

I don't know about boondocking but the A&S museum is fantastic!! I spent most of the day there last year!!

[rad]

Google Snyder Hill - BLM

[WaltP]

Originally Posted by rad

Google Snyder Hill - BLM

Looks like a really good one.

Walt

[rad]

Snyder Hill is also close to Saguaro National Park, and the must go, Arizona - Sonora Desert Museum. Not Sure what the Government shut down effect has on it.

[WaltP]

Thanks all.
Getting lots of good ideas for the Tucson area on my way to Quartzsite.

Walt

[rad]

See you in Quartzite.

[Terry in Fowler]

Anyone know if the shutdown is effecting blm usage. It doesn't seem likely, but read some parks which were open closed do to the lack of ability to control trash and vandalism

[Jon Vermilye]

Depends on the specific BLM area. As of today, here at Quartzsite, the Long Term Visitor Areas are open, the offices are closed, the dumpsters are getting emptied, the dump and water fill stations are open. No one is collecting $. There are signs at the entrances that state "some services may not be available". The free Dome Rock 14 day area is open.

[k corbin]

no matter where you plan to go there is a website that has a listing of a LOT of free campsites. Go there and type in the search for the closest town, it helps if you know the zip code, that makes for a fast search.


Bookmark this one, https://freecampsites.net/ it will save you a ton of money. Also leave feedback regarding any site you might visit so the next person looking in that area has up to date information about it such as has a Walmart changed its policy and is not longer allowing overnight RV stays. Everything on this site is contributed by the users so keeping it current is all about you and the other people who use it.

Once you get into some of the larger towns it can be very difficult to find boondocking due to city regulations. The Indian owned casinos are typically on their own reservation land so even if close to a town they are not regulated by the city ordinances which is why many of them have free or low cost RV camping where the closest Walmart or Cabelas might not be able to offer it.

https://freecampsites.net/

[Paul O.]

Before our last Arizona trip, I did some research on visiting Pima. I found that you need to register ahead of time to get to the "bone yard", and show up on a specific date. Since we always travel "by the seat of our pants" and did not want to be constrained, I gave up on it, but I still want to see it some day. Do they still make it so complicated or can you simply show up?

The place that also restricts access, but the dates are known in advance, is the Trinity Site, NM. It is open two days every year. Just being there after reading about its historical significance was quite an experience.

[oneoldcrow]

There is a third edition of the "WALMART LOCATOR " which list the directory of stores in the United States. Each state is listed and each location indicates the availability of over-night parking at that particular store.
This can be ordered through Amazon.com